Nora’s Story

Alive again! Finally, after 25 years of suffering with the soreness and sleeplessness of Fibromyalgia (FM) and Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), I am living life again. I was certain my life would be filled with constant pain ultimately ending in hopelessness and immobility.

After a bout with Mononucleosis in my youth, my very active volunteer life slowly piddled away to nothing. But it didn’t end there; that was only the beginning. As the years progressed I found I could not work beyond or in my home. Since I never knew how I would feel from day to day, I could not make plans in advance. If I pushed myself to do physical tasks, I felt sick for days and would go into a deep depression. For years I searched for answers and after being constantly misdiagnosed, I was eventually told that I had FM and CFIDS.

Treatment options were nil or came in pill forms such as pain killers and anti-depressants. I had spent most of my life on various medications for asthma, allergies and sinusitis, with no major issues, but my body simply couldn’t handle the pain medications I was prescribed. I had no choice but to suffer in silence. In a constant haze of pain and fatigue, I began to spiral downward into depression. Eventually, I began to realize I would never be capable of dealing with life and my illness if I were constantly depressed. I reluctantly agreed to try anti-depressants. Six months later and only feeling worse, I quit taking them; convinced more than ever that a pill was not the answer for me. I continued searching for treatment options. Some worked for a while, providing significant to minor relief, but inevitably failed to provide any long term improvement. Sleepless nights and lethargic days became the norm.

When I found a special fibromyalgia and fatigue center, I felt they were my last hope. Nothing else had worked. Although I made my first appointment, deep inside I had begun to accept that I would likely be sick for the rest of my life. I was taking a risk. Fortunately, that risk paid off and center’s efforts made an enormous difference in the quality of my life. The first two months of the program were very difficult, to be honest. During the die-off phase of the plan, I was not pleasant to be around. I felt lousy, like I was getting worse and regularly vented at and to the doctor and staff. Their constant encouragement and support kept me going. Never loosing faith (or patience) in me, they helped me to keep the faith in myself and their treatments. Soon, the aches and pains vanished, as did the severe fatigue.

Years ago, my husband and I began renovations on our 250 year old farm house and I started writing a novel. After my body became so wrought with aches and fatigue, I couldn’t help with the house or write more than 2 chapters without feeling completely exhausted and used up. That has all changed! I can’t over do it and I must stay on the maintenance plan, but I have my life back. I used to think of all the things I would never be well enough to accomplish or enjoy again. Now I think of all the new things I will do in my pain free future.

Before Treatment “A constant haze of pain and fatigue” Deep depression After Treatment “I think of all the new things I will do in my pain free future.”