Seen &Heard Fibro

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Seen &Heard Fibro

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Supporting people with fibromyalgia 💜
Safe spaces | Meet-ups | Real support
📍 Westhoughton & surrounding areas ⬇️ Join our meet-ups

03/11/2026

🎄💜 Seen & Heard Fibro — Christmas Meet-Up 💜🎄

Helen and I are planning a Christmas meet-up at the beginning of December, and we’d love your thoughts!

We’re thinking of something relaxed and low-key, with snacks, cakes and a chance to sit and chat together. 🍰☕

📍 Would you be willing and able to travel to our Horwich location? We’d have a private space for our get-together.

Would you enjoy this, or is there something else you’d like to do? Please leave your suggestions in the comments and let us know whether Horwich would work for you.

This will be our final meet-up before Christmas. We’ll then take a break until later in January 2027, giving everyone extra time to rest and recover from the festivities. 💜

The date, time and venue will be confirmed once we’ve heard your thoughts.

03/11/2026

💜 A personal update from me — Seen & Heard Fibro 💜

I feel like I need to get a few things off my chest and explain why I’ve been quieter lately.

There have been a lot of personal issues behind the scenes, alongside my physical health and a massive change in my life. I don’t cope well with change, and it completely wipes me out. Moving house has taken a lot out of me, physically and emotionally.

It’s also been a year since my fibromyalgia diagnosis, and I think it’s really hitting me just how much my life has changed. I used to be able to do things non-stop. Now, doing something can leave me exhausted, with no energy left for anything else. Coming to terms with that has been hard.

Seen & Heard Fibro still means so much to me, but I’m also living with the difficulties that brought many of us together in the first place. Sometimes I need to take a step back while I find my feet again.

There will be a meet-up before Christmas, and I’ll share the details once everything is arranged. With people feeling unwell with flu and other illnesses, alongside the change in weather, it’s been a difficult time to bring everyone together.

I have also been in touch with the ME Association and Action for M.E., following our decision to welcome people living with ME/CFS and FND alongside those with fibromyalgia.

The ME Association has offered an information starter pack for our members and requested details about our group for a support-group listing. Action for M.E. has also replied with encouragement and offered a conversation about the support and information their organisation provides.

These are early conversations, but I wanted to share that things are still happening behind the scenes, even while I’ve been quieter.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I’m still here, I still care, and I’m taking things one step at a time. 💜

Melissa
Founder, Seen & Heard Fibro

01/11/2026

🧡 NOVEMBER IS NERVE PAIN AWARENESS MONTH 🧡

This November, Seen & Heard Fibro is supporting , raising awareness of nerve pain and the impact it can have on everyday life.

Living with pain that others cannot see can feel isolating. Behind a smile may be someone struggling with sleep, daily tasks and the emotional weight of being misunderstood.

Awareness starts with listening, believing people when they describe their pain, and treating them with kindness and understanding.

To anyone living with persistent pain: you deserve to be listened to, taken seriously and supported. You do not have to prove your pain for it to matter. 🧡

Seen. Heard. Supported.

01/11/2026

🍂 Hello, NOVEMBER 🍂
From Seen & Heard Fibro 💜

No one should have to face invisible illness alone.
Our experiences differ, but everyone deserves understanding.
Valid on the good days, the difficult days and every day between.
Every voice deserves to be heard.
Make room for rest, without guilt.
Be kind to yourself and respect your own limits.
Each of us deserves support, wherever we are in our journey.
Remember: you deserve to be seen, heard and believed.

Supporting people living with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS and FND. 💜

25/10/2026

💜 Is today a boom day or a bust day?

Have you got a little energy to get things done, or is today calling for rest? Maybe you’re somewhere in between.

Let us know in the comments 👇 Whatever kind of day you’re having, go at your own pace. 💜

23/10/2026

💜 AN IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM SEEN & HEARD FIBRO 💜

A personal message from our founder

Firstly, I would like to offer my most sincere apologies to everyone who has supported Seen & Heard Fibro, attended our meet-ups, followed our journey or looked forward to being part of our community.

I recognise that I made a commitment to create a welcoming, supportive and understanding community for people living with fibromyalgia, invisible illnesses and disabilities. Unfortunately, over recent months, I have not been able to maintain that commitment in the way I originally intended.

I feel that you all deserve an honest explanation.

💜 My Health and Personal Circumstances

I have only been living with a fibromyalgia diagnosis for approximately a year, and I am still learning how to manage the condition and the impact it has on my everyday life.

Alongside fibromyalgia, I also live with other health conditions, which have presented additional challenges.

