Newbie here - FIBROMYALGIA OUCH!

  

I am new to this forum and hope to find out that this pain is not in my mind. People call me chita and I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 3 months ago.

Hello everyone.  I had just gotten through breast cancer and in remission when I notice I kept having body aches that would turn into pain everywhere. I went through 2 knee surgeries than my knee collapsed. Had to have the whole thing replaced. YetI continued to feel pain and more pain. I would wake up like someone who should be in a wheel chair because I could hardly walk without pain throughout every joint and muscle in my body. My primary doctor and oncologist had me see every doctor because I started to get depress so much because of the pain and no one could give me a straight answer. Later a bone specialist in the oncology department diagnosed me with spinal stenosis and spinal spondylitis and a bulging disk. I was given 3 spinal injection that did nothing but cause more pain. I have been on morphine, Norco and muscle relaxers. Later I was sent to a Psychologist in the oncology department which made me more depress. I felt as they were telling me all this pain was in my head. Later I started to feel like I was getting stabbed in my hands and pain all over would only get worst. Finally they sent me to a palliative doctor in the oncology department who ended up diagnosing me with Fibromyalgia and told me the pain was very real. I can't make a fist with my hands, my wrist hurt so bad. Sometimes my ankles swell and the pain is so bad it feels like my feet are going to just break off. Moisture in the air kills me and now I am experiencing pain in my right rib cage in the back, it almost feels like I broke my ribs. I too am on Celebrex, Lyrica, Norco, muscle relaxers and a couple of antidepressants like Effexcor . I am not on any preventive meds for breast cancer because I was allergic to all they tried. I guess I just wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing the rib cage pain or any of the other symptoms I have? Prayers for you all no one should have to suffer this awful pain.

Chita, I combined your threads (so more people would read all you had to say) - and put "newbie" in the title so people would know this is your introductory thread and not only a survey.

Debbie

Post Edited By Moderator (Acheybody) : 8/6/2013 6:50:36 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Chita,

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. As Joy said, it isn't in your head, it is everywhere. You learn to get use to it though.

When you have a chance, check out the first thead on the forum called "fibro 101", there is a wealth of information there.

I hope that you feel better soon. Keep posting and know that we care...

Hugs, Karen...

This post reminds me of when my sister was in hospital with leukemia. I came in at the end, and after a few minutes of watching her body language said "That's fibro pain along with host versus graft" The nice leukemia doctor went "Hm?" Once we included morphine alongside everything else her body finally relaxed. She hadn't been out of bed in a month, and hadn't been getting painkillers.

Point is-specialists will be baffled with anything outside their area. They mean well, but will make false connections because of their specializations.

Pain management or palliative is the right place to go in these moments.

Hope you feel better soon!

Hi, Chita.

Good, I hope you're going to keep on being able to read and relax! :) "Fibro 101" is pretty hard to get all the way through at once, though....or maybe that's just the way it is with my brain because it will only absorb little bits at a time .

The list of subject lines is what you see when you first come on the Fibro Forum, over on the left, under "topics." You can also see it if you scroll up to the top of this page, under the 2 horizontal rows of words - "Log Off," "My Profile," and the rest. (Don't worry, it takes time to learn your way around. I'm a moderator and there's still a whole lot I don't know!) I'm glad you like it here. Sorry you've been feeling so down....we really do help eachother out a lot.

Doctors can sure mess with our heads when they say things like your primary doc did. It amazes me sometimes, the very basics some of them still don't understand about Fibro! A nurse in a hospital once said to me essentially that same thing, "isn't that just a wastebasket diagnosis?"   I was seething inside, but I was there for someone else so didn't want to rock the boat. If I had it to do over again, I probably would.

My primary doc is the one who not only treats my Fibro, but even diagnosed it...and that was 22 years ago. I got lucky with that one.

Talk to ya later,

Debbie

Wellcome to the forum Chita! I am glad you found a Dr. that believed in you. Many of us went through many years trying to feel validated. You found a great place here to learn and get wonderful support.

The best thing you can do for yourself is find a great book on fibro. I got one that was great. I was so amazed how I could see myself on each page. Then I was kind of frustrated because I describe these symptoms many times to my Dr's and go no real no answer from them. I then read it and I finally feel validated.

Yes, your rib pain your having is common in fibro. The best thing I do is for that is a heating pad. Heating pad is my best friend. You might be like me that I had all these symptoms and didn't realize most of them are caused by fibro. It made me actually feel better that I realized this.

I gain most of my knowledge about fibro from this forum. I came to this site in terible shape and with severe depression. I am now feeling so much better due to this forum. I have learned how to manage my fibro. My pain and depression are well controlled. I still have days I pain, but at least I know I have support on a those rough days.

