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The doctor said, ‘I don’t know if I can send you for that test, I would get a slap on the wrist; it’ll cost us a lot of money.’

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So they told me I had lupus. They said I had rheumatoid arthritis. The consultant scanned my shoulders and looked puzzled; she said, ‘you have no sign of rheumatoid arthritis, have you heard of fibromyalgia?’  

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I sent away for a genetic test kit with Haemochromatosis UK and within about six days I got the results back.

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I went, yes! I knew it! And the next minute I was in a flood of tears because I had to fight so hard to get it.  

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I wrote a letter to the GP and said the test has confirmed I have the condition; I’m still waiting for a doctor to get back in touch with me. The doctors will no longer accept letters.  

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I started thinking, I’m ten years along the line of not having had this test so whatever has been affecting me is ten years worse than it should’ve been. 

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How do I feel now? Utter relief. Hopefulness. Emotional.

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