We are in the final weeks of preparation for completing the 182 mile Coast-to-Coast walk. Training has been going on since January and has produced a few aches and pains along the way. But imagine every day all your joints are so painful it’s almost impossible to move. Well that’s what Fibromyalgia does to you. Now imagine what that would be like for a 28 year old whose dream was an exciting life in fashion photography but who now just tries to get through each day. That’s my youngest sister’s life. Her dream now is just being able to hold down a job, get married and have a child. 

Fibromyalgia is a recognised chronic condition of widespread pain and profound fatigue. The pain tends to be felt as diffuse aching or burning, often described as head to toe. It may be worse at some times than at others and may also change location, usually becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used most. Additional symptoms often include: un-refreshing sleep, headaches, irritable bowel, cognitive disturbances, clumsiness, dizziness, allergies, sensitivity to environmental changes.

Surprisingly there is very little research into this and other autoimmune conditions. Nikki, one of my fellow walkers, also suffers from an autoimmune system disorder. That’s why we are all choosing to raise funds for Fibromyalgia Action UK.