I have found out the more I keep my fibro regimine simple the better I am. I found out I do a well rounded approach for my fibro treatment. I see a psy Dr., therapist, pain management, and take classes on anxiety and depression. I do the following also- magnesium, calcium, anti depressent, subutex for pain, eat healthy, light excercise, rest, reduce my stress and lots of heat.

I hope you get as much as I have out of this forum. It has been the best thing for me. I have turn a 360 in my health since I started here. Getting on disability has been the best thing for me too.

Hello and welcome although im sorry you have to be here. Ive had fibro since. 1999. Bites the big one. Youll fund lots of help here. I have had that rib pai. Felt like someone kicked me. Heating pads, stretching and ice packs help me the most. Hang in there

Hi, Chita, and welcome!  I've been pretty much missing in action the past few days and am now trying to catch up.  I'm so glad you found us.  We have wonderful members who love to help one another and, as a bonus, we really do care about each other, too.  I think you will like it here.

 

Well, did you make it through Fibro 101?  There is so much information there and it all is very good.  Many of the things could help you...especially some supplements.  I use the magnesium malate and vitamin D3 and they have made a difference for me.  I also use a muscle relaxer and ibuprofen with food and Tylenol.  I do keep moving.  That is a must for me.  If we sit or lay too much, we will be stiff as a board and have more pain. 

 

Gentle exercise is important, too.  I walk daily.  When I started walking, I could only go four houses down and had to turn around but I didn't quit.  I kept it up and started to be able to go further and further.  I now walk 1+ miles daily along with swimming or gardening or cleaning etc.  Any movement is exercise.  Sometimes I march in front of my TV during commercials....when no one else is there. 

 

Grandchildren!  Oh, I'd love to have grandchildren but don't think that's going to happen for me.  My children are 35, 36, and 39 and none are married.  UGH!  Oh, well.  I'm still very blessed to have my children.  They are terrific!

 

I don't suffer from depression but have dealt with it a few times...like when my husband died suddenly.  It sure is miserable.  I'm sorry you are dealing with this.  I'm a positive thinker and I think that has helped me immensely.  I can find positive things in any negative situation...and so can  you.  You just have to look.  By doing this, I feel so much better and don't feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.  You are dealing with illness and financial problems and that sure isn't easy.  I did have to deal with that years ago....but only for five months and it wasn't pretty.  But I did take one day at a time and that made things far easier for me.  In Fibro 101 there is a good link about maintaining a positive attitude when you have chronic pain.  It really is good and I have read it several times...when I'm having one of those days.  This might help you, too. 

 

I do have a favor to ask, though.  Please read through our forum rules...especially Rule #1.  I had to edit two of your posts.  I totally understand but we have to enforce the rules.

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Do let us know if your daughter is having a boy or a girl.  That has to be exciting!  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

That is exciting! I'd love to see one of those new pictures :) ...my kids were so blurry on the ultrasounds...many years ago.

When is he due?

Debbie

Congrats !! On the expected baby
And
On the upcoming visit from the grandkids..

Welcome Chita :) You have come to the right place ! Fibro can be somewhat different for everyone, but at the same time, you will be hard pressed to name one, crazy, oddball symptom, that somebody here, if not "lots" of people here, have not experienced. Often experienced Fibro sufferers will have advice about what has helped them with certain symptoms, and their is always a chance these actions might help you too !

But maybe even more importantly, this place offers the very best moral support, because everybody here knows you are not crazy ! Heck, if you are, we all are ! :)

~~~~~~~~~

Hey now, just out of curiosity, how your health aside from Fibro ? How is your diet and exercise situation ? Don't worry. I'm not here to judge. My own health situation was a complete disaster most of my life :( But turning all of that around has helped me with my Fibro tremendously.

Best wishes :)

Peace,

Fish

ive had a funny feeling about my hair I always have it up things around my neck irritate me..bras make my underams irritated and regular shirts are a no..no..I always wondered about why i felt so uncomfortable and never told my doctor about it thinking I was just being picky.

Re: Lyrica

I just ended my attempt to titrate on gabapentin, Lyricas little sister without success. I did notice some water rentention but I couldn't get at a high enough dose to be effective as it made me an emotional mess. My PA said that it was the first she had heard info this reaction but she just wrote me a new script for topamax today and I will let you know how that goes after a few weeks. :)

Fishchris, that stabbing filling I got on top of my hand around the thumb has stopped but like you said it moved somewhere else. I find also that my hands swell a lot cause I can't close my hands to make a tight fist. The sciatica nerve still hits me in the tush now and then and the needle pains here and there. I am still in remission thank God from the breast cancer even though I am not taking any preventive medicines because I am allergic to all they try to give me.
I know I should try to eat healthy but there are not to many veggies I like and I have tried to force myself to eat them but I end up gagging on them. Doctors have me on daily multiple vitamins plus extra vitamin D. for the bones. I wish every thing would just disappear but don't think that will happen. Meanwhile I will keep going to the sauna and the pool because that seems to give me some relief. Hope you're having better days.