The new employment rules for sick and disabled people will undoubtedly send many Fibromyalgia sufferers into a downward spiral of pain and anxiety. This invisible disability which affects close to 2 million people in the UK is a pain and fatigue condition described as a Central Sensitivity Syndrome. All the symptoms are worsened by stress. Those affected by Fibromyalgia are generally busy, active, responsible people who continue to ‘manage’ until the condition stops them in their tracks. Their lives are turned upside down by the unrelenting muscle pain, random and variable fatigue plus other associated debilitating symptoms. The employment issues surrounding this complex condition centre on professional awareness and the need for sufferers to explain the impact that Fibromyalgia has on daily life. As there is no blood test to prove Fibromyalgia’s existence and sufferers look quite well, stress levels can rocket skywards when trying to describe symptoms and their affects to apparently sceptical people.

However, help is at hand in my book “The Fibromaylgia Coach” which addresses the practical issues of living with a chronic pain and fatigue condition. Providing strategies and vital skills (including how to keep and track evidence-based information for use in any formal meeting on which your future may depend), action points, self-help questions and real-life stories which can support your need to keep involved in what happens to you, and to take control instead of feeling that life is controlling you.

It’s all tried and tested. I used all these things in my own journey to bring my life back into balance in spite of having Fibromyalgia, and now my readers and coaching clients are saying that their lives are improving because they are using the strategies too. Visit www.amethystaccordlifeservices.com for more info. Good luck, you can do it!

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In 2001 I stopped teaching because of Fibromyalgia.  At that time I had to come to terms with the fact that I missed the communication and performance angle of the job as much as I missed the young people and staff.   For some time I needed to be introspective and work hard on managing my life in a different way and my FM symptoms in particular.  I had to accept that I may never have the opportunity to work with a big audience again, and I did accept that!

This week, two things have happened to make me realise I have not lost the old ability to fire the enthusiasm of an audience by getting a message across through music, humour, pathos, and practical problem-solving.  The old Pam of yesteryear is alive and well and living happily in the life of the new Pam who now successfully manages Fibromyalgia.

So what has made me so ecstatic ?  Well, I gave a talk about my book “The Fibromyalgia Coach” to a great bunch of people in Chatham, Kent, all of whom have FM.  I felt like the old me, getting my positive message across by all means possible to me, and enjoying every minute of the experience myself.   It was helped by the totally positive atmosphere within the group anyway, so thank you Medway Fibromyalgia Support Group, I have a feeling that we will meet again!

The second thing that’s happened is that BNI (Business Network International) has seen fit to ask me to be Education Co-ordinator for my group (Chapter). Only someone like me who actually enjoyed working in Education for over 30 years and was upset at being stopped before her time could understand what it means to me to be given any role carrying the title Education Co-ordinator again!  Needless to say, I shall enjoy my six months in this role.

So there we have it!  There is new life with FM - it’s not the same, but basically I haven’t lost skills and abilities that I had years ago.  I’ve just found new stages on which to use them.  One thing remains the same though - the positive message - if I can do these things, so can you!

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