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Posted 11/20/2008 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
I'm at my wits end. I've been to several doctors that all look at me like I have a few screws loose and just give me anxiety meds and tell me to get more sleep. I'm trying to get more sleep. I've been trying. I'm not sure what to do. I've had problems with skin pain all of my life... my mother said she can remember me crying b/c my skin hurt starting about age 4. This year it seems to have gotten way worse... the skin on the back of my shoulders and on my arms just HURTS and is very sensitive. I have problems keeping weight on.. always have... I'm 26 and feel a lot older b/c of my pain. I've been diagnosed by docs with Anxiety disorder.. and have had doctors mention thyroid (been tested, not a thyroid issue), Lupus (mom has it, I was negative), hypoglycemia (not tested), diabeties (not tested), and people have mentioned fibro(mother and nonblood relatives have it) and RA(grandfather has it)

My newest doctor told me straight out he doesn't believe in hypoglycemia or fibro.. if he did he would think I had it, but since he doesn't believe either exists, he thinks I just "have too many kids" (I have 3 kids) and I'm stressed (no more than the next person)

No thyroid issue. I've had my thyroid tested by every doctor I've ever seen since I was about 14. They ALL think it's my thyroid, then when it's not that, it's just my anxiety disorder. Always. Every time. Well, this time this guys says it's STRESS and my anxiety disorder... my syptoms basically are:

-insomnia
-dizziness
-memory problems
-tired during the day
-knee pain (joint... and it seems to be getting worse really quickly.. started suddenly and has gotten worse over the last few weeks... to the point now where even sitting with my legs straight out hurts when before that was the only way they stopped hurting. This may sound crazy, but at times it feels like a bubble is in my joint and it HURTS.. other times it's like a burning pain)
-skin pain/sensitivity (to the point that my hair touching my skin hurts, my shirt touching me hurts, my bed sheets hurt.. etc..)
-anxiety
-migrains
-mild depression (mostly b/c I'm always too tired and in too much pain to do the things I'd like to do with my family)
-lowered immune system
-weight loss (unintentional of course)
-trouble thinking clearly

I'm 26 and have 3 amazing kids (2 biological, one stepson that I am legal guardian over). I work part time as a bartender (just started this year.. long after the symptoms started.. ) and I'm happily married.

I don't know if I have fibro.. I don't really know what is wrong with me.. but I can't go on like this. I've tried Paxil, Buspar, Lexapro, and Trazadone (that one for sleep). Lexapro was a nightmare for me.. literally. Paxil helped with my anxiety attacks but nothing else. I don't even know what kind of doctor I really need, but the ones I've been to all brush me off and act like I'm crazy. I'd love any advice or words of wisdom/encouragement.

Post Edited (ALMommy82) : 11/19/2008 8:02:22 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/20/2008 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

And welcome to the fibromyalgia forum.

It sounds like you need to find a doctor that believes in fibro. And it doesnt' sound like yours does.

Check out the fibro 101 thread. It is the second thread on the first page. It has a lot of information that I think you will find interesting. It does sound like a bad case of fibro to me, especially when you are that sensitive to touch on your skin. But there are a whole lot of symptoms that you will probably be suprised to find out that you have. What I mean is all the things that you will have in common with the rest of us.

I hope that you do find a good doctor. Remember, they work for you. You can fire them. LOL...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 11/20/2008 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Yup, get thee to a fibro doctor soon. It is definitely worth a try.

I hope you feel better soon.

