Hello all, I'm glad I found this forum, seems like a nice place. Actually it found me really, I had a Google search for "pain" saved in my RSS reader, so if anything new pops up I get to hear about it. Serendipity strikes again

Well, about me. I've had chronic pain for nearly 12 years (diagnosed as Fibromyalgia exacerbated by Hypermobility 6 years ago). More recently add in GERD, severe chronic fatigue, migraine, panic disorder/GAD, depression (possibly bi-polar - have a lot of really manic episodes), insomnia, tinnitus and huge numbers of trigger points pretty much everywhere.

I'm just getting divorced and moving over the border into Scotland (to a lovely little town on the coast not too far, but just far enough, from Glasgow). I'm taking my two lovely, and very affectionate, cats with me but having to leave my dog with ex-wife, as my flat will be too small for him and there's no way I could cope with walking him.

Ah, walking. Used to love it. Could go for miles (oddly could never run). Even walked up Snowdon as a kid. Then comes fibro. Thesedays I'm lucky if I can manage 20m with a stick or walking frame before I'm completely breathless or screaming in pain. A wheelchair is my friend

What else? Erm, well I used to be a self-employed web guru, but I've just recently had to give that up and go on disability - I wasn't able to work more than a handful of hours a week and billing fewer, that ain't no way to live. My 2 year plan is to get myself functioning as well as I possibly can and then train as an NLP therapist and hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy has really helped me keep myself together these last few months, and I want to bring that help to others.

One more thing. I think it's time for a nice big group hug, isn't it?

Good.