FIBROMYALGIA

Hi Mildy and welcome to the world of fibromyalgia and RA, you will find that there a quite a few on here with fibromyalgia and RA me too unfortunately, there are a few places you can get advice from, fmauk is a good place to start with their web site fmauk.org.

Unfortunately fibromyalgia is the same as any other illness when claiming benefits, it all depends how your illness affects you.

FMA uk have been in talks with DWP and they now say it will take into consideration the full effects that fibromyalgia has on people, there are a few support groups around the country that I'm sure would do their best to help you with your fibromyalgia problems.

Plus there are some really nice peeps on here too and like I say there are some fibromyalgia sufferers too.

Good luck with your appeal I hope it goes in your favour.

Philip

I have both, and the fatique is the worst thing. I am always tired and i lack energy as well.

I can't work now due to both the ra/fibro. This is the hardest thing i find not being fit for work because of the diseases that i have. Sometimes i find it hard to type on here. Best of luck.xx

Hiya Mildly,

Rotten news for you but I absolutely admire and salute you for your determination to be seen and heard. Well done girl. xx

thanks for your replies at the minute i am very determined but there have been days when ive wanted to give up because of the stress ive been under and i thought the days ive felt washed out and extra tired were because of the r.a and not because of the Fibromyalgia,ive always worked in care before i married i worked looking after physically handicapped on a young diabled unit so i dealt with everything from gps to social workers i only moved back to looking after the elderly when i transferred to another area when i married so i think thats where ive got my strength from(my husband says stubborness)ive had 25yrs doing this work it was hard to come to terms with when i finally had to give in and go off sick im just waiting for my employers to make a definate decision on whether they are finishing me on ill health or not but as theyve already said theres no other work they can offer me i know the decision and i dont think i could cope with the daily commute on the busy a roads,anyway enough going on for now my hands and fingers are stiff and they are hurting this morning.x

Hi Mildy,

I can completely understand how you feel (read blogs) I worked looking after people and caring for their needs to the point managing a home for them. Sadly this only last 16 months as I was diagnosed RA from the start of this work and it got progressively worse as the work got more stressful, I too was told by the Nurse that I was suffering Fibromyalgia which really explains why the pains and weakness seem so severe at times, I went for a sloooow walk yesterday and obviously to far as I had old (really old) people run pass me as I struggled to return to my car! How frustrating. I haven't got as far as you on the DLA front yet as my form has only just gone in, but I reallly hope I don't have to fight like you as I don't think I have the energy. I am living on SSP only as my charity had no sickness benefit planned and there was no one else who wanted to do my job, so the house closed down and I have no job to go to even if I was well enough. I hope things get better for you as you really are working so hard to keep above the circumstances. Well done keep your chin up...if you can. Ps I woke with a completely cold frozen knee! that's a first.

hi caggy when i first came off work i was on ssp then i went onto esa i must admit the drop in my wage coming into the house was quite a shock the little extras you take for granted had to stop along with the holidays and other luxuries when i worked we had no money worries but now we find ourselves struggling but at least we have a roof over our head which is more than some do,i hope you get your dla but if they do happen to refuse my advice is to keep fighting until you get what you think you deserve so good luck i hope everything goes ok for you theres always a light at the end of the tunnel its just that sometimes it takes some longer than others to get there,mildy xx