Here is the second one I sent out.

 

Hello, my name is Debbie aka Smile.  I used to have a dream job of working with severely handicapped kids.  I always had smiley pins in my pocket to hand out to everyone I saw.  My car is black and covered with big yellow smileys.  I am also married to the most wonderful man!  For fun we used to be in a bowling league.  We also went camping at least once a month.  We loved going to rock shows or any country fairs.  Walking the beach was wonderful J  I also taught computer to anyone that had a want to learn.  I ran a few computer labs in our school district.  I love the look a person has on their face when they “get it�?  I loved driving, didn’t matter where or when I loved to drive.  We used to love going for long drives didn’t matter we just enjoyed the trip.  Or maybe driving a 5 hour round trip just to bring some friends some home made cookies.  We both had an interest in rocks before we met.  We became active in a rock hound group.  We started a small business selling rocks and jewelry I had made, the business was to support the equipment and the trips to find the rocks.  I loved to read; almost anything was fun to read.  Every day just seemed wonderful no matter what the weather.<o:p></o:p>

Well you have noticed that most of what I have listed is in past tense.  Let me tell you what has changed my life.  Back in 1994, my hands started hurting.  Not enough to stop me just enough to let me know I had to cut down on my computer time.  Kept working with kids but had to slow down as my hands would go from burning to REALLY hurting with no warning.  As time went by, I felt the pain go from my hands up my arms to my shoulders.  I went to Dr.’s but they did not know what was wrong with me.  This went on until the summer of 2000; the pain was now in my legs making it hard for me to walk.  I would never know when one of the shooting pains who hit.  I went back to the Dr. to try and find out what was wrong.  This time they did MANY tests.  MRI, x-rays, blood work, nerve testing, the only thing that did was tell the Dr’s what I didn’t have.  Finally, one Dr. said I had something called Fibromyalgia, what was that?!?  He gave me some info but I also hit the web.  What I found out was scary!  I was sure I did not have this horrible misunderstood thing.  The more I found out the more I was sure this was not happening to me.  I would tell people who asked that I was happy it was not in my back.  When it went to my back, I told people I was happy it was not in my face.  It slowly moved up to my face.  By 2001, I was having modifications at my job because I could not work without them.  By 2002, our classroom had new kids and the modifications had to be removed.  I was able to only work for a week before I was in so much pain I could move.  It was not just pain either; I had dizziness, a fog which is called by other fibros, fibro fog.  <st1:City><st1:place><st1:City><st1:place>Reading</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> became hard for me as the words started to float on the page.  I finally realized I had to stop driving because I was afraid I would go into a fog while driving.  Our long drives and walks on the beach ended because it caused me pain to ride in the car too long and walking was difficult.  Bowling was over I could no longer pick up the ball.  All the crafts I enjoy had to be put aside as my hands are so painful.  The rock equipment we bought for me to make my jewelry sits these days.  I listen to the things my family and friends do that we once did together.  Well the friends that are still around.  The fairs now come and go with out us.  The friends we used to bring cookies to, well it is hard to bake without hurting my hands, actually whole body, and I fog so often I would worry about what I did.  The weather I loved the most the cold brisk days, now cause me so much pain they bring tears to my eyes.  Morning was my favorite time of day, to get up and see the sunrise you just could not have a bad day that started like that.  Now I miss the sunrises because my sleep is so poor and I am hurting so much after finally getting out of bed. I am always tired because I cannot get a good night sleep.<o:p></o:p>

So now, I only cook when my husband is home for fear of burning the house down in a fog.  I do not cook for him very often even though feeding people is a favorite of mine.  My life is now watching or listening instead of doing.  I never thought this would be my life.<o:p></o:p>

In September 2002 when I was home all day I turned to the internet, thinking there has to be something I can do.  I found a few groups, they say support groups, but what they really are is lifelines.  They gave me something to get up for and look forward to.  Shortly after that, in May, I decided to start a group, a family, we call ourselves Smiling Fibros.  This wonderful family has given me a reason to fight.  They have given me the strength to keep pushing when I get a Dr. that laughs at me when I tell them how I feel.  They have given me so much I could not possible express it all.  However, we all still have a major problem fibro is an invisible disease.  We need to make people aware that we never know until the last second if we can do something with them.  We need people to understand just how hard we do try to have a life.  <o:p></o:p>

I take 60 mg of Kadian in the morning and 50 in the evening.  I can take up to 90 mgs more if I need to.  The 120 a day makes it so that I am able to do more then sit on the couch in tears.<o:p></o:p>

There is not any aspect of my life that has not been changed by this thing called Fibromyalgia.  I watch your show everyday and I hope that you will find this as important as we do to get the word out to others, we do want to be who we used to be it just isn’t possible anymore.  What I am asking for from you is to join us in National Fibromyalgia Awareness day.  It is May 12; please find it in your heart to help us educate the public of our disease.  I hope you will find it a worthy cause.<o:p></o:p>

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With many hugs,<o:p></o:p>

Debbie/Smile J<o:p></o:p>