Hi

katz23

Hi, I am Katz23 and have Fibromyalgia and Mental Health Issues.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @katz23

Welcome to the community! What made you want to join us here? 

I can see you already found us in the Coffee Lounge! Do you feel you have good support for your Fibromyalgia and Mental Health issues? 

katz23

Hi @Hannah_Scope

I decided to join the scope community as I am feeling  lonely.

I am going through a very stressful period in my life at the moment which is having a big impact on my MH.

I have found the Coffee Lounge very helpful as it has helped keep my mind away from rumination and overthinking.

I am on lots of Meds for my Fibro and MH but am still struggling.

I have an apt with my MH nurse soon and hope that she can help me with coping strategies.

Alex_Alumni

Hello and welcome @katz23 and thanks for explaining how you've been lately. 

It's positive to hear that you've got some support in place for your mental health. You'll have to let us know how the appointment with your nurse goes when you can  

If you need to take your mind off things or just fancy a chat, the community is here for you. It's great to know that you've been enjoying the Coffee Lounge!

L_Volunteer

I can only empathise with you as I also have fibromyalgia @katz23. Are there any coping strategies you are looking for, in particular?

Fibromyalgia affects us all in different ways and requires different coping strategies, especially as yours sounds compounded by stress and mental health at the moment. 

I hope your appointment with the MH nurse goes well soon. Please don't hesitate to let us know how this goes and if you need any further support in the meantime 

katz23

Alex_Scope said:

Hello and welcome @katz23 and thanks for explaining how you've been lately. 

It's positive to hear that you've got some support in place for your mental health. You'll have to let us know how the appointment with your nurse goes when you can  

If you need to take your mind off things or just fancy a chat, the community is here for you. It's great to know that you've been enjoying the Coffee Lounge!

Thank you so much @Alex_Scope. 

Had my MH apt today. I’m a little confused about things so am waiting to see the letter that they send me. 

katz23

Thank you so much @L_Volunteer.

The lady I saw today seems to think that I have Fibromyalgia as a result of my MH condition. 

I have had lifelong MH issues which I never really understood until I got a diagnosis in sept 2019. 

Today was the first time I had a F2F apt since then.

I’m a little confused about things that were said so I’m waiting for the letter to come through.

It would seem that the apt was just to discuss my meds. 🤷‍♀️

Alex_Alumni

Thanks for the update @katz23, hopefully the letter will help clear things up for you, but don't hesitate to reach out in the meantime if you need to  

katz23

Alex_Scope said:

Thanks for the update @katz23, hopefully the letter will help clear things up for you, but don't hesitate to reach out in the meantime if you need to  

@Alex_Scope Thank you so much 😊 

L_Volunteer

How are you currently feeling about things @katz23? As someone with fibromyalgia, I am wondering if there's anything I can do to clarify things.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to support you, whether that's answering questions or simply listening 

katz23

@L_Volunteer

Thank you for asking.

I am struggling mentally at the moment as I am going through a very stressful time in my life. I just seem to shut myself away as I’m finding it hard to cope. 

This doesn’t really help with my fibro. 

loz_

Hi @katz23  

Welcome to the community. Although I don’t have Fibromyalgia, I have MH issues too (3 separate diagnoses) and have done for 12 years since age 13. I also have Joint Hypermobility Syndrome.

How are you feeling since your Fibromyalgia diagnosis? It must be a relief to find out what is going on.

katz23

Hi @loz_. Bless you.

I hope that you have good support for your MH issues and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome?

I hope that you are not in too much pain.

My Fibromyalgia isn’t a new diagnosis I was diagnosed 12 years ago and had it for 2 years before my diagnosis.

loz_

Hey @katz23,

I have great support for both, I am very lucky because I know a lot of people don’t get proper support with their conditions. You may have said in the thread above but I can’t remember, do you have good support for your conditions? 

I am having a bad pain day today and have had a joint sublux I hope you are not in too much pain with your Fibromyalgia?

Ahh I misunderstood, apologies!

katz23

Hi @loz_ I’m sorry to hear that you were in so much pain 😔 Are you feeling better today ?

I am happy to hear that you have a good support system 😊

My support system is not that brilliant unfortunately. 

You really don’t need to apologise there’s nothing to apologise for. x

L_Volunteer

I hear you @katz23. Stress and struggling mentally, more generally, can be a huge trigger for fibro (from my experience anyway).

Would you like to talk about the very stressful time you are having at the moment? It’s ok if not but I want to provide that space if you would like to.

Also, is there anything that usually helps you when you are stressed and struggling mentally? 

Hopefully, there will be at least something that will make things feel more manageable for you at the moment.

Please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can do anything, in particular, to support you through this difficult time 

katz23

Hi @L_Volunteer,

Thank you for your very kind words and offer of support.

My current situation is partly to do with my personal life which is very complicated and I don’t feel I could speak about it publicly. 

I don’t think I’ve had a full diagnosis with regard my MH condition. I have been diagnosed with EUPD but I think there might be other overlaps but my MH dept don’t seem that interested.

Hannah_Alumni

Hi @katz23

If there is anything we could do at Scope to help, but you don't want to discuss it publicly, you are more than welcome to email us at community@scope.org.uk

katz23

Thank you @Hannah_Scope

L_Volunteer

Also want to say, you only need to tell us as much or as little as you feel comfortable with @katz23. Just want to make sure we support you the best we can.

I completely hear you that you don't feel you've had a full diagnosis. Even though you have a diagnosis of EUPD, you think there might be other overlaps.

I always encourage you to focus on your gut instinct! Usually, you know yourself best. It is really sad to hear your MH dept doesn't seem that interested.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to help. We care and are interested 

katz23

Hi @Ada thank you so very much xxx