Becoming an Expert Patient

I've been on the Expert Patient Programme for 4 weeks now. It's a course run by the NHS to help people with long-term conditions learn to manage and live with their conditions. Each programme is tutored by people who are living with a chronic conditon so they know exactly what I'm going through. The bad thing about it is I am the youngest person in the group. This group has 8 people who are all over 50 years old. They are a lovely bunch of people who are friendly, funny and amazing. One woman has had cancer, while one man has just lost his wife to cancer and is living with diabetes.

The people in the group are not the problem. It's the ages. They can only help me so much, and I can only help them so much. They all have children, jobs, some have even retired. I'm still living with my parents, I am at university and I'm in my 20s. I need to be with people my own age, going through the same things I am going through. Some of the older men and women tend to talk a lot  about their health problems, and understandably so. It's just a little frustrating when they're talking for 15 minutes (I timed it!) about their blood tests, what their doctor said and what their next door neighbour thinks she should do. I think some of the people in the group don't have anyone to talk. That's why the Expert Patient Programme is good, and so important. It stops people feeling isolated. It's just, I feel more isolated by going in some ways.The people in the group don't understand how hard uni can be. I do not know anyone my age with a long term condition, and apparently there is no Expert Patient Programme in my area for people my age. It would be a great help to just talk to people my age who just understand.



Health Update
I haven't really been leaving the house much due to pain which is very frustating. I got a phone call from my doctor's surgery. My doctor wanted me to make an appointment to talk about a new medication he thinks I should go on. I don't know what it is, or what it is for. Could it be for fibromyalgia? When I was diagnosed I was told there are a few medications that are available to help with it, but are not licenced in this country. Perhaps this is just a way for the doctor to get me to go and see him since it has been a few months since I've been (haven't seen the point in going when he can't really help) and he wants to see how I am going. I wonder what he thinks about me being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Perhaps he has been doing a bit of research!