Regarding Symptoms...

Hello all and good morning. I have been battling an illness for 6 months now and at one point, my dr was sure she knew what it was. Low iron stores. Well, I was told I'd be feeling better by now but really, aside from a tiny bit more energy and less hand tingling, I'm not better. Now, I have more pain. My question for you all is this; If the pain is bad but not unbearable and not constant, can it possibly be Fibro? My pain is sometimes stabbing ( my chest wall) and sometimes a concentrated ache in various places on my body. Today it's my hip and ankle. Tomorrow it can be the side of my kness or my shin. It feels like an injury type pain but of course, it's not because it stays in place for a day or two then moves on.

I have tested negative for lupus, MS and Lyme. Lyme is still something I'm not sure is completely ruled out but now that my pain is worse, I feel I may need to ask my dr about Fibro. I'm just not sure I am in enough pain? The following are my main symptoms:

Extreme Fatigue - improved some from iron
Brain fog - Improved some from iron
Sore tongue/mouth - slowly improving
Pain - Everywhere but not at once and nearly every day. It's bearable but uncomfortable. Hurts mostly if I walk or move afflicted body part.
Slight pink rash across my nose and sometimes on my cheeks. VERY light.
IBS like symptoms and heartburn
Stiff hands in the morning/weak hands throughout day. I call them my morning hands.
Dry skin patches
Sometimes feels like I can't breathe due to chest pains, even though I know I am breathing fine.
Racing heart.
Swollen glands off and on- under chin, under arm and over ear.
Red eyes by late afternoon or early evening. They feel tired and strained.
I can no longer drink wine. :(
Intolerance of crowds.

Anyway, what do you think? Can fibro pain be as I described? Along with my other symptoms, should fibro be considered?

Thank you so much for reading my post. I really appreciate any insight as this has been a frustrating battle. I'm a military spouse, stationed across seas. My husband is gone a week out of each month for training and what few friends I had made here before getting ill, have little use for a sick girl. I try not to scare my kids (ages 14 and 16) so don't really talk to them about it. It's a lonely existence these last several months. My spirits are still decent but vary according to how I feel. On good days, I'm happy as a clam. Bad days, I'm practically insane. Luckily, most my days are what I call OK. Not good but thankfully, not awful. I really hate awful days.

Take Care,
Heather

Thank you, Sherrine.

I have an appt on the 8th with my PCP and plan to ask to see a rheumatologist. So far, any Drs I have seen tend to assume my symptoms are brought on by anxiety. I have tried to explain that it is the other way around but I'm not sure they are really hearing me. It didn't help that I asked the last one point blank, "Am I dying?". He kinda chuckled and assured me that no, I am not. I was not amused.

I have a lot of respect for what the military has done for my family but so far, I am less than thrilled with my health care. It feels like because my case is not an easy one, they don't feel up to the task. I have been hurried out of the examine room more times than I like. I understand that anxiety and depression -can- cause some symptoms but give me some credit... I know I am sick with something. I am blue because I feel like I have had a 6 month flu, not the other way around. I look at my social calendar from early this summer and I can see; busy, busy, busy with fun stuff and then I hit a wall. From days filled with new friends and new adventure to nothing but a series of good day, bad day, ok day and awful day written in where I once had luncheons and coffees.

I realize that I am ranting and I apologize. It's just that it would be nice to connect with someone, ANYONE who might relate. My illness is good and bad that it gives me really good days but cruel that it takes them away without notice. I go from thinking I am cured to being crushed, sometimes all in the same day. Recently, I have decided not to ride that wave anymore and instead, just enjoy the good when it comes and rest when it leaves.

Meanwhile, I am trying to find out where I fit in. What do I have? Is this my new life? It's all very new to me, having never been sick in my life. Well, aside from colds and the occasional strep throat when younger. It's the not knowing that drives me crazy.

Anyway, I really ought to get some cleaning done. Thanks again for reading.

~Heather

Welcome Alhanna- I was just reading your post and I hope you stick with a Dr. and get a diagnosis. It really sounds like fibro, but you have to make sure other things are ruled out. Anxiety is a main factor with fibro patients. If you do get the diagnosis of fibro make sure you inform yourself well on treatments. Once I started doing that my fibro improved greatly. I wanted to thank you and your husband for keeping our world safe.

Thank you for the replies. I really do appreciate them.

As for Sjogrens, it's one I plan to ask about on the 8th. With my dry/sore tongue and red eyes, it seems logical.

Finding a dr and sticking with them has been an issue for me. So many personel changes in the military cost me my first Dr and I've been shuffled around a bit until I was assigned a new pcp. I meet her on my next appt. I'm -really- hoping she is a good fit. Regardless, I'll be asking for some referrals to specialists. Also thought I might ask if they have support groups or someone I can talk with about my concerns. We'll see.

Thanks again :)