Your stories – Fibromyalgia

“I’m now aware what stress can to and sometimes wonder if it was stress that got my fibromyalgia going in the first place.”

Jill was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia arthritis over 30 years ago.  For many years, she was able to manage by taking appropriate medications.

When she retired at 60 years of age, she discovered that her second son had secondary melanoma and her stress levels became extreme.

Over several years, she travelled to be with her son, and her health deteriorated; first she developed carpal tunnel syndrome, then rheumatoid arthritis.

As her health got worse, her fibromyalgia got worse.

“The support I received from Arthritis New Zealand and from my Arthritis Educator helped me be more aware of my disease and gave me tools to self-manage the symptoms.  I walk with a group each week, go to the gym and volunteer at our library.”

“I’m now aware what stress can to and sometimes wonder if it was stress that got my fibromyalgia going in the first place.”