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My journey began on December 22, 2005, at 11:35 AM when I awoke in a recovery room with intense and unbearable body-wide pain after undergoing a hysterectomy. I soon learned that I was intolerant of morphine, codeine and all other opioid medications.  Several weeks afterward during follow-up appointments at my doctor's office to find the cause for my relentless pain and aches, a physician's assistant asked if my marriage was okay. She suggested that I was only seeking attention and that the pain was psychological.  I was shocked that my increasing pains and debilitating symptoms were not being taken seriously. 

My illness included metabolic syndrome, migraines, polycystic ovarian syndrome, cognitive difficulties, functional loss, and unrefreshing sleep. I practically laid on the couch or my bed for the next 16 months with pillows supporting my arms and legs so they wouldn't touch each other and cause more pain. During this time, and out of desperation, I convinced a sympathetic surgeon to remove about one-fourth of my breast because I couldn't lower my arm to touch my side without feeling excruciating pain at a very specific place, which I am now convinced was a tender point. 

Visits to different medical specialists ruled out MS, lymphoma, or any identifiable neurological or muscle disorder.  Later I learned that a fibromyalgia (FM) diagnosis could have been made by a physical examination determining 11 of 18 specific body site tender points along with a history of chronic widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body, above and below the waist lasting longer than three months. If my doctors had been educated about diagnosing FM, my journey may have been far less traumatic and much less expensive.  Most importantly, I would not have questioned myself and whether my symptoms were real or psychological.  They were real!  My supportive family would have saved a lot of unnecessary emotional time and energy while we searched for a diagnosis of this life-altering chronic pain condition.

My path to less pain and better health began through education about fibromyalgia, which empowered and helped me slowly regain my life. I learned the importance of posture, deep breathing exercises, and moving, as they all help a deconditioned body become healthier.  My exercise program began with walking to my mailbox each day and adding 30 seconds of extra walking each week. I improved my diet, avoided certain bothersome foods, and reduced stressful events. 

During those bedridden months staring wistfully at my clothes in the closet and wishing for my former health, I promised myself that if I ever made it out of my bed alive I would speak out on behalf of people who are unable to regain their lives due to a chronic pain illness. Even though chronic pain is invisible, the people who live with it are not. In January of 2011, with the help of others also experiencing FM, I founded the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association to provide necessary answers, resources and most importantly, hope, to people searching for information about living with their chronic pain conditions. We advocate for quicker diagnosis and more effective treatments while driving for more scientific research funding.

It is close to the end of 2013 and the beginning of the holiday season.  Please consider making an end-of-year tax deductible donation to the NFMCPA to help ensure that these valuable resources, programs and advocacy campaigns will continue to grow and become even more vital to the well being of millions of people with fibromyalgia and chronic pain conditions.  Or this year, in lieu of a gift, request that others make a donation on your behalf.  Please join me in helping to serve you and others with invisible pain by donating to the NFMCPA.  

Visit www.fmcpaware.org for more information.  

Sincerely yours,  

Jan

Jan F. Chambers,
President and Founder