There have also been significant changes and difficulties in my personal life, which have required my attention, energy and time.

As much as I am passionate about Seen & Heard Fibro and everything it represents, I have had to acknowledge that I cannot always give the organisation the time and energy it deserves while managing my own health and personal responsibilities.

When I created Seen & Heard Fibro, I wanted people to feel seen, heard, understood and, most importantly, less alone. That purpose has not changed.

I am deeply sorry that I have not been able to deliver everything I originally promised.

💜 Changes Within Our Team

Unfortunately, some of our administrators have had to step back from their roles due to their own personal circumstances, which I completely understand and respect.

This means that Seen & Heard Fibro currently has just two active team members, including myself.

We are therefore looking to welcome new volunteer administrators who would like to help support and develop our community.

You do not need to have fibromyalgia, an invisible illness or a disability to become involved.

We welcome anyone who is compassionate, understanding, reliable and genuinely passionate about making a positive difference.

💜 Meet-Ups Between Now and Christmas 2026

Following the October half-term break, Seen & Heard Fibro will begin gradually introducing meet-ups again, but at a reduced capacity.

For the remainder of 2026, we are hoping to organise approximately one or two meet-ups per month, depending on our capacity and circumstances.

These will take place in:

📍 Westhoughton

📍 Horwich

We are also hoping to organise a Christmas get-together in early December, giving everyone the opportunity to come together, socialise and celebrate without interfering with the busy Christmas shopping period or family commitments.

Further information, including confirmed dates, times and venues, will be shared when arrangements have been finalised.

💜 Looking Ahead to 2027

After careful consideration, I have also made the difficult decision that there will be no Seen & Heard Fibro summer event in 2027.

This is due to ongoing challenges behind the scenes and the need to focus on rebuilding a stable and sustainable foundation for the community.

For the foreseeable future, our activities and events will operate at a reduced capacity until we are in a stronger position to expand again.

This is not the end of Seen & Heard Fibro.

It is simply a necessary period of adjustment, reflection and rebuilding.

💜 A Personal Thank You

I created Seen & Heard Fibro because I know how isolating, exhausting and misunderstood living with an invisible condition can be.

I wanted to challenge the stigma, raise awareness, encourage understanding and create a safe space where nobody feels that they have to justify their pain, fatigue or limitations.

That is still what I want to achieve.

I cannot promise that everything will always go according to plan, but I can promise that my passion for this community and the people it represents remains.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support us, even during the quieter periods.

Thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding.

And once again, please accept my sincerest apologies for the disruption and lack of meet-ups over recent months.

We may be moving forward at a slower pace, but our mission remains the same: to ensure that people living with fibromyalgia and invisible conditions feel Seen & Heard. 💜

With love and appreciation,

Founder — Seen & Heard Fibro 💜

21/10/2026

Doctors say I will never get better or go into remission...I am not giving up, but I want to make others aware. A nap won't help. I am not lazy. I am on meds. I struggle with pain, mobility issues and fatigue every day. The most frustrating part is people look at me and say "It can't be that bad; you look fine." Despite the fact that my body is experiencing excruciating pain all over. I apologize if I miss events that I would love to attend. One day you'll understand my daily struggles. This disease affects me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I need your support, not your judgment. I'm watching the ones who will take the time to read this post to the end.
With the post comes the following request:
"Please, in honor of someone who is fighting Spinal stenosis ❤️💜❤️ Sarcoidosis💜💙Lupus💜Multiple Sclerosis 🧡🧡Cancer💛💛Rheumatoid Arthritis💜Thyroid disease💙💚Anxiety❤️🧡Depression💙❤️PTSD ❤️💜❤️Fibromyalgia💜❤️COPD/Asthma💙💙Neuropathy💛❤️ Cancer💜💜Epilepsy💚❤️or any other hidden illnesses.”💗💗
Copy & paste.
Write 'DONE' in comments and thank you for your support. So many wonderful people fight hidden physical pain every day! Doing this for a number of family members, a close friend and myself !!!

19/10/2026

💜 AN IMPORTANT UPDATE – NHS TREATMENT & FIBROMYALGIA CARE 💜

Today, 19 October 2026, I finally received a response from the Department of Health and Social Care following correspondence I sent on 21 September 2026.

My original email raised concerns about NHS treatment, waiting times and the difficulties faced by people living with fibromyalgia and multiple long-term health conditions.

Unfortunately, while my concerns were acknowledged, I feel that many of my questions remain unanswered.

The response largely focused on existing NHS policies and the Government’s plans to improve waiting times by 2029.

But what about the people struggling right now?

