'We weren't depressed - we were in pain'

Three women suffering from chronic pain and fatigue have spoken about the daily struggles they face after starting a group to help others.

Karen Panait, 51, Louise French, 45, and Shannon Dunkley, 29, from Gloucestershire, all suffer from debilitating chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia and scoliosis.

The women described a lack of support services, adding that often medicines they were prescribed only seemed to make things worse.

NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been contacted for comment.

Both Karen and Shannon were prescribed anti-depressants to try to ease their pain, but both said these had not solved their problems.

"We weren't depressed. We're getting depressed because we're in pain," said Karen, who set up the first support group in Lydney to provide better "empathy and understanding".

"It can be soul destroying. It's scary because you're just trying to live a normal life.

"And especially for all three of us as mums, you're trying to do the best you can for your kids," she added.

Despite being prescribed many different anti-depressants, Shannon said they never helped, instead leaving her feeling "zombified".

Louise was initially diagnosed with hypermobility as a teenager, and her symptoms began to worsen about 12 years ago.

She was later diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition that involves chronic pain and fatigue, as well as other conditions including arthritis and diabetes.

"For years, I just wasn't the person that I was before. I don't think I'll ever be that person again," said Louise.

"One of the big things is the fact that I'm a different mum.

"All three of my children have been my carers. When I can't get out of bed, they've cooked. They helped me get dressed when I can't move.

"It's not just us that it impacts. It's the people that we live around and the people that are closest to us that are impacted because their lives aren't their lives anymore, because they have to constantly make sure that we're all right," she said.

Recognising a lack of services available to support people living with chronic pain conditions, the three women decided to take matters into their own hands.

They set up chronic pain groups across the Forest of Dean, offering people struggling with these issues a "safe space" to come and chat and support each other.

With the help of social prescriber - which links people to a wide range of community groups and services - Karen set up the first support group in Lydney.

Now, 15 months later, there are also support groups in Coleford and Cinderford.

"You feel understood. There's empathy, understanding, and there's even friendship in the groups," said Karen.

"One thing we find in particular with the younger members of the group is some of the girls started suffering when they were at school.

"They feel very isolated because they'd come out of school and not been able to work. But they've met other young people with the same problems as them and they're now being supported within their own peer groups," she added.

The groups have the support of other health practices in the area and have recently had GPs attending the sessions.

The three women are eager to help set up more support groups across the Forest and Gloucestershire, with interest from Chepstow, Ross-on-Wye and Stroud.

"It was nice to know that I was not alone, that I had someone," said Shannon, who runs the Coleford group with Karen.

"It just makes so much of a difference. It connects everyone, and the more people we can reach, the better," she added.

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