Hi this is Ginnie.I just thought I'd introduce myself.I live in the UK,am 60 year!and have decided I'm going to grow old as disgracefully as possibleI've been married to Richard for 34 years and we have 2 grown up children,Stephen and Clare.I started with Arachnoiditis and Fibromyalgia in86 but wasn't diagnosed till 91.In 2000 I had a stroke,but after some hard work am now back to normal with my speech,reading etc,Ican walk with a stick and have a wheelchair for really bad days,I tend to try and forget its there!You'd think after having Arach all this time I'd be used to it,but,as we all know this hateful disease keeps coming up with new symptoms all the time and sometimes more frightening than the last.So really I don't think I'll ever get used to it.I'm at home all the time because I was reg Disabled in 91.We moved yo our home 12 years ago which means all my friens are 60 miles away in the Town I was bought up in and I don't really know anyone here.Richard leaves for work at 8 and returns at 6,so most days I don't see or speak to anyone which can be quite lonely.Luckily I 've had my companion Boxer dog Harry for nine years,but in October he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October and he died nearly 3 weeks ago,I miss him dreadfullyAnyway my daughter and hubby have insisted I get another companion and next week we're getting a puppy,a cavalir king charles spaniel!I must admit I'm looking forward to him arriving,it will give me something else to focus on besides the Arach etc.And thats my story,hope I havent "gone on "a bit.Ireally hope by joining this group I can help myself not to feel alone with the symptoms of Arach and Fibro etc and also that I can contribute.Take care and thanks,Ginnie