woman hopes to highlight pain of FMS sufferers

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hopes to highlight pain of FMS sufferers

TO look at, Cruickshank, appears to be a health 28-years-old woman,

but the young mother is often crippled by excruciating pain. For a long time

the head woman baffled doctors who could not pinpoint the cause of her

pain until just after Christmas last year when it was discovered that she

suffers from Fibromyalgia, sometimes referred to as the 'unknown

illness'.

told the Buchan Observer: " Every movement I make is painful. I thought I was

the only one but it can effect different people in different ways. " Because

people can't see that I'm ill they will say 'you look well' when inside I am

completely in pain. " Fibromyalgia Syndrome or FMS is a chronic condition

characterised by widespread pain and severe fatigue. It is said to be as

common as Rheumatoid Arthritis and is classified as a form of rheumatism

which affects the muscles and ligaments of suffers. , who lives at

Churchill Drive, said: " The main symptoms are constant pain, severe fatigue

and tender points. " I can't sleep and when I wake I feel like I have a

hangover because I'm so tired. Sometimes I can't get out of bed. I suffer

from constant headaches and pins and needles in my hands and fingers. " I

can't do any housework. I can't do washing, hoovering or hang anything out

and with four kids in the house there is a lot that needs doing. They

children are on the go from 5.30am till 9pm and there is a mountain of

washing and ironing that needs doing. " The cause of FMS remains elusive but

it often develops after a trauma that acts as a trigger. These triggers

include car accidents, infections, operations or the development of other

conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus and Hypothyroidism. It is

thought that these triggers may awaken an underlying problem, possibly a

genetic predisposition. FMS is much more common in women than in men with a

ration of 9:1. continued: " There is no cure for Fibromyalgia they can

only treat the symptoms of the disease. " Drugs and medicine can help manage

the pain but it is important to learn your own limitations. If I do anything

slightly strenuous I spend the next three days in bed and if I have anything

like a wedding or a day out coming up I spend the week before

resting. " 's

husband Ali has had to adjust as much as has to her condition. He

works full-time but also has to perform the role of a house husband.

said: " My husband is really good, he has taken over the domestic chores. It

has brought us closer together. I have had to put a lot of trust in him and

I will never be able to repay what he does for me. " receives money

from the government which means she can afford to employ outside help.

added: " Sylvie comes in 15 hours a week to help out. She does some of the

domestic work and helps with the kids. " One evening she comes in later so me

and Ali can have some time together. " wants to increase the knowledge

of 'the unknown disease' so others will not feel so alone and as helpless as

she did. The Fibromyalgia Support Group holds its meetings at The Rosehill

Centre, located on the corner of Drive/ Ashgrove Road, West in

Aberdeen, on the last Saturday of every month. The meeting runs from 11am

till 1pm. The group offers a friendly, warm welcome plus information, help,

support and friendship, and often feature guest speakers. The meetings are

open to all sufferers as well as carers and friends and offer tea/coffee and

a raffle for £1. said of the group: " When I first went to the meeting

I thought 'wow' I'm normal and I'm not on my own. It is great to have

someone on the end of the phone who knows exactly how you feel. "

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