Hello! I am a 62 year old woman who in the past was a very active person,always on the go and lots of energy to do whatever. I was offically diagnosed with Fibro in Dec. 2003 but have had the disease for a long time maybe 4 years. I also have CFS.

My symptoms are: severe pain in both feet,around my ankles,upper thighs,both shoulders,upper arms across my neck. My hands and wrists are swollen at times also with severe pain. I also have a problem staying in a deep sleep which hinders my energy level the next day. I am depressed,have dry eyes,arthitis since I was 16 years old also have IBS(irritable bowel) since the early 1980's. At present I have a stomach ucler which means precribed pain medication is not for me. I take Tylenol 8 hour but really does not curb the pain but find it does help if taken at bedtime to get a more restful sleep.

Of course my activity level has decreased considerable over the last few years.

My friends and family say "YOU LOOK GOOD" but they do not realize the constant pain you are in each and every hour of every day 24/7......

My family are very supportive ,my wonderful husband, my 2 sons who are men now with their own families,also have GREAT Friends which means a great deal to me. I thank my husband,my sons,and my friends from the bottom of my heart for understanding this disease.

After being diagnosed I had a very difficult time accepting that I had FM and CFS. I have a dear friend in Holland who has had this disease for the past 60 years and will be 75 years old the end of July. She suffers immensely.

My immune system is also very low, the past 3 winters I have had a chronic sinsus infection and have to take anibotics for months on end to rid of this infection and I am going to a specalist at the end of July so hopefully this Dr. will do something to help me so I will not be sick each and every winter with this problem.

Our Gov't and Health care system has to become aware of the thousands of women who suffer from this disease and the FM-CFS needs funding from the Gov't of Ontario to do research into these diseases... I am hopeful and to all sufferers of FM-CFS that in the future that we will have better resources than we do at the present time.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story..