Donnaeil
Posted 11/20/2008 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there. oh my. Good luck to you. It took me at least 5 years to get a proper real diagnosis....and many, many doctors. I would suggest a rheumy. I have had many of the same symptoms as you and finally my primary care dr. suspected fibro and sent me off to other specialsits. (at my 2nd appointment with her) The dr.'s I have found now are wondeful but it took many years and lots of mean docs to find the ones who have given my life back to me. I wish you the best of luck and goood vibes are being sent your way. (a ra test can come back negative but you can still have it.) OH! and always get a copy of your labs and records. I have learned that the hard way but it has made a world of difference in my treatment. :)
Posted 11/20/2008 6:30 AM (GMT 0)
:-)  know about the skin sensitivity. I have to buy clothing that is to large for me so the seams dont touch me, I was even congratulated on being pregnant,  Im not but my clothes are that style . I can only sleep on flannelette sheets and no one can touch me.  If someone squeezes my arm even gently I can still feel it 10 mins later.  It took three years before I was taken serious.  Now I see a rheumy plus finally found a doc.  I to have been told it doesnt exist.  You just have to try be strong and ask for a specialist if you think its fibro then ask for a rheumy  luck   sue2z   

Posted 11/20/2008 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
AlMommy, fist of all, welcome to our little family. I certainly hoep that you get some answers soon. I'm sure knowing what is wrong and having a doctor listen to you will help with the anxiety. This summer, I also had one of my doctors tell me I had depression, which woudl explain the fatigue and achiness. I flat out told him I was starting to get depressed b/c I coudln't spend time with my family, adn I was always in pain and tired! I think soem doctors try the easy route b/c these symptoms are so vague and varied. can you find another doctor? I know sometimes easier said than done. Read up on the fibro101 thread, and see if any of those fit what you sdescribe. And read posts and ask questions. That's how I came to accept more the possibility I have fibro, after I saw the similarities with so many others here. I am feelign much better since I stopped fighting my body, adn accepting my limitations. Good luck!
Posted 11/20/2008 3:47 PM (GMT 0)

Hi & welcome!

I am so sorry for all the pain you are going through. The hardest part for me of Fibro was getting others to believe I have it. I still have family members who think my doctors are all quacks and don't know what they are talking about.

What made the best difference was finding a doctor who was familiar with Fibro. It is so nice when your doctor understands and believes. I hope you are able to find a doctor who is familiar and treats Fibro. That will help so much.

The Fibro 101 thread the others mentioned is a great place to start reading. It is very helpful and helped me understand some things better. It also has some great ideas to help with some of the symptoms.

I also have the really bad pain once in a while where my skin hurts to the touch. Usually it is the back of my heals. On those days I can't even put on shoes, so I where shoes without heels.

I guess the most important thing for you right now is finding the right doctor. That will help so much to getting you on your way to feeling better!  I wish you luck and hope you are soon feeling better.

Hugs!  Margie

Posted 11/20/2008 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Almommy and welcome. Print out the list of symptoms and check how many you have. It doesn't matter what kind of doc you go to as long as they believe in fibro, my GP dxd me. I did recently find a rheumy I really like. When you call to make an app ask up front if the doc believes in and treats fibro. I found the rheumy I wanted to go to and asked my GP for a referral so I could see him. If they have ruled out lupus, RA and MS it's a good chance you do have fibro. I went through a lot of testing for a long time before I was dxd but the pain was not that bad at the time. It took an all out flare where I felt like I had been beaten all over before it all clicked for my doc.

 

Good luck

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 11/20/2008 9:58 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, ALMommy, welcome to the family. I would suggest you find a new dr. FAST! I just got rid of an idiot that didn't believe me. They aren't helping you, if they don't listen and dismiss what you say. I also have extremely sensitive skin, everything bothers it. I found by accident that flannel sheets work for me, I use them yr round. I also always use softener in the wash. I do not do bras, they hurt every spot that they touch.

Check out the Fibro 101 on the front of the site, they list a lot of the symptoms of FMS. Print it out and bring it to a real dr (one who listens), you will probably have tests to rule out other things, but that is how they get a dx of FMS. They will also check your body for tender points. A competent dr. will test, not pontificate. I wish you luck.

I hope you will read over past posts to get a lot of info, ask questions, share what works for you. We are all in this together.

God bless.  Alice.

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