I am suffering with chronic fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and an inflamitory arthritis two collapsed discs with two nerves trapped What treatment shoul

Dear Stephanie

What strikes me from your few lines is how many losses you have had, and I am not surprised your body is struggling. Perhaps all the years of nursing your husband you've not really allowed yourself to think of a lot of this as you've had to keep going to care for him. I'm very sorry to hear about your daughter and the three babies. I think depression is quite a normal reaction to all this. When we look after someone close for a very long time, losing them is like losing our own life which has been so entwined with looking after another it becomes like one. Stephanie, I think it would be really helpful if your GP referred you for so e counselling, not CBT, but a real chance to talk to someone. Alternatively there are sometimes some voluntary bereavement counselling services around which you could try and contact. Google them if you have the internet. Failing that you could look for a private counsellor if you can afford it. The best way to do this is to go to BACP.co.uk and click on their find a therapist link, or if you don't have a computer ring them 01455 883300. Good luck, keep us posted. You need to be very kind and understanding to yourself too.

That's an awful lot you have had to deal with. So sorry for your loss.

How long have you had the physical pain for? Have you talked to anyone about all the emotional pain you must have been going through? Stress is a huge factor in illness especially when dealing with our perception of pain and in conditions like fibromyalgia etc...and it is an understatement to say that you seem to have had much more than your fair share of stress. You're a strong person to look after your husband as you did and should be commended. That must have been tough on you in many ways.

Have you thought about bereavement counseling or just counseling in some form that perhaps someone who is experienced in helping people through times like this, could help you through this difficult time? Your go should be able to refer you to someone appropriate. It is fantastic that your daughter survived the crash and that you have family to talk with and help support each other.

Here is a great forum to talk, but t sounds like you need a person face to face who can help you cope, sort your meds out and be there when you need to offload. Hope you get the help and advice you're searching for and are feeling in a better place soon. JK x

I have suffered similar symptoms for the last 8 years and had to rely on a flimsy Dr's diagnosis, which bore no relation to the true symptoms. By accident I found that antibiotics relieve me of all the pain and have given me hope to be pain free in the future. Unfortunately Dr's refuse to prescribe me antibiotics and also couldn't be more unhelpful if they tried to be, while I have been attempting to prove that my condition is really down to bacteria in my blood, which came from herniated discs in my back. I am having to have a blood culture done privately to test for various bacteria. This is because I have been refused 3 times for these tests to be done on previous blood cultures. I am afraid many Dr's these days are either too pompous or lethargic to admit they could possibly be wrong. Half the medical fraternity do not even believe fibromyalgia exists and the half that do seem to give it as a diagnosis to anything they cannot explain.

Try to get antibiotics with clavulate acid (Augmentin) as these prevent the bacteria from attacking the antibiotic and allow it to work properly. You will feel a difference within 3 days if it is a bacteria that is causing your pain. If not, then at least there is nothing lost. A blood culture test for bacteria would need to be "cooked" for at least 7 days, as that is how long these infections take to show up in the blood. I hope this helps. Good luck and heartfelt codolenses for your loss.

Stephanie. My goodness. I thought I had enough with my various health & personal problems. You have every right to feel depressed, my god. I agree with the others, you need to talk face to face with someone. It's remarkable that you have held it together as you have, but I think it's time you got some professional help, & I really do wish you the very best.

John. Unfortunately, most GP's are reluctant to refer us for some treatments, tests, scans etc because it all comes out of their budget. Some of these tests, like a glucose tolerance test used to cost quite a lot so some would simply not refer them. Down the line some ended up developing full blown insulin dependent diabetes.

Goodness my heart goes out to all of you. i have to say at present (never say never with fibro eh?) my fibro is beginning to improve after years. At present I'm resting up after major foot surgery which may be something to do with that but in general I thinks it's Ina better phase and I put a lot of that down to a sabbatical from work, moving to the country and having a fairly new marriage so not carrying all the stress of a single mum working to bring up three kids! Also I have stopped taking anti inflammatories as I believe they were causing me more harm than good! Good luck,with your tests john, there are many different ways to try and combat this condition and we each need to find our own. The other thing I think is really important - being kinder to yourself, so many of us with fibro are very hard on ourselves, physically and emotionally. Steph if you want to private message me more about counselling please feel free to do so. It is my profession so I may be able to assist you finding something if that's a way you wish to explore? You're all strong and wonderful people reading this go well 😊 VJ

Thank you all for your very kind words and support, I am really touched by your understanding and compassion towards me.

VJ I may contact you soon thank you .

I wish all of you the very best and hope you are all coping well at the moment and enjoying the sunshine at last !! :-)

John I will be looking into the antibiotics etc.

Regards

God Bless

Stephanie