Welcome Dieanne63: Well, you have certainly come to the right place. Lot's of love and support and gentle huggs, here. I have been battling Fibro since about 1990. At first, my Thyroid went plum crazy, burned itself up, left a goiter, so swallowing ain't so fun either. I depend on liquids, alot. Also, ensure and other meal replacement products. As for the pain, pain relievers only go so far, then after a while, they don't work so well. I cannot remember a "pain free day"for years. Pain meds usually take the edge off but just leave me feeling more tired and anxious cause I feel I have soooooo much to do, and no strength to do it.
The DV sitch. Well, been there, done that, burned the shirt. My Boyfriend of three years between ages 18 and 21, was a batterer. I always found some excuse for it untill one night he had me on the floor with his hands around my neck. It was like 11PM. It was winter. All I had on was my nighty, bare feet, he let go for a second and I bolted out into the snow, It was January. The closest place with any lights on was a store about five houses away. I went in there. they got me a coat, some slippers, and called me a taxi, I had no money, cause I had to leave everything behind. They said the Taxi drand she is a iver was a friend and would take me wherever i could go. They let me use a phone to call an aunt, who welcomed me. I stayed about four days there, he would never look there for me, I don't think he even knew where she lived. Then I moved in with my sister. She turned out to be more abusive than he, but verbally and emotionally. Eventually, some co-workers found me a very reasonable apartment. about a month later he showed up. He wanted to reconcile! I think he got my address from some co-worker who didn't know the story. Fortunately, I had friends in two apartments, same floor, who helped him on his way. Never again. Fortunately, I didn't have children. I know that would have made things so much harder. I feel for you.
The lesions in the brain they speak of with regards to MS; do not appear until some time has passed with the disease. My mother has MS . She was a doctor, so she knows. Get another MRI after some time has passed. SS will do more for you if you have MS. Plus the MS society will help. They are powerful lobbyists. Where are the Fibro lobbyists?, Oh teah, Fibro doesn't exist. Silly me. Hope your life turns around for the better. I'll tell you, if you wern't a believer before Fibro, you soon will be. It happened to me, made a believer of me. 