I suffered from a rare bactrial infection and two years later developed autoimmune syndrome with a variety of autoimmune illnesses showing up one after the other. The chronic pain began in the calves of my legs and has affected every part of my body since then; that has been about 23 years ago. As.time goes by it has become worse. With chronic fatigue a major problem. Although I walk when I am able to (about a mile and ½) it just makes me feel better for the day.My doctors encourage walking for pain relief. My pancreas was ruined by some of the meds that were used to try to help me so that i developed diabetes, which added a huge burden to my life. For years I searched, corresponded, called ,doctors all over the world trying to find help. About 10 years ago I just stopped trying and decided to attempt to have some sort of life as things are. I stick to a pretty restricted diet, leaving out these foods: pork, beef, shellfish, white bread, potatoes and rice and sugar. I eat oats, brown rice and some other grains, a lot of veggies and a moderate amount of fruit and poultry and fish; ail organic. I am a positive person who has remained so through most of it. My strengths are definitely my faith,my diet, my hobbies (writing, genealogy, photography.) It is my belief that focusing on the needs of others can really help. No matter how much others care about us, as tme goes by, many friends fall away. I think we can make them feel helpless. So hello, fellow traveler..may your journey become free from pain.