Geraldine Thompson tells Paul Gallagher the impact fibromyalgia has had on her life and the reasons why she won't let it define who she is
I consider myself lucky, as I’ve met fibromyalgia sufferers post-diagnosis, who spent years trying to see a specialist for further investigation.
I had altered sleep patterns, experienced a cognitive ‘fog’ – trouble remembering, learning new things, concentrating, or making decisions that affect everyday life – and emotional distress because of the pain and difficulty in remembering things. On the bad days, or ‘episodes’, you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck. You have pain anywhere when someone touches you, even the slightest graze.
At the time of ‘final’ diagnosis in 2019, two years after my traumatic experiences, fibromyalgia wasn’t as well known then as myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, and other rheumatoid conditions. It is estimated that the prevalence of fibromyalgia in the UK is between 2.9 and 5.5 per cent – that’s about 1.8 to 2.9 million people who have it and more don’t realise they do. Intensive physiotherapy was seen as the best way of treating the condition.
A lot of us resist a fibromyalgia diagnosis – people say ‘you’re looking great’ when they meet you when we feel like we are dying inside. There is an unpleasant undercurrent that suggests if an illness can be physically seen, then it is worthy of concern. Fibromyalgia is hidden. We shouldn’t need a biomarker to determine pain.
Being in touch with other fibromyalgia sufferers has been beneficial through raising awareness and research. It affects women more than men, although men do get it and could experience it completely differently. The patients I’ve come across have all been women.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
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