Rob Wilson MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fibromyalgia, hosted a coffee morning on behalf of FMA UK at Westminster to raise fibromyalgia awareness with MPs, the day before World Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, to which all MPs were invited to attend. Rob Wilson MP opened the coffee morning by thanking everyone for coming and explaining how important it was to celebrate and recognise World Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. The meeting was addressed by the Conservative Shadow Health Minister, Andrew Lansley MP, for Cambridgeshire South and the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, Steve Webb MP, for Northavon, Gloucestershire.

Group Leaders' Meeting May 20th

There were forty-five attendees at this meeting and twenty-two groups were represented from across the country. Presentation of Volunteer Awards Jeanne Hambleton and Des Quinn were nominated for their work on the magazine and website and both received special awards. The regional winners were: South East Margaret Robson South West Barbara Kernan Scotland Mary and Ricky Stevenson Midlands Christine Brown Yorkshire & Humberside Jean Crossley

HOSPITAL THERAPY DIDN'T HELP ME By Jane Pavey

Swimming was my sport, in fact my life, until things started to go wrong for me at thirteen years old. I spent the next four years between doctors and hospitals until I was finally diagnosed with FMS at seventeen.

MY FIBROMYALGIA By Peggy Manser

Fibromyalgia, a pain in your head, Trying to walk on legs made of lead. You write a letter, you get the words wrong. Why, oh why, does it go on and on?

MEDICAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NFA CONFERENCE By Kathy Longley

Dr Patrick Wood - The Dopamine Theory Dr Wood presented new and interesting ideas about what is going on in the brain in people with fibromyalgia. He started with the idea that stress related issues often trigger fibromyalgia, things like a physical trauma, an infection or a deeply distressing emotional event. It is well known that chronic stress produces tangible changes within the body and it has also been repeatedly reported that the pivotal stress hormone corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) is elevated in fibromyalgia.