I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia 20 years ago when I was 22 years old. My symptoms started with extreme fatigue, body aches, headaches, flu like symptoms and always being sick. I also had Gallbladder stones and they removed my gallbladder at that time.

Through the years, I was put on antidepressants, muscle relaxers and nothing helped. I was told by my new doctor that most of my symptoms could be from motherhood.

As the years have passed and my kids have grown, the symptoms have gotten worse. My kids are almost grown. I felt that no one has believed me or listened to me over the years since this is a invisible illness. I have tried my best to hang in there but I have missed a lot of work due to this illness.

In November of 2018 I was sick for a month and a half was put on 3 different antibiotics and my doctor said he couldn’t find anything wrong with me. I ended up going to the ER and they did a nasal swab and said I had Coronavirus OC43 and was sent home with an inhaler. I still had a severe cough, sore throat, headaches, wheezing and generally not feeling well till March 2019. I still felt like I was not back to myself which was still not in the best health before I had Coronavirus. Since then I have been lucky to work from home but somedays I feel like I cannot get out of bed or stay awake or I just need the day off to rest.

I could sleep for 20 hours and still not be fully rested. On a daily basis I feel body aches, extreme exhaustion, brain fog and headaches, I try hard to push through daily life because I have so much responsibilities, but it is very hard. I have a very difficult time getting out of bed daily and functioning with work and home life.

I am hopeful that a cure will be found one day so others can live a better life and not deal with the hardships I have dealt with.