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Posted 2/20/2009 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi to all,

I have costochondritis, which is a form of fibro which affects my rib cage, chest and back area. I just turned 40. My lil brother(38yrs) has FMS. Is this hareditary? Do you guys get head aches? My mind is always in a cloud. Well, some days are better than others, but I tend to be in a cloud. Is this normal with Fibro? I just feel like I'm losing my mind. I've got pain going up the back of my neck and pressure behind the eyes. Like i said, some days are better than others. I'm new to this FMS(6 months). Tell me please what else to expect. The Lord is my shepard, I must admit. But with this fog thing I tend to forget and that's not good. Help me out my new friends...Please. shakehead

Posted 2/20/2009 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have dealt with those same type of headaches for MONTHS now!!!! It is similar to a migraine, but tends to start at my neck and works its way to my face!!!!  My dr says it is due to the fibro and I am suppose to start in physical therapy for it soon...  I see the ruemy on Mon and go from there.  I hope that you find some type of relief... I know how bad those head aches tend to be at times!!!! cry ((((HUGS))))
Posted 2/20/2009 3:48 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Willie...

Welcome to the wild and wacky world of Fibro and welcome to the Healing Well Fibromyalgia Family. 

Please be sure to check the 2nd thread on the Forum called Fibromyalgia 101.  There's tons of information on there, it will be really helpful to you in learning more about living with Fibro.  I know it's helped me!!

This is a wonderful Forum with lots of knowlegable people that really want help, so stop by often and feel free to keep posting.. we're here to support you and each other.

As for the headaches.. yes, I would say I have a headache about 4 days a week.  I have costochondritis, too and it really can Zap you both physically and mentally.  It takes alot out of me.  That head in the clouds thing you're talking about is called "Fibro Fog" and just about everyone here has 100's of stories about how its affected their lives... some funny, some not so funny.

We try to have fun dealing with this rotten thing called Fibromyalgia.  Every now and then we have virtual parties... (check out the theated on "Party Time".)  We have some great writers on the forum that really have a way with words.. so enjoy their posts too!!

Again, warm welcomes - sorry you have fibro, but it brought you here so that's a good thing :-)

Posted 2/20/2009 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Willie,

Oh, I have those headaches, too. They are NO fun! I have to be very careful with my posture, because I tend to slouch and that makes it a lot worse. When these come around, I just take tylenol and break out my bed buddy-that does seem to help.

As for your brother, I am sorry to hear that he is struggling, too. I definitely think fibro can run in families-I have it, my mom has it, one of my sister has it, and three of my aunts have it. I don't know what the "experts" think, but that's just a bit too much of a coincidence for me!

And the fog..ugh, the fog. We complain about that a lot around here! lol. I haven't figured out a way to get rid of that, but when it's bad, I just make sure to make lots and lots of notes. I still do and say spacey things, though. Fortunately my family is used to it!

I am sorry you're struggling right now, friend. I hope you start feeling better soon!
Posted 2/20/2009 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I get up with a headache every morning and it really never goes away, it's been like this for years. Most of the time I can put it in the background and I'm so use to it being there it doesn't bother me that much. This week I have had some bad ones and it sure makes the fog worse. A lot of mine comes from the neck at the base of the skull, sometimes I will get little electric type shooting pains on the left side of my head where the muscle is. I had a chiropractor show me the route on my head that the neck muscles take over the top of your head to the forehead, the forehead is another big source of pain for me. I also have allergies and sinus problems, so many times I can't tell what is causing what.

 

Like I said this week with the headaches it's been a bad fog week and I've done some dumb things. There are days when I chose not to drive cause the fog is so bad, I wouldn't want to hurt anyone because of it. Today I have to go out. Sometimes I find the more active I am the fog will lift some, maybe my brain is getting more oxygen, who knows.

 

It is annoying, frustrating and scary but we learn to live with it like everything else fibro throws at us.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 2/20/2009 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Willie.

All of the symptoms you are experiencing are all a part of the fibro world. As for the hereditary part, there are debates as to whether or not it is genetic. I have people in my family who have it. It is possible that those who have family members with fibro may be more at risk to develop it, but no one really knows.

I am sorry to hear that you are suffering. I am fairly new to all of this as well, and it is not and easy road to travel down. But, there are others out there who know what is going on and can help just by being there. This forum is great because everyone listens and gives great support and advice. It helps knowing that you are not alone. And, no, you are not going crazy.

Posted 2/20/2009 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Willie!  I don't happen to get the headaches but I do have costo.  My doctor has me taking ibuprofen with food for it and it does give some relief.  So does deep breathing.  Try taking a deep breath through your nose and blowing it slowly out your mouth, kind of like you are blowing through a straw.  This helps relax the muscles and does release some tension.

 

I see that Patti directed you to the Fibro 101 thread.  You will find a lot about fibro in that thread.  Also read back posts and continue to ask questions.  We are here to help you! 

