This one takes the cake...SCARY!

I have been up since about 5AM with a heating pad on my hip and shoulder.  Couldn't sleep from the pain and got in the recliner.  At 8:00 AM there was a knock at the door and I couldn't imagine who it could be so early in the morning.  I looked out and didn't recognize the person and debated on whether I would answer it at all, but he saw me so I opened the storm door a crack.

"Hi! he says, "I hope I didn't wake you up and am sorry if I did, but I wonder if I could ask the UPS man to leave a package with you because we have missed him two days in a row.  It's my daughter's prom dress."

I just stood there staring at him!  He finally said.."I live across the street(pointed to the house)...I'm your neighbor?  I drive a jeep and I wave all the time...I showed you my fireplace last summer..."  he kept going on and on and there I was, my hair standing on end like Billy Idol, in my pj's and a big smudge of chocolate on my cheek(noticed that after he left) just trying to figure out if I REALLY knew him.

I finally said..."Jeez, I thought I knew everyone who lived in that house".  He apologized again for disturbing me and I know he thought I had Alzheimers...which NOW is making me wonder.

Then I said..."What's your name?"

"Tim!" he laughed.  "I just got a hair cut so maybe that's why you don't recognize me."

I apologized because then it all registered but as God as my witness I did not recognize his face.  I don't know how far I can take the fibro-fog-thing....and blame it on things like this.  It's not like I see this guy everyday or even close up...just that one time when he showed me the new fireplace in his house.  We've talked in the road a few times and the Hubby talks to him all the time.

I am soooo embarassed and I can only imagine what he is telling his wife about me.  I have never been good with faces or names but this event is really scaring me.

All I can say is, I hope it's The Fog, that he woke me up and I was disoriented.  Too scary to think about the alternative!

Huggies

donna

 

oh my goodness, donna! i am sorry to laugh, but i have to admit i did. i went through something very similar in the grocery store a few weeks ago. i was shopping with my youngest son and this woman walks up to us with this big smile and says "guys!!!! how are you doing?? my daughter misses you guys at the daycare! how's z (my other son) doing? is he liking 1st grade? how's your husband?" and on and on...talking to us like we were just all buddy buddy and she knew my kids names and knew me and my husband and details about our lives, so obviously she knows us, but i had no idea who she was!!! i didn't recognize her face. i didn't recognize her name. i didn't recognize her daughter, but apparently she took her daughter to the daycare that my kids used to go to and we've actually met each other there and talked and everything! i just sort of responded in a non-commital sort of 'yeaaah..i know exactly who you are' kind of way and that seemed to satisfy her, but i still have no idea who she was.

hopefully your neighbor just blows this off and doesn't think anything of it (and doesn't say anything to his wife!) maybe your hubby can fill you in on the details of who this guy is? i definitely can understand your embarrassment...fibro fog is the pits!!

{{{{hugs}}}}

Donna, I'm terrible at remembering faces too. I had met the couple down the street after moving here. One day, probably a year later, there was a woman walking by the house while I was working in the front yard and she started talking to me and I asked her where she lived, it was my neighbor. I will never forget her face again.

 

I didn't use to be like that when I was younger so I think it is either age or fibro. It is disturbing sometimes when we forget things like that.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

 

 

Donna, you have no idea how many times this has happened to me!  People will come up and say "Hi" and use my name and start asking me a bunch of questions about my family, etc.  I not only don't know their names or recognize their faces, I don't every remember seeing them before!  I just do a lot of smiling and nodding! 

Sherrine

Hi, Michelle. Welcome to the forum! You asked if we ever get 'lost' in our own conversations - YES! Not a day goes by that I don't have that kind of conversation. It is bad enough w/ my family, but that is one of the biggest reasons I had to stop working. I had a classroom of students, halfway thru a lesson, and I just lost the entire train of thought. I figured, 'Well, that happens to everyone, once in awhile'  Yes, but this happened several times a day - everyday. Most times my children will ask me again what I meant by some word, b/c I use the wrong word that makes absolutely no sense at all. Most times I give them a look and laugh it off, but it does bother me.

I had to go to the bank to handle business for my mother. The lady there always helps me w/ my DM's stuff. Each time I go to her office, I mess up some word. Today, my brain was trying to say 'transfer', but my mouth insisted on saying 'transport'. Bless her heart, she never laughed at me, she sat waiting till I could finally get the word out of my mouth. I will even go over what I want to say before I go somewhere, doesn't matter. I still screw it up.

I have started many a conversation, to get sidetracked, and totally lose the point of the story.

You are concerned about possible complications from the coma, I don't blame you. Have you spoken w/ your dr? S/he should be able to tell you if any problems your are having are a result of the coma. But memory problems and confusion are also things that many of the ppl w/ FMS have. You are still the same good person you were before, you just have health issues. I don't know how old your children are, but maybe you can give them some info on FMS on their level of understanding. Explain some of the effects of this DD. To help you better understand the 'joys' of FMS, look to the 1st pg for Fibro 101, a lot of great info there. Read the back posts, you will see ??? others have asked, and suggestions that were given. Also, keep asking questions. That is what we all do, we are all still learning about Fibro. Remember, you are not alone, we are all in this w/ you. God bless.  Alice. 

