Hi I'm Buddasmom...

Hello.
This is my first time posting here. I think I have had fibro for most of my life but was only dx about 12 years ago. It can be a very lonely way of life so it's good to find a group like this. When I got my first computer about 9 yrs ago I joined a fibro group and when I read the messages I just sat and cried. It was such a relief to know that there really is someone else out there that understands what I go through! I was soooo sick and tired of being told I am just out of shape and/or need to be more active. I always felt like certain people in my life thought I was just lazy and my problems would all be solved If I would just do something. Grrrrrr!

I also have several non fibro problems. Pulmonary hypertension, arthritis in several places, chronic bursitis and tendonitis in both shoulders, gerd, and I could go on if my memory and concentration was working better right now. lol

When this hit me hard I was probably in the best shape I had ever been in physically. I was addicted to exersize and did so several times daily. Not a lot of arobic stuff but lots of weights and stationary stuff. I have had problems with my breathing for many years so arobics never were in the cards for me. Even so, I looked good, and felt good.

Then, all of the sudden I started to hurt in odd places, had trouble sleeping, and no energy at all. So when someone suggests to me that if I would just be more active or I needed 'conditioning' I wanted to scream.

I went through many tests and never any answers until someone decided I had fibro.Some of the drs I saw didn't seem to believe in it, and some did. I couldn't work and after much hassle and finally getting an attorney and going before a judge I was given ssd. I was prescribed many meds which I took for several years. They caused me to gain over 50lbs. It took me a while to figure out that the meds were causing the weight gain. I took amytriptilyne for help to sleep and was told it also helped with the pain. Well, it did help me sleep, with awful nightmares by the way, and it also gave me another side effect. I had a craving for sugar that you wouldn't believe. It took quite a while before I put the two together. I have decided that I don't want to take the pills any more. I quit it all except for once in a while when it gets real bad I will go back to the anti inflammatorys for a spell. For the most part I found meds did'nt help a lot after I had used them for a while anyway. Also at the same time the fibro hit I began menopause, and quit smoking which defineately did not help me. Now I take generic benadryl every night to help me sleep, ibuprofin for pain, a low dose asprin, nexium, hydrochlorathiazide, and a variety of vitamins every day.

I was put on a cholesterol med and after being on it for a few days I started to hurt twice as bad as normal so I quit taking them and went back to just my usual pain. That sounds strange doesn't it. lol My dr's get frustrated with me because I won't take a lot of meds. The weight gain during the time I was has been really hard on me and I dont' need to gain any more for sure. I have not been able to take it off either because I don't have the energy to be very active. I also admit that since I am so limited in what I can do, and I live alone with just my dog for company. I eat things I know i darn well shouldn't be eating. So even though I haven't gained any more since quitting the meds I seem to be stuck with the weight. The only exersize I really can do is in a pool and I don't live close enough to get to one regularly

Anyway, that's been a bit of my journey these last few years. At this point I have read a lot about fibro and have learned to live with it. I dont' like to dwell on it though. That said there are times, especially lately as the pain seems to be increasing rapidly this last year, that I need to express my frustration with being so incapacitated so I am happy to have run across this group as the one I found years ago is long gone.

Post Edited By Moderator (getting by) : 3/8/2009 1:50:08 PM (GMT-6)

Hi There, I gave your post a name, then I realized I spelled your name wrong so then I had to go back and change it. Well, I have yet to do that, and watch me forget or something, fibro fog...

I would like to welcome you to the fibromyalgia forum. And oh does your post sound so ever familiar. I was the same way as you. Physically active, mostly working on muscle tone and a lot of walking. I looked good and felt good. I just don't understand why it picks us. But it does.

We have a wonderful thread called fibro101. I think that you would enjoy looking over it. It has a wealth of information on it. And it will help you to feel not so alone. That is one wonderful thing about this forum. You know that you aren't the only one with all of these dreadful symptoms and you realize that you aren't crazy after all.

I hope that you stay with us. I think you will just love everybody here. I do.

Hugs, Karen

Thanks Karen for adding a title for me! Yes, Linda, lol I fully understand fibro fog!! And thanks for the welcome too. I'm sure I will drop in often and both need, and try to give support. Some days ya just gotta whine to someone who understands and I see plenty of that here.

I haven't tried either one of those cholesterol med Linda. I am just so fed up with taking meds and when I told the dr that the last one was causing me severe muscle aches he as much as said no they aren't. I am on medicare, and medicaid and I go to a clinic where I see mostly residents. Sometimes I think I know more than they do and I certainly do know more about my own body than they do. Medical care is one of my biggest sources of frustration after the physical stuff.

I have looked over the 101 thread and see lots of links I will be exploring.

I have a question too for anyone who might like to answer. I try very hard not to concentrate on my pain and I find a result of that is I often cannot remember what has hurt me, or when. So when the dr asks me about it I feel like an idiot when I have to say, "I dont' remember". Is this common, or am I really an idiot? (Well, I know I'm really not. LOL)

Welcome Buddasmom,

I can so relate to the "being fit" issue and fibro hitting. I was a major tennis player when this dreaded thing gripped me. I am trying so hard to get it back but now know I have to accept what it is. Now I will not give up but that is a different thing. I too gained the weight but not from meds. I do not take the meds and manage. I attribute my gain to the lack of aerobics and my unusual cravings I never had before.

Have you tried the magnesium/malic acid formula? It has really helped me along with vitamin D3 and many others. As for not concentrating on the pain you are very smart. It is so very important to not let the pain win. That may sound strange but remember it is the brain producing the pain. I truly find when I refuse to think about it and rather think about the emotional things happening my pain either reduces or even more often moves around!!!!

Hope to hear more from you.

Patsie

Hi Buddasmom and welcome to the family. So many of us have simular stories. I was all alone with this DD too til I found this forum, it has been a godsend. I still feel alone unless I'm on here cause no one can possibly understand this if they don't live with it.

As you have probably already read we talk about everything on here cause it all affects us. I've heard it all too, exercise and you will feel better, take that pill they advertise on TV and you will feel better and you need to get out and get involved in something that will make you feel better.

I do get sugar cravings from amitriptyline but have been lucky in not gaining a lot of weight but I do believe it helps with the pain. My body doesn't take well to many meds so I don't try anything that I don't have to take.

luv and hugs

Marlee