Hi All! Let me introduce myself. My name is sherry and I am a 37-year-old single mom of four children. David and Darryl are 18, Timothy is 16 (ADHD, ODD, learning disabilities, special needs and severe depression) and Destiny Faith who is five.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about four months ago but have been getting increasingly ill for the past two and a half years. After two years of going back and forth to the doctor with him telling me it is all in my head, that there is nothing wrong he finally did the point test. Unfortunately he has pretty much left me to my own devices to educate myself and find something that works for me. I am still searching.

For me Fibromyalgia is widespread chronic pain, numbness in my hands, spasms in my legs, nausea, constant fatigue, lack of concentration, memory lost and extreme sensitivity to nice and light. And who can forget the IBS. I am probably forgetting some but that is the worst ones.

My quality of life and that of my children has drastically changed. The simple things that I took for granted before are now the things that I yearn to do most. I find myself getting mad because the music is too loud or the TV too high. I miss being able to go out without sun glasses because I find the light so intense that it gives me major headaches. I miss going for walks and more. But, most of all I miss being able to play with my little girl or carry on with my boys. It hurts to hear, "What's your problem mom?" or "My mommy can't bring us for a walk today because she is sick AGAIN." Most days I feel like the worst mother in the world, but I know I'm not. Life has become difficult to live and difficult to want to live. My children keep me going.

I am in the process of trying to start an FM-CFS Action Group where I come from. Strength comes in numbers and the more people ban together the more society will take notice. We need to educate society and sadly enough the medical community. People need to realize that just because you can't see something doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my story.