Town hall to turn purple for Fibromyalgia charity enterprise

The Lerwick Town Hall will be lit up in purple this weekend to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia, a disease which attacks the central nervous system.

Many buildings across Scotland will be taking part, offering support for Fibro Friends United (FFU), a non-profit social enterprise based in North Ayrshire.

Fibromyalgia is a highly debilitating condition that affects both men and women across the globe. Although the indicators now suggest suppressed trauma as the potential triggers, there are no definite tests to diagnose or cure.

Anxiety, depression and sleep disorders are often a precursor for the illness and as a result it can affect the sufferer’s occupation, relationships and engagement in society.

The 17 Scottish landmarks which will be lit up tomorrow and Sunday also include: Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen; HMS Discovery, Dundee; Dundee University; Scone Palace in Perth; the Perth Concert Hall; the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel; Camera Obscura in Edinburgh; and Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders.

COMMENTS(3)

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  • Diana Peterson

    • May 11th, 2019 14:02

    Congratulations
    Maybe open discussion…

    G P’s …they need to know that this IS a REAL illness and not imagined.

    Physiotherapists need to hear and listen when the patient is pleading ..please please please Dont press there ….. ‘Cause when they press ‘that’ spot they have to understand that the natural instinct takes over and the patient goes into ‘ fight or flight’ … This then becomes a futile experience.

    There needs to be a new approach to chronic illnesses. People with complex / obscure illness has just as much need of sympathetic care as anyone else. There’s specific clinics for ….diabetes for example I am reliably informed. Theres many similarities between MS and my own conditions as neither condition is curable and may be life limiting …plus I have Fibromyalgia….as does several others I know.

    Since the departure of Dr Unsworth there is no continuity in care. From personal experience…
    Accessing Rheumatology can now take up to two years.
    When that person travels to Shetland for a consult I bet he didn’t specialise just to have a 10 min chat to then have to fob off his patient because he didn’t have the time to read the mountain of notes and doesn’t know his patient. He doesnt understand either that during the last say 4 months you have had to relate your story every second week or oftener JUST TO JUSTIFY YOU EXISTENCE…..you finally get to see him and think ….Yes!! But sadly No.
    He doesnt have time to read all about your 20/30 years of pain and frustration….you have to be able to condense and articulate ….some days this for some of us is impossible. Then they ask a question and your head went on holiday without you….specialist then maybe misses the information that could have changed the situation and potentially the life if the patient and their nearest and dearest.

    I think a more holistic approach could save NHS £££££’s

    Fibromyalgia affects all….ALL of you and ALL you do!!

    REPLY
    • Sylvia Sidwell

      • May 23rd, 2019 1:35

      Hello Diana
      How sad I am to read your message and equally sad that it is absolutsly true. I had glandular fever which eventually became CFS and was verbally bullied by a number of doctors because none of it was ‘real’. Now years later I am a lot better because I finally found a good doctor and have managed to read every book possible, changed diet. I talk to a lot of people wbo have your illness/mine/MD. We are all so similar with the same story to tell. Wbat is needed is a group who could support eacb other. Tben someone who perhaps from experience could help. Wish that was me, A little love can go a long way.
      Love and all good wishes
      Sylvia

      REPLY
  • ian tinkler. Dr.

    • May 24th, 2019 18:32

    Sadly when a syndrome (a colection of sign/symptoms) develops where no organic pathological process can be found clinically, the medical profession is naturally at a loss to find a rational scientific treatment. Moaning at the GP, Physio, nurse or health worker will not help. It does not mean there is no disease, just no rational medical treatment is known. Alternative medicine may help, it may not, a healthy lifestyle with loads of self-help always eases the problems. That is why turning the Town Hall purple is ridiculous, wastes power and helps no one apart from gesture politicians so loved in the SIC/SNP/SG. Why not save CO2 emissions and fly a purple flag instead! Now give sufferers free sessions in the “leisure centres,” swimming and fitness classes, pilates and aerobic dance classes on the NHS, then the SIC may actually be doing something constructive for once. I think we can live without purple spotlights, so can Fibromyalgia sufferers.

    REPLY

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