- After being told I have
FMS by a local specialist, exhibiting almost
every possible symptom, I applied for salary
continuation insurance as my sick days will soon
expire(70 days worth). The liason between my work
place and the insurance people informed me that
FMS, CFS and environmental illness are usually
not covered. AMAZING. My neck, back arms and
frequently my legs are so sore it takes so long
to get out of bed and flexible, I'd probably not
make it to work. I also feel that by the time I
get there I would have used up my quota of energy
and need a nap. Then there is the irritable
bowel, this could be very embarassing in front of
a class of high school students. I'?e long since
passed the point where I can move around my
classroom. If I bend over to help, they would
have to straighten me back up. How could an
insurance company feel I could work. Oh yes, I
left in Nov when my books were too heavy for me
to lift when teaching at the board. Then I knew I
had a definite problem. How can an insurance
company deny you coverage when a specialist in
this area says you are too ill to work? How can
they not recognize FMS?
- I suffer
from fibromyalgia. In the process of trying to
get help for that, which has always been scarce,
I was in a car accident. My fibromyalgia is so
much worse now, and I haven't been able to find a
doctor who believes me yet. I have gone from
being able to function normally as long as I take
my meds and am careful, to being in so much pain,
so dizzy, and so shakey that I have trouble
driving to work and even writing. The depression
it causes to not have a doctor believe me or
being able to help me is overwhelming. Doctors
need to be taught about fibromyalgia and know how
to handle it. The pain and suffering caused by
uninformed, sometimes uncaring, doctors is
needless. The suffering of so many people could
be so easily alleviated and validated if doctors
knew what they were doing when it comes to
fibromyalgia.
- If you
don't stand for something you will fall for
anything! I am taking a
stand to fight for awareness for FMS.
- I have sent
it to several friends and others I know that are
fighting the good fight of faith for an answer
for Fibromyalgia. I have been a victim for 12
years and only within the last couple years did I
find a Doctor that understood what was
happening....everyone else said it was just going
through the change of life, that I was depressed
and anxious and needed Prozac or
equivalent, that way I wouldn't care about
anything!! I pray that God will give you favor
and bless you for your efforts. Thanks so much
- Yes, I
would like to participate in this petition. I
have both Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome and have spent this past year getting
the same ridicule and run-around mentioned in
this petition. I'm angry. Not only do we have to
make the best of our lives in spite of our pain
and many complaints, but we also have to suffer
the emotional trauma of being labeled as a
psychiatric case! I have 3 sisters and two others
besides myself suffer from this syndrome. We all
live in different states and our ages vary by as
much as 12 years. Perhaps someone should study
groups with strong family histories of these
syndromes.
- Yes, please
include my name in your petition. I have been
unable to work since October 96. By the summer of
97 I had gone through my savings and RRSP's and
am now reliant on $195 per month allotted to me
by Social Services. I have been "doing
battle" with CPP and Manulife for the
benefits I feel are due me, but so
far....nothing. More must be done in Canada to
assist sufferers of FMS and to educate the
Government agencies, medical professions and the
public. Thank you for this opportunity to include
my two cents worth.
- I agree. I
am a patient in Minneapolis, MN who has been
suffering with this pain for many years. I have
been a hard worker, who worked many years
ignoring the symptoms and instead putting my life
and my health in jeapordy until a friend
convinced me that the incredible on-going pain,
and the sudden and frequent episodes of total
exhaustion and collapse, were all part of a
disease. I agree with this petition.
- Please
accept my name for this very important petition
for more in-depth scientific research of
fibromyalgia to find the etiology as well as a
cure or at least a better quality of life,
education of our medical students and residents
about fibromyalgia, better health care from our
doctors and our insurance companies which would
include the recognition and acceptance that
narcotics DO HELP, recognition that fibromyalgia
is a separate entity as a serious and disabiling
syndrome that for many people means they are
deserving of Social Security benefits. Thank you
for taking it upon yourselves to initiate this
petition. We need to become big and loud and not
go away so that our lives can change for the
better.
- There are
39 of us presently suffering with this disease
and most of us do have fibromyalgia. I have a two
year old daughter and must rely on my parents to
take care of her most of the time. Even they
think, "When are you going to take care of
her?"
- Please
accept my "signature" on the
Fibromomyalgia Petition. I have recently been
diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but have suffered
the symptoms for years. It is to the point now of
ruining my life by threatening my job security,
hence taking everything I have acquired during my
career. I am in severe pain but have not been
prescribed any type of analgesic for relief. I
suffer from extreme weakness, fatigue, cognitive
problems, and motor skill disfunction. I would
not wish this illness on my worst enemy, although
persons in a position to make something positive
happen in regards to the way sufferers of this
illness have to live should, have to endure a
"flare" for at least a week. (Walk a
mile in my shoes.) My thanks to you for allowing
me to vent.
