My initial response to the diagnosis

When I initially was diagnosed on Friday I was in complete shock and really upset. I have been attending a course for 'Living with long term conditions' and there are a couple of other people there with Fibromyalgia so I had already learned a bit about the condition. I then looked more up on the internet. I guess I shouldn't have been shocked that I was diagnosed with it as I had noted that I had many of the symptoms but I was fooled by the fact that all of my pain seemed to be in my joints and everything I read said Fibromyalgia was in the muscles and also by the fact that my doctor seemed pretty convinced it was Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The weekend was pretty difficult as we went about our usual activities, band practice and food shopping and all the while I felt completely cut off from the world around me. My whole life had changed in the blink of an eye and yet everyone else was carrying on as normal. I spent a fair amount of time crying and worrying about the future. Of the people I know with Fibromyalgia most are unable to work but I have just taken out my first mortgage so I have 30 years to pay off! My other half has just gone back to work after having a nervous breakdown 12 years ago and is only working part time self employed so I cannot force him to start working full time just because I may be unable to work. So the future is far from certain. I love our house, it needs loads of work but I love having a garden, I would hate to have to give it up.

As the weekend went on I got a bit more used to the diagnosis, I wouldn't say I came to terms with it but I was less upset. Talking with my parents helped, although they have no idea about Fibro. The best thing was getting on the UKFibromyalgia website and talking my feelings over with people on there. They were so welcoming and have told me not to stress or worry about the future as that may bring on a flare up which will only make things worse. Tackle each day as it comes and face the future when I get there. Also I was told that I could live for many years without my symptoms impacting my life too much. Fibro affects everyone differently and there is no telling how it will affect me yet.