Newbie

Hi everyone!

I just joined your community today. I have been having a really hard time lately - worse than usual. And I feel so alone.

A little about me & my history, I started developing symptoms in 1995 - that year I had a neck injury at work while waiting tables. Migraines started almost immediately. Less than 6 months later, my father who I was very close to, was murdered in an attempted car jacking 2 nights before Christmas. I was young, 22. But the symptoms started with a vengeance. All my symptoms were blamed on the neck injury (C5-C6) syrinx, non-operable and cervical strain and myofascial pain. I went through chiropractor (40 visits), neuro for the migraines (imitrex), orthopedic for my neck and he gave me nerve blocks, epidurals (series of 3), trigger point injections, physical therapy, massages 3x a week, and I know I am forgetting whatever else they did to me as a 22 year old woman on my own. My family was so depressed over the loss of my father (as was I), that my injury and pain was on the back burner (understandably). I was being taken care of under the Workers Comp system, until one day they dropped my medical care. I had to get an attorney. I got one thru a reference by my father's attorney. Turns out now (hindsight), he wasn't a great lawyer and didn't have my best interests at heart. He took their first offer. They settled for $20,000. I got $15,000 of that. He made a quick $5,000. I had only student health insurance and it didn't cover the continuing physical therapy. I spent the $15,000 in one year on medical care. The very nice physical therapist who had been working with me for over a year suggested that my muscles felt very similar to his patients with Fibromyalgia. It was the first time I had heard the word. I started researching immediately. Bought every book at the bookstore I could find on Fibro (not many in 1996-97). It sounded a heck of a lot like what was going on with me. I must have seen 4 or 5 different doctors. They ran all the tests. And of course they showed nothing. And they all had the same answer. I needed counseling. It was all in my head. Until I found 1. 1 doctor who ruled out everything else and then told me I had fibromyalgia. I cried and cried. Someone heard me. Someone in the medical community believed me.

That was 1998. And the last ten years have been up & down. The last 5 years have been mostly down. Surviving. I am surviving.

I feel really alone. So I did a google search and found you all. I am really grateful to be here and look forward to getting to know all of you.

Thanks so much for letting me be here.

Hugs,

Speppy

Hi, Speppy, and welcome to the fibromyalgia forum!  I'm so glad you joined us!  You will find a great group of people here with some good ideas and advice to help you live a full and enjoyable life.

 

I'm 61 and have had fibro for 21 years.  I have never let it stop me from doing anything I really want to do.  I just have to do a little planning.  I do pace myself and don't try to get everything done in the same time frame as before fibro.  But, it all gets done eventually.

 

I use ibuprofen(with food) and Tylenol for my pain and malic acid/magnesium supplements for pain and fatigue.  I just started the supplements last December and they have really helped me a lot.  I'll bump up the thread about them for you and  you can read it and see what you think.

 

Moist heat works well for pain.  Hot showers and rice bags that heat in the microwave are wonderful.  I also get light massages from a massage therapist that knows all about fibro.  That helps me a lot too.  Be sure to keep moving.  Walking is wonderful.  The stretching exercises, on the Fibro 101 thread, are great too and are done sitting down.  If you do not keep moving, you will be stiff as a board.

 

Be sure to check out the Fibro 101 thread.  It is the second thread on the first page of this forum.  You will find links to some good info about fibromyalgia.  There are links to symptoms of fibro, great stretching exercises, and you will especially like the link about doctor's responding to a New York Times article.  I'm sure you can relate to it. 

 

Try reading some of the posts.  There is a world of information in them.  Also, don't hesitate to ask questions.  That's what we are here for.  Meanwhile, have a good evening, stay safe from the tropical storm, (I live in Tampa Bay) and I hope to hear more from you soon!

Sherrine 

 

 

Speppy,

I was like you and felt so alone. I went looking and found this forum.  I feel so much better, not physically but mentally.  You will love the people here, they are wonderful and always there when you need them.  So, welcome!

Meggie

Hi Speppy and welcome-

Having a support group makes all the difference in the world and this group is "exceptional." They have been my sanity. The group members and moderators jump on and off this site from morning till bedtime (and some even in the wee hours of the night because they can't sleep) And are here during the good times and the bad times.

Your not alone!!! GamJill

Hi Speppy,Welcome.

 I am a newbie myself, just joined 2-3 days ago (my memory is so bad). This really is a good group of people. I know on my very first post, I was hurting so bad that day and I was so tired, that in that first post I came off as a hateful, no one understands me, and as I usually do, automatically pushing people away from me. But the moderators and other members did not attack me or return my tactless post! For that I am so grateful. I try to call em as I see em and sometimes, I do get so crabby.This group must have seen thru it because they have been so kind to me.  Sorry for the loss of your loved one. I think I have found the group right here that I have needed for such a long time. I hope you find what you need here. Everyone here understands what the others are going thru and that in itself is a blessing. I cried with relief when I finally gave in to finding a group. I feel lucky. 

Again, welcome and take care,

Breath

Thanks so much everyone for your kind responses and your support. I hate to admit that I am crying reading your posts, they mean so much to me. I have been dealing with this for years and years but lately has been so bad. I have very few friends left, I can't keep up with them and they really didn't understand - so I got left behind. I have a great family, but they don't really get the fibro thing. My Mom especially is in denial. For thirteen years now...she's in denial that her baby girl has something real. She is from the generation that "bucks up" and doesn't show pain or weakness. I did that for years, and now it has caught up with me. My Mom just kind of rolls her eyes when I tell her I didn't make it to work again. She thinks I should just get up and go - do it. And just suffer. Some days I can't get out of bed to take a shower, but I'm supposed to go to work for 9 hours and somehow stay upright? I just haven't been able to do it lately. The last 6 months have been awful and my employer is warning me about my absences. She doesn't believe I am sick. I don't look sick. I hate that. I almost wish I had a huge tumor or something in the middle of my forehead so they could say, "Oh! That's why she misses work all the time."

Thank you again for all your kind words. I look forward to getting to know you all and becoming part of your family here. It's such a relief to find people who know what I am going through...

Hugs