Good Morning...Newbie here!

My name is Lorraine and I've been suffering with FMS for at least 21 years. I have never really had an official diagnosis. I have seen many Ortho-Surgeons over the years, and the last one I saw suggested it may be FMS. The reports were sent back to my PCP with no mention of the FMS, but with a suggestion that I see a Rheumy. Saw him, and was prescribed Bextra. Took that for about 6 months , with pretty good results I might add, but I noticed my eyes were getting really sore and I was having problems with my vision. My PCP had no explanation for this and told me to continue to take the Bextra. I took it upon myself to find more info on the drug and realized that the sore eyes were a side effect . I stopped taking it, and my eyes were fine in a week or so. I haven't taken anything regularily since then. I am also Bipolar, and take Lithium,Celexa,Clonazepam and occasional Ativan.

I have constant discomfort, but usually not so bad that I can't function daily, but I also have severe flare ups. When this happens, I try and manage the pain with Extra Strength Advil Liquid Gels or Naproxyn. I am allergic to codeine and toradol and many pain medications irritate my stomach. The advil and naproxyn doesn't usually take care of the pain, so when it gets too unbareable, I go to the ER and get demerol or morphine shots.

I've been having a flare up, or at least I think that's what it is, for over a week now. It started out in my left side, under my ribs with muscle spasm like pain throughout my left side and into my back....gradually, it moved up to my chest and across to my right side, under my ribs and into my back. As of yesterday, it had moved to the left side of my head, down my face and neck , under my collarbone and into my upper left chest and into my upper back. Its a constant pain, with periodic spasms. It makes me upset, but more angry than anything because I'm pretty much rendered useless and can't function in my daily routines. I don't work , thankfully, and do not have young children, but it still makes me feel useless at times. My husband works and then has to come home and manage the household duties many days.  I am having problems finding a doctor that take my symptoms seriously. Because I have been diagnosed with Bipolar/depression, the doctors blame my pain on my depression.  I live in a small community in Canada. We only have  4 doctors here, and protocol states that in order  to get to see a specialist, you need a referral from one of the GP's here at the clinic. IF you're lucky enough to get one, then you have 12-24 months on a waiting list. It's so frustrating!!

I guess what I"m wondering is, how exactly, should I plead my case with my PCP? What statements should I make, and what questions should I ask so that I can get the proper diagnosis and care that I am desperately needing? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Be well..

Lorraine

I'm sorry the doctor situation is what it is up there. Like you I can handle the pain most days with 4000 mg of tylenol. Fatigue is my biggest problem and arthritis in my hands. We use a lot of moist heat for fibro pain. Rice bags you heat in the microwave. They are easy to make out of long tube socks and uncooked rice an tie the end. Warm baths, moist heating pads and showers.

Many have had great results with malic acid and magnesium but if your tummy is irratated easy you might want to try a little to begin with. I get gastritis very easily so I can't take most pain meds or the malic acid.

I really do hope you are able to get help from a doc. In the mean time stick with us and we will try to help you.

luv and hugs

Marlee

Take what you have just written and make it into a list.  You might put your pain measurement next to each item in your list.  Have some info about fibro, too.  In the Fibro 101 thread...the second thread on the forum...you will find a link to  responses to a New York Times article.  Click on that.  You will see letters that have been written by learned doctors to explain fibromyalgia.  I'd print that out, too.  You PCP might be very interested in that and it might also open his/her eyes in case they don't think fibro is real. 

You might just have depression because of all of the pain you have to live with.  Many with fibro suffer with depression so that's not unusual and it is not all in your head, either.

Read other links on the Fibro 101 thread and become really informed.  You usually have to be your own advocate with this health issue.  

I'm sorry that you have to jump through hoops to see a specialist there.  That just doesn't seem fair but we've heard that before.  Anyway, I think you have gotten some good ideas on this thread.  Please let us know how it goes for you.  We really do care.

Sherrine