Hello.New and confused

I was officially diagnosed about 2 weeks ago after about 3 years of many Dr's, many tests, I'm sure you all know the drill all too well. I'm confused. I don't know to attribute to fibromyalgia and what could be something worse. I feel lost. The drs really haven't given me much info other than go on Cymbalta.

My question is do any of you get tight squeezing in your arms, as if plastic wrap is wrapped around them? That's the only way I can think to describe it.

Welcome. This journey can definitely be confusing at times. Finding a good rheumatologist will go a long way towards helping. I have experience with one that wanted to hand over a prescription and walk out the door. Thankfully, I now have a doctor that listens and tries to make things better.

At different times, I experience that feeling in different areas of the body. It's crazy the sensations fibro can cause. I tend to blame everything on fibro or RA. Thankfully, my doctor will call me on that and make sure nothing else is going on.

I wish you luck.

They say the Inuit have a hundred different words for snow....I think there should be a 100+ words for pain.

I think of that plastic wrap pain as if I have bands tight around my limbs, especially my joints (ankles, knees, elbows, wrists).

Then there is skin pain/burning, deep muscle pain & weakness, needles in my joints pain, tight pain (esp. around the neck & shoulders), bruised like pain, pulled muscle like pain, tendon pain, headache pain, sinus pain, jaw pain...all just a little unique.

I am sure I have missed some. I sure wish I had the magic answer to fix it all, or even predict it. First day of fall - winters are long, so many ups & downs and the cold. I wish I could hibernate !

My coping strategies includes stretching daily, eating healthy, hydrating, getting some exercise/movement in there, amitryptiline to sleep a bit better, and getting rest as needed (hardest one I think). Reducing stress is HUGE...maybe that one is hardest !

Getting one's head around the diagnosis is important too. I had a very hard time accepting it because it isn't the result of a specific test.

Best of luck - trial & error will help figure out what works for you, but nothing totally works unfortunately.

Wow, the dr said cymbalta or nothing?

I am not always fond of my dr.. but he at least knows i am med sensitive and still need help.. so he will work with me to see what i can take and he knows i will try 1/2 and figure out my dosage from there..

Because i can get help from meds, but for my body i just have to take lower doses more frequently..

I take 1/4 tramadol every two to three hrs.. and even though this is not an inflammatory disease , i cannot move without something for inflammation..

Do you take anything over the counter?