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Questioning if I may have Fibromyalgia along with Chronic EBV again

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Posted 1/14/2011 10:16 AM (GMT 0)
I'm a 57 year old divorced male high school teacher. I have taught for the last 16 years. Over the last 5 years has been an extremely stressful time in my life. I have Degenerative Spinal Stenosis. in C7 and L1-S1. I'm about to under go epidurals for my back. I've had an epridural in the C7 area in 2008 and it lasted less than a year and now have other areas in my spine that need treatment . In 2009 I had a series of mini-strokes also.

It was about 20 years ago that I was diagnosed as having Chronic Epstein Barr Virus syndrome, it lasted for almost a year before I was better( I worked in a Petrochemical lab and suffered an inhalational injury and hydrocarbon poisoning). It took a while for my doctor to arrive at the EBV syndrome diagnosis.

Fast forward 20 years, my job as a high school teacher is stressful to say the least. For almost the last year, I have had body aches in my joints, severe fatigue , depression and memory problems. I've missed a lot of work already this year. I know what's wrong with my back but I didn't mention my past bout with EBV syndrome to my Orthopedic doctors, since it was so long ago. I'm at the point I can't perform my duties as a teacher proficientley.

I'm wondering from my symptoms if I may have EBV again and Fibromyalgia. I know

the only way to determine EBV is to have a blood work up. My Orthopedist said I'm not disabled because my Spinal Stenosis is treatable with epidurals.

I'm so frustrated with waking up tired and my overall joints aching most of the time, even on Norco 10/325 2-3 times a day and sometimes it only make the pain tolerable. Most people do not think of a teachers job as being very physical but standing for prolonged periods and then sitting working at a computer for 2-4 hours at a stretch, just makes my back hurt that much worse. Throw in moving desks and lifting items up to 50lbs, just aggrivate my back. I have 3 more years to go before I can qualify for my retirement pension.

The year I had my mini-strokes, I was at a new high school(new teachers at new districts are on probationary contracts) my contract was not renewed. I was unemployed for the whole 09-10 school year. I could not find an Orthopedist to treat my Spinal Stenosis without insurance, so it's been right at 2 years that I've had extreme back pain. I've returned to work this school year and have health insurance again but my contract may no be renewed due to the days I've missed this year.

Excuse me for rambling but there is something else going on with my body other than my Spinal Stenosis. How would doctors determine if I have Fibromyalgia?

Thanks

JT

Posted 1/14/2011 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
first let me welcome you to our forum.

find a good rheumatologist. they are usually the ones that diagnose fibro. They will check for all your pressure points, do a physical and some blood work. This will help them determine if you have fibro or if it is the EBV and maybe arthritis acting up. I am sorry too, to add that you are older now and with that comes aches and pains, or should I say that something that you battled fairly well years ago may not go quite as easily now because of your age.

Make sure the rheumy is compassionate and that he/she works with patients that have fibro. You certainly don't want one that doesnt believe that it is a real illness as some still do.

good luck with your search and come here any time you need to vent or hear some encouraging words.
Posted 1/14/2011 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JT, and welcome to our fibro family. Denita is right you need to find a dr. that believes in fibro. I have had the shots too and you are right they dont last very long. I believe that is because the shots werent meant for Fibro. I know that when I had the shots in my knees it helped immensely. I have Arthritis in my knees and the first time I got the shots they lasted 5 years and this time it is going on 7 years. my back and my neck I didnt really notice a difference at all.
I would ask the dr. about the EBV just to make sure that that is not recurring. I will be praying that you get the help you deserve soon. Keep us posted how you are doing.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 1/14/2011 10:18 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks so much for your replies. I teach Health Science Technology, which is a Career and Technology vocational program for high school students interested in potentially going in to a post secondary health career training/education. So I know quite a bit about Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body and the diseases/conditions that affect the various body systems but I'm no doctor.

My aches and pains may very well be arthritis that is getting worse but my extreme fatigue and depression, is what really concerns me. I haven't had any relapses of Chronic EBV, since I was ill with it in my late 30's. I've changed schools several times in the last 5 years and the stress of teaching high school is just getting worse every year but my poor health stresses me out because, I need to work another 3 more years to recieve my full pension and I still won't be living a lfe of luxury by any means. We all know life isn't fair but I don't want to fall into an extreme depressed state. I'm dealing with it but becoming unemployed again will compound my mental health situation. Well thanks again for your comments. I'll let you know how my epidurals help my Spinal Stenosis pain but it's a degenerative disease. I can do pretty well physically if I didn't have to work 10-12 hour days! getting old is a *****! shakehead

JT

Posted 1/14/2011 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
JT,

You mentioned that your joints ache. Do you have muscle pain as well... or primarily joint pain? A common symptom of fibro is a deep, aching muscle pain.

