I’m a 27 year old female who was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in January 2020. In 2018, I went through a traumatic experience that I believe was the trigger for all my health problems. My symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, generalised pain throughout my body on a daily basis plus much more. Fibromyalgia affects a persons mental health and physical health. Some are able to function with a few issues whilst as others are bed bound. The condition affects people differently and there’s a very broad scale. I’m currently around the middle. But each day seems to get a little harder. Pain killers are known to be resistant to Fibromyalgia pain. The condition causes a range of different pains including aches, stabbing pain, shooting pain and nerve pain. It affects your ability to do basic tasks and really can take control of your life. I feel like a 27 year old stuck in a 70 year olds body. Which as you can imagine can get you down. Especially when you have to cancel plans with friends/family. 

I class myself as really lucky as I have a very supportive family and fiancé. Before the incident in 2018 we managed to buy our first home. We worked so hard to get the deposit and get on the property ladder. My health has had a big impact on my career and work life. I’ve had a number of absences from work all related to Fibromyalgia. I’m now in a position where if I have one more period of absence I may loose my job. If I loose my job, we loose our home. So I’m currently clinging on. I’m actually typing up this petition in bed as I’ve been feeling really unwell today. I’ve struggled to eat, walk and sleep because of pain. Even though I’m extremely tired I can’t sleep as the pain keeps me awake. I’m now absolutely dreading the struggle I know I’ll face in work tomorrow. I’m not looking for sympathy. Everyone has their own struggles in life. I’d rather of not shared my story as I’m usually a very private person. But I don’t really know what else to do and I know there’s so many people in my position. 

In the UK, there is support for those who are medically unfit to work through benefits. I never realised how little people who are unwell actually get. It appears if you have a council house or private landlord the government will pay for your rent. However, when it comes to your mortgage they will only offer you a loan to cover the interest on your mortgage. So if you’re in a position like I am it’s a sink or swim scenario. If I keep going and keep working I risk making myself worse (stress causes fibromyalgia flare ups). But if I stop working we may loose our home and eventually face homelessness. That is the worst scenario, but it is something that can happen. I used to work full time but had to lower my hours as I physically couldn’t cope. I now work 27 hours a week in a key worker role. My fiancé, also a key worker, is unofficially my carer as well as fitting in overtime to keep us afloat. We’re  both still tax payers but other than our marvellous NHS we get no other support from the government.

Therefore, I have created this petition to urge to UK government to provide more support for those who become unwell after they have gained a mortgage. Everyone says to you “put yourself first, your health is more important” but in reality it’s not that simple! There’s a lot of people out there in my position. Some in an even worse position with children to feed. 

One day yourself or a loved one close to you may face this scenario. One thing you don’t need whilst being ill is worrying about your mortgage. Please help by signing this petition and help out myself, my fellow chronic illness suffers and our future suffers. 

Thank you for reading.