Hello All

This is my first post and I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a 34 year old, homeschooling, home-birthing, home-keeping mom to 6. I'm also in pain, nearly constantly for nearly 7 years. Sometimes I cry in the laundry room where the kids can't see me. I cry often at night, usually out of relief because I can finally lay down. I cringe when my husband slaps my butt or my kids hug me, because it either hurts terribly, or I'm expecting it to. I'm not the person I used to be. I've lost my love of reading because I always forget the characters and plot. I don't read much anymore. I've lost a lot of the joy I had homeschooling my children because I'm so out of focus. I forget everything. I'll take 4 steps to the fridge and once I open the door, I'll forget what I needed to get. So I'll have to retrace those steps and stand there concentrating and trying to remember. I mix up words. I sound like a fool. I have a hard time falling asleep unless I take Benadryl, which is what my doc suggested. I wake up over and over through the night needing to pee (I pee constantly), or anxious and panicky. So I take another dose to fall asleep. I never feel rested. My hair falls out, I get rashes. I have enlarged lymph nodes in areas where I'm feeling pain. I've seen docs who told me I'm fine, there's no physical reason for my pain, so they prescribe antidepressants. I've been told some people just have hornier pain and to learn to deal with it. I finally saw a neurologist who told me I have "a touch of fibromyalgia", but he never actually diagnosed me, or referred me to a rheumatologist. My sister, who has a Masters degree in nursing, has been telling me I have fibro for quite a while. My primary care doc when"on sabbatical" recently, and a new doc referred me to a rheumatologist. I have an appointment in May. Finally a step in the right direction.

I've been reading through a lot of these posts, and I feel like I am you all! I'm glad to have found you.

Glad you found this forum Tabmom! Hope it helps you as much as it's helping me, and REALLY hope the rheumatologist is thorough and you can start the right treatment to help you!

Hi, Tabmom, and welcome. Yes, pain in all four quadrants of the body and cognitive memory problems are key symptoms for fibromyalgia. I do hope you are seeing a board certified rheumatologist who treats fibro patients. There are still some doctors out there in the Dark Ages who don't believe this is an illness...that it's all in our heads! Not true. Fibro is recognized by the American Medical Association, the American College of Rheumatology, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization...just to name a few.

The rheumy should run you through a myriad of tests to rule out other illnesses that have many of the same symptoms as fibro. There isn't a good test just for fibro so this is done. The treatments for the other illnesses is different than the treatment for fibro.

When I'm really tired, the memory problems are worse. The harder I try to remember, the worse it is. So do try to sleep and not stress over it.

You might try putting yourself on a sleep schedule. That helps but it doesn't help with waking up all of the time. I did that too until I was put on a muscle relaxer called Robaxin and it has helped my pain significantly. I only take half of what was prescribed so I don't have side effects from it.

I also use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, Magnesium malate, and vitamin D3 to help me be in control of the pain. Very seldom are we pain-free. I have never been and I've had this illness for 28 years BUT I have still had a full and enjoyable life in of this illness! You can too once you find what helps you get the pain under control.

I think with six children you are getting plenty of exercise. I walk daily as a gentle form of exercise. This actually lessens my pain and gives me more energy. I think just looking at the beauty all around me while walking really helps too. So walking might help you. I find it relaxing.

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 Symptoms, What Else Could It Be, and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia. You just might see yourself there. There are links about the supplements and how they work in the body, too. All of Fibro 101 is good so do read it.

Also in Fibro 101 you will find a link to some pain charts. I suggest you choose one and print it out. Then keep a journal, starting today, writing down what you do and the level of pain you are feeling...using the pain chart you chose. Do this and then take it, along with the pain chart, to your rheumatologist appointment in May. This will give the doctor a really good idea of what you are going through. This way, you should get the very best help from the doctor.

Please do me a favor and use paragraphs when posting. I get lost in the middle and have to hunt to find where I left off! These eyes aren't like they used to be. Thanks in advance!

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

Hi, like the others have said, we are glad you are going to a rhuemalogosit to get it settled. I think not knowing can be so difficult. The more I learned about fibro the more I was able to relate and say wow. this isn't just happening to me and there's a name for it. By the way most of my researching is online. even when I was diagnosed I didn't know much about fibro, because the doctors I saw didnt give me much info.

I am amazed that you are homeschooling 6 kids with your condition , wow . Don't be hard on yourself and recognize that you are doing alot. I have two little ones home with me and its tuff.

I wish you could get in sooner to your appointment but hang in there . I have been waiting for my new doc appt at end of April and I feel like I'm going nuts, lol. Your symptoms sound like fibro symptoms . I can relate to all those things you mentioned. I used to multi task like crazy. Now I can't focus especially when boths kids are trying to talk to me at the same time . I loved doing homeschool with the kids. It was so much fun and they liked it too. We did education crafts, games, but it's getting harder for me to keep up with. I definitely appreciate the days when I can more.

I think the others would agree with me that with fibro you learn to really appreciate the good days and the simple things that people take for granted . Sorry for going on and on. I hope you have a blessed day!

Also....have they checked your vitamin d levels ? If not make sure they check it... When mine was low.. I was much foggier and forgetful...

And we can be treated for pain somewhat.. So no you do not have to just live with it..i cannot take tons of meds , so cannot get rid of it entirely, but through low dose meds, and ways to self help, with heat , stretching, topical pain relievers.. Etc.. Can get some good relief..

Its a nice forum , and you have a lot on your plate, so glad you are going to see another dr, and seek better help!

Welcome. Hope you find relief soon.