Walking along the South Downs Way - despite Fibromyalgia
by Debbie Williams
My name is Debbie Williams (I am on the right of the photo) and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2004. Like many of us, I felt as though I had had the condition for 20 years and I was glad to have an explanation for my continual tiredness, lack of energy and motivation, stiffness, pain, inability to think clearly, irritability, and our other numerous symptoms.
I had spent most of my life putting up barriers to the pain I received. I had a lot of practice, my father was mentally abusive and my childhood not particularly happy. I was the eldest and took responsibility for my brother and sister and often for my mother. I married very young and for the wrong reasons. Later, I met someone else who turned out to be physically abusive and thankfully I was able to leave him quickly. I had been bullied but I didn’t seem to have the strength or understanding of how to deal with it. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and took my work seriously and pushed myself too much. I also had a car accident. There are other issues but I won’t bore you with all of them. But I know these issues affected me and because I didn’t know how to deal with them, in the end my body couldn’t take any more and it physically collapsed. This was Fibromyalgia and I did finally hear my body telling me it just needed to rest for a long time, which is just what I did.
Counselling over the years has helped me to begin to look at my life, my family and myself. It has been painful of course to look at the issues and I have lost family and some friends but it has also been the most rewarding and powerful experiences of my life. I am now able to listen to my body and be in touch with my feelings so I know when there is something wrong or I am heading for a flare.
After my diagnosis, I made a decision to spend the next year or two researching the condition and to do everything I could to improve and manage Fibromyalgia. By attending FMS-SAS meetings and talking to other people in the group I felt less isolated with this condition and I learnt about possible benefits of some alternative health treatments. I was finding working with this condition very difficult and I was having more and more time off work. Sadly I had to give up work but it has improved my health considerably. Other improvements for me have been helped by vitamin and mineral support, myofascial release, acupuncture, gentle yoga, walking, physiotherapy, reducing my stress levels and most importantly, learning to pace myself.
There were so many things I enjoyed doing and I wasn’t ready to give them up, just yet. I had read about the benefits of exercise. I knew my muscles were very weak so I only did very gentle exercise to begin with. I built this up gradually and I found I did feel better both physically and mentally after a Fibromyalgia yoga class or walking gently.
By September 2007 I was so much better. I now felt strong enough to walk on a flattish part of the South Downs Way with a friend, to try and raise some money for FMS to give them something back. Thanks to my friends, including Dr Brian McDonogh and Anne Cruickshank (Myofascial Release Clinic), I collected £203 for FMS-SAS.
Donned with walking boots, Sophie and I started our walk at Firle Beacon and standing on the tumulus we had just the best views across the Downland on both sides of us. Firle Estate was below and the coast further to the south. Lewes to the North West and Offham chalk pit in the distance. The sheer sense of space on top of the Downs is hard to describe, you can see so far and from such a height it is almost like flying. You quickly achieve a feeling of quiet isolation. However, this part of the Downs is popular with hang gliders who make use of the updrafts created by the steep slopes, so we were never alone. The Downland ridgetop was kind to us, being flattish for about 2 miles. There is no shelter here and we were glad of only a gentle breeze. Sophie kept her eyes on the dark grey clouds above us. We passed herds of grazing cows and sheep of numerous breeds as we headed towards the Ouse Valley. Our path ahead looked as though it was to drop off the end of the ridge top. Thankfully, it started to zigzag down a steep ridge where we could see Southese in the distance. Cyclists passed us going in the opposite direction up the slope! At the bottom of the ridge we crossed the railway at Southese station and soon reached the River Ouse. As we sat on the riverbank munching a sandwich we gave Virginia Woolf a thought…..
Reaching Southese and the church, there is a conveniently situated bench, an excellent place to sit and rest after our journey. We shared the bench with a picnic hamper and empty Stella larger cans belonging to the gardeners who were tending the church grounds! With its unusual circular Saxon tower and medieval wall paintings this is an interesting place to visit.
Debbie - triumphant!
 With the car left on Firle Beacon we knew we had to walk back. The path took us back up the ridge slope which required many a Fibro huff and a puff and frequent Fibro rests. We took it slowly. The views of the sloping hills are different on the way back so it did not seem like a return journey. Sophie, still convinced of rain, reached for her waterproof from her rucksack, but it wasn’t required. Reaching the car after 6 miles, tired, exhausted but elated with a sense of achievement, other walkers told us we only had another 93 miles of the Southdowns Way to go…………..
Fibromyalgia it seems to me is a long journey for all of us and it takes time to get to a point of some understanding of it. But I can now listen to my body, my feelings and my needs. My Fibromyalgia is part of my everyday life but it isn’t taking over my life as it used to do. I am now able to manage it better. I still have a way to go and I make mistakes of course, we all do, but my life in so many ways is richer now. This fundraising walk has increased my self confidence and has given me the courage to push myself, just a bit more. Understanding the condition has given me the knowledge to know the risks involved and also allow myself to take some.
Congratulations Debbie on your courage and determination. Thank you too to your sponsors who made your donation possible.
 
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