- Thanks so
much for responding to me. I really appreciate
all of the hard work that you have done for our
cause. Without people like you, we would be a lot
worse off then we are. Yes, I am going to try and
get more people to send signatures. I have put
your homepage in my favorite places and will
continue to check it out. Thanks again & God
Bless You.
- We need to
force scientists and Dr.'s to
beg for money to find a cure, We suffer in silence cause our pains are
unseen we look in a mirror and we see old
delapitating bodys but the worl sees young/old
healthy bodies. We need a cure we need it soon.
I'm a 30yr old woman with a young son and no
longer can live a good quality life with my
family and we all suffer
from this not just me but the family as a whole
cause fun things are no longer fun to me and i
can't do them, I was and am a young woman with a
life ahead but now it feels as if i'm an old
woman deprived of the things i have waited so
long to do. Depression sets in on FM patients
cause we are denied understanding from Dr.'s and
others including family members i see families
break up over this FM cause it's not understood!
Please everyone lets make them hear and
understand!
- I'am to one
whom suffers from Fibromyalgia,and think that
there has to be some way to stop the pain. I feel
all Doctors of all trades need to learn more
about this devistating disease that hits millions
of people all over the world.Social security, and
all goverments need to realize this is a disease
and most all people need help in some way or
another and to stop turning us away like we whom
suffer from this and to start lending a hand to
help. Thanks, Michigan
- I have FMS and am not able
to work after 25 years of working and 9 yrs
serving my country. I am getting no assistance,
even though I have applied both to the Army for
full disabily benefits due to multiple injuries
& surgeries which has brought this illness on
and worsen it. I have also applied to SSI, and
have seen numerous doctors. But I have recieved
nothing but promises yet.I have begged, borrowed
and sold my belongings to keep a roof over my
head, but money is running out and soon I will
have to declare bankruptsy, lose my home and end
up in the street like many other veterans before
me. Is
there any thing that can be done to right this
wrong. How can I get the government to move
quicker on this matter to protect me from an
unjust fate. If there is anyone who can help,
please send me a note. Or at least forward this
to the hands of someone who can help.
- I was
healthy and active. After trying for over a year
I had my child. I was so excited about doing all
kinds of activities together as a family. I
started having severe muscle pains, after a few
months I realized it was getting worse not
better. Sleepiness nights, poor memory, muscle
spasms, sharp pain, dull pain, throbbing pain, I
was finally diagnosed by a rhuematologist and a
nuerologist with fibromyalgia. I was diagnose at
29 I'm 33 now. Please help
institute some kinds of government awareness. I
lost my job and haven't worked for the past year.
I miss working and I miss being able to plan
anything because I may be into much pain. I live
each day and hour as it comes
because at one time I may be feeling relativily
fine ( meaning the pain is tolerable) to the next
few minutes being bed ridden with bad pain. I'm
fortunate I have a great support system through
my church and husband. I know many suffers are
alone.
- I am glad someone is doing
this! This is long overdue. I have gone to the
best rheumatologist in Knoxville, Tn. and all she
could do is to admit she doesn't know enough
about this disease, and suggest a new pain
killer. I am a nurse, I love my work, but I will
have to quit my job this month due to the pain,
fatigue and swelling. I'
ve pushed myself hard for 3 years-I can't do it
anymore.
- Well,
anyway, I work for the Texas prison system. I am
a Sgt. in Laundry Operations. I supervise all of
the inmates who work for me and have direct
contact with the rest of the inmate population on
the unit. I have had serious problems with FM
long before my diagnosis, which is nothing new
for the FMily. Shortly after my diagnosis, I
carried my cane to work with me just in case the
weakness or the pain got too bad and I needed a
little help getting around. I put it in a secure,
locked area and left it. Well my supervisor found
it while I was doing something else and
apparently went ballistic. She went straight
"up front" to the Major and asked if I
was allowed to use this at work and he said no.
Apparently she had been complaining about me
being absent and also saying that I couldn't do
my job. (Which was odd, because just the week
before she called in sick because she stubbed her
toe)..Anyway, the Major said that it was a
weapon. I went to the human resources (personnel)
lady and she told me that I would have to go
through the ADA and get it approved by my doctor.
