Nicola's story with Gastroparesis and Fibromyalgia - in the thick of it all.

My name is Nicola, and I have suffered from gastroparesis for three years. Gastroparesis is a stomach condition where the stomach muscles contract slower causing extreme pain and making you vomit digested food, I was in and out the hospital for 3 years before a diagnosis was finally made my weight had went from 85kg down to 58 kg within a few months and my bloods showed I was malnourished, I then had to be fitted with a feeding tube for a year to bring my weight back up and finally get a diagnosis! I have to go for regular blood tests and scans to make sure I'm not at risk of becoming malnourished again. Going through this took a massive toll on my mental health and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I struggle daily with my mental health and have gastroparesis flare ups now and then but thankfully on the right medication for them both now. I got shingles last year and never recovered from it, I started to struggle with joint pain last year that became worse over time along with extreme tiredness, stiffness, numbness, and a number of other problems. I had bloods that showed up nothing and an MRI that also showed up nothing. I was then diagnosed with fibromyalgia and ME, I’ on medication which does not help, and everyday is a constant battle with my body, I've had a number of falls now, one resulting in a broken tailbone which I still can't sit properly. The pain I suffer daily is horrendous, I sleep too much yet get no sleep. I’m constantly exhausted and sore. I'm currently trying everything to get rid of this pain but not found anything yet. Hopefully I will one day, as it is very isolating and lonely.