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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 7/20/2018 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
My rheumatologist just diagnosed me with fibromyalgia on top of my rheumatoid arthritis. I'm a little skeptical about the new diagnosis though. My major symptom and reason for the dr visit was extreme chronic fatigue I started experiencing Jan 5 of this year during a mild cold. The fatigue never went away and it got so bad that I had to quit my job, can't drive a car due to being too weak to hold down the break pedal and I sleep all day and all night only getting up to use the bathroom and eat a little. My gp ran every test he could think of including an MRI, tests for viral, epstien barr, bacterial, parasites and all my basic metabolic panels and NOTHING was wrong. When I told my rheumatologist he ran his fingers down my back, arms and legs and asked if it hurt. It did so he diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. Just like that. I don't have widespread pain but I do have terrible restless leg syndrome. Does anyone else suffer fatigue way more than pain with fibromyalgia or should I keep looking?
thanks for your help,
Kyyndred
Posted 7/20/2018 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Kyyndred, and welcome! It sounds like you have had a lot of blood work done to rule out other illnesses so your Rheumatologist was probably going by that. If you doubt your rheumy, why don’t you get a second opinion? That will ease your mind.

It’s difficult because you already have rheumatoid arthritis. Fibro doesn’t affect the joints even thought it seems like it does. It affects the muscles, tendons, and ligaments and is found in all four quadrants of the body. Yes, we do have fatigue, sometimes it feels like we have the flu, and many have cognitive memory problems. There are other weird symptoms but these are the primary ones nearly everyone has.

Have you been checked out for hypothyroidism? If your thyroid isn’t producing enough of the thyroid hormone, you can be very fatigued. I use iodized salt to help prevent this problem. But you might want to see if you were checked for this.

Also, Hashimoto’s disease can cause a lot of fatigue. It’s another problem with the thyroid. Here is a link from the Mayo Clinic about this.

/www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20351855

I’m not a doctor. I’m just suggesting things you might want to check into...IF your doctor’s haven’t checked for this already. It’s too easy to blame everything on fibromyalgia.

Do read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info and you will learn a lot there. This might help you see if fibro fits what you are experiencing.

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 soo .

Sherrine
Posted 7/21/2018 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Kyyndred, and welcome. I live your name and the unique spelling. I'm sorry you've gotten another DX when you already had another. It can make it rough figuring out what's going on.

We are all unique, I think where fibro is concerned. But, as Sherrine says there are parts that most of us have at least a little bit. And, many problems that we have randomly.

I didn't notice if you said you'd had a sleep study done but that can cause a ton of issues with fatigue being at the top of the list. Just a thought.

Oh, yes I have more fatigue than pain issues. I still have pain but not as bad as what I hear others say they have. The fatigue is a totally different story. It's overwhelming.

Hope you're better soon.
Posted 7/22/2018 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
There are different form of fibro..generally pain is my worst, but i,was extremely weak when my vit d went too low

My sister has a form that was more restless legs ..

I have had weakness again after our bad winter ( very stormy and wet)- so i am trying so,e acupuncture..just one visit so far and i seemed to pick up some 😊
Posted 7/23/2018 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replying. I have had a ton of tests including an MRI, thyroid, vit D, B and a sleep study. I guess I'm pretty lucky for haveing a very thourough doctor. When he gave up he sent me back to my rheumatologist and since he had access to all my tests it was a quick decision. Too quick almost. I was just getting used to having RA and getting used to its symptoms before learning my disabling fatigue is chronic and isn't going away any time soon. I had to quit my job and don't have the energy to do anything but sleep and watch TV. I used to be a very active person, always on the go running errands or working or playing with my kids and now I'm a couch potato. I'm asleep all day and my poor kids have to wake me up to ask for something. Fortunatly, they're older self reliant kids but I still feel bad. My house is a mess and I can't clean it. I'm so depressed all the time now. I'm already on antidepressants but its hard to be happy when I have no energy for hobbies or family or friends. How do people live like this? How do you all live like this? Sorry to vent so much. I guess I'm still a little in denial heading towards anger
thanks,
Kyyndred
Posted 7/25/2018 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kyyndred and welcome~

Talk to your doctor about the fatigue. There are medications that can be given to help. I used to be on one but after a few years we found it was conflicting with another med I take so I had to give it up. I do have to push myself to get going each day and it's frustrating, but at least my fibro is under control thanks to a wonderful Doc.

Warmly,
Chutz
Posted 7/27/2018 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
You will learn self help ways to improve, you will not always be the same as you are now..

As much as you can , try to move..just sitting only makes us weak

Maybe read up on generics of corvalen m . It helps with fatigue..really kept me going until my d crashed..

I have not done as well since that, but it still helps me..
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