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Derby Fibromyalgia Support Group
We are a newly formed support group for sufferers of Fibromyalgia and their carers.
Derby Fibromyalgia Support Group was founded in March 2007. The founding members and committee are Jackie Banton, Chairperson, Doug Banton, Secretary and Paula Crawford.
Jackie and Paula came up with the idea after Jackie attended a pain clinic and found out that she had the syndrome and the nearest support groups were in Nottingham or Burton on Trent. Julia Barnes joined the committee as vice chairperson after attending the first meeting and Anne Hughes joined in September 2007.
Our first meeting took place at Devonshire House in the grounds of the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary on the 10th May 2007. The meeting was very successful and about 25 people attended. Due to accessibility problems at Devonshire House we have moved the meetings to the Charnwood Spiritualist Church on Charnwood Street Derby which has improved disabled access and parking at the rear of the premises just off Melbourne Street.
Who’s who
 Jackie Banton
Hi, my name is Jackie, and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in January 2005. I had trouble coming to terms with the illness. I looked on the internet and contacted the Nottingham Support Group to find out if there was a support group in Derby so I could find someone to talk to about how I felt. It was at this point I realised that my friends didn’t understand how I felt and they visited less. I was fortunate to be able to join the Pain Management Programme at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. I decided than that a support group was needed in Derby, I felt very strongly about it, so it was down to me to make the first move: that was in December 2006.
 Douglas Banton
Hi I’m Jackie’s husband and I find working with the group interesting and enjoyable. and I have learned much about the syndrome.
Helping to run the group really puts all the computer skills that I have learned over the last 10 years to good use and I hope to continue to use them in the future.
The people who attend the meetings are from all walks of life and backgrounds, its surprising how many people think that there will only be afew people at the meeting and go away after making new friends
Paula Crawford
My Name is Paula. I am a 36 year old mother of four. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis roughly about 7 years ago. I felt for all that time that no help or advice was available to me. A short time after my diagnosis depression and loneliness set in. That was it until I bumped into a longtime friend, Jackie who told me she had been diagnosed with fibro. It was great to talk to her; this made me feel that I wasn’t alone with what we had to contend with on a daily basis.
Jackie told me she would love to set up a support group for sufferers as there wasn’t one in Derby. It was great idea and was much needed. For 7 years I didn’t know they existed. Jackie discovered a group in Burton and we went along to see how it was done and to get some ideas. We met a lovely couple of people and they made us very welcome. In particular we met a lovely lady called Julia who said she would love to come and help out. Jackie and her husband Doug did all the hard work researching how we could get a group up and running. Their dedication is unbelievable and with their determination the first meeting was held on the 10th May 2007, only weeks after I bumped into Jackie The second meeting was on the 14th June 2007. Both meetings were a huge success and the feedback from all the people who attended was great.
Though I try to be there on the day it is difficult to put in as much time as I would like to due to having more bad days then good but now I know that there is help and advice out there and that I can get it when I go to the support group and meet many new friendly people and Jackie is only a phone call away. I would like to say a big thank you for reading this and to Jackie, Julia and Doug for their help and support.
 Anne Hughes
Hi my name is Anne. I am married to David and have 3 children. I’m originally from Kirkcaldy in Scotland. My children and I moved here in November 2003 to set up home. I had my diagnosis confirmed in February 2005. Almost a year earlier I started feeling tired all the time, feeling completely exhausted after doing the most simplest of things like taking the children to school. By the time I was walking back after dropping them off I was in so much pain and completely exhausted I wanted to just lie down in the street and cry! The more exhausted I was becoming the more isolated I became: all my friends and family were back home and I didn’t have the energy to make new friends. In the November of 2004 my GP suggested that she though it was fibromyalgia and referred me to the hospital. I had heard of fibromyalgia but I thought I was only older people that had it, as my friend Catherine’s mum had it and she was in her late 60s! I was only 31 so they must have got it wrong! I started to research the condition and found out it wasn’t an old person’s condition. I found the Nottingham support Group but it was too far away, I had no transport and no confidence, so that was a no go! I was referred to pain clinic at the end of 2006, where I was offered a place on the Pain Management Programme where I met 3 other people that had it too. It was while I was on this programme that I found out about this group and thought I should really give it a try, I went along to first meeting and I was absolutely amazed how many people were there! After the first couple of times attending the meeting I offered my help: it was just after this that Jackie asked if I wanted to help with organising. I have been on the committee for just over 3 months now and I am really enjoying meeting people and making friends. I have also found that my confidence has grown and the old me is gradually returning.
How we started
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