Successful fibromyalgia conference plan a reunion in 2011

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Created on Tuesday, 11 May 2010 21:54

Published on Tuesday, 11 May 2010 21:54

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The first ever fibromyalgia conference with a pamper weekend in the SE of England, Bracklesham Bay, last weekend (April 23/26 2010) kept it promises as a memorable weekend with eminent speakers, workshops, a range of therapies and some great evening entertainment. So successful was the event that a reunion date for the next event was fixed on the spot for another conference in 2011 on April 8/11.With this first event a sell out, bookings will be accepted on first come first booked.

The Fibro Fillies Race Night had folks shouting for their horse to win and the message that came back means we had to do it again.  On Saturday the Folly Pogs Ball and fancy dress competition with great support from the fibromites saw the Nuns from the Order of Discontent  (the Irish lasses) amusing the audience. Sunday evening featured the charity auction with paintings, Elvis’ shirt, a valuable wine collection and jewellery, all donated by visitors, raising money for research.   Partners enjoyed deep-sea fishing with good catches, played golf, and some enjoyed the workshops, while the fibromites listened to 12 keynote speakers over two days. The climax on Sunday afternoon was Question Time with 4 doctors on stage.

Editors Note: Hope to have pictures to follow.

Perhaps one of the many ‘best’ things to come out of the Fibromyalgia Conference & Pamper Weekend, under the umbrella of FMA UK, was an announcement from Professor John Davies from Guy’s Hospital and the FM Clinics, who sadly was unable to be with us, and Professor Ernest Choy, Kings College Hospital, who was so well received the delegates want him back next time.

The announcement said, “We are pleased to announce a new NHS Fibromyalgia collaboration under the King’s Health Partners (Guys, Tommy's and Kings NHS Hospitals). Heading this new initiative is Professor Davies and Professor Choy, who share a common objective of creating an integral clinical and research programme to advance the understanding and management of patients with Fibromyalgia.

Professor John E. Davies is Consultant Rheumatologist at Guy's and Professor Ernest Choy is Clinical Reader in Rheumatology at KCL and Director of the Kings Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Unit."

The delegates received the news with cheers and expressed relief that further progress was being made in the recognition of our invisible disability  - fibromyalgia.

A DATE FOR THE DIARY

In view of the enthusiasm of delegates to come back and meet the people they met this time, the 2011 event on April 8/11 2011 will be reunion with all they liked and some new speakers. All fibromites will be welcome to the residential weekend.  There will be staged payments to help those on benefits to spread the cost.

Other on site activities included fun workshops including Maryse Boulles’s sound therapy, Karen Henderson sharing her Bath Hospital experience following a one month stay; Gemma Kingsman from Consultaid who talked about Finding the Funds for Groups; and hygienist Jane Russell who talked about teeth and health.  Giselle and Ian Smith from the DWP spoke about the benefit system. Sunday saw two informal ‘Meet the Doctor’ sessions with Dr. Robert Lister and Dr. Ray Perrin.  The weekend included Pilates, Tai chi, yoga with a free pamper taster day, with a shopping experience and fibromites arts and crafts.  One to one pamper therapy sessions ran over two days at conference discount.