My name is Dave. I live in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I am 49, and have had fibro for 19 years (but only figured out that fibro was my problem about 5 years ago).

I have a list of symptoms as long as your arm. I am still working (but doubt that I will be much longer). My most debilitating symptoms are a high level of fatigue, terrible sleep, generalized pain and near constant headaches, hyper-sensitivity to all drugs (even vitamins), memory and concentration problems as well as severe depression.

These symptoms (and numerous others) have been getting slowly but steadily worse for the last 19 years. The medical profession has been of little help. I am a mere shell of the man I once was. I have lost my wife, family, and friends to this disease, and now the disease is destroying my spirit. I have lost all hope of ever experiencing any joy in life again.

I have done considerable research over the years (as I was once of very strong spirit and fought like crazy to beat this thing). I am convinced that (at least in my case) my problems stem from an over-active immune system, causing low level chronic inflammation that has stressed my body and dysregulated my hormone systems (which control virtually all body functions, systems and moods). I also believe that excessive cortisol and/or TNF has damaged my hippocampus and/or hypothalamus (and perhaps other parts of my brain), causing many of the symptoms I experience.

I also experience something I call "my syndrome". I wake up some mornings with a headache that is more severe than usual (which includes sore eyes). I feel even more fatigued than usual. These symptoms slowly worsen, and later my stomach starts feeling very nauseated. If I do not give in I feel progressively worse until I become very weak and start to shiver. I cannot describe the pure hell I feel at this point. A long sleep is the only thing that lessens these symptoms.

This disease has taken everything from me and destroyed me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. With the misery I now endure, anything that could end it (including death) would be welcomed. The future only makes me wonder what new depths of misery are in store for me before my digression finally ends my miserable existence.

Sincerely,

Dave.

P.S. I am not holding my breath for a "cure", because a cure for fibro would also likely mean a cure for all of the auto-immune diseases, and the drug companies would take far too great a loss in revenue if such a cure were ever found (and published). I do not percieve that they drug companies have any incentive to research cures for diseases (as that would kill the goose that lays the golden egg). Their only real incentive is to research drugs which reduce the symptoms of diseases (which make the sick a lucrative life long market).