I have another great interview to share with you today…please meet Shantay Marsh Thompson!
Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you…
My name is Shantay Marsh Thompson, and I am 42 years old. I have two grown kids that are working, and one is in college. I spend my time taking online classes since I am not able to work. I spend my time in the house the majority of the time because walking too much makes my back hurt. I do not go to stores to shop. I shop online or if it is something personal that I need, I will go to Dollar General so I can get in and out. My mother does the grocery shopping for me.
One fascinating fact about me is:
That even though I am down with this illness, I continue to learn academically.
Chronic illness(es)/disabilities I have…
I have Fibromyalgia with chronic back Pain, depression, Neuralgia, Arthralgia, and Dyslipidemia. The pain in my back is worse. I have trouble sitting and standing for long periods.
My symptoms/condition began…
In 2013 after being diagnosed with endometriosis. After I had my procedure, I started hurting badly after a month. I went back to my gynecologist and asked him to please give me a hysterectomy because I needed to work. I had to wait four months before I could get the hysterectomy, so I continued to work in pain. After I had my hysterectomy in 2014, the pain was still there. I worked for about a month then had to quit my job because I could not stand nor sit for long periods.
My diagnosis process was…
Terrible. I went through several doctors in Tuscaloosa, AL. Nobody would give me the help that I needed. I cried every day because my pain was so bad. The medicine they gave me, such as Tramadol did not do anything for me. I had to move back to Mobile County to find me a doctor that could help me. I found one, and he gave me some medicine that would help me reduce the pain some. It was June 2015 before I got a diagnosis.
The hardest part of living with my illness/disabilities is…
Dealing with the pain in my back. I have tried Fibromyalgia lotions and nothing seems to work good.
A typical day for me involves…
Laying in my bed watching tv or doing some schoolwork. I make myself go to the gym to at least once a week to do strength training and walking but I pay for it the next day.
The one thing I cannot live without is…
My Lyrica. I have bad nerve pain so I take Lyrica. After my daughter turned 19 in April, my medicaid ended so I had to go without Lyrica for some weeks and I was in pain.
Being ill/disabled has taught me…
How to appreciate life more and do not take anything for granted. I have worked since I graduated in 1995 and I never thought my working career would end in 2014.
My support system is…
My one friend, my family, my fiancé, my church family, and the FIBRO CONNECT Group.
If I had one day symptom/disability-free I would…
Get out the house and treat myself.
One positive of having a chronic illness/disability is…
Being thankful that it is not a deadly illness.
One final thing I want people to know is:
Fibromyalgia is real. I would not wish this pain on no one.
My Links
https://www.facebook.com/Health-Wellness-108684490547162/?view_public_for=108684490547162
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