Then there was the formal meeting where I had to
go over my job dutes and mark if I could do them
every day without assistance. Then I had to take
the list to my doctor and get her to write a
statement on it.Here it is: "has been
diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. This condition is
temporary, but does last for several years. This
condition limits her ability to stand for long
periods of time and would necessitate the
occasional use of a cane. She shouldn't lift over
45 lbs. Mary Beth li}itations are detmrmined0one " day at a tmme, since this ió the way Fibromyalgia
effects the patient. There are no medical
limitations placed on Mary Beth - she is limited
only by her abilitù to perform for"that
fay." Human resources told me that Labor
0 Òelations$said I still couldn't use a cane at
worë$and thqt if I got up feeling badly where I
would need some help walking or couldn't do some
of the other thing that I had listed
without help, I would have to call in sick. I
told her that I would have to go back to the
doctor and see what I could get done. Although I
didn' know what. She said to be careful about
what disabilities the doctor imposes, becuase I
might not be able to keep my job.. Louise, is
this fair? Is my cane more of a weapon than a mop
handle that inmates use to clean floors or
crutches that they use to walk? I just don't
understand. I guess I'm starting to experience
what all of the FM/MPS sufferers have been
experiencing for years. It hurts. Thanks for
listening. Sorry this was so long. Write me and
tell me about yourself. Then I'll write and say
something good for a change. Thanks again for the
ear and shoulder.
- I have had
fibromyalgia & myofascial pain syndrome for
15 years & am extremely disabled by them.
There MUST be research & hope for us. I have
seriously considered suicide.
- I fully support the
concept that a better awareness is needed for
Fibromyalgia, Cronic Fatigue, Myofacial Pain
Syndrome and all painful and life disturbing
syndromes of this nature. People suffering from
such diagnosis' are already dealing with a large
'trauma'
that is only magnified and irritated by the
ignorance of those in the medical profession as
well as the general public. Please consider
promoting the awareness of what these Syndromes
are and how persons with them feel.
- Sign me
up!!!! I have had a diagnosis by a number of
doctors an different occasions, Some say
Fibromyalgia, some say Myofascial Pain
Syndrome,Some even say phycogenic.For me its just
constant unrelenting pain.All my G.P. can give in
advise is you just have to stop dwelling on it,
and get on with your life". This comes
straight from the mouth of someone who hasnt a
clue what I'm trying to deal with.
- Gentlemen (or ladies):
Please include my signature on the Fibromyalgia
Petition. I
have suffered its symptoms severely for 18 years
since an accident, and moderately for at least 25
years. At the present time I am unable to work
and am limited to very few acvtivities each day.
I also have rather advanced osteoarthritis and
have undergone surgeries on four joints to date.
I'll tell you that the fibromyalgia is much
harder to cope with than the OA. The pain is as
great. It is more generalized. And the fatigue is
indescribable.
- Thank you for all of your
hard work on behalf of the disabled people. I
have been on CPP Disability, and Mutual Life
Insur. Disability for over 3 years now. My dr
doesn't think that I'll ever get better. Each
time I see him he tells me again to just 'accept'
what I have. I am on narcotic drugs (morphine) as
well as about 15 other medications each day. I
spend most of my days is agonizing pain in bed
unable to hardly walk. I've lost my career, my
friends, my lifestyle,,,, almost everything. I
just want my pre-Fibro Life back!
- I have been
diagnosed with FM/CFS in Sept. of 1993. I
"was" an office assistant for the Dow
Chemical Company for over 16 years. From 1993 to
1996 is tried my best to cope, but to no end. I
had to give up my job in May of 1996, after
trying to reduce stress and pain by job-sharing
for the last year and a half. I have been trying
for a disability pension, but my appeal and
second letter from the government tells me....
"In your case, you may not be able to do
your usual job and suitable work may not be
available to you. However, the information in
your file shows that you are still able to do
other work suitable to your
condition
on a regular basis. Since you are able to do some
other type of work, we cannot consider you to be
disable as defined in the Canada Pension
Plan." I am in the process now of seeing
more doctors and preparing my case via
information and a letter to sent to a Review
Tribunal.I feel so helpless sometimes...... why
can't anyone see the daily suffering we with
FM/CFS live with. Why won't they believe.
- I have been
married to a woman with fibromyalgia for 17
years. Anyone that tells me that FM is not real
has to deal with me first. I have even told my
best friends, whose wives show symptoms of FM,
that they need to seek out medical attention, at
the expense of losing my best friends. Fibromyalgia is as real as
any other medical condition. Don't disregard
peoples complaints of pain or regular sickness.
If it happens often enough, it may be a clue. Don't be apathetic towards
this condition. It can be extremely dangerous.
Many cases result in suicide.
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