 

I'm glad you are here and I hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 2/20/2009 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you to all that has responded!!! You are right, This is a Fantastic place and i do not feel alone anymore! yeah   Thanks again!!!!
Posted 2/20/2009 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Willie, Welcome to our little corner of the world.  This is a wonderful place to come for support & answers.  Sometimes just not knowing why we have a certain symptom is scary but when you come here & find out it is Fibro or someone has an answer for you, it takes the fear out of it.  We can then focus on getting ourselves better& living each day as best we can.  I hope you will encourage your brother to come check this site out, as well.  Read all you can about this illness, knowledge is power.  I don't have the headaches too much, I am so glad of that because if anything can debilitate me, it is a headache.  I used to get migraines but they have pretty much gone away over the years.  One of the blessings of growing older, LOL.  I hope you find your answers.  As far as herediatary, I think it is, my daughter has it also.  I was told it is not hereditary but some people can be predisposed to having it due to hereditary factors.  Hmmm!!!  That's hereditary to me.  Hugs, Denise

Posted 2/20/2009 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Willie and all. For about ten years now, I have battled migraines. I was diagnosed with Fibro for about fifteen years, my Mom has MS, but because she didn't get any relief with the usual MS interferon and so forth, sometimes she asks me about Fibro and wonders if it might be that. My 2 aunts on my mother's side also have it. I do believe if you have family members with it you are at greater risk. My Fibro was manageable with just OTC tylenol and Elavil until seven years ago when I was hit by a large truck as a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Here in Canada, we don't have the ability to sue for large ammts. so while the lawsuit was taking place, I received $140.00 a week for three years. Then that was subtracted from my settlement, as was the physio which just caused me more pain. The Fibro set in big time after that and I was not able to return to my profession. So I tried odd jobs with little to no sucess, and then went on Provincial  Disability. The benefits of disability are that your meds are paid for, skull I couldn't survive w/o that. So, the headaches got really bad after the accident. What once was a headache that I could manage with liquid gel Advil, suddenly stopped responding. Then I tried a preparation with phenobarbital but soon it stopped working. Finally, I was put on a triptan like Imitrex, called Zomig, and as long as I take it at the first sign of the headache, it will knock the headache out. I have to use it about three times a week. smilewinkgrin I thought I was also starting to experience costochondriasis, however, yesterday I saw my Doc and he found my lungs and bladder were full of bacteria. This is not a surprize, as I had been living in a very nasty, wet, dirty house until last September, my Dad's house, as I tried to care for him in his home. Finally my doctors put their foot down, move. So I did. I started on heavy duty antibiotics smilewinkgrin yesterday. i am starting to feel much better, already. Sorry for the novella. I hope you find some relief and a good doctor.
Posted 2/21/2009 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Willie welcome,
You are not alone in feeling like you are going crazy I have posted several times about that. I also get the headaches that start in neck and work there way up to my head I went to PT and they had me doing neck rolls very slowly and tilting head back for 5 seconds then chin to chest for 5 then side to side I was told to do this 10x 3 x a day it does help the excedrine for headaches helps alot.also

Lee Ann
Posted 2/21/2009 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
I have found that knowledge is the key with this illness. The more you learn, the more you will know. The more you know, the more you will understand, and that makes you feel less crazy. Plus, there are a lot of great books and stuff on how to cope with this illness that we call Fibro. A lot of people don't understand, and the more you know about this illness, the more you will be able to explain to those who don't understand. If you have loved ones who really don't get it, look up the "Spoon Theory" and have them read it. It is a big helper.

Posted 2/21/2009 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Willie Will and welcome to the forum. I get those types of headaches on occasion. Often times they actually come from trigger points and tension/tightness in the trapezius muscle which covers much of the upper back and attaches at the base of the skull. The headaches are not just a "fibro thing". Alot of people carry their stress or tension in their shoulders causing them to creep up and forward. This type of poor posture can make the problem worse. Massage, moist heat, deep breathing with mindful relaxation on the exhale and good posture with shoulders down, back and relaxed can help alot. Unfortunately for me it sometimes take til the next day for things to balance back out and the headache to go away.  Lisa

Posted 2/21/2009 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
My husband doesn't have fibro, but he gets tension headaches all the time. He will be really tight in his shoulders and neck and it will go all the way up into his head, giving him really bad migraines. So, it is true that the headaches aren't necessarily a fibro thing. But I have noticed that people with fibro are more prone to headaches than others.

Posted 2/21/2009 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have all of the symptoms you described, and more of course. Costochondritis is really awful, and I have similar headaches to you that I've had every day since I was in 7th grade (I'm in 10th now). I read somewhere that if you have fibromyalgia, a family member is 8x (or something) more likely to develop it, but there are all sorts of things on the internet about fibro and it's hard to trust them!

Physical therapy will hopefully help you, it's helped me a lot but obviously never takes the pain away.
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