Donna, that happened to me about one week ago.  I was at a Pizza Hut with my daughter & 2 grandkids.  I noticed Emily was having trouble sitting on the seat so I got up to look for a booster seat & heard someone say "Hey, Aunt Denise."  I looked around & there were 2 young men sitting in a booth.  They were both looking at me & smiling & I didn't have a clue who they were.  I said Hi to cover up my confusion because I couldn't figure out which one had said Aunt Denise, I had had my back to them.  So, I was really really embarrassed.  Then one of them said "I thought that was you."  I recognized my nephews voice & then it all clicked into place.  I hadn't seen him for a few months but that was no excuse to not recognize him.  I feel so bad about it, I will never tell my sister, she wouldn't understand at all.  The other young man was a total stranger so I could quit kicking myself for not knowing him.  I think I should take up drinking then people would understand if I blanked out, oh I guess that would be blacked out. 

Michelle, welcome to the forum & never, never worry about venting or crying here.  I am so happy you have found us & I hope this will be a healing place for you.  I always have conversations where I forget what I am saying.  Whether its a word, a name or the whole conversation.  I used to cover it up quickly because & was so embarrassed but now I just say "well, now that is an example of Fibro Fog". Then I either ask what I was talking about or what name I forgot & then go on with the conversation.  It is part of who I am now, since I don't look sick at least this gives them some clue as to what is going on inside of me.  Your family members should be totally ashamed of themselves for their behavior.  You have an actual illness, it is real & they can not minimize it away.  You also need a new Doctor.  We have all had to shop around to find a good one.  Just because they have a license to practice medicine doesn't mean they are any good.  You are not pathetic, you are in the early stages of a diagnosis & that is hard deal with.  I hope you will come here I let us help you through it.  Many hugs, Denise 

Hey Michelle,
I know what you're going thru.. I've been there and its just plain awful. But with proper meds hopefully you'll start getting back to your old (young) self again.
Be glad your doc sent you to a rhumey! They have a better concept of what fibro is all about.
I don't blame you one bit for your fears and I hope you'll get some answers as you work your way thru the forum. Be sure to check out Fibro 101 .. second thread when you enter this site. Its great and helped me with a lot of my questions and concerns. It also helped me realize that I wasn't losing my mind.
I also wanted to welcome you!!!
Wishing you a happy and painfree day..

Michelle, you're very welcome, but the ppl here have been thru the thing of having ppl doubt or hurt feelings. We don't need that around here, this should be our safe place to come and talk and feel comfortable w/ our emotions. The other good ppl here have always treated me that way, they have been so kind and caring. That is the way we should all be, IMHO.

The rheumy seems to have got a grip on the situation, maybe the meds will help w/ the pain and panic attacks. It sounds like it is worth a try. Your PCP on the other hand is off base. You are in pain, it isn't in your head. You might want to think about another PCP, someone who knows what they're talking about. Read up on FMS first, a lot of info here, books in the library, etc. Arm yourself w/ info, then call drs. offices and ask if they believe and treat FMS. That will cut your list down considerably. As far as the nay sayers, if they are not going to be in your corner and don't even want to hear what you and your dr are saying. DISTANCE yourself. You don't need negative energy. You need ppl that are 'with' you. That is just fighting two wars. I've gone thru that several times, one person in particular didn't believe what I was saying, she kept mispronouncing the word Fibromyalgia, as if dismissing it, when I said it correctly, I was told, "Whatever". I don't have time to be treated that way.

When you have a bit more info to make you more comfortable w/ FMS, sit w/ your children, explain what you know, let them read some of the info. You don't want to scare them w/ the unknown, let them see what is going on. Let them help w/ family matters, chores, etc. It will give them a chance to help you and let them know how much you trust them. The four of you are a family, the four of you need to work together. If they know computers, and I'm sure they do, let them help you 'find' info on FMS. They may be very worried now, b/c they don't understand what is going on w/ your health. This may help to settle some of their fears.

I don't like to use the phone, either, but it is necessary. If it's a personal call, I will tell the person when I'm getting tired and I know the 'fog' is rolling in lol, I need to get off the line. For business calls -which I hate, but necessary - I write everything down - EVERYTHING, my name, add, phone #, all acct #'s, what I want to ask/tell, etc. It is work to do this, but I can generally get my pt across and get my answers. I'm not able to run around like I used to, I need to make these calls. Don't isolate yourself, you have this one life, don't let anything/anyone cut it short for you. You have every right to enjoy each day. Take time each day to go outside for something peaceful. Sometimes, I just want to stay inside, that is when I MAKE myself go outside. I will walk my beloved dog, walk around in my yd, walk on the boardwalk a few blks from my house. I need to reduce the clutter in my mind. You are not pathetic or a bother, pls don't feel that way. We have all been upset w/ this DD. Keep writing, keep reading, keep asking. 

God bless.   Alice.                        

Michelle,
Be very careful with the tylenol. It's metabolized in the liver and too much can cause irreversible liver damage. Hot showers, muscle rub creams, heating pads, those all may help. Also, look into taking the Malic acid supplements that many of us take. We've had some awesome results with it.

hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you start to feel better soon.