Just found this board!!!!

Thank God you are hear to listen.  I am just beginning to take in what this is all about.  I'm 59 years old but I've always been extremely active - run with dog 2 miles, walks on beach, ride my horse for hours, garden, stack wood, housework, work full time.  I love and crave an active lifestyle.  But starting last fall, my neck and shoulders started getting so tight and achy I couldn't stand it.  Fortunately, I was working with an awesome massage therapist, who has fibromyl. herself.  I got relief from massages but at $90 a pop, I can't keep that up.  Two days ago I asked my GP about my symptoms.  She touched me at trigger points, light as a fly landing on you and of course I didn't feel anything.  Nope, she said.  You don't have fibromylagia.  Today after work I thought I'd go out of my mind.  My head felt like it was in a vice and too heavy to hold up.  Called massage therapist.   She provided me with some relief.  I'm SO discouraged.  I don't know where to go from here.  Give up all my activities?  I feel like crap so much of the time.  Any way out of this.  (I'm already on effexor and have been for 10 years).  EmLouise

Hello there,

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. If I were you, I would talk to another doctor to get a diagnosis. Find one that believes in fibromyalgia and who will handle your pain in your muscles. You could use the extra help right now.

I took effexor for years, I just switched to pristiq. I was on a really high dose of effexor 375mg. So I went on pristiq just so I wouldn't have to take so many pills. It is working for me.

There is a thread called fibro101. It is the second thread on the forum. I think you will find it interesting if you read it. If you get a chance, take a look.

I agree with Debbie about the tenderpoint test. And you aren't always sensitive in the tenderpoints. So if she tested it again, it could be different.

Keep posting and know that we are all here for you.

Hugs, Karen