When Leslie Sorbello of Richmond Heights, Ohio, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the disease had already taken over most of her life.
“Within a year of being diagnosed, I was only able to work four hours on a Saturday, then I’d have to come home and stay in bed until Monday,” she recalls.
Determined to fight, Leslie says, “I wanted to take control of my illness and help myself.” Through the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program, she discovered techniques for managing pain, fatigue and stress, heard about a new, more progressive medical team in her area, and received the information and support she needed. “It was encouraging to hear other people’s stories and successes, and tap the knowledge of the instructors,” she says.
Ten years after she attended her first class, Leslie now logs a busy schedule. The 45-year-old runs her own housecleaning business, home schools her son and serves as instructor for the Self-Help Program for the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Now in remission and prescription-free, Leslie says, “I can’t believe how tired I used to be. I attribute my success to the class.”
Contact your local chapter or visit www.arthritis.org/programs to find a Foundation program near you.
