"Occupational therapy has helped me so much"

I found out I have fibromyalgia on Halloween 2023, this was after years of pain, tiredness, depression basically everything tied to the condition.

My husbands cousin  also has Fibro and she spotted my symptoms so I went to my GP.

My GP recommended I see an Occupational Therapist and this is where I met the lovely Fiona. I have had to learn that this isn't all in my head. I have had to deal with the loss of my dad in 2023, and  his last conversation with me was to fight to get answers about all that has went on for almost 25 yrs. I have lost a lot of friends over this condition because they just don't get that because you cannot see Fibro that it just doesn't exist.

Fiona has helped with advice about how to deal with how I manage pain and how to get through the low days when I really struggle. She has also helped with tools to give me some semblance of an independent life and to give my husband a break with my care.

I went from independent to dependant and I hate it. I struggled through college and gained my nail tech qualifications, I cant work though as I have issues with my hands and pain levels wont allow me to do the job at hand. This really messed with my head as I so wanted to be in the nail industry and cant because I am unreliable due to days of low mood and being totally exhausted with pain. I don't go out much because I cannot walk far. I have panic attacks but I'm learning how to manage them through the info Fiona provided.

My current GP has been amazing and helps with anything that comes up. I may be down but I am not out, I have to believe that I can still live a productive life but in a different way and I will do this because I am so blessed to have amazing support from my husband and our adult kids especially our daughter.

A few close friends also have my back and it makes this all so much bearable and they adapt things so I can still be a part of the friend circle. Just having someone to talk to and who listens without prejudice has helped me so so much.

Occupational therapy is an amazing gift when given and I totally recommend it .