Undiagnosed but wondering if it's CFS

Thank you, Kate. I'm waiting on a call from my doctors office to tell me something - anything. I'll probably hear back on Monday or Tuesday. If not, when I see my doc next I'll request a referral to a rheumy. I'll probably ask to go to my moms rheumy.

I'm also new to this site. Have posted on another page and don't really understand some things about the site, but I'll learn. However, I've had FM, CFS, Chronic pain and a gazillion other symptoms for years. I self-diagnosed years before any of the doctors I saw could tell me. I agree that a Rheumatologist is a very good idea. The Dr. who diagnosed me when I was in my 40s (I'm 70) was a Rheumatologist. I refused to believe him at the time. FM had just become a diagnosis and most doctors still didn't accept it as a legit illness. Like many illnesses; if you have a dozen doctors and give them the same symptoms they'll all tell you something different, but our symptoms are among the hardest to get a diagnosis and there's still some stigma attached to these diagnosis. When you said you have fever I immediately thought Lupus because that's also a hard one to diagnose and fever is one of the common symptoms. It does sound like you might have FM or CFS, but you could also have some kind of autoimmune diagnosis. My doctors (other than my Rheumatologist) tell me I'm healthy because I don't have heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or any of the other most common diagnosis today. I've had all the blood tests and a lot more tests you didn't list and they were all normal. I certainly don't feel the slightest bit healthy. Some people go to many doctors over a period of years before they're ever diagnosed with FM or CFS. Once you find a Dr. who is knowledgable you'll at least have someone who will work with you to try to figure out what works best for you. Always keep in mind that we have a lot of the same symptoms, but our symtoms are rarely exactly like everyone else. I'm fortunate to have a husband who is willing to read anything I ask him to read. I've been getting newsletters etc. about these diagnosis for years so he's well educated. If he had not read everyting I've read I have no doubt he'd have a hard time understanding and supporting me. No one can understand unless they've also experienced the symptoms, but he really tries. When I was much younger I took antidepressants for 8 years because I was severely depressed. I agree with some posts on this site that the older antidepressants are better. They seem to help more people than the newer ones and don't have as many side effects. Most of us with FM, CFS are sensitive to medications and it's hard to find one that works. I can't take at least 75% of drugs doctors prescribe "normal" people. I have strange reactions and often really bad reactions. Eventually I became sensitive to antidepressants and can no longer take them. I do take a small amount of amitriptiline (sp? brain fog) but it isn't a high enough dose to be therapeutic. It just helps me sleep a little along with sleep medication. The last time I saw my rheumatologist I told her I didn't like taking sleeping pills. She said she'd rather I take sleeping pills than do without sleep, because lack of sleep causes all symptoms to be worse. Some doctors believe FM is a sleep disorder and lack of sleep brings on all the other symptoms. Lack of sleep makes all illnesses worse no matter what it is. So I'll continue taking them and hope some day a better treatment will be found. I've been in a pain clinic for 5 years. That has helped a lot. Only trained pain specialist know how to treat pain properly. I wish I didn't have to take pain meds. but the alternative isn't very attractive. I fought taking meds for a long time and finally decided I'd rather take a few than be miserable all the time. I hope you find someone who can diagnosis and help you. I'm so grateful I finally found this site where there are people who understand how I feel.

Hi neew member, So sorey u have so much pain. I felt the rocccks on soles over 20 year ago. I will bee thinking of j. i see mu neuro. on thur. My ability to type is terribley, ane speakng voice.too. again welcime. Please reade the Sjogrens page. untill later Cathy

If you have chronic tiredness, and severe fatigue, and muscle twitches and tremors you should definitely get your amalgam fillings removed the toxic metals including mercury vapour in these fillings could be the source of your illness. And dont believe what the doctors and dentists are saying about there safety science has prooven them to be a severe health risk and the world health organization agrees they are bad news!!!!!