"Fibromyalgia"

I had been in pain for years with my neck and back but because I have depression and anxiety I was told its just stress and that I needed to relax, have a massage, attend a stress course.

10 years later, still in pain, different doctor in a different surgery i begged for help and was told that it's stress. Different doctor, same surgery i begged to be referred to a rheumatologist and after over 6 months of asking i was. I then waited to be seen. The rheumatologist at Craigavon checked my arms and feet and told me that was me done. They didn't give me information or tell me what they were diagnosing me with, if anything so I asked. They said "you have fibromyalgia and joint hyper mobility, I'll refer you to the pain clinic and for an MRI".

One year later I rang my GP at Holywood Arches for an update on the pain clinic referral only to be told I hadn't been referred and that the rheumatologist hadn't said they would. I waited so long for the mri, the NHS, sent me to a private hospital to have it done. It showed wear and tear in my neck and back. Not stress after all.

On top of that, I had been having palpitations on and off over the years, also put down by my GP at the time as anxiety. One night it happened and I rang an ambulance and the paramedic told me it wasn't anxiety and I was taken to Daisyhill Hospital. I was in for 5 days and had numerous tests only to find out I had a heart condition and needed an operation. I have since had 2 ablations at the Royal Victoria, neither of which work and I am on a beta blocker to keep my heart rate normal.

I was eventually seen by the pain doctor at Craigavon who said they cant help me. Due to my anxiety and personality disorder, they can't send me to a pain management class in case I have an anxiety attack or lash out and disrupt the class. They sent me for a blood test and discharged me. A few months later I got a letter from this doctor telling me to get in touch with versus arthritis.

I have got pain all over and a new pain in my knees. When I rang the doctor they said it could be a type of arthritis but prescribed Piroxicam gel, instead of sending me for tests to find out what it is causing the pain and swelling.

My GP at Kilkeel Primary Care Centre wants me to learn to live with chronic pain and stop expecting them to help me. They recommended a book from Amazon to help me. They won't prescribe pain relief and the pain doctor, as mentioned, won't help.

I was sent to Kilkeel for physiotherapy and was made to exercise. When I explained about my heart condition I was told to do it anyway and they'd check with my cardiologist to see if i can exercise. At my next appointment I asked if they had checked and the physio said no but I need to get on the treadmill. I couldn't walk for 2 days. Another referral to the same physio at Kilkeel left me unable to walk for 5 days.

My doctor wont listen, no doctor will listen. I understand that opioids do not work for me as I have tried them and got addicted to co codamol. They didnt relieve the pain at all. I do know of other people getting injection or morphine patches while I am left to suffer.

This isn't living. Its simply existing day to day in pain, and more pain and desperation.