I am 51 years old with a wife, two children (28 and 26) and four grandchildren. I work for myself as a training consultant specialising in IT and Employability skills. I spent 22 years in the Royal Air Force as an engineer and have since worked as a Health and Safety engineer and a Training Officer teaching apprentice engineers. I have a Batchelors degree in Mathematics and Technology, and a Masters in Education, both gained in my 30s and 40s (the hard way!!).
I was diagnosed with sero-negative RA about 10 years ago and battled with ('I think you are just trying to swing a disability pension')ignorant medics, trying to hold down a high-stress job and cope with pain and a diminishing ability to do the job. Having uttered the immortal words "up with this I am no longer prepared to put", I fired my boss, we sold the house and moved home to beautiful Wales. The pain got worse and my new rheumatologist did a 'good news/bad news' number on me just before Christmas. "Your RA is in remission, but you've got Fibromyalgia".
Imagine my anger. Anyway, back to school to learn as much as possible and try to wrestle the monster. This is when I discover that I am (supposedly)in a tiny minority - men with FMS. More of that later.
We live in a former coal mining area of the Welsh Valleys (in the south of the country) amongst wonderfully friendly and supportive people who are the living proof of "a welcome in the hillsides" in the traditional Welsh song, murdered by so many English 'singers'.
We love to travel, having been to Australia, South Africa, most of Europe and, recently, the mountains and deserts of Southern California. Next March, the Caribbean is on the list - 3 weeks of sun on the bones!
I want to write a book or three, what about I don't know, get the garden converted for easy maintenance and travel as much as I can before the wheelchair starts threatening the backs of my legs. I would love to play golf again, but golf carts are unheard of here, and my grip (or lack of it) can be lethal!
Enough - I hope to continue to attract the unwavering support from my wife and family, I am very difficult to live with these days (promise to do better!). I would also like to hear from anyone who can help with the weight problem.