AAAMS - Online fibromyalgia community
With the Easter holiday being celebrated this weekend, many families are making last minute preparations for their holiday plans. For families affected by fibromyalgia however, these plans might have little to do with the traditional Easter celebration.
“Easter used to be a big occasion for us, but now it’s hard to find time to celebrate,” says John Obenchain, founder of the Alliance Against All Fibromyalgias (AAAFMS), an online fibromyalgia support group that helps individuals touched by fibromyalgia. “I do what I can to make the day special for the kids, but my first priority is ensuring that my wife gets the care and attention she needs.”
Those diagnosed with fibromyalgia often find themselves battling chronic fatigue, pain and depression. These symptoms can make it difficult for a stricken individual to get out of bed, let alone celebrate with family and friends. But when Obenchain’s family fell victim to fibromyalgia, he decided to fight back.
Obenchain founded the Alliance Against All Fibromyalgias (AAFMS) as an online fibromyalgia support forum for fibromyalgia sufferers, caregivers and family members looking for support and advice on how to make each day with fibromyalgia a little easier. Obenchain hopes that all involved with fibromyalgia, including doctors, health care institutions and government policy makers, will use the resource to learn as much as possible, while simultaneously teaching others, about this poorly understood medical condition.
“Before fibromyalgia, we always spent Easter with family and friends,” said Obenchain. “We’d spend the entire weekend with loved ones. We would put together Easter baskets, dye eggs, and have an Easter egg hunt for our kids, nieces and nephews.”
Now, Obenchain says his wife’s constant fatigue and discomfort often force her to remain in bed for part, or even all, of the day while he does what he can to ease her suffering.
“My wife has been battling this condition for nearly a decade,” Obenchain said. “The effect it’s had on her is the primary reason I created the AAAFMS. Hopefully more people affected by fibromyalgia, like family members and caregivers, will be able to use the available resources to ease the suffering of those dealing with fibromyalgia.”
Obenchain’s wife Sandra was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in June of 2009 after battling inexplicable symptoms for nearly a decade. Her struggle to maintain a normal family life after her diagnosis has been a constant challenge for the entire family.
Learn more about the Alliance Against All Fibromyalgias and John Obenchain’s story at http://www.aaafms.com.
About John Obenchain and the Alliance Against All Fibromyalgias: John Obenchain has been married to his wife Sandra for over 11 years. Together, they have faced her fibromyalgia diagnosis head on. As primary caregiver and head of the household, Obenchain has seen just how drastically fibromyalgia not only affects the patient, but the entire family. He started the Alliance Against All Fibromyalgias (AAAFMS) to help with fibromyalgia as well as help caregivers, families, friends, doctors, government policy makers and health care professionals. The free, open forum allows participants to ask questions, offer advice, share stories, and find comfort from others who may be going through similar situations with fibromyalgia. Obenchain, who has a master’s in business administration, has worked in the global pharmaceutical industry for over 15 years and is a professional public speaker registered with the National Speakers Association (NSA).
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SOURCE: The Publicity Agency
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