What about patients who are living with chronic pain, waiting for specialist appointments, struggling to access appropriate treatment or being passed between different NHS departments?

One of the biggest concerns I’ve raised is the lack of joined-up care.

Too often, patients with multiple health conditions feel that each department focuses on one particular issue without considering their overall health, medications or how their conditions affect one another.

We are people, not just individual diagnoses.

I have now responded to the Department, reiterating my original concerns and asking further questions about:

💜 NHS waiting times and access to treatment.

💜 Better communication between NHS departments.

💜 Coordinated care for people with multiple long-term conditions.

💜 Improvements to fibromyalgia treatment and specialist support.

💜 Differences between fibromyalgia treatment approaches in the UK and other countries.

💜 What action is being taken to support patients now, rather than relying solely on future targets.

This correspondence began through my own personal experiences, but I know these concerns are shared by others living with fibromyalgia and chronic illness.

I am determined to keep asking questions and seeking meaningful answers.

Because nobody should have to continually fight to be heard, understood or appropriately supported by the healthcare system.

I will continue to share updates as and when I receive further correspondence.

💜 Seen & Heard Fibro – Because Every Voice Matters.

Melissa Smith
Founder, Seen & Heard Fibro

19/10/2026

💜 An Update from Seen & Heard Fibro 💜

Hello everyone! 💜

We wanted to take a moment to share a little update with our wonderful community.

You may have noticed that things have been a little quieter than usual on our page recently, and some of our planned activities and meet-ups haven’t gone ahead.

However, we want to reassure everyone that Seen & Heard Fibro is still here! 💜

Since founding Seen & Heard Fibro on 5 February 2026, we’ve been incredibly grateful for the kindness, encouragement and support we’ve received.

Our mission remains the same: to raise awareness of fibromyalgia, provide support and create a welcoming community where people feel seen, heard, understood and supported.

💜 Looking Ahead to 2027 💜

We’re currently reviewing our plans and discussing how Seen & Heard Fibro will move forward.

Our focus will be on supporting our communities in Westhoughton and Horwich, with plans being explored for future support meet-ups in both areas.

We’re also looking at:

💜 Recruiting additional admins and volunteers.

💜 Reviewing our support meet-ups and how frequently they take place.

💜 Organising fundraising activities and community events.

💜 Continuing to raise awareness of fibromyalgia and invisible disabilities.

💜 Strengthening our community support.

💜 Planning our goals and priorities for 2027.

We want to ensure that everything we organise is realistic, sustainable and beneficial to those who need our support.

Once discussions with our admin team and committee have been completed, we’ll share further information about our future activities and meet-ups.

💜 Thank You for Your Continued Support 💜

We would also like to express our appreciation to everyone who has supported Seen & Heard Fibro since the beginning.

Your kindness, encouragement and involvement have helped us build the foundations of something meaningful.

Although things have been quieter recently, our passion for raising awareness and supporting people living with fibromyalgia remains.

Together, we are Seen & Heard. 💜

Kind regards,
Melissa Smith
Founder of Seen & Heard Fibro

19/10/2026

💜 Invisible Disabilities Week 2026 💜

📅 18th – 24th October 2026

Not all disabilities are visible, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t real. 💜

This week, Seen & Heard Fibro is raising awareness of invisible disabilities and the challenges faced by millions of people living with conditions that others cannot always see.

Living with an invisible disability can mean facing daily battles that go unnoticed. From chronic pain, overwhelming fatigue and brain fog to mental health difficulties and other long-term conditions, the impact can be life-changing.

💜 Just because someone looks well doesn’t mean they feel well.

💜 Just because someone smiles doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling.

💜 Just because you cannot see someone’s pain doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

💜 Nobody should have to constantly explain, justify or prove their disability to be believed.

At Seen & Heard Fibro, we believe everyone deserves to be listened to, understood, respected and supported.

Invisible Disabilities Week is an opportunity to challenge misconceptions, break down stigma and remind people that kindness, patience and understanding can make a real difference.

✨ You don’t have to see someone’s disability to believe them.

To everyone living with an invisible disability: You are seen. You are heard. You matter. 💜

Let’s continue raising awareness, supporting one another and making invisible disabilities visible through understanding.

💬 We’d love to hear from you: What is one thing you wish people understood about living with an invisible disability?

💜 Seen & Heard Fibro
Raising Awareness | Building Understanding | Supporting One Another

Address

Westhoughton

Website

https://www.instagram.com/seenandheardfibro?igsh=Ym1hengweWpzOG9n&utm_source=qr, https://www.tiktok.com/@seenheardfibro?

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