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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 2/18/2016 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
My name is Cindy and do not post very often. I was just wondering about a diagnosis of fibro. I do have a Rheumatologist but he seems to not really listen to me. Right now I am diagnosed with Diffuse Connective Tissue Disease. Which is symptoms of several different things.

I feel I definitely have all symptoms of fibro and have had them for quite some time. My question is can my primary doctor diagnos me or does my Rheumatologist have to. I feel like my pc Dr listens to me much better and I feel like I can talk to her and she listens. With that said maybe I need to start looking for a new rheumatologist. Does anyone have advice to get a real diagnosis.

Thank you for any comments
Cindy
Posted 2/18/2016 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Cindy, your PC doctor can diagnose you. My Internist diagnosed me and also treats me for Fibro. You just want a doctor that believes in Fibro and will listen to you. It's very important to have a good rapport with your doctor.

By the way, not all rheumies believe fibro is a true illness. There are still doctors out there in the dark ages when it comes to Fibro.

Sherrine
Posted 2/18/2016 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
DCTD is an autoimmune disorder, not fibromyalgia.

Are you having swelling in your joints? Fibromyalgia has no swelling.

What meds are you getting from the rheumatologist?
Posted 2/18/2016 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Sherrine I will definitely make an appointment with my pc. I know she will listen to my concerns.

Yes Joy I had a positive ana 10 years ago I have been on plaquenil since then. This has kept my inflammation to a minimum for that long. I have a few flares off and on but not enough evidence or other blood test to get a specific diagnosis of lupus or ra. He's changed my diagnosis several times and ended up with dctd. But in the last 6 months I have developed all the symptoms of fibro. Sorry I didn't explain more in my first post. I also have spinal stenosis a few buldging discs and osteoarthritis so hopefully my pc will help with the fibro diagnosis. I have chronic pain.

As you can see I have a lot going on

Thank you both for your responses. I sometimes post on the Chronic pain site.
Posted 2/18/2016 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Blossom, you should read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about Fibro and you will learn more about this illness. Good starting links for you would be Symptoms and also A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia. This can help you see better if perhaps you do have Fibro. All of Fibro 101 is good so do read it.

Also there are links in Fibro 101 to pain charts. Pick a chart and print it out. Then keep a daily journal showing the pain you feel when doing various things. The chart will help with that. Then take the journal and the pain chart to your PC and this will help them understand better what you are going through.

You have had many tests run on you already but I'm sure your PC will want to rule out things like lupus and Lyme disease too. These, and other illnesses, have many of the same symptoms as Fibro but their treatment is different. So make sure this is done. No one should give you a diagnosis of Fibro without ruling out other illnesses first. There is no good test for Fibro so it's a process of elimination to get the diagnosis. In Fibro 101 there is a link called What Else Could It Be that you should read too.

Do let us know what you find out because we do care about you.

Sherrine
Posted 2/18/2016 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
Oh thank you Sherrine. That's an excellent idea to show how I feel on a daily basis. The mornings are the worse and sleep does not come easy. Waking up at least twice during the night because of pain issues.

This forum is wonderful and everyone is very helpful and nice. I will let you know what happens. Thank you so much

Blossom Creek
Posted 2/18/2016 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia. They can go hand in hand.

If you doctor is basing your lupus only on blood work then he's not doing right. There is a list of 11 indicators of Lupus and you must have at least 4 of them. Blood work is one of the 11. Check out our lupus forum for more info.

By the way plaquinel doesn't treat fibromyalgia it treats autoimmune diseases.
Posted 2/19/2016 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy. Thank you for your response. Yes that is one of the reasons I am considering changing rheumys. He goes strictly by blood work. He never spends much time with me at my appts. Very frustrating.

Yes I have heard the auto immune and fibro do go together sometimes. Yes the plaquenil only treats the auto immune. I will definitely check out the lupus forum. Thanks again.

Maybe someday I will get a specific diagnosis.
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