Could it be Fibro?

Hey guys.. I've been lurking for a while and didn't want to post at first because I don't know what it is I have and I didn't want to take up unnecessary forum space.. but I've seen what a supportive community you seem to be and I thought I'd take the plunge and ask for help.

about 2 months ago I began having random stabbing pains all over my body. Everywhere - hands, arms, legs, torso, head, feet, everywhere. Sometimes it feels like it's my bone - others, the muscle, or even the very surface of the skin. Shortly after I began to have abdominal pain, I felt sick to my stomach so I stopped eating and lost about 14lbs (eventually started eating again), have numbness in my hands, dizziness every time I stand up, fatigue, I feel weak all the time, I have muscle spasms and sometimes have sore muscles (the kind you get after a good workout) despite not doing any physical activity at all.

All this time the stabbing pains have never stopped, and I've had more and more abdominal pain.. sudden sharp pains that come and go, sometimes more in the pelvic region, others around my stomach or lower, where the intestines would be.

Initially bloodwork came back normal, I had ultrasounds (abdominal and transvaginal) and both came back normal. Chest X rays normal. That was over a month ago. I recently had a CT scan (head, chest and pelvis) come back normal. I'm waiting on a more in depth blood test, and I'm going to have an EEG and a brain MRI just to rule out anythign neurological (I've seen neurologists though and they seem to think there's nothing wrong in there)

I know I have some of the Fibro symptoms though not all. For example, I'm not stiff in the morning. I'm not very stiff ever, really. I just have these random stabbing pains... I've seen several doctors, family and specialists,a nd none of them seem to have any idea. I'm considering seeing a rheumatologist soon.

This whole thing has me quite upset, for reasons I won't bore you with now, but my anxiety about wanting to know what's wrong seems to be quite evident and I feel like I?m being treated like a crazy person...asking me if I have depression, if I'm seeing a shrink, if I've had any traumatizing experiences.. (I haven't!)


All I know is my body hurts and everyones pretending it's all in my head... and of course this causes anxiety and upset, because I feel like I am not heard. And this in turn makes them think I am crazy... *sigh* You get the point..

So yeah.. I don't think that this TYPE of pain (stabbing) is typical of Fibro... but I am at my wits end here. Don't know where else to look... wondered if anybody had any ideas.. ?

Thank you much in advance. SOrry for the long post.

Hi wonder and welcome to our fibro family, whether it is fibro or not you still have chronic pain and that makes you like us. We all understand what it is like to hurt most of the time. Im glad you are having all these tests done to rule out other things. Hopefully they will get it figured out soon, My pain now is mostly aching pain or stiffness, but I think I have pretty much run the gambit on every kind of pain there is with this fibro at one time or another. Like Robin said make sure to check out fibro 101 that Sherrine put together for us. Dont be afraid to ask questions and post often.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley

Wonder, when it comes to pain meds, this forum is all over the board as what to
take. We all tolerate meds so differantly and differant docs have their own views
on what should be prescribed. There are many of us that have other health issues
going on and everything has to be taken into consideration.

For fibro I have been taking a SNRI...Savella and use a muscle relaxer...Flexeril
(cyclobenzaprine) for flares. I also take Excedrin.

Heat and exercise help quite a bit. I'm also into relaxation therapry..deep breathing
and meditation. Pacing myself throughout the day helps too.

Hoping you will find something for pain relief, Sending gentle hugs :)

Hugs, Robin

PS....I did forget to mention that many of us have had vitamin D deficiencies and that

causes achiness. Bloodwork can determine if you are deficient. I take 2000 IU daily

and Vitamin B-12 (5000mcgs) daily and that helps with energy.

Well,
Of course I can't diagnose you, but you sound like a textbook case to me! Welcome to the forum and may you find something out soon!

Debbie

Hi there.

I'm currently in the same boat as you. Wondering if they are going to drop me off at crazy town port or not, supposedly nothing wrong with me. I got the test results for 5 different blood test and all are normal (big surprise) Doc wants to give me Mobic and Physical Therapy like I pulled a muscle or something. Anyway, I have stabbing and shooting pains in my body too. Mine are mostly in my breasts and chest and seem to happen mostly when the "other" pains are bad too. I've started a cycle of flares it seems and have been trying to find a pattern and its seems there isn't one. Your not crazy we've all been going through the same feelings and stuff.

Anyway my point is you are in the right place and even though I've yet to get a diagnosis as well, I consider this like a home. Everyone here is knowlegable, kind and has taken a lot of the stress and depression out of this whole thing for me and I hope for you as well. Good Luck!
Jen

Hi, Whatswrongwithme, and welcome!  Boy, I missed this thread completely!  Well, I'm a day late and a dollar short here!

 

I do think they are ruling out the other illnesses that are so similar to fibro.  These other illnesses can be treated and you can improve and even get better.  That's why they want to be sure what is going on and order a bazillion tests.  It's a real pain...I know...but it's necessary.  I'd really be skeptical if I went to a doctor and they diagnosed me with fibro without running a lot of tests.  That would really make me wonder if they knew what they were doing.  I'm still checked periodically for hyphthyroidism because of my symptoms.  Fibro really is a puzzlement!

 

I'm glad you are reading Fibro 101.  We need to arm ourselves with all the info about this illness that we can.  We do have to be our own medical advocates, too.  Doctors do make mistakes.  They are human.  Plus, no one knows our body better than we do.  Knowledge is power so get all the knowledge you can. 

 

I'm so glad you decided to join our family!  I lurked, too, in the beginning!     But we have wonderful members that love to help one another here so I think you will really like it.

 

Don't hesitate to ask questions.  We are here to help you.  I hope to hear more from  you soon.

 

Sherrine