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Were u diagnosed with fibro + something else?

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 11/12/2013 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone else have multiple diagnosis with fibromyalgia? I'm just curious to know if u got diagnosed with both as same time or one before the other? Also were u diagnosed by your primary doctor or a specialist? I was diagnosed in 2005, but lately I have been feeling different like there is more going on than fibro. My feet always hurt even after my orthotics and I have also had pain in both elbows that wake me up at night for past 2 years. Thank u
Posted 11/12/2013 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, and welcome! Most of us have other things besides fibro. Some have lupus, several of us have ankylosing spondylitis, back disk problems, IBS, etc. rarely do we have a member with fibro only.

If you feel you are worse in certain areas, it's good to be rechecked. I have had fibro since 1987 and my back started hurting a lot more. Fibro isn't a progressive illness so I went to see a rheumatologist and was found to have ankylosing spondylitis along with fibro. So it pays to be checked out.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are good links about fibro and you will learn a lot there. I'm still learning things about this illness.

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 11/12/2013 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
You can see my troubles at the bottom of the page. They came one at a time with fibro last on the list.
Posted 11/12/2013 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
It all started at 30.

In a tough doctoral program, no kids, recently divorced, seeing a nice man. 2003 Then, constipation, diarrhea, pain and bloating, blood. Saw a gastro, after the endo- and the colono-scopies, found Ulcerative Colitis. Starting taking meds, which helped so long as I avoided fatty foods (no gall bladder)

The next winter (2004), finished my comprehensive exams and had started on my dissertation, exhaustion, difficulty sleeping and waking feeling worse, painful areas. This time, I knew what it was, since my older sister had been diagnosed in the early 90s. Still went through the range of tests, and was pronounced/diagnosed in the late Spring 2004.

Kept on with my career... until this year.

Staring in the summer of 2012, far worse digestive problems, no blood, but also some various and worrying stomach issues. Far more pain, in odd and unexpected places. Far more exhaustion. Worsening stomach issues, and nausea and vomiting. Blinding headaches. But my lovely employer, at the time, had me scheduled oddly, and I chose to not schedule a day off for a colonoscopy. In retrospect, a bad move.

Finally did, after the semester ended. 2013, January. Now, Crohns was added to the list. Then, enteropathic arthritis (accounting for the extra pain), and likely early ankolosing spondylitis. Even with the extra pain meds, I was having trouble negotiating my life and my job. I quit. I had kinda reached my breaking point. Now, starting again, on medications which can help on average days, no insurance at the moment, and on a new diet which seems to be helping tremendously with the crohns, since I cannot afford the medications the doctor people have suggested as the next step. Silly me, I can't even afford the medications the I am taking now! On half doses of my UC/Crohns meds, that and the diet seem to be working for now.
Posted 11/12/2013 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
If you haven't been checked out in a long time, it wouldn't hurt to go. I have numerious health problems beside fibro. I haven't seen a rheumatologist in over 10 years. I was thinking about going myself. I really don't think I have any change beside fibro. I know how you feel about the feet problem. I have so much trouble with my feet. I have to have certain shoes. My feet are better since I started the calcium and magnesium. They use to ache like I had fractures in them and draw up. So now it's limited discomfort.

By the way welcome to the forum! I hope you enjoy it and learn from it. This forum has given my life back to me.
Posted 11/12/2013 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have life long problem of IBS, which flares up from time to time...Developed Fibro about 11 months ago, think I have CFS also, though not confirmed...and possible GERD

Its so hard knowing what you do or don't have. I have learned to try and listen to my body and report new symptoms to my doctor. I don't think I know one person with fibro alone
Posted 11/13/2013 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
I've found no matter what your diagnosis is, or how many you have; you eventually learn to live with it. Some days can be overwhelming. Eventually things settle down. Having the difficult days makes me appreciate the good days all the more. I'm thankful that I'm able to enjoy life. There are so many that are worse off than me.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 11/13/2013 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
I also have a nonspecific neuro condition, which tests couldn't pinpoint. The best guess they could come up with is possible mild cerebral palsy, which would make sense, considering how badly some of my muscles work!
Posted 11/13/2013 1:51 AM (GMT 0)

