A Glasgow woman started a charity to help those suffering with fibromyalgia after she attempted to take her own life twice.
Sharon Turnbull, from Baillieston, was diagnosed with the debilitating illness in 2007 after being hindered by chronic pain for years. Fibromyalgia is an untreatable long-term condition which has an unknown cause and up to 200 symptoms, including full-body pain, fatigue, and difficulty with mental processes.
The 47-year-old said her battle with the illness contributed to her deteriorating mental health.
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Sharon told Glasgow Live: "I skipped along thinking I had my life together but I definitely didn't. It was a life of chronic pain and fatigue.
"Fibro has 200 symptoms and it is different for everybody. One day your feet could be sore and the next day you could have a migraine.
"You don't know how you are going to feel on a day-to-day basis. It really harms your mental health.
"I got made redundant in 2017 and then began volunteering for Citizen's Advice. During my time with Citizen's Advice a lot of people with fibro came and asked for support.
"However, if I wasn't working they'd be turned away and asked to return when I was on shift because many of the volunteers didn't understand the condition.
"I thought that it wasn't right that people had to wait for help. I then went on to work for a non-profit but my dad was ill at the time.
"Due to multiple different factors I attempted to take my own life in 2019. Fortunately it wasn't successful. After that, I got home and my dad passed away."
When lockdown hit in 2020 Sharon found herself happier than she had ever been, taking the time to reflect on everything she had gone through.
Despite the happiness, the mum-of-one would try and end her life for a second time later that year, but still isn't sure why she made the drastic decision.
She explained: "When everyone went back to work, I didn't have anything. I left the non-profit because I didn't receive the support for what I was struggling with and that didn't sit right with me.
"In July of 2020 I went to my friend's house to book a holiday in Ibiza, we had a fantastic day. I went home and attempted to take my own life again.
"When I woke up I didn't know why I did it."
After being told by a rheumatologist that she had the condition, Sharon, who is from Baillieston, felt as though she had very little support and was left on her own to find out more about fibromyalgia
She added: "It started for me when all the ligaments in my neck and shoulders went into spasm.
"I had migraines and it caused me to call in sick at my work. It causes me pain every single day.
"I had bulging disks at the bottom of my spine and at one point I pretty much lost my mobility. The medication caused weight gain and that didn't help.
"The biggest part is that there is no cure, it can't be found during a blood test, it can take eight to 10 years to get a diagnosis.
"People will be tested for MS and various auto-immune conditions but when the bloods come back clear is when they'll say it is fibromyalgia."
After trying to take her life for the second time Sharon set up a Facebook group called More Than Fibro.
It is now a charity that helps sufferers in both Scotland and Wales, with the social media group set to hit 10,000 likes by the end of the month.
The founder said: "I started the charity because I was lost and other people were lost.
"I don't want anybody to ever get to where I got to. If I can stop someone reaching the point of crisis then my job is done.
"When I went through everything I didn't have anyone to turn to, I didn't have people who understood me.
"I was only 44 at the time and my bladder wasn't working, I struggled with my mobility, I was in pain every day. There were days when my son had to dress me, it didn't feel like a life, it was an existence."
More Than Fibro's growth has left Sharon gobsmacked, but she said its success proves that there was a need for the group.
She continued: "When I started the group I just wanted to do a bit of advocacy work but now we are a full blown charity.
"There's an office in Coatbridge and we have support meetings in Springburn, Ayrshire and we are setting one up in Orkney.
"We also had a meeting in Wales. There are video call coffee chats twice a week for people who don't have meetings near them or are housebound.
"For some people that could be the only human interaction they've had all week."
The group is set to take on Tinto Hill to raise both funds for the charity and awareness of the condition on May 14.
Sharon is hoping that those battling the condition and those without it will come out to take part.
The charity founder said: "We are going up Tinto to raise awareness and we believe it is something that everyone can do because there are different levels.
"We hope that people who don't have fibro will come along to show their support, to make it more inclusive.
"It is also a challenge for us. Next week all the volunteers will be out raising awareness.
"We hope that it will provide inspiration to those in our community who don't think it is possible and believe there is no way to bounce back."
To find out more click here
The Samaritans can be contacted any time, from any phone, free on 116 123. You can also speak to Victim Support Scotland on 0800 160 1985 who offer free and tailored support. In an emergency, always dial 999 if within the United Kingdom.
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