I Felt like it was struggle to be believed mum who suffered with mystery pain

 

By Grace Williams

 

“It’s in my nature to support people,”

 

A mum from Bolton has set up a support group for people with fibromyalgia after being diagnosed with the condition last year.

After struggling to find a local support network, Melissa decided to create her own.

 

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Fibromyalgia, also known as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a long-term condition that causes pain throughout the body.

 

The pain is often accompanied by fatigue and can also cause problems with sleep, memory and mood.

 

Researchers believe the condition affects the way the brain and spinal cord process painful and non-painful signals, increasing sensitivity to pain.

 

Symptoms can begin after a triggering event or can develop gradually over time.

 

 

Last year, Melissa was working as a domiciliary care worker when she was injured by one of her patients.

 

She went to the doctor with what she described as “extreme back pain”.

 

Despite being prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers, her pain continued for months.

 

She was eventually referred to a musculoskeletal first contact physiotherapist and later diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

 

“I do feel like it was a struggle to be believed and diagnosed,” she said.

 

According to the NHS, diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult as there is no specific test for the condition.

 

With a 20-month-old daughter called Sophia, Melissa said she felt “very down” after her diagnosis and began grieving the ways she feared it might change her role as a mother.

 

“It upsets me that I can’t do typical parent stuff with my child,” she said.

 

Alongside other medical problems, Melissa struggles to stay active and can sometimes find it difficult to pick her daughter up.

 

She described fibromyalgia as a “complex and widespread condition”.

 

 

“A chronic illness doesn’t care if you have a busy week or a growing community; it demands its tax”

 

Coming to terms with her diagnosis, Melissa reached out to the Friends of Westhoughton Facebook group, to see whether others in the area were living with the condition.

 

After receiving an outpouring of messages, she decided to create Seen and Heard Fibro, a support group for people living with or affected by fibromyalgia.

 

Melissa is currently unable to work, but she said she wants to show her daughter that she still has a strong work ethic, even if she is not able to hold a paid job.

 

She hosted her first meet-up session on February 21, but said finding a suitable venue is still a work in progress.

 

“I am mindful that we need the right space for our sessions,” she said.

 

“It’s in my nature to support people.”

 

Melissa’s long-term goal is for the group to become a registered charity, enabling it to access additional support and funding.

 

She has already been in contact with other support groups in the North West, including Fibro Fight Club based in Liverpool.

 

“I want us to get the support we need and to further highlight the condition,” she said.

 

Melissa said the best way to get involved is by joining the Seen and Heard Fibro social media pages.