Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex

Pre Launch of Support for

Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia

Jo Fisher, founder of the Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex (FMS SAS) has been keen to establish a support group for children suffering from fibromyalgia, formerly thought to be a condition mainly affecting adults. She reached another rung of her ‘dream ladder’ when a meeting was held on Saturday 4th August to establish the needs of juvenile sufferers of fibromyalgia and find out how the existing Support Group for adults can adapt to help them. The meeting was held at the Y Centre, Albion Way Horsham on Saturday 4th August and was chaired by Malcolm Rose, Chair of the Trustees.

Those present were divided into two groups, parents/carers and the young people themselves. Each group was encouraged to say what kind of help they would find useful in dealing with their problems.

The parents’ biggest concern was over the attitude of schools and education authorities who won't accept that fibromyalgia makes full-time school attendance very difficult for juvenile sufferers.

The young people themselves said they needed to be in touch with those who understand the condition and with whom they could interact socially without being expected to keep up the pace of healthy youngsters.

The new group will provide support, counselling, and resource referrals, web site forums and special web pages for youthful sufferers as well as their parents and care givers. The FMS SAS Group will be pleased to hear from other sufferers who would be interested in benefiting from these new services. Please phone the helpline 01403 255450

During Fibromyalgia International Awareness week in September - on Sat 15th - the Group plans to hold an event with a series of short talks and videos about health issues surrounding fibromyalgia for both adults and young sufferers, at the same venue. See details here