New to the Site. Would like to get to know some of you.

Hi Everyone,

So glad to have found a place where people speak my language and understand what its like. I have been living with fibro, and all that goes with it,
for 15+ years. Diagnosed in 1995. I grew up with chronic pain, in my legs, back, etc. All the docs. said, "It's just good old-fashioned growing pains kid".
For as long as I can remember, the heating pad has always been my best friend. Actually have him on my back, as I type.
Some years, months, days are better than others and then there are "those" days, months, years when life just get a bit overwhelming, (to put it lightly)
if you know what I mean (ha-ha, cause I know you know what I mean).

The first half of this year, my pain was manageable. Then 3 months ago the flare ups came on with a "vengeance".
And this time around, it is accompanied by his dear old friend, "Adrenal Exhaustion", "IBS", "Panic Attacks" and "Anxiety". I literally felt (feel),
like I am going out of my mind. I am so fed up with this da@m pain and exhaustion, I could scream. Sorry, if I sound like a crazy.
Believe me, I do have my moments of sanity, I really do....:)! I just HATE pain.
I have racked up over $25,000 in med fees (no insurance) just in the last 3 months, from the ER visit(s), extensive blood tests, MRIs, CAT scans, colonoscopy, etc.... Because I was experiencing things I hadn't experienced before, like I could hardly move, 16 days of constipation, with NO relief. Pain Attack, so severe I thought I was having a heart attack. And, I know pain, been there many times, but somehow this time around, has been so different, much harder to deal with. It is hard to put it into words. However, I do know our family has gone through some pretty drastic changes, some good and some very hard, to say the least. After being a stay at home mother for 18+ years, who homeschooled my children, because I wanted to and loved it, suddenly I had to became a working women and all my kids went to school. The economy bit us hard, in the butt.
I do like the change, the kids are happy going to school, although it took some time for us all to adjust to the major changes, we have adjusted.
Could that have been my trigger? Very well could be, whose to know, for certain? BUT......

Enough about the complaining....Get on with it, already.

I am married to thee most wonderful man, on the planet (IMO), for 22 years. We have 5 beautiful kids, ages, 19, 17, 12, 9 and 6. (3 boys/2 girls).
And my 2 furry companions (dogs), who seem to always be by my side, unless of course, someone is in the kitchen making a meal.
We live in the beautiful state of Idaho. I am able to work part-time and go to school part-time, (most days).
Thanks for letting me vent. I look forward to meeting a lot of you. Kelly

Hi Kelly, Welcome to the forumm :) I love your motto...how true!

Having 5 children, I know you are one busy woman. Being a mother is a full time
job. I think it is wonderful that you had the opportunity to homeschool your kids.

The changes in your life could of been a trigger to this major flare. I'm glad you
have the support of a wonderful hubby...that really goes a long way with dealing
with everything that goes along with fibro.

I have found that taking time daily to do relaxation therapy...deep breathing,
meditation... exercise, walking and using moist heat helps me a lot. Pacing
myself is important too. I take Savella daily and use a muscle relaxer for flares.
Taking B-12 has helped with energy and Vitamin D has helped with the achiness.
Many of us were found to be Vitamin D deficient and that can cause achiness.

I see you also have 2 fur babies, so many of us have wonderful pets, I have 2
cats.

Make sure to check out fibro 101, first thread on the top of the page, Sherrine
has compiled some great info for us.

So glad you joined us! Feel free to vent anytime...we do understand. The people
here are very supportive and we do care!

Hugs, Robin

Hi, Kelly, and welcome!  I'm happy that you found us and joined our family.  Yes, we do know what you are going through with fibro.  That's bad enough but then when you add the other changes that you didn't plan on, that causes stress and that can cause more pain.  I've had a bout with that myself but, in the end, we will be victorious over this. 

 

Sounds like you probably have had fibro since you were a child.  Many here talk about being in pain as children and doctors saying it's growing pains.  The term "growing pains" means they don't have a clue why you hurt as a child but feel they need a diagnosis!  I grew up without pain from growing.  Even the Mayo Clinic agrees with me!  No, you probably had fibro as a child.

 

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/growing-pains/DS00888

 

Yes, I do think the stress you have been going through and the total adjustments you have had to make played into this flare.  Things like that do that for me, too.  But the good news is it will get better.  You know that.  You can hurt like the dickens and then feel better again.  At least this lousy illness doesn't deform you or kill you.  It's, well, just a pain! 

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

 

Hi Kelly and welcome to our fibro family, I too have had fibro since i was very young and I have found that fibro and stress do go hand in hand along with weather pattern changes. Sorry that you have been hurting so much lately but I am glad you have found us. We have a great group who really care about each other and yes we all understand the varieties of pain that come with having fibro. Hope to hear from you soon.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the warm welcomes. It truly warms my heart. SO sorry to hear that you all suffer, if only.....if only.....
I hold onto hope that someday, we will not have to suffer quite like we do now. I believe there are answers out there
that haven't yet been discovered, but will be and I am hoping for sooner than later.

In the meantime, it is nice to have a place to be able to come and vent and share and laugh and cry. Just to be me and have others
understand, what it is I am going through. It is wonderful to be able to be a support, an ear, a keyboard away from helping others,
while we get out of ourselves for a bit and to be there for YOU!!!
I am grateful for a supportive family, although, it is still very hard on all of them too. This is a family dis-ease, not just a me (us) illness.

I do not want my kids to remember Mommy, being bed bound, dragging around Mr. heating pad, everywhere I go. Taking meds, throughout the day.
Fussy and becoming grumpy, because I hurt so much.

I believe we CAN be a force to be reckon with, to help find a way out, a cure of this beast. It has to be our hope and our cause!!
Sharing with each other what works for you and what causes you more pain. I totally understand the concept, that what works for you doesn't
necessarily work for me. BUT, then again, it might. So it is great to share, the good, the bad and the ugly........the awesome..

This is my current regimen:
I am currently taking daily, Tramadol (300mg), Neurontin (1800mg), Flexeril (10mg), Effexor (300mg), Klonopin (10mg),
Vit D3 (liquid, 5000 IU), Magnesium (800mg), Multi-Vitamin, Flaxseed Oil, and lots of advil.
I am learning the art of meditation. I believe in prayer. I want to learn yoga and I also want to try acupuncture.
I CANNOT do chiropractic or massage, it literally makes me rebound and puts me in bed for 3 days. (so naturally, I've given those up)!
I have been on Lyrica, Cymbalta, Hydrocodone, Oxycontin, Soma, and many other things throughout the last 15 years.

I almost died from a Tylenol poisoning, 13 years ago. My liver was 90% damaged and by the grace of God, it completely healed itself, in one weeks time.
The doctor called it an "ABSOLUTE MIRACLE" that I didn't die. He said he hadn't ever seen anything like it, in all his years as a doctor.
At the time my 2 oldest boys were 3 & 5. It just wasn't my time, thank God.
I had three more babies to birth and give life too.

I would love to hear from you, what works and what doesn't. I so look forward to knowing you guys. Seems like a neat group of fibrogals.
We need to stand together for a cure, if NOT for us, for our CHILDREN!!!and our GRANDCHILDREN, because I certainly believe this is a hereditary dis-ease!
Our babies cannot suffer like this.....NO WAY!!!
Kelly