It truly was a fight every morning just to get out of bed. I was stagnant, just existing here on earth. But I listened to what my friend told me, you have to fight and be there for your family. So every day I prayed that god would give me the strength to make it through another day.

I have suffered with depression since 1979. I was under the care of my family doctor and was on antidepressants. They did not help and this went on for years. In 1984 after I suffered a back injury, the depression got much worse and I was seeing a Psychiatrist, a Psychologist, a Rheumatologist, a specialist in Internal Medicine and they all prescribed medicine and acted like it was all in my head. All of the medicines I was on made me severely over weight.

I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia when I was 28 years old. I am now 48. A friend wanted me to see a speacialist in Dallas. I was very skeptical thinking he would be no different from all of the other Doctors I had already been to. He called me back and told me that fybromyalgia is only detected through physical exam, no blood test or x-ray would detect or confirm fybromyalgia. He did the exam and then told me to get dressed and he would be back to talk to me. When he returned he told me that normally a person would have Fibromyalgia on 1/4 to 1/2 of your body, but I have chronic Fibromyalgia all over. He said that this type of constant chronic pain puts severe strain on marriages, relationships, etc. People would think, ‘if you look fine how can you be in such pain?’

I have had chronic Fibromyalgia for the past 20 years, the pain is worse in the mornings, but sometimes it last all day. I can't take cold or dampness and stress and anxiety overwhelm me every day with the chronic fatigue. I would sleep until 11:00 or 12:00 every day and still feel like I had not been to bed. I have difficulty with memory, concentration and major depression, joint pain in my hands, elbows, neck, chest, ankles and feet.

I was on Cortizone injections for my back, antibiotics, steroids, muscle relaxants and Vicodin for pain. I always wished someone could come up with a way to measure pain, because my pain was so bad that I was taking 7 Vicodin a day plus muscle relaxant every three to four hours and still could not handle the pain.

Even though I have a wonderful family, with 4 grandchildren and very special friends I was in so much pain that I did not want to go on living. I just wanted to go to sleep and not wake up.

My very special friend kept me going by saying that I could not give up, I had to fight and be there for my family, they needed me. This went on until March of 2005. When Destiny, with The Spa At Canyon Oaks asked me if I would participate in a new program. I immediately told her yes. I have tried nearly every thing ever offered and nothing ever worked. But I can tell you that this program works and has given me my life back.

This is the most incredible program ever. After 2 months, Destiny, Brandy and Wendy were telling me how good I looked. I broke down and said I love that I look good, but it is how I feel that is so incredible. For the first time in years I can say that I feel good. I still have some pain (level 1-2) with no pain medicine, but before the pain level was a constant 10. Now it really depends on the weather. My pain level is so much better now.

I am able to get up a 6:30 am with my husband which I have not been able to do in the last 20 years. I changed my diet, cut, out all breads, starches, and sugars. Begin to eat more fresh vegetable, fresh fruit, fresh juices, lots of chicken, turkey and fish.

I have gone from 250 lbs and a size 24 to 198 lbs and size 16 and I have lost a total of 64" as of this writing.

The inches that I lost have been permanent because I went 10 months with out a wrap and had only picked up 1" in my abdomen and hips. Everything else stayed the same. I have started back now, going every 3 weeks, losing from 10 to 14 inches with each wrap.

For other Fibromyalgia patients I recommend The Spa At Canyon Oaks programs.

I just want to thank the Spa at Canyon Oaks for giving me back my life!

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