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Scared and at my wits end

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Posted 3/30/2010 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hello!  Just found this site today.  Thanks for being here!    I have had fibro for over 25 years and have tried to push through but I am so tired of the struggling.   I have gotten so run down and my immune system is so beat down that if I even get a cold, its a major event.   I have been off work for 3 weeks now, with one more to go.  My problem is that I don't know how much longer I can "keep on keeping on!"   I miss alot of work. I tetter on the edge of sanity!  I'm afraid to go back to work but scared not to.   Do I go back even if I'm not ready?  But will I ever really be ready? How do others handle this pressure.  The stress is making things worse.........Help
Posted 3/30/2010 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Again,

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. I guess all you can do is try. I have been off work too since the beginning of January and plan to go back in May. I am wondering if I will be able to do it too. But I am going to try. Sometimes we can surprise ourselves. And often I find going out in a stituation like that is good for me. I hope that you can handle it, don't sell yourself short. But if you can't, then you can't. It wont be the end of the world, but I know that you will be disappointed, but it is something you can't help. So don't get down on yourself if you can't. Know that you did the best that you could.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 3/30/2010 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
I'm somewhat new to this, so I'm not at all an expert. Have had it for about 3 years now, but have not been officially diagnosed yet (working on that). Anyway, I notice a big improvement when I really stay strict with my diet. That means cutting out artificial sweetners, caffeine, red meat, msg, sugar, simple carbs, yeast, gluten and dairy. It may seem a bit extreme, but whatever works, right?! You can always try cutting out all of them, then slowly add certain ones back in to see if you are sensitive to some or all. There is a good article I found on it. Like other people have said, everyones case is different. I myself notice a big improvement if I keep my diet clean!

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/guide/fibromyalgia-the-diet-connection
Posted 3/31/2010 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome, sorry to hear you are suffering. I too was off work last year for 6 months, and like you did physio, chiro,and alot of bed. I experienced my first lengthy flare, before that a flare would last a few weeks, so 6 months was tough, and I know that is nothing compared to some, for me it was a long time. I still worked modified 2- 4 hour shifts a week, from full time, and that was a struggle, it exhausted me....but gradually I started to feel better while at work, and being around people helped. My rhuemy suggested vitamin D