Recently diagnosed - Help me reduce pain

Hi I'm 28 years old, living in New Zealand, and I've recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes long-term, widespread pain and fatigue. Basically, having Fibromyalgia means I experience pain EVERY day. (See more of my story down the bottom.)

In September, after dealing with chronic pain for approximately 8 months, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I have had to reduce my work hours, meaning that I'm not really earning enough to support myself. Fortunately, I live in New Zealand, and I am eligible for government assistance.

However, there are a few items that would make my life easier or more comfortable and, despite government assistance, I still can't afford them. Each of these items will help me immensely by providing me physical support, and helping to reduce my daily pain. This is what I'm looking to purchase:

· Shower stool (for days when I am too fatigued to shower easily)

· Thera Cane (a self-massager used to apply pressure to sore muscles)

· Tens Machine

· Shakti Mat (https://www.shaktimat.co.nz/pages/about-us-1)

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide to me. Every dollar donated will help me to get these life-changing aids (if I don't reach my target, I will still purchase the items that I can). Every time you share my story and this page also helps. I am very very grateful!

More about me and my condition:

I am 28, living in a small NZ town with my cat, and close to some of my family. Before August, I was working as a rest home caregiver on the evening shifts, and working part time as an administrator for a local non-profit organisation. I often worked more than 40 hours, but enjoyed both jobs, and the variety they offered me. In my spare time, I would spend time with family, watching sci-fi shows, or going to the gym.

Since August, I have had to reduce my work hours and my other activity. I now only work 20 hours per week in a sit-down job. Some weeks, I can achieve these 20 hours fairly comfortably; some weeks I really struggle to get through this much work. I have also stopped going to the gym because I am often too tired or in way too much pain.

I had been experiencing severe pain for several months before my diagnosis in September, but Fibromyalgia is not always an easy condition to diagnose. Receiving a diagnosis was a relief but also very upsetting; it is definitely good to have a name to put to my symptoms, but knowing I have a life-long condition is not easy to accept.

Fibromyalgia is a condition closely related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (or, according to some doctors, they're the same thing). Either way, my condition means I experience pain and fatigue every day which severely impacts my life.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Fibro (a lot more research is needed). There is also not much in the way of treatment; there is no surgery or therapy that can help or fix Fibro. The only thing doctors can do is to prescribe medication and encourage me to live a healthy lifestyle. I take regular medication as well magnesium and omega-3 supplements, try to exercise (even if it's only 15 minutes per day), eat healthy, and try to get enough sleep.

I don't always have the same type or amount of pain... Some days it's an annoying dull pain but I can mostly ignore it; other days it's a sharp, shooting, excruciating pain that leaves me unable to function.

In addition to the pain, I also get fatigued more easily. Some days this means I can hardly get out of bed. I struggle to do the most basic tasks, and 15 minutes of even gentle activity makes me feel like I've worked a 12-hour shift.

Again, thank you so much for any amount of support! You are truly making a big difference in my life!