Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex

My Story – by Clare Bold

Hello, my name is Clare Bold, some of you will know me from the monthly meetings, Awareness Days or the Horsham yoga group. I was elected as a committee member at the AGM 2005, so Jo has asked me to write a few words to introduce myself.

I live in Horsham (originally from Partridge Green) with my partner George & very spoilt cat Sebastian. I qualified as a Management Accountant a few weeks before Christmas, although I have been unable to work (due to Fibromyalgia) since April 2005.

I was only diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in February 2005, but I have had severe problems for over 4 years. It all started in October 2001 when I had a chest infection, followed by tonsillitis & 3 further throat infections, for which I had 3 courses of antibiotics. It took several months for me to feel better although I never really got over it. I was able to continue working as a Business Analyst for Royal & SunAlliance for about a year, but then they announced a major restructuring &, as I was on a Contract, I was one of the first to go. They gave me the news 2 weeks after I had bought a house & 2 weeks before Christmas 2002! The added stress caused my health problems to worsen, but I struggled on & was employed by them until March 2003.

Since then I have taken various short term contract roles, a few months here & a few months there, having to take months off in between contracts to recover, but in April 2005 I had to admit that I was unable to keep working. As a Contractor I was often called in to work for companies at stressful times, during restructures & when crucial deadlines had to be met & I was working 40-50 hours a week, coming home each night & virtually going straight to bed & was in bed resting all weekend, every weekend.

I had seen my GP several times complaining of fatigue & severe muscle pain & she had sent me for numerous blood tests, all of which came back negative. In February 2004 I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but this did not really explain the other problems such as the muscle pain, twitching/spasms, pins & needles/tingling etc. & it took another year to get the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia from a Rheumatologist. I had never even heard of the condition so, although it was a relief to now have a name for my symptoms, I was frightened & confused. I went away & did as much research as I could on the internet & I found out about the Support Group & contacted Jo. Now I know what I do about Fibromyalgia, I believe that I have had it since I was 14 when I had knee pain (later resulting in surgery) which my GP kept telling me was ‘growing pains’. I have also been diagnosed with Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) & IBS in the past, & have suffered with hypoglycaemia for several years, which I now know can all be part of Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Giving up work was really difficult, as I am only 34, & I became quite depressed sitting at home, unable to do very much at all, & coming to terms with the fact that my life will never be the same again. I joined the Horsham yoga group in May 2005 & this has helped me enormously. I find the stretching helps to ease the pain & stiffness in my muscles & the breathing & relaxation is great for calming the mind, as I find it really hard to switch off.

I went to my first Support Group meeting in August 2005 & it has been brilliant to meet other sufferers. I also have some Fibro-friends who can’t get to meetings so we offer support via e-mail. It was just so good to realise that I am not on my own!

Princess Royal Hospital have offered me a place on their Pain Management Programme, which will help me with Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, & I am gradually learning to pace myself & to put what little energy I have into the things that I enjoy most. I love live music & there are many indie bands I would like to go & see but it really takes it out of me so I am limited to 1 or 2 gigs per month. I have some friends in a band & I try to go to as many of their gigs as possible & I take photos for their website. I am hoping that one day I will be able to work as an Accountant again, especially after spending over 8 years qualifying!, but it might have to be part-time or working from home.

I am now on the committee & have been helping Jo with funding applications & researching potential funders for the Group. Without funding the Group would not be able to exist. If any of you would like to organise any fund-raising events or have any ideas for how to raise funds, please e-mail or speak to me, Jo, or one of the other committee members, as we would be pleased to hear your ideas & suggestions.

Bye for now,
Clare