Since the age of about 24, I began developing chronic pain in various parts of the body, primarily my back, shoulders, and left knee. I spent years going back and forth between tests, doctors, specialists only to be told there was nothing wrong with me. Well, if there was nothing wrong with me, why was I in so much pain without cause?

Roll on to me reaching 29 and the pain started to become unbearable and heavily affecting my day-to-day life. More doctors, more specialists, more blood, more tests, and still nothing, until I met a specialist nurse.

This nurse decided to look back over my medical history, noting visits for mental health, insomnia, heavy fatigue levels, widespread muscle, and joint pain, impaired memory and inability to recall simple things, and struggling to learn simple tasks.

With this, she said, "have you ever heard of fibromyalgia?" I said, "Yes, I have a couple of friends who have it." To which she responded, "Well, I think you may have something in common with these friends, let me send you to a specialist in this condition for a second opinion."

A year later (thanks for that covid) I met with the specialist. He did what he needed to, sat me down, and handed me a leaflet saying "miss, you are a fibro warrior. I wish I had better news for you because sadly we do not know about this condition enough in order to provide you with a treatment, or a cure, but I strongly believe this is the answer to all your symptoms" and he went on to provide me with all the information he could to help me manage the condition.

So here I stand, a fibro warrior whose life has been turned upside down by this condition. This condition has caused me to lose jobs, friends, it has impaired my ability to do fun activities with my 12yr old, it makes cooking a simple dinner almost impossible. Walking down the road to the shop? Sure, I'll make it there, but I won't be able to move for the rest of the day!  But still, I stand, working, streaming, doing my best to live life the best I can.

This campaign is in aid of my fellow warriors and with the hope that one day, we might have an answer and a treatment, that people can be educated and awareness can be raised for this condition.

So please join us in saying "Get Fked Fibro" because we will not let fibro win, and we will not let it rule us!