The following is an interview with compilation editor, Deanna Couras Goodson:
Please give our readers some background by telling us about yourself, your experiences with fibro, and how it has affected your life.
I'm 32. I have two young children and I was always a Type-A, overachiever. My mom used to say - you're going to make yourself sick. I had mono as a teen and never really recovered, looking back. I pushed myself a lot. Finally between pregnancy #1 and pregnancy #2, I became pretty ill. I lost use of my hands, became suicidal and more. It was very scary. I thought I was going to die and no one was going to figure out why.
Fibro has made me learn to pace myself better - I'm still learning though. It's caused me to get in touch with my feelings and re-define my priorities. I'm more spiritual now and more in tune with my feelings. I was very angry for a long time - and still have some bad days with anger - like I'm grieving for a dead person who's still alive; but, it gets easier with time.
What inspired or prompted you to compile an e-book of stories written by Fibro and CFS survivors?
So many people who have these diseases would write to me and say my story touched them. I felt that since sharing my feelings was cathartic for me; then, maybe it could be cathartic for others. If it then, touched others and maybe reached some people who don't have the disease, maybe it could a) spread awareness and b) be something positive for those of us with these conditions, a triumph of the spirit if you will.
What does this compilation have to offer someone seeking information about fibromyalgia?
It's not really a basic info guide; however, I think it will give a person a very clear picture of what life with fibromyalgia is really like. It'll also show them that there are difficulties to diagnosis and that it's not all in our heads. That's very important. Many who don't know about FMS - think 1) it doesn't exist or 2) it exists only in our minds.
Who do you believe should read this e-book and why?
People with this illness. Their family and friends. I feel it's best for people who have some familiarity with the disease and want to learn how
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