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I am absolutely confused after dr visit

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 10/22/2009 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
I went to a Neurologist today in hopes of being diagnosed by him for fibromyalgia.  A doctor out of town diagnosed me with it, but it was too far to go back.

The Neurologist examined me and I told him I was in pain when he pushed on my body.  I was also having aches without being touched.

He wants me to have all kinds of blood tests.  Some of them he is repeating from tests done days and weeks ago.

He also was mentioning nerve tests and MRI of the brain.

I wasn't offered anything for pain or anything else.

I brought several copies of tests from other drs, and I mentioned that I had a brain MRI less than a year ago.  When he asked me where that test result was, I said I didn't have it.

He commented, "How am I supposed to find out what's wrong with you if you don't have the test result"?

I thought that was rude.

Anyway, I gave him a list of my symptoms but he kind of glossed over them.

I told him I tried cymbalta and savella with no luck and he asked me about lyrica.  He then said it has the least side effects, and to ask my psychiatrist about ordering it.  He wouldn't order it for me himself.

I felt like he didn't consider fibromyalgia and just wanted to order tests.

I founf a family dr who diagnoses and treats fibromyalgia.  His receptionist said she's gone to him and he refers patients for neuromuscular treatment.  She said he is awesome.

My husband is tired of me going from dr to dr but I'm not happy with the answers I've gotten.

Am I the only one who has gone from dr to dr?

How does this sound to you?

Thanks,

Jazzmynn

Posted 10/22/2009 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hun,
Fibromyalgia is diagnosed by doing tests to rule out everything else. My doc was 5 hrs away and had me running back and forth for new tests once a month.
Posted 10/22/2009 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
It took me five years to get a diagnosis, after having gone to MANY doctors -- began with an orthopedic surgeon, went to a neurosurgeon, pain clinic (anesthesiologist) and ended up at a rheumatologist and I'm certain there were several in there in between. I have read that it is very common to take years to get a diagnosis, at least that was the information back when I was diagnosed, which was over 20 years ago. Certainly, things have changed since then, but what hasn't changed is that there is no test for fibromyalgia, they simply have to rule everything else out and the way to do that is with tests. It's very difficult when our spouses become frustrated and don't understand. Maybe you can get him to read some of this and maybe that will help. I wish you well,
Miriam
Posted 10/22/2009 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I live in a small northern BC town and I have seen many DR's as well. My GP dx me but then I had to go see an Internist 1 1/2hrs away, a Neurologist 3 1/2hrs away, a Rheumatologist 3 hrs away, and had to have a MRI, CAT scan, etc on top of these Dr 's visits and always hrs away from I live. (This following over a year and a half of going to two different centers to see GI's (8hrs and 12 hrs away) and a "local" one an hour away.) It seems very frustrating but all these tests and visits are to make sure that they can rule out other problems that CAN be tested for. Hang in there Jazzmynn.
Posted 10/22/2009 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
Jazzmyn, I'm sorry your appointment didn't go as well as you hoped. Getting a diagnosis
as you already learned can be a long difficult process.

I saw more than my share of doctors and it did take what seemed forever to get my
diagnosis of fibro. Having other illnesses complicated matters, because some of the
symptoms are similar.

Don't give up! You will get your answers. Hope it will be soon!

Hugs

Robin
Posted 10/22/2009 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
It took me 5 months and 2 doctors to get my fibromyalgia diagnosis.....but I had many tests before I got it. It sounds like your doctor doesn't explain things very well, but I think he's on the right track doing more tests. I think it's terrible that you are getting nothing for your pain. I find that appalling.
Posted 10/22/2009 10:46 AM (GMT 0)
I can't tell you how many drs I 've been to over 10years. The first dx i got was from a young dr. who said it was depression. He started me on antidepressants (Can't remember wich one it was), and when I started to react negatively to the medication he didn't know why so he sent to a psychiatrist. She changed my antidrepressant wich made me even worse. I stopped taking all antidepressants, and felt better. I still had Fibro and pain, but I was acting like a normal human being again. It can be frustrating to find the right Dr. I have a very nice understanding GP now She dxed me with fibro, but I can't go back for a couple of monthsdue to lack of ins. Good luck finding the right Dr. When you find the right one you will know. The Dr will put you at ease and listen to you.
Posted 10/22/2009 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
Jazzmyn the others are right everything else it could be, listed in the fibro 101 thread, has to be ruled out first. I would think you could get the MRI results from the doc that ordered it. If some of the test are too old they will be ordered again. My GP did all the blood work and when the RA came back high he sent me to rheumy that dxd sjogren's and the rheumy sent me to neuro for nerve conduction test and somewhere in there I had a stress test done on my heart and back to GP and when I had a full blown flare he did the tender point test that brought it all together and I got a dx of fibro but even then my GP sent me to rheumy to confirm it.

 

I know it would be nice if we could go get one blood test that would show fibro or not but that isn't the way it works.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 10/22/2009 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
No hon...you're certainly not the only one. It took me a year and a half and at least 4 doctors to find out. The last doctor treated me for every ailment except what I had gone in there for and finally listened to me lol. It takes time and testing and I for one am happy it's done. Hope it is over for you soon.
Posted 10/22/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)

We've all been through this.  I was fortunate that I had a good Internist to handle everything.  I like an Internist because they have more edcation than a GP and they can treat just about anything.  But, they are not specialists.  I use a specialist for my Crohn's disease.  Anyway, any doctor I use, I want to be board certified and, if possible, a diplomate.

Your doctor has to rule out the other illnesses or he can't give an accurate diagnosis.  You don't want a doctor that tells you that you have fibro without running tests because the symptoms of fibro can be like other illnesses that have treatment available.  So, they were doing their job.  Can you contact your other doctor and have them send you a copy of your medical records and tests?  I did that when I moved and I have them in a file.  I took them to my new doctor when I moved and they made copies of it for their files.

Sherrine


Posted 10/23/2009 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Don't give up it took me several years of going to different doctors and having several different tests run (luckily I didn't have to go very far).  Hang in there and remember you are not alone!

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