Hi there,
I'm new to here. I have M.E and Fibromyalgia and we are looking to move to the South West, either Devon or Cornwall. There are a few things that will decide this but one of the most important is whether there is a good area for support with managing this condition. If any of you live in Devon or Cornwall could you please tell me your feedback on your nhs support? I'd really appreciate it. Thank you,
Hi there
I don't know the area with regards to care services. However, my husband has relatives that live in Cornwall. They own a lovely farm that has been converted into a holiday complex in an area called Trewith.
It is a very beautiful area and we find their place so peaceful and relaxing. But when we said to our relatives that we would love to retire to the area they did say Cornwall is renowned (amongst locals I guess) for being much damper than people think. Consequently when people think they want to retire there thinking it will be good for their bones as it's warmer they find it can actually be worse if you have arthritis and the like.
Such a shame because it is a lovely part of the country with a very gentle pace of life but if that sort of thing causes you issues it might be worth throwing into the mix when considering your options.
Gentle hugs, Margaret.xxx
I have to agree with Margaret- moving could be the worst idea, I go into the City (Manchester) and see physio and rheumo doc who have much more funding and better facilities, it means travelling but its worth it, my local hospital is bobbins on fibro care!
Try a holiday in a warm climate abroad for a couple of weeks and see if that suits you, I know travel agents will find you somewhere to stay that suits disabled guests,how far are you from the nearest big city hospital? Maybe get a referral and see if you get better help, treatment and advise before venturing on a big move which will cause stress.. Have you tried Hydrotherpy? Good Luck let us know what you decide.
Indeed. And that has just made me think of another point. Although I don't actually know how the NHS services in the area rate, I would guess that travel could be a big issue in many parts of Cornwall.
Unless you want to live in one of the more built up areas where the services are more likely to be situated, the roads in Cornwall are often small, windy and hilly. So if you want to live in one of the quiet peaceful areas (sounds heavenly) you might find that accessing the more specialist services requires a lot more travel on small country roads. Not much in the way of A roads down there, let alone motorways.
Sad really because in many ways that is one of the attractions of living in a beautiful area like that, but it can bring added problems.
Having said all that, I must say I am just going from what little I have seen of the area. Much as I love the area I would recommend you do quite a bit of research before you make your decision. If they are issues that don't bother you then that's fine, but it might pay to check.
Hopefully someone who actually lives in Cornwall may be able to paint a more accurate picture of what it is really like to survive with Fibro in the area.
Margaret.xxx
Agree with rural places, that can be stunning and quiet.
I've noticed that services in my local areas are woeful.
We are thinking about moving into a town or city just because we need competent doctors and facilities.
I would agree with the Exeter area. The RDE hospital is good. Dartmoor gets more rain than the Amazon rain forest, less on the East side but still over 100", as does Cornwall generally, yet the Cornish Riviera and Torbay have a reputation for being warm and frost free. Remoteness would be a good consideration. You may wish to think about reliable transport and if living high up or along the many winding lanes when you have a lot of regular GP or hospital/therapy visits.. . .
ps I like Exeter
Hi BintangBali welcome to our wonderful forum ☺ I'm sure you will come to find the forum invaluable in chatting to others who are going through the same experience as you, talking to others at different stages of their lives with Fibro and learning from their experiences.
It does help with the whole process and I wish I had found the site years ago. I have had Fibro for nearly 30 yrs and I'm still learning about it, like we all are.
I have lived in most areas in South West & Torbay hospital are very good, they have a very good Fibro team there & I'm not saying all the doctors are brilliant cos they are not but, I think this is everywhere, I do have a lovely GP & she is very up on Fibro & has 3 or 4 other patients with fibro.
Plymouth is also a very Good hospital & i know a lovely physio who leads a team of specialists that work with Fibro patients. The thing is, as long as you have transport you are fine because everywhere in the Torbay area are all in quite close proximate, I live in Paignton now but I can be on the moors in 20 mins, in Dartmouth in 20 mins, Newton Abbott in 8 mins, Torquay 6 mins, Teignmouth 20 mins, Kingswear 10 mins & so on. It takes me about an hour to Plymouth & the same to Exeter. just to give you some idea.
Please do go look at the mother site where you will find all the information you need and lots of useful links on Fibro and I look forward to chatting to you on the forum.
Peace, luv n light
Jan xx
not on a bike 
I just got an electric bike. Its still not for everyone but by gum its helping me. I've done Princetown to Plymouth. I reckon I could now do it in reverse
From what I have heard from other people and some experience of the system when I unfortunately had a bad fall whilst in Cornwall Devon seems a better bet.
The road systems are better. If you chose somewhere like Honiton you can get on a train to places like Exeter and also to Torquay, Newton Abbott, Barnstaple, etc etc. There are also trains to London, Birmingham etc. The bus services also seem very good to the coast. You are also quite near to the motorways so getting back up North is easy but still in lovely countryside.
If you chose a village remember you might not always be able to drive and many do not have bus services or if they do it is perhaps once a day. Often if there are financial pressures these are the first services to go. My friend who lives in Wiltshire says a doctor visits the village three times a week but to I get the prescription a it is a round trip of 20 miles. You to be much more organised about food etc.
We went into this quite thoroughly as we were considering a move from The Midlands to Devon.
The weather in Cornwall as ukmsmi4 says can be damp. I can remember being on the North coast and getting talking to a couple who had moved to South Cornwall. They were both starting to get increasingly depressed as they said the place and house was lovely but they had not investigated the weather conditions thoroughly enough by going different times of year. They found where they were living was liable to have sea thralls for weeks on end where the sun was completely blotted out 20 miles either way and that rarely happened.Good luck with whatever you chose.
Hi BintangBali
I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance.
It may be a good idea to contact a few of the Fibro support groups in the area, as their members would have attended their hospitals and clinics etc. I have pasted you a link below to the FMA UK cache on support groups for the South West:
fmauk.org/contactsmenu/supp...
I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken
Hi BintangBali,
I don't live down in Cornwall but I absolutely adore the place. If you do go to live in that neck of the woods it could be wonderful.
No idea about how the NHS supports us down there but if you do go I think I will be going with you, in spirit at least lol 😊X
Hi I was diagnosed in Exeter there is good hospitals there the gp who I saw was doc Blair who gave talks on m.e I am now living in Scotland as I am from here 3 of my children still live in Devon Exeter has lots to offer you and you will enjoy the town with it's little mini bus.s it's letters in Exeter not num for bus it's split into areas ie st Thomas st Leonard's st David's etc you will like it and weather is good take care Maria x
ESA the two groups...and the truth you need to know
Is there a support group in Plymouth, Devon?
Rheumatology Appointment Waste of Time!!!
soursop (Graviola or Guanabana) for Fibro, CFS and cancer
