A YOUNG woman has been struck down with a sudden illness which has left her in constant pain and often too ill too get out of bed.
Melanie Birks, 27, is now launching a campaign group to raise awareness of fibromyalgia after the illness forced her to abandon her degree in applied social science.
The mother-of-two of Lime Tree Avenue, Hyde Park, spent two years suffering muscl
e weakness, migraines and intense pain in her arms and legs.
Doctors initially thought she could be suffering from multiple sclerosis or a stroke. She was also asked to undergo psychiatric testing as doctors thought her problem could be psychological, Mrs Birks said.
She was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia - a chronic pain and fatigue disorder - in February.
Her husband, Mark, 38 has now had to become her full time carer.
"I take 21 tablets a day and also wear a pain killing patch," Mrs Birks said. "I can only walk with a walking stick and I cannot work. My husband has had to stop work to become my carer as I am unable to carry out basic household tasks. All this and I am 27.Fibromyalgia has no definite cause and no cure at present. It will be part of a sufferer's life forever. This can cause great problems accepting the illness and coping with it."
Symptoms of fibromyalgia include muscle pain and stiffness, fatigue, migraines and intolerance to heat, light, aromas and sound. The majority of people diagnosed with the condition are women.
Mrs Birks is campaigning to increase awareness of the illness so that people living with the symptoms feel confident to see a doctor. She is also setting up a support group for the estimated 50 people in Doncaster believed to be living with the condition.
The group, which will meet at Doncaster CVS in Trafford Court, once a month will offer sufferers and carers advice and a place to share experiences.
A spokesman at Doncaster Royal Infirmary said: "The condition, fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to diagnose.
"It requires assessment by a range of different health specialists such as physicians, neurologists, rheumatologists, physiotherapists - and other members of a multi-disciplinary team - over a period of time."
To attend the group or for more information about fibromyalgia contact Melanie Birks at doncastersupportgroup@googlemail.com or 0845 458 2110.
