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Posted 2/21/2011 11:57 AM (GMT 0)

I am seventeen and I have been tenatively diagnosed with fibro. I have my first meeting with a rheumatologist today and I finished up my list of preparation research topics with "Look up source of help on the web." I found this site and am hoping to get some advice on some of the general problems I'm having.

Firstly, my sleep schedule is terribly messed up. It's about six in the morning where I am and I still haven't gone to bed. My next issue is the pain. I'm still have several things that I haven't tried yet, but I'm open to suggestions for more stragedies. Finally, I was a really good student, on track for valedvictorian and all that, but now I'm having trouble just passing my classes. I'm currently out of school for a month. I'm in my junior year and college is looking more and more hopeless.

Anything you guys can tell me or advise me about would be appreaciated. Being a teen is really stressful and having this fibro stuff isn't helping at all. Thanks so much!

Posted 2/21/2011 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
I can't offer much help with the physical part, but maybe I can help you out with your fears about school. I can assure you that graduating and going to college isn't as hard or unachievable as it may feel right now.

At the VERY least, if your issues get really rough to handle, you could get your GED and then go to a community college. If I knew what I did now and could go back, I would have left highschool my sophmore year or just not gone at all and gotten a GED. I'm a special case and wouldn't advise just anyone to drop out early, I'm just trying to say it's easy enough to get a GED. Though some colleges prefer a diploma over a GED, community colleges only require a GED and a lot don't even require SAT scores.

I know community college isn't as glamorous or prestigious as a four year college, but it's the same classes and credits for half the cost. There seems to be a stigma associated with community colleges that you won't get into a good school if you go to one, or that they don't give a decent education. In my experience as a transfer from community college to university, you actually tend to learn more at community colleges. The classes are much smaller (10-30 students vs up to 300 in a lecture class at a 4 year). The teachers are also paid less, so the ones that teach there are more likely to actually be interested in your success and have a passion for teaching. Most of the professors I asked said they preferred to teach there instead of a 4 year because the students actually care about being there and appreciate their education because it was so much harder for them to go to school. The professors help you on a one-on-one basis and answer your questions in class, as opposed to a professor you'll never actually speak to that doesn't know your name. Community college is MUCH less stress overall, too. The atmosphere is just more relaxed and calm, in my experience.

I'd advise anyone going to college to take the community college route, even if they want to be a doctor or a lawyer. It may not seem very prestigious, but it's easy enough to acquire a BA, masters, or doctorate after community college. I'm not sure how it is in other states, but the state schools here are required to admit you as a transfer student after you receive an AA at a public community college. On your transcripts it says you graduated from the 4 year university, and that's all graduate school cares about. From there you can go on to a masters or doctorate. Like I said, college can be a lot easier and less stressful than you might assume!

One more thing. Once you do get to college, the sleeping thing won't be as much of an issue. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to fix your sleep pattern, but the flexible schedule I could keep while going to school really saved my ass. (I have sleeping problems as well.)

I hope that info helps you a little bit. I know it's tough to think about the future when it seems so bleak, but maybe knowing some of this stuff will help relieve some of your stress about it. Just don't lose hope! Nothing is impossible for you to achieve, sometimes life just throws you a curve ball and you have to take another route to your destination.

Anyway, I've written a novel here, so I'll end this post now. Please feel free to PM me for my e-mail if you have any questions about the college stuff, or even just to talk. It was quite an ordeal for me, but I finally finished my BA two months ago after 6 years. I had to work the entire time and take classes part-time for the most part; I'm also agoraphobic and have chronic depression, which didn't help either. If I can get a degree after all that, I'm positive you can too! :D
Posted 2/21/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I cannot add much to help but I would like to say "welcome" and it was nice to hear from you.
Scaredteen it looks like you've got a good "fibro school" buddy now and sometimes just having someone on your side that understands really helps alot.
:D, Your post impressed me. congrats on all your achievements and welcome to you as well.
Posted 2/21/2011 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with you, Denita. Having someone who understands has helped me more than I can explain. Family and friends are nice to have, but they'll never really understand what you're going through like someone can that has the same problem. Thank you for your compliment and the warm welcome! The :D is a grin emote, by the way, not my name. LOL. You can call me Emm. :)
Posted 2/21/2011 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ScaredTeen and welcome to the forum!

I was a couple years older than you when Fibro hit for me. I was 23, spent my 24 birthday in bed so sick and the Drs having no idea what was wrong with me. I am happy to say though my diagnosis was pretty quick, 8 months from the first symptom until figuring it all out.

I understand what you're feeling. Being young and facing a chronic pain condition is scary, frustrating and straight up sucks. I have had Fibro for 4 years now and have accomplished soooo many things I never thought I would. Soon after my diagnosis I began working my job part time while I went to Paralegal school full time. I was shocked that I could do it all! I had the pain and sleep problems but I managed to make it work. Soon after that I began dating my now husband. While there have been many ups and downs with having Fibro, for the most part my life has been up!