New here and need help. My pain started in 1998 after a car accident which I was not wearing a seat belt and hit the windshild with my face. Thats the first time I have ever had a regular medical Dr. The doc started me off with of course pain meds. Then it increased with muscle relaxers and anxiety meds. In 2000 they started me on Cymbalta.Since my anxiety started getting worse from the pain and not knowing what causes it and of course the run around with clueless Dr.'s. Now through countless Dr.s and test I've finally been formally diagnosed with fibro. The last 2 Dr.'s thought I had it but never really did anything about it but all the meds. Now I go to a Neurologists and I'm waiting for an appointement with pain management. The Neurologists started me on Gabapentin 1200 mg a day but it doesn't help much and my insurance won't preautorize the Lyrica he ordered for me till I get to the maximine does of 2400 mg a day. Has anyone else had this? And I really don't need to gain anymore weight if that is a side effect from Lyrica. I really feel hopeless. I'm slso going to a psychologist for the emotional and anxiety side of it.Which he diagnosed me with PTSD from other realated issues over the years. Which the nurse practioner ordered me Prazosin(high blood pressure med for which I have low blood pressure most of the time) 2mg a night and might go up to 6mg a night for night for nightmares. Which worries the hell out of me. And Hydroxyzine HCL 25 mg.(Antihistime) 3 times a day as needed for anxiety. Which neither have worked. The reason she said she wont give me controlled substances is because I told her I used marijuana in the past. So now I have the potential for drug abuse. Have anyone had this problem? or with asking for a certain med that works for you and they won't listen? How do I get them to understand I'm not drug seeking I'm seeking my life back and some relief from the pain? Help
Posted 11/13/2013 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
2005: Started getting tired and needed to sleep 12 hours a day or so.
Thought I was just sad from losing my job but, started having my period non stop for months. Saw a gynecologist, who tested my blood.
Got diagnosed with thyroid problems called Hashimoto's syndrome.
Meanwhile I had muscles and other sorts of pain. Doctors kept telling me it was just my thyroid, and that I should just suck it up! And I did. Until the problems got worst.
And every time, doctors and specialists all told me it was normal or in my head! I knew it wasn't, so I kept pushing for answers. Until a doctor agreed to send me to rheumatologist, who diagnosed me with fibro!

It was the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE! Like "Hey, Anna! You're not that crazy after all!" "It's not in your head!"

And kind of a personal victory over doctors who didn't believe me!
Posted 11/13/2013 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
My "official" diagnoses:

Sacro-illiac Joint Dysfunction (or, basically, really loose/injured ligaments in my low back which cause my alignment to be throw off very easily, Ultra hyper-mobility in joints)

Either FM or CFS by my rheumy. He kind of presented them as one, and I'm still not even sure what he scribbled down on my chart.

And I forget what the technical term for the diagnosis was, but there was something wrong on some tests with my ureters at one point in time, after a bad UTI. The fluid from my ureter (the tube that links your kidney to your bladder) was shown to travel back up into my kidney. I was over hydrating to deal with my UTI, probably way too much, so I don't know if maybe that aggravated it, but, the ureter-kidney issue was an issue at one point. I'm not surprised though. I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse as an adolescent and so that has something to do with an abnormal valve situations in my body. I'm leaky, apparently. (Luckily MVP isn't known to be dangerous or threatening)

I'm sure I could gather some more diagnoses if I visited some more specialists and doctors.
Posted 11/13/2013 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Southbound-I am going to start a new thread introducing you! That way you will get more greetings and what have you.

Also, I will separate your post into paragraphs. Many of our members have a hard time reading one big chunk.

Welcome!
Posted 11/13/2013 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to the new members...I'm new here as well.
I haven't on the site much after I joined, I was dealing with a great deal of stress.

It seems like fibro never travels alone, there is always more to follow and I feel like I'm developing a list as time goes by. I'm sure many of you felt like this at some time or the other, or maybe feeling like this right now. How do we move past it, how do we accept that we will get more and more conditions?

Many rheumatologists and research states that fibro isn't progressive, but I don't agree, I feel that it has gotten worse from when it all started.

Maybe its just me...
Posted 11/13/2013 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
I started out with a diagnosis of RA about 6 years ago. A year ago, I was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome and 3 months ago I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.
Posted 11/13/2013 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome, Msrice! I was diagnosed by an allergist/internist, who then became my primary doctor, in (I think) 1993. After doing some blood tests, he found I also had an elevated liver enzyme, which no one understands or seems too worried about. Now I have 2 of them.

My list of diagnoses is below, too.

That feet pain is no fun. I have a lot of nerve damage in my lower spine, and so my feet (especially the left one) is extremely sensitive. One of the best moments of my day is when I switch from shoes to slippers - which I have to search high and low for, since they can't pinch at all!

I'd like to hear more of your story - we're here to help!

Debbie
Posted 11/15/2013 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
I too have multiple problems.  Started with endometriosis in my 20's, then fibromyalgia in my 30's, then osteoarthritis, polycystic ovaries, fibroid tumors, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, the most recent ulcerative colitis.  Had kidney cancer two years ago and also had to have gallbladder removed.  Have had ulcers, GERD, foot problems, allergies, etc.  Used to wonder if I was a hypochondriac and I know my friends and family thought so. But scientific evidence and tests could back up all diagnosis (except the fibro).  These diseases are all related somehow.  I think many have to do with auto immune problems (cytokenes or something like that, TNF other complicated things) and others may have come from the drug treatment for other diseases as well as the stress and anxiety.

Cymbalta was a miracle drug for me for the fibro.  Nothing is working for the UC.  Hope someone finds what is behind all these diseases some day.  

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