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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 5/3/2014 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone!

First time poster, was just told that FM is the most likely culprit of my pain. He said it seems pretty likely ,as my symptoms suggest it (also runs in both sides of my family, my mother has it as well).

Every other test I have had has come back clear (chest xray, blood work, heart tests, physical examinations) for anything life threatening (thank heavens)

With that said, Im going to be seeking a second opinion but I feel they will come to the same conclusion. 

The symptoms I personally experience as upper/lower back/shoulder pains, neck pain, headaches/tension headaches/top of my head,and a general stiffness. y, brain fog, pain in the knee/back of calves area, pain around my elbows, sleep difficulty, tmjd, ringing in ears and just an all around fatigue. I also have abdominal pain, which is probably from IBS, and I also have GERD.

This all has been going on since about October 2013, so it's fairly recent.

I'm 25, and work full time for a living at a job that requires a lot of movement.

I would just like to ask, what sort of treatments helped each of you? I will be reading other threads as well but this can help me keep things relevant to my situation in one spot.

It took a doctor this long to finally listen to me and at least give me some sort of diagnosis. I have been in and out of doctors for the last year for various things, which all now seem to be part of FM
Thanks everyone
Posted 5/3/2014 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Cutsman!
Sorry that you have Fibro but glad you are here! It is a great group of caring people who really do understand what you are going through.
Although Fibro may affect each of us differently...we still feel the pain and know how hard it can be.
Personally, I am on Lyrica and this has helped me a lot. I take vitamin D and magnesium as well. I do have pain medication and take on a as needed basis. I also exercise about 30 min a day 4-5 times a week. This too I believe has made a big difference. It can be hard to exercise when you are tired and in pain...if I am having a real tough day a will do a lighter work out.
I work full time as well, but have filed for Intermittent FMLA so when I do have a flare I can stay home and my job is protected.

Fibro 101 has a great deal of info too!! It us a great place to start!

I am sure others will chime in as well!

Hope your days start to get better now that you have been diagnosed and can hopefully began some type of treatment.

Welcome again!!!
Posted 5/4/2014 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Im glad I found this board. It's nice to have people who understand what i'm going through.

I live with my brother and he just doesn't get it. He calls me lazy and what not but he doesn't understand. My field of work requires a lot of movement and physical exertion and until I get on a regiment that helps, I won't be able to work as much.

Sorry to rant lol
Posted 5/4/2014 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum. I am glad you found this forum. It really has helped me, so I hope you get as much as I have out of it. There is great support and also you can learn how to manage your fibro better. I always tell new fibromites the best thing you can do for yourself is read some books on fibro. Educating yourself gives you tools to learn how to manage your fibro. You will learn to reconize fibro symptoms and not be so anxious over them. Many books will give you the reason why your having the symptoms. You can order many on line.

I got started by reading post frequently and got ideas on what others were doing for their fibro. Just remember we are all different so the reaction to things might be different too. Many here have numerious health problems beside fibro so our treatments might be different too. If you do try things make sure you give it time to work. It took several months to get a good treatment plan working for me. I call it a trial and error method. Some things might work well on me, but maybe not you.

I try to keep mine very simple. Most fibromites are very senstive to meds so I take very little prescriptions for fibro. I take magnesium, calcium, vitamin D, remron and subutex for pain. I also use lots of heat, rest, limit stress, exercise, eat healthy and see a therapist for chronic pain. Exercise is very important to fibro. It took me awhile to realize it.

I hope we see you around the forum again. Maybe you can get your brother to read info on fibro. Maybe he just needs some education too. Feel free to ask questions.

Post Edited (ak angel) : 5/4/2014 1:12:06 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/4/2014 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
Your brother calls you lazy – I wish I could let myself be more lazy. I am about as far from a couch potato as it gets. Before fibro I ran 7 to 10 miles every day. I was a mountain climber and weekends I was into some form of extreme sport using my body......for relaxation I would do a 50 miler on my bike.

Now I find getting out of bed or up from a chair an extreme sport....fibro has robbed me of my lifestyle and my moment to moment ability to enjoy being alive. The first 4 or 5 hours in the morning are the worst but sleep or trying to sleep is also torture.

I don’t know your brother but I am more motivated than 99% of people and I fight just to do basic normal.
Posted 5/4/2014 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Cutsman, and welcome! I'm so glad you found us and joined in. It sounds like you very well could have fibro but they need to rule out other illnesses that share many of the same symptoms as fibro. There is no good test for fibro. It sounds like you are well on your way to a definite diagnosis and that's half the battle. For some of us it has taken years and many of the women have been told it's all in their heads! UGH!

I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, magnesium malate, Vitamin D3, and a muscle relaxer called Robaxin that has helped significantly with my pain. I also walk daily and pace myself when doing things. We are all different so it's more a trial and error type situation to find what helps each of us but you will get plenty of ideas here.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there. Good starting links for you would be the ones called Symptoms, What Else Could It Be, and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia. You just might see yourself there. All of Fibro 101 is good so do read it.

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 5/4/2014 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Before getting sick I was a real go getter myself. During my prime I was working 40 hr job, subsitute teaching on my day off, and going to night school for my college degree. I taught first graders for several years. Then I became sick and went to the ultimate couchtater. My mother keeps telling me to get up and move. I try my best to do things but it's a chore some days as we all know.
Posted 5/5/2014 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome new members

From reading these posts & talking to others at dr offices, therapy, etc effective treatment varies & may require patience on your part while you try different combinations.

Once you find what works, it may very well need to be tweeked now & then.

Current Pain management doctor has been an enormous help (specializes in treatment for fibro).. first one had no clue how to even start helping.. find someone who believes you.

I too worked long hours for many years, now there are some days I stay too tired to even shower.. or even eat. Even knowing about my health issues, family members ignore my needs & view me as lazy. Sucks.

Wishing you the very best.
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