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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 11/22/2008 4:42 AM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone...

First off...I wanted to thank everyone for the warm welcome on my previous thread...it means a lot to me!!  Just wanted to update everyone and let them know that I got my referral to the Rheumatologist and I will be seeing him on January 16th.  It's a long time to wait but I guess it could be worse.  Any tips on what to do to prepare for my appt? I'm thinking about starting a calender to take with me.  I thought I could jot down my symptoms for each day...degree of pain,etc.  I seem to have a different ailment everyday of varying degree's...so i though it may be helpful..do you think?

Otherwise...still struggling...somedays things aren't too bad and other days they seem almost unbearable.  I am working tonight and very uncomfortable right now.  Today..my arms seem to be bothering me the most.  I woke up this morning feeling like I had been rowing a boat all night or something.  A lot of my pain is centered right at the elbow area. I know the inner elbow is a 'tender point'..which I do have but the majority of my pain seems to stem from the outer portion of the elbow.

My back/ribs are also still bothering me quite a bit.  I think I mentioned this in my first post. I was dx with an ulcer the beginning of Oct...but I am really starting to doubt that diagnosis. When my other aches and pains get worse....the rib pain gets worse.  I have some tenderness in the front/chest area but the majority of it is in my right upper back...just below my shoulder blade..(I did see the other post on the shoulder blade issues but I didn't want to thread steal).  I am questioning costochondritis..which i believe can have referral of pain to the back but I don't know if that would be the primary location for pain? Pain is definitely worse when taking a deep breath.

Anywho....just wanted to update and thank everyone. I will probably be frequenting this site..I hope you don't all get sick of me nono   tongue .  I'm dreading next week because it is my the start of my "pms" time and I know that my sx get worse during this time..so I might need to vent.

Ok..hope everyone is well...

Hugs

Olivia

Posted 11/22/2008 7:51 AM (GMT 0)
Olivia,
You might want to start using a reasonable amount of Tylenol/acetometaphen for helping with your pain and if you do have costochondritis, anti inflammatories are the best but I don't know with that ulcer... Anyway, muscle rub creams with methyl salysalate (smells like wintergreen), menthol rubs, those things often help a lot. Don't cure anything but they confuse the nerves enough to slow down the pain. Just be sure to NOT MIX HEATING PADS WITH MUSCLE RUB CREAMS. This can cause very bad blistering burns. I learned this the hard way.

Drink lots of water, tea, coffee, liquid! every day to help flush out the waste products in your muscles. Try to get to bed a little earlier next week, too. Good luck with this.
Posted 11/22/2008 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Olivia I'm sorry you have to wait so long to see a rheumy. I think keeping a journal is a good idea before your app. Fibro changes so often it's hard to keep track of what hurt when if you don't write it down and of course there is the fog so you won't remember half of what you want to talk to the doc about.

 

From my waist up pretty much stays sore all the time, like I have been beaten sore. But then different parts take turns being the pain of the day that hurts worse sometimes it's my back, sometimes it is my neck, sometimes it is my ribs, sometimes it is my shoulders and sometimes it is my hands (this has been the worse lately). I don't know if these parts draw straws each day to see who is the lucky one or what. Some days it moves around to many different places.

 

Moist heat always feels good to me in any form. I can't take many meds so I take tylenol 4000 mg a day, use lidoderm patches and TENS unit.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 11/22/2008 5:44 PM (GMT 0)

Olivia,

The calendar idea is a good way to chart all of your symptoms. That will give your Rheumatologist some idea of what you have been going through. I know I have different body parts that hurt more on some days and others not so much. My elbows hurt so much right now, I can't even touch them!

Make sure you write everything down, even the smallest thing to you might mean something to doc. Also, make sure to keep track of other things besides your pain...like fatigue, any depression, etc.

Like the others, moist heat usually helps me some. Warm showers or soaking in the tub makes me feel better for awhile. Too bad you have to wait so long to see the Rheumy. Just hang in there and know that you will soon be getting some relief! Good luck!

Hugs!!  Margie

Posted 11/22/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Olivia,

I think that you have gotten some very good advice. Thanks for the update. Know that we will never get tired of you. The more the merrier, I always say.

I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 11/22/2008 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much everyone....

I hate to whine again...but today is literally on of the worst I've had yet...not sure if it's the cold weather or what. We live in WI and it was in the teens when I left work lastnight. Anyways...my left elbow is killing me...I can't even use that arm. I lifted a half gallon of milk this morning and broke out in tears. Then...I was getting my son dressed for a B-Day party we had to go to today and something went goofy in my low back. I have low back pain most of the time but this is different...it actually feels just like my left elbow...intense burning/aching pain....and it feels like both my elbow and back have a catch in them that just won't go away. I just took a Vicodin...which I don't like taking but Tylenol doesn't do a lot for me and I'm not supposed to be taking Ibuprofen...because of my supposed ulcer. I'm going to grab my heating pad and rest awhile. I am a huge fan of heat...use it constantly. I will have to try the moist heat as well.

Ok..thanks again all. I am learning so much from you all. I feel silly being in the medical profession and asking all these questions but Fibro was something that wasn't even mentioned in nursing school. It will be good to learn all I can...not only for myself but for my patients as well.

Hugs
Liv
Posted 11/23/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)

Hi neighbor and fellow nurse!

I live in Minnesota and we have been having January temps here also! It is my first winter with fibro and it is making my pain worse. sad I did Geriatric nursing for 16 years and than burned out. That was almost 13 years ago now. Don't feel bad about asking questions even though you are a nurse. They did not teach us anything about it either, so when I came to this site I had and still have questions about fibro!

Sounds like from your posts it's fibro- and in January the rheumy can get you a diagnosis. I too cannot lift a gallon or half gallon of milk some days - I feel like my wrist is going to snap in half- ouch. Hope the Vicodin helped a little yesterday.

GamJill

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