Newbie from FL

Hey everyone!

   This is my first forum and it seems like it'll help just talking to you guys.

I am 20 years old and i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 2-3 months ago now. I WAS in school for massage therapy. (not anymore)

  The fatigue is what came first for me. my friend was here visiting and she was gettin very annoyed that i felt like i culdn't do anything. All i wanted to do was come home from school and sleep! I started to verrry over emotional about everything (wich is not like me at all) and then the pain came. I started gettin headaches and the body aches.

   I was in school giving a massage when my hands started to cramp up. It got so bad in my hand and shoulders that i felt like i was going to throw up and i got very dizzy. the next day.. i was in so much pain all over.. i couldn't even get out of bed.We figured i just had mono. I went through sooo many tests for lupus, RA, lukemia, everything!

They found out that i did have adult mono (which i now get B-12 shots for. They also diagnosed me with fibromyalgia.

   They had me on anti-inflammatory meds and a antidepressant...which made me have an anxiety attack. I've been throuhg plenty of different meds. They now still have me on the anti inflammatories ( i think thats how you spell it) and i'm also on 60mg of cymbalta.

I sleep a little better... but im still in constant pain..and if i'm up busy one day... i'm in bed all day the next.

This has been a struggle for me.

 1. I'm no longer in school because i am not sure what career i would like to have now (although i would like to go back and get my general studies done).

2. I have no job.. because we are not sure when i will have my good or bad days and the doctor wants me to wait till i have a set medication that works

3. I have been a profeshional dancer my whole life. dance IS my life. and now it gets harder and harder to do this.

4. I was also a model, i was starting to get into music videos for both dancing and modeling. . . and now i can not work out the way i use to.. and i am loosing my shape :(

5. i've always been a fun and outgoing active person.. and now... its hard

i feel like everything ive wanted to do/ be in life.. is being taken away. i had worked so hard to get known in the dancing and modeling industry..and finally once it started happening for me.. this fibro kicked in. :(

I also hate not working and not knowing what career i want to have. I was always a very determined girl. And now i'm just left confused.

Luckily my boyfriend of 8 months is very understand. We went though a very hard time when i was overly emotional..and i dont know how he put up with me but he did. And he is very supportive of me and he is helping me through this.

But i was wondering if any of you went through the whole 'no job. activities changed..what you do for a living changed...and if you did... how did you deal with it!!

Thanks:)

Kelly

Hey thank you for the reply!
I'm actually very tired now.. but the medicine isn't helping and im it pain and it's making me anxious :-(
i've tried the IBuprofen and advils and all that.. i get no relief.
It's weird to me cuz i have a very very high pain tolerance. . but this just kicks it in the butt lol.
haha and i guess the FLordia sun just isn't enough.

my next appointment is next week and i will ask then about the malic acid. Thanks for the suggestion!

Kelly

Hi kelly and welcome to our fibro family. I too am very glad you've joined us. This thing called fibromyalgia really stinks! It messes up your body, mind and your life...BUT, with some learning and some understanding friends you can have a wonderful life in SPITE of the fibro.

I have been teaching at a local community college for 13 year...until last June. That's when my doc said it was time I quit. This poor body was just so overly stressed out and beat up that it was time to quit teaching. It broke my heart and my spirit but because of a loving family and great friends here on the fibro board I am making a new life for myself. Sure I miss the teaching, but as each day passes I deal with it just a little bit better.

You too will build a wonderful life for yourself. It may take a bit more work but you can do it! Use every resource you have available to you. Most schools have help in retraining, "disabled" services, state and federal programs are possibly available...just keep knocking on doors and asking what's available for me. I did it when hubby took off after some bimbo in a red sports car...honest to goodness truth, lmbo...and I went back to college. There was so much help I was stunned.

Please ask any and everything you want. Feel free to email if you need to chat. And also join our daily Koffee Klatch. It's a time where we only talk about fun stuff...no pain!

