New Member Mardi

[Guest guest]

Good afternoon, y'all! I want to start by saying thanks for letting

me join this group. I've lurked the past couple of days (because

I've been working) and I have to say that it seems to me I may have

found a new home! Y'all are really great at supporting one another,

and that is one thing I really need right now.

I was only just diagnosed with fibro. For the past few years I've

had problems off and on that I chalked up to hormones, getting older,

stress, or my natural-born utter lack of grace. That all changed

last November when I had an accident while walking up a hill; my calf

muscle seemed to painfully " lock " in place and I just fell over... we

won't talk about the bruises that followed. Well, it took eleven

months for eight different doctors, seven intricate blood tests, four

mis-diagnoses, three MRI's, 2 specialists, and a partridge in a pear

tree to finally diagnose me with FMS. At least now I have an answer!

I am a 33 year old mother of two teenagers and wife to a really

awesome man. These three are my center, my core of strength. My

husband, Tyson, has dilligently researched fibro with me and is

really understanding about my flares. My 14 year old son, Jay, is

very driven and does a lot around the farm to make sure things run

smoothly. My 12 year old girl, Kate, is a bit lazy about helping out

around the house, but she is totally awesome at massage! We all band

together to make our home healthy and happy. I'm very lucky!

I work full-time as a correctional officer at a maximum security

women's prison. It's not as glamorous as it sounds! I work 12 hour

night shifts so my schedule is all over the place. My down time is

usually spent in the kitchen. I cook and bake all the time; it's my

passion! Also, having been a homemaker for 12 years bofore my

divorce from the kids' dad, I enjoy tons of crafts: sewing,

scrapbooking, card making, floral arranging, etc. I have a very full

life. I don't let the fibro control any aspect of my life... sure,

it wins a battle on occassion, but I'm in it to win the war!

I can't wait to get to know more of y'all better. I'm so excited to

be here! Again, thanks for including me.

Love from Mardi