Widespread O/A and Fibromyalgia

Thanks for that Mary. I now have the form open to volunteer for a voluntary parenting agency locally (Homestart), quite apt as I was a social worker previously, so hopefully I can contribute. Also plan to discuss with hubby tonight about volunteering at the local primary school. I think it's healthier to get out if we can, I'd much rather socialise than stay home alone. Good luck with your new role as volunteer, I hope it drives you on. I've done a degree through the Open University and altho a little stressful at times, the pace is perfect as you set your own. Might have a wee look and see what they have on offer, but I think a personal interest course would be good, rather than academic. Who knows, I may do chinese cookery for example, but for sure it will be something just for me. Ill health does make you grow as a person, I agree, but that seems to come following the hard road of grieving, anger, frustrations, depression etc oh how cheery! Appreciate the weather comments, we previously lived in the countryside but having moved 2 hours north, to Pittenweem in Fife, Scotland, we are at the sea and it tends to be so much warmer with cleaner air. Fingers crossed for a mild winter both sides of the Atlantic. Thank you for your reply & best of luck to you x

Gizmo - sorry you're feeling under par today. Enjoy your movie and hopefully tomorrow will be brighter :-) Brain disease - they suspected MS and during an MRI scan found small vessel brain disease & cervical spondylosis - sometimes we're better off not knowing!

Wishing you all a painfree Sunday :-) You gotta laugh, it's far healthier than crying x

Hi everyone.  I am grateful for this forum, which I only happened upon by coincidence.  Obviously, I identify with you all with the osteoarthritis in all my joints, fibromyalgia in my muscles, spondylosis in my cervical and lumbosacral, which I have to guess also includes the thoracic.  Of course, I go to a psychologist to deal with the depression and anxiety.  I happen to be an attorney, who has let me work from home for the last couple of years due to my Aspergers.  I was told yesterday that I have to give it up in order to qualify for ASDI, which I guess would be best.  Odd though, inasmuch as I have relied on law as a therapeutic device that let me get through life, and not that I ever made as much money for it in order to retire at the age of 52.  Tears, sure, I have shed them, and don't know who has shed more, me or my 81 year old mother, who I have lived with all of my life because I never earned enough money to afford independent living expenses.  But, I guess I ultimately come down to the basic question, which is: how did this happen to me so suddenly.  I'll always wonder was it my month long trip to Australia, which was the only time I left the U.S.?  My paid doctor tells me that we'll never know.  As you all know, this is extremely hard to live with.  Inasmuch as I still have the ability to rationalize, I have to wonder, will my mind be affected.  I guess that this forum emanates out of the U.K., While I have never been there, I do know that during WW II, a slogan there was Stay Strong and Carry On.  I often think about that, and have absolutely no idea as to how the people were able to live through that time.  But, I leave you with what I think is an amusing story: I was with a friend last week, and said to him, that maybe there was a connection between my going to Australia and undergoing this condition.  He responded that the U.K. and Australia are on opposite sides of the world.  Of course, I did laugh inasmuch as I never had any sense of geography.  Again, I am very grateful for this forum where I can communicate with people who personally share a common life.  I wish you all a positive day.