EP #2 - Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia | Shawna, Oldham, Lancashire

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by widespread pain, fatigue, and often a range of symptoms that can be difficult to see from the outside. Despite how common it is, it remains widely misunderstood and, for many, difficult to diagnose.In the UK, fibromyalgia is estimated to affect between 2% and 6% of the population, with some studies suggesting around 5.4% of people may be living with it (PMC). That translates to up to around 2.5–3 million people across the country (abdn.ac.uk) — though exact numbers are hard to pin down due to underdiagnosis and the complexity of symptoms.In this episode, I’m joined by Shawna from Oldham in Lancashire, who lived with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia for more than six years before finally receiving a diagnosis.For Shawna, that diagnosis — in November 2025 — came as a relief. After years of uncertainty, it brought clarity, validation, and a starting point for understanding what her body had been going through.Since then, life has begun to feel more manageable. Through support groups, pain management strategies, and connecting with others online, Shawna is finding ways to cope — and to rebuild a sense of control.This is a conversation about being heard, being understood, and learning how to live with a condition that doesn’t always make itself visible — but is always there.