June Reid, from Port Elphinstone was diagnosed in April last year, although she believes she may have had it for several years.

She said: "It started off with migraines last December and then I got neck and shoulder pain. The pain went into my fingers then to my lower back and knees. The doctor thought it was arthritis, but blood tests all came back normal. The pain in my neck and shoulders stayed constant."

Working as a classroom assistant, June became very tired, finding it difficult to run after the children in the playground. She was signed off in April, during diagnosis. After ruling out arthritis, her doctor did some tests on the body's tender points.

She explained: "The diagnosis is made if the doctor finds that 11 tender points out of the 18 in the body are painful. This is the only test available."

There is no known cause for FMS but may be contributed to post trauma situations, for example after an operation or viral infection.

Explaining that the disability can range from mild to severe, affecting children and adults, June said her own condition is mild to moderate.

"You have good days and bad days. I struggle to walk more than half a mile, and I stiffen up during a journey in the car so I have to make sure I have regular breaks, and in the mornings I'm very stiff too.

"It comes and goes, but you have to remember to pace yourself. It is good to try and do exercises, although it is dependent on how you feel at the time, and hydrotherapy is good, but at the same time you mustn't overdo it - the fatigue is the worst.

"Now I have medication that suits me and I'm eating healthily, so I'm aiming to get back to work soon. I also use a tens machine and massage when the pain is bad."

An FMS support group meets on the last Saturday each month at the Sheltered Housing Complex at Garthdee, in Aberdeen. The next meeting will be on Saturday, August 30 between 11am and 1pm. Membership to the group is £6 and refreshments are available at the meetings for a cost of £2. For further information, call Olive Lang on (01224) 319970.

June is calling for people to come forward with donations for Fybromyalgia Awareness Week, which runs fromSunday, September 7 to Sunday, September 14. An online auction is being planned on eBay. Any support from individuals and local business would be warmly welcomed.

Call June on (01467) 670130, or e-mail junereid@live.co.uk. Any donations and ideas would be warmly welcomed.

For further information, visit the charity's website at www.fmauk.org.