There are many other symptoms that accompany fibro -- some that come and ago. The Fibro 101 link is a great compilation of introductory info on fibro. If you look at the whole list of symptoms you might get a better idea if you "fit the picture" or not.

While fatigue is certainly a big stumbling block in the lives of most fibro patients, you can also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and not have fibro, so it's good to explore and read up on that, too.

I believe that education is power so I read as much as I can so that I can try to help myself and relieve my symptoms in any way possible. I had a ton of bloodwork done in August that revealed Vitamin B and D deficiencies as well as a magnesium deficiencies. Since I have started taking extra supplements for those I have more energy than I have had in years!!!

Wishing you well and hoping you can some answers (and relief) soon.
Posted 1/14/2011 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ,Jtex, and welcome!  I'm glad you found us and joined in.  I imagine you could have both but we are not doctors.  Please find a good doctor that treats fibromyalgia patients.  Then, if you do have fibro, they can take care of you.  I see a board certified Internist myself.  I've never been to a rheumy so if you do have a good doctor that treats fibro patients, they can help you a lot.  But, you should be run through a battery of tests to rule out other illnesses.  That's how doctors determine whether or not you have fibro.

 

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  There is a link of Symptoms and also a link called What Else Could It Be.  Also a link called A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia could help you, too.  These hopefully could give you a better idea of what is going on but you really need to see a doctor.

 

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

Posted 1/15/2011 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all,
JTeX, I wish you luck finding the answers your looking for in a Dr. I was wondering if your from TX. w/signature I thought you might be..Just nosey.

Several of yall mentioned lacking in some vitamins. Do you think I should have a blood test to see if i;m lacking? I haven;t had an actual ck.up in a long time..I just go to my Shrink and Pain Dr.;s.

God Bless everyone, have a great evening. Barbara
Posted 1/15/2011 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JT,

I just want to welcome you. The others have said anything I can think of and more :-) Hope you get answers soon. It can get really frustrating at times. We are here for you.

Free Spirit
Posted 1/15/2011 9:35 AM (GMT 0)
Barbara,
You asked about having lab work done for vitamin deficiencies. I think it's an excellent idea. For whatever reason, our bodies don't always absorb things the same way as others and this can lead to deficiencies. I've noticed the Vitamin D deficiency is very common among fibro patients. Many take magnesium supplements as well (or the malic/magnesium combo).

It's amazing what all you can learn from the bloodwork and then take the follow-up steps to help improve your individual situation. I highly recommend it. Additionally, it helps to "rule out" any other things that may be causing some of your symptoms.

Best wishes in your search for information and answers!
Posted 1/15/2011 5:48 PM (GMT 0)

Yes I'm as about as Texan as you can get. I lived in San Antonio 41 of my 57 years before moving in 1994 at 41 to Tyler (N.E. Tx.), I'm now living just outside of Hunstville, Texas. I would like to go back to Tyler, Tx. to live when I retire. No more metroplex living for me and even now even Tyler is almost to large 100,000. I'd rather live in a more rural area.

Yes I have muscle and joint aches but not constantly but after a 10-12 hours work day at school, I'm physically/mentally exhausted. Probably part of my problem is psychological because I'm just not happy. I don't have really any friends due to I've just moved to S.E. Texas. I've really come to hate teaching, you just have to put up with so much and jump through so many hoops, teaching has become a job I loathe(you'd have to do it and to see it to believe it). I'm just too old to start over. I may try to stay in education(working for a school district in some capacity) to stay in TRS(Texas Teacher Retirement Systems), to complete the last three years, even if I have to take a major pay cut. I just don't have advanced degrees, so my emplyment options are limited, especially in our lousy economy.

Back in Tyler, Tx. is my ex fiance, whom I have stayed friends with and talk often. Whether she is the answer, I don't know. All I know is she hasn't started another serious relationship and I do miss her very much. A good friend isn't something you just don't find around the corner everyday and can just throw away. We've know each other for the last 16 years. All I know is I'd rather be happy than right anytime and at 57, I'm running out of years fast.

Monday I have my first epidural, I have two area that need treatment, C7 and L1-S1, so at a minimum I'll have two treatments appointments and keep a pain diary to log the success of the treatment. All in all, I'd rather be fishing!

JT

Posted 1/20/2011 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome
i am sorry u are sick and have such a difficult job. I have seen classes where the whole hour consisted of the teacher trying to get the kids to shut up and pull up their pants. And i'm talkin H.S. juniors and seniors.

None of my business but I'd give the lady a call, friendship is everything.
Good luck on your journey to getting better I have no advice that hasn't been said, people are nice here and it feels so good to vent sometimes,
AND there are good suggestions and ideas, wonderful fourm
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