Press Releases
Awareness Week 8th - 15th September 2007
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- Category: Press Releases
- Published on Sunday, 02 September 2007 21:15
- Hits: 11752
Many people are still not aware of fibromyalgia and the devastating effects it can have on people with the condition and their families. During National Awareness Week local support groups around the country are being encouraged to make themselves noticed by wearing not only the yellow ribbon with black spots, but clothes in yellow and black. It's easy to miss a ribbon, but a group of people all wearing yellow and black makes an impression.
Why should we go to these lengths? It is estimated that 2% - 4% of the population could have fibromyalgia and many of these will have spent years suffering pain and fatigue before being diagnosed. Others are worrying about their pain and fatigue without being diagnosed. Many people have been diagnosed because they recognised the symptoms from media information and asked their doctors if fibromyalgia could be the cause of the different aches and pains that they had been trying to cope with.
People with fibromyalgia typically have a range of symptoms which can change and vary from day to day.
These include:
- Muscle pain and stiffness
- Fatigue
- Specific tender points
- Disturbed sleep
- Poor concentration
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Because the symptoms vary in intensity from day to day, planning work and even daily life can be difficult. The feeling of letting people down can add to the frustration and stress and exacerbates the condition. Not understanding why this is happening can lead to a sense of guilt and worry about possible causes for the sufferer and misunderstanding by employers, family and friends.
If you know 100 people it is likely that 2 of them will develop fibromyalgia, especially if they are women. This means most people will be affected by fibromyalgia directly or indirectly at some time in their lives.
For an information pack please send a 40p large sae to:
Fibromyalgia Association UK, PO Box 206, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 8YL
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- National Helpline 0300 999 3333 (10am - 4pm Mon - Fri)
- Benefits Helpline 0300 999 0055 (10am - 12pm Mon, Wed and Fri)
- Complimentary information booklets for doctors and other professionals (fully referenced)
- Books and videos
- Website Contacts with legal specialists
- Conferences
- Local support group and helpline contacts
If your Health Care Professional needs some education in fibromyalgia you can request that an FMA UK Health Professionals Pack is sent out to them. All we need is the name of the Health CareProfessional and the address of their practice. We will then send a pack to their surgery addressed from us to them.
You can request a medical pack using this form.
You can find a Support Group near you by contacting the Regional Coordinator for your area. If there does not happen to be a support group near you then maybe you can join with some other members and set one up. Support groups provide a social benefit as well as the opportunity to share tips on coping with fibro. They come in all shapes and sizes and we are often told how they have helped people.
