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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 2/22/2018 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't want to hijack Debsoap's post, but was wondering if there are other Canadians on here and what your diagnosis/treatment experience has been. For me, as I mentioned in my last post, it felt a bit like a shrug 'It must be fibro', without a lot of searching for what else it could be or what other co-morbid stuff could be going on. Getting in with a specialist takes forever and is usually a disappointment. My primary physician is sympathetic, but not terribly helpful. I feel like I am my own healthcare provider and for the most part just grin and bear it. I have tried most of the drugs available and have reacted poorly to all of them, so my doc is reluctant to try me on anything new.
Posted 2/22/2018 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
We do have Canadian members and most have given the same description of the healthcare as you have. But, here in the US we also can have problems. But we usually don’t have to wait like you do for appointments. I’m not sure how your choice of doctors is either. I do have good health insurance but pay a lot for it. But I can see top doctors and get in within a couple of weeks. I have a good selection of doctors who are board certified.

I hope you can get a board certified rheumatologist who treats fibro patients. There are still many doctors out there that don’t think fibro is a true illness or, if they don’t know what you problem is, it’s much easier to call it fibromyalgia and then they can send you on your way. 😡. Just don’t give up until you get thoroughly checked out and are satisfied with the diagnosis.

Sherrine
Posted 2/23/2018 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Wow....I could have written your post.

I am in Canada and travelled to a rheumie in another province who had not received my bloodwork from my GP and after poking me and some superficial questions, announced I had fibro and to go home and talk to my GP about meds.

I have an immune condition called CVID that means I don't make antibodies properly but I do supplement my IgGs with plasma injections. It also means the autoimmune tests for antibodies don't work well for me.

Currently - I have been referred to another rheumie. I take amitryptiline at night and I have started the process to try CBD oil. I am in tremendous pain lately and completely frustrated. Many of my symptoms mimic Lupus, RA, and Sjorgens....yeah, I know it could be fibro but my joints in my limbs are consistently painful and very bilateral.

My issues include living in a small northern community where the docs are pretty much just great at prescribing things. Referrals tend to go to another province due to distance and it took me a bit to realize provinces don't play well with each other (in terms of medical record access). Also, I have been at this for 8 years and when I tried Plaquenil and other things I was looking for NO pain - not reduced pain - so I always told my GP that they didn't work. Ugh.

Now I realize pain is part of my life and it's all about managing it. It's not if I am in pain, it's how much pain I'm in.
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