A Letter from Zanne - 2
14 May 2001

Since I last wrote, I wonder if any of you have done anything about finding this wonderful Doctor who is understanding and loving towards you. It can be done! I did it and so can you but you have to be positive. When you find this unbelievable creature, then you cannot pile all your aches and pains onto him or her without knowing what you are doing.

My advice, is that your first port of call should be to buy a book 'WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT FIBROMYALGIA' by R.PAUL ST. ARMAND, M.D. This book is a textbook and full of so much information. It is impossible to assimilate all the information without a great deal of reading. I can thoroughly recommend it and you will find it such a help. I could not manage without it now. My Doctor bought my copy on the Net, which is so easy but I do believe 400 copies have been imported into New Zealand so probably if you ask around there might be a bookshop with some copies for sale. ($12.00 U.S. from www.amazon.com)

If there is anyone who needs help with pain and lifestyle and feel I could be of some assistance, do not be backward in coming forward and asking. Jacqui I am sure would forward any information to me which I would reply to immediately or even someone to talk to you. To talk to someone else who has F.M.S. is a great help because if you tell other people about this illness they sort of look at you blankly and say "What's that?"

I for one get so tired of trying to explain because I feel the more we talk about it, the more people know about it, the more we can progress. When you break your arm, then everyone knows and understands but when your illness cannot be seen and you are in the middle of a fatigue syndrome and feeling like death warmed up, how can one say "I am so tired" when you look alright and are moving through the motions of living. If you like to call it living!

I have to pace my day, which is important to me, so I do try, you notice the try, to do so much in short bursts. This morning I washed the dog and that was just about it for me for today.

Enough for now and I will write another article for you in June.

Zanne