My name is Sheryl Ann. I do not know if ethnicity has anything to do with FM but I am Metis (French, Scottish/Irish and Mohawk). I am in my early 40's now and I was originally diagnosed with FM in 1994 when I fell over one time and could not get up and walk. The female GP I had at the time simply did the 18 point test and said I had FM and I probably would not be able to walk and would have lots of pain and be tired, get used to it. Something in my Leo dander came up and I simply thought, no way, I'm going to beat this.

I've always been one to have too much on my plate and I went from being a top office executive, to single-mother on welfare at the beginning and only just over a year ago did I get Provincial Disability. Provincial Disability is like being a person of a third world country literally, I live in poverty and I had to raise my daughter in poverty. I sure learned to run a budget though and I learned to get deals on everything. Let's just say they know me well at the local Salvation Army clothing store.

I am good looking on the outside and that actually goes in my disfavour with this health malady most of the time. People are just judgemental period. They look at me and they just can't believe that I have this malady that has me tired and in pain 24-7. They make fun of me and they tell me and gossip that I am a lazy bum. A lazy bum. If you were to ask anyone who knows me they would tell you that they do not know how I do all the things I do even with FM. I admit it, I have really pushed it since 1994 but this last year of 2004 I have had to really slow down and remind myself all the time to balance each and every day. I have to fight depression and remind myself that I'm not a bad person, I'm just sick and I just can't do what I used to do when I was younger. I get very lonely. I can only walk so far. On a good day I might walk a total there and return of 6 blocks and then I'm so tired I'm on the couch the rest of the day and evening. I have to plan for special events ahead of time and get lots and lots of extra rest and extra time for getting ready. My weight goes up and down like a yo-yo so it's a good thing I have a vast wardrobe from before to fall back on or I'd be in trouble. I'm smiling on the outside and hurting bad on the inside. I am a multi-talented person and doing eveyrthing from Zero financially gets very very difficult and depressing, especially if something goes wrong.

I made a decision recently to become an FM-CFS representative for the area I live in. I promised myself to do things within balance. So, if there are any able bodied, healthy persons within this area whom would like to help me and this Association to reach our Goals and Objectives, I and the many others who live here with this malady would surely appreciate it. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my story.

Sheryl Ann