I think you are doing the right thing by taking some time off of school to get things figured out. You should take the time to try to work on "living a normal life" during that time. See if you can get a more normal sleep schedule, try doing some stretching for the pain, do lots and lots of research - you are your only advocate and being so smart you'll understand everything you read. Take an active role in the process with your Drs.

You will learn what works for you. Sleeping will most likely always be a challenge, but getting enough rest is always key. The pain will alway sbe there, but learning to predict it, work with it and overcome it will always leave you ahead. You can live a full life with having Fibro, it will make life harder though. You will feel like you can't possibly be a "normal" teenager or 20 something. But that's ok, you will do what works for you and you will get through it! Don't throw away hope yet of college or still making valedictorian. It will take some time to get used to, but you'll get the hang of it. Make sure you give yourself time to feel what you're feeling. It's ok to feel scared, sad and grieve the loss of your health. This is a wonderful place to learn from and get support from others.
Posted 2/22/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Scaredteen, and welcome!  The more you understand about fibro and learn how to deal with it, the better things will be.  It's wonderful to have people who do understand what you are going through and that is a primary reason for this forum.  We DO understand and we can offer suggestions that will help you.  You can live a full and enjoyable life with fibro.  I know because I have.

 

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.  Don't hesitate to ask questions, either, because we are here to help you.

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  I hope to hear more from  you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 2/23/2011 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have much to add that others didn't other than to say I know how hard it can be to be young and have fibro. I was diagnosed a month after my 22 birthday. It is hard and frustrating when all of your friends are out there doing things you wish you could.. (o to wear heels again!!) it takes some time to learn to cope but you will get there...

As for sleeping problems... If you figure that one out I'm sure all of us would like to know the answer hahaha I sleep on average three hours a night if that. Getting up to go to work in the morning is very hard sometimes!!! But you just have to put a smile on and remember life could be much worse.


Feel free to message me if you want to chat more with a youngin' (not saying anything against the rest of you ;) hehe)
-evey
Posted 2/23/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Are there any trade schools or acadamy's where you live? The reason ask is my 17 year old daughter was yanked out of her high school when I was let go from my job. We had to move back to our home state where family helped us get back on our feet. I refused to send her to the city school for our district due to the crime and couldn't afford private school. We found a fully credited charter school also called an acadamy. No tuition cost. She started there in September of last year as a senior. They only have to be at the school for 3-4 hours a day. By December she had completed all her courses. They even let her do some from home. She just got her diploma. She was only a C student at her original high school but seemed to pass the online courses with ease. She can now go forward with applying at a regular college or community college since she received her diploma. She said she would prefer starting at the community college. She feels so good about herself and brags to all her friends that she graduated early.

Whatever you do don't give up on yourself. It might take a little longer but it is worth it. You should be proud of yourself for the will to succeed. Many teens your age are just plain lazy and don't have to overcome any illness. They take their youth for granted. You may find that you are able to exceed even your peirs just due to the fact that you have to remain focused on your care and can't just be lazy. You will be a stroger person in the long run.
Posted 2/24/2011 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Scaredteen - I am sorry that you may have this. My 15 year old daughter has FM/CFS/POTS. We have had a tough time with schooling as well. She used to be a high honors student. This is her second year being homebound. It doesn't look like she will graduate from high school. The school has not been supportive. At the rate things are going it will take her at least 6 years to graduate from high school. We always have lots of delays in getting tutors. We were hoping she could graduate from high school with her class but that isn't going to happen. I think she will get her GED and we will go from there. Its maddening that we can't get what she is entitled to for support. Oh, if you are diagnosed with fibromyalgia just know that you can be classified under either 504 plan at school or IDEA (special education) - "Other health impaired." My daughter started out under 504 plan but just couldn't attend school. She has major energy issues (her pain is somewhat controlled by Lyrica). They say you have the law on your side, but it hasn't worked out that way for us. We try to focus on improving her health and remember that she is still very smart (just like you are very smart) and somehow she will create a life for herself. There are some noted memory issues, etc. but all in all she can still succeed. Once you get a diagnosis and try some treatments things should improve some. If you can't go back to school then you will find another way to succeed. Don't forget some people can go to high school part-time and get some homebound tutoring for the rest. Feel free to e-mail me or PM me if I can help you in any way. Best of luck to you.

Kim
Posted 2/25/2011 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 18 a trying my best to graduate ontime too. I have had this disease for awhile and have been told that i have a very advanced version. I miss so much school it's aweful. Idk maybe this sounds bad, but I am very glad you posted this. At least now I know I'm not alone in being a teen with this disease finding it hard to deal.
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