Green and claret coloured polymer clay pendant on seed beaded necklace

I was diagnosed with epilepsy as a baby but fits seemed to stop when I was 6 yrs old and Dr weaned me off meds when 11 yrs. About that time I started suffering with crippling pains in my hands and knees. Consultant, Mr Bains, in Dryburn Hospital diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis for which I received gold injections and physio for knee pain and wax dips for hands. I was nicknamed “Knacky Knee” at school and became the class clown so the other kids would laugh with me instead of at me! For the next 35 years, in between work, marriage, divorce and remarriage, childbearing and caring for elderly parents, I was convinced that I was a hypochondriac! How could anyone have right knee pain in the morning, then neck and jaw pain by evening and why did I want to sleep during the day, so so tired! I had pretty much everything in the Dr’s book until I was told I had “a little bit of Fibromyalgia” and I googled the condition. Then I cried with relief as it all fit into place and I’m not crazy! I took severance/early retirement in 2016 as I was constantly on sick leave and finding it embarrassing when I couldn’t have vital conversations with clients without “forgetting” my words! I have a son aged 39, a daughter 32 who also has Fibromyalgia and suffers badly since she had her 2 babies 15 months apart 5 and 6 years ago. She also has inherited CMT 1a from my husband. This was recently diagnosed in them and, more recently, in her youngest girl. This affects their muscles, especially in feet and they frequently fall over. We all do our best to look after each other in our good days and craft helps us to relax. Therefore, we have many pretty things in our very cluttered home that may make other people smile and were delighted to find out about Conscious Crafties! I look forward to chatting to other Crafties and trading with some of you in future. Gentle Hugs from Jules xxxxx