Time for me to post Sunday's Koffee Klatch, btw...
Chutzie

Hi Kelly: I am sorry this has hit you so early in life. It is good and bad. It is bad b/c it is beginning to take away activities you love, and is derailing your plans for your future. It is good because now you know you have Fibro, you can build a Fibro friendly life, you are still young enough to do so. So, although it feels like you have "lost everything", imagine if you'd not had Fibro until you'd made your "mark" in life, and then lost it all. I experienced this. I was working at an excellent job, in a field I loved, but couldn't compete for the promotions, so badly needed to continue to "build" my career, always felt, "less Than" b/c I couldn't work as hard or as long as my colleagues. I kept getting "passed over" for the good shifts, for benefits and all, due to Fibro. Although I did not share my issues in the workplace it was pretty self-evident once I began having to go home early and the like. Eventually, I had to quit and take a series of tremendously less gratifying jobs, until I got fired from a re-cycling depot, cause I couldn't toss hundred pound bags up on the pile. Once you get dumped from a job like that, it takes all the wind out of one's sails. I am considering "call centre" jobs, but I don't know if I would make a cheerful customer representative. I might just come out with what's on my mind, like "quit your whining, do you know there are children dying of starvation, right now, and you're b------- about the color of your cell phone." I lived in Fl. from 2003 - 2005. I had to move back to canada for the socialized medicine, and the social security safety net. If you live near Gainesville let me know. I can recommend an excellent GP. Also, the cymbalta; here goes, it has norephernephrine in it. This will cause anxiety. One of the older SSRI's specifically Sertiline or a close relative, not paxil, would serve you better. Hope you find hope here.

Diane, I LOVE belly dancing! I had thought about taking it up again and thought it might be too hard to do. How exciting that you are doing this. Do you perform anywhere?
Sue

Howdy fellow Floridian!

sorry, I had to edit this post because I started going on about ME! This is the revised version, sharing tips FOR YOU!

here are some things that I've found that helped.

Exercise!  it was the only thing that improved my health to the point where I could return to work.  My rheumatologist  told me to raise my heart rate to 115-120 (based on my age, height, weight etc) for 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week.  That raises levels of endophines, your body's natural pain killers.

You might still have flare-ups, but they'll probably be  caused by one of 3 things: stress, physical over-exertion, or weather (cold fronts). So try to find a low-stress job.  You live in FL, so that minimizes the effects of cold fronts, and try not to over do it on days when you feel good.  I know it is difficult, especially on days when you are in pain, but it is important to stay physically active.  On my worst days, all the medicine in the world doesn't work until I start walking on a treadmill or around the block.  It hurts bad when I first start, but within 15-20 mins I start feeling better.

Regarding a career:  I work in IT (computers/networks) for State of Florida, Dept. of Education, Vocational Rehab.  Please remember, when God closes a window he opens a door: I ended up with a job I LOVE, with understanding supportive people.  Try looking for a career helping other people.  Those career fields draw caring  people.  Your co-workers will be understanding. 

For us, good health insurance, benefits, and work environment is important.  If you can find some type of government job (city, state, county etc) you'll have good benefits, and depending upon the dept, work with understanding people. Also, sick and vact ion leave is important as well.  You can manage your fibro, but you might have flare-ups and have to take off.

Hi Kelly and Welcome-

I too had my life come to a screaching halt a year ago as the fibro hit like an atomic bomb. I have been a single parent and have raised a now 32 yr. old son and I have a 17 yr. old son at home. I was working fulltime for a very good company and had just qualified to buy a townhome. I have never owned a home and I am 52. It was heartbreaking! I had to leave my job due to the pain and fatigue and I thought my life was literally over.

This past year I have had to adapt to a new me and let the old me go. My life is not over, it has just begun a new and different phase and I can say I am happy. Yes, happy. Oh, believe me with fighting Soc. Sec. Disability, very little money and the list can go on and on, I have my days. But I do not have a terminal disease and I have many, many blessings in my life. I would not have met my family here if it was not for fibro and I have made some wonderful friends that you cannot put a price on.

It sounds like you have been determined in your life so far, and you will figure this out in time. With me it has taken a good Dr., my family and friends and my support group here to get me to the place I am at right now. I have had to put many things on hold until I find out if I will be getting Soc. Sec. Disability, but once that happens I can go on from there. 

Nice to hear you have a supportive boyfriend too! Was nice to meet you!

Jill