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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 6/10/2011 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

   I've been suffering from fibromyalgia for 2 years now, caused by a spinal injury I suffered while in Afghanistan.  I've only been diagnosed since February of this year.  I guess I am trying to find as much information as possible about the disorder, because it has taken over my life.  I also suffer from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and of course my spinal injury, so things have been tough but I am trying to be proactive and treat and beat these issues.  It looks like the FM may be forcing me out of the Army.  So, the few questions I have are:  What treatments/medications work best for you (I'm on Lyrica and Ultram)?  Is anybody qualified for disabilty due to the FM?  Any other men on the forum that are dealing with this?  Diet/lifestyle recommendations? 

Thanks!! 

 

Posted 6/11/2011 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome. I am a man with Fibro. I have had it about ten years. It took me about 6 to get diagnosed. you are fortunate to have the diagnosis and I hope you can find the balance we all are looking for.

First, Let me say you are on two of the best meds that I have found. Lyrica has been great for me, but it took a long time to overcome the side effects. Stick with it if you can as they do go away, at least for me. Tramadol (Ultram) saved my life. It removed a dozen symptoms I had from spasms and anxiety to stress and pain in general. The real problem with it is your body becomes use to it and you need more and more for it to have the same effect.

I can't imagine how you will be able to stay in the army with Fibro. It weakness is real and relentless. I lost my business to Fibro and it took me six years before I found work I could do. I am now a Mechanical Engineer working at Pratt and Whitney on Jet Engines. (They are a great company by the way). I strongly suggest that you consider finding work that is a desk job of some kind and pursue disability as a last resort. It is a hell of a road to go down. It takes years and your self esteem away from you.

I pursued it for a long time until I just couldn't take the horrible depression any more. that is when I went back to school. It was hard and took me 6 years to complete my 4 year degree but I graduated Summa Cum Laude at the top of my class and the scholarships were enough to live on, almost. I worked in the library, did lab monitoring and my wife worked as well. It allowed us to get out with very little debt that we have now paid off.

The point is that Fibro shouldn't make you a depressed couch ridden lump of pain. Sure I was hauled off the campus in an ambulance when I would fall from weakness and couldn't get up, and of course I skipped many many classes, but I made it through and it felt great!

I hope you find work that is profitable and sustainable because not working is far worse...far far worse. Good Luck and know that there are other men with Fibro and you are not alone.

Oh, don't waste a moment on a bad doctor. It isn't worth it and it only gets worse. Keep looking until you find someone who beleaves every word you say, and helps you fix it. Good Luck.

cognazance



cool
Posted 6/11/2011 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to our Fibro Family!

May I first take a moment to thank you for your service to your, my and our country. I have tremendous respect for anyone who gives their time and life to serve their country. I only wish that or military men and women garnered more respect that they do. I am sorry that you came home with such pain from your injuries. The spinal injury was way more than anyone needs but to have it kick fibro into full force just isn't fair.

The only good thing I can see from your dealing with doctors is that you actually have one who will diagnose men who actually have fibromyalgia. All too often that isn't the case. That's what is happening to my brother. He has all of the symptoms, has had them long before I began to get symptomatic, but his doctor said "fibromyalgia is a woman's disorder." Some are still in the dark ages when it comes to this debilitating syndrome.

As far as what works, it's basically a "try it and see if it works" deal with medications. The lyrica and cymbalta, the latest and greatest for fibro, seem to be all or nothing. For people who have good results it's wonderful. Others either get no help or the side effects are horrific. I was in the latter group. For me, my doc has me on pain management with MS Contin and hydrocodone. But I also have a messed up disk in my lower back and arthritis here and there in my spine. Between them all my doc's routine for me does fairly well. I'm never going to live without pain but I'm happy to be comfortable enough to enjoy a good life.

Also, it will take a while to find something that works well for you. And don't be surprised if one medications seems to stop working after a couple of years. It's very common with these new medications. If you seem to be losing control of your pain level always share that with your doctor. If he's good he doesn't expect you to just keep suffering. He shouldn't be knocking you out with too much medication but there are many different types that you can try until you find one, or combination, that works for you. The key is a good doctor and medical team and keep the lines of communication open!

Keep in touch and I'm very glad you decided to join us!
Chutz smilewinkgrin
Posted 6/11/2011 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to the boards. I am new to the boards but have been diagnoised with Fibro going on 2 yrs now. I work a mostly desk job but I do have a lot of up and down and walking around with it too. I work in a hospital, so some days are worse then others and on the bad days I just take my time and go at my pace not the crazy pace of this place. I do enjoy working however there are days where I just want to not do anything. I am lucky that I get two days off in a row and work a  4 ten schedule.

I agree that the Army may be too strenous on your body for not only the fibro but also from what your saying about the spinal problems. Can you not get disability from the military for the injury sustained during service?

I also have thyroid disease. I have stopped taking Cymbalta the side effects and cost far out weighed the pro's for it for me so I am trying some vitamin therapy and exercise and yoga. So far doing pretty good. My biggest obstacle for me is the excessive sleepiness that is a major concern for me.

I also have IBS, OBS, TMJ, thyroid disease and I am sure the list will get longer I am finding everything new that crops up comes from the Fibro.

This is a great wealth of information..Welcome hope to get to know you better.

 

Posted 6/11/2011 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, The1in9, and welcome!  I'm so glad you found us and joined in.  Like Chutz, I do want to thank you for your service and sacrifices you are making for us and for this great country.  Freedom isn't free.

 

Now for your fibromyalgia.  I've had fibro and have lived a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness.  I've managed to keep my pain under control most of the time and that is the key.  Unfortunately, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another so it is a trial and error type thing to find what helps you keep your pain under control.  I use ibuprofen with food, extra strength Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 supplements to help with my pain and fatigue.  I add to that gentle stretching exercises, gentle daily exercises (I walk and swim but I'm sure you get PLENTY of exercise in the army!), gentle massages, and I pace myself.  All this combined helps be be in control of my pain.

 

If you can't manage the physical work of the army, perhaps you could get a desk job and still be in the service.  You possibly could get disability, too, but you are most likely young and you sure don't get much to live on.  I'm on reduced benefits social security disability and it's really not a lot.  But everything helps.  I not only have fibro but also Crohn's disease and several other chronic illnesses.  One of the main things is I'm legally deaf so that takes away a lot of jobs that I could do.  You have Hashimoto's, a spinal injury, and fibro so you could have a shot at it.  It depends on what your doctors say, how bad your illness are, etc.  But, if you feel  you need it, then give it a shot.  Others have gotten on disability with fibro.

 

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

 

Sherrine

 

Posted 6/11/2011 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi 1in9 if you feel you need to leave the military due to the pain you are suffering you should be able to go out on a medical disability which is also going to allow you to get Veteran's Benefits. This should help you to keep going and from what I understand you can get the veterans benefits and if you do get SSDI you will be able to get both of them. Thank You so much for Your service to our country.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 6/12/2011 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
God Bless all of you. My son hasn't found many men with this illness. You are an inpiration. Why is this happening?
Posted 6/13/2011 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your responses and for all those that mentioned my service, you are welcome, I am proud to serve my country. I am lucky to have gotten a diagnosis. I fought to see specialists and finally found my way to see a Rheumatologist, who diagnosed me with FM. I will read more and more into each of your comments and take all that I can from them, thanks so much for you advice. I really don't desire to be on disability and would prefer to continue my service to my country though I am having a hard time making it through even half a typical duty day. They see the trouble I am having so are leaning towards making me get out. This scares me because I know they will try to say that this was not service related, which I can assure you it was. I never had any issues like this until I injured my spine and they did the surgery. If they do try to make me get out I will fight until I get them to medically retire me. I at least need to have my medical insurance covered. There's no way I'd be able to survive with out treatment. I've been to war many times and have never faced a battle as daunting. Thanks again.
Posted 6/13/2011 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Can't they train you for a desk job?  I'm sure you are valuable to the army but fibro and fighting don't mix.  You love your job and maybe if you explain this, they can bring you back to the States and give you a more typical job back home.  I'll keep that in my prayers for you. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 6/13/2011 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi 1in9, just want you to know that my husband was full time Army for 3 years and then in the National Guard for 21 years. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999. We applied for the VA benefits. He never had any problems at all with the medical part so Im sure you wont either. He was turned down for the pay for 2 reasons. One he had never served during active war, and second it had been over 7 years since he had been full time army. I think your chances of getting full benefits are excellent. Here is a number to PVA (Paralyzed Veterans of America) 800-795-3632 that could answer some of your questions. This one is out of South Dakota but if there is one closer to you Im sure they can help you get in contact with them. I know you are not paralyzed but neither is my husband and they have been wonderful about working with him. Good Luck and please keep us informed.

Gentle Hugs
Shirley

Post Edited (sotiredoffibro) : 6/13/2011 8:07:43 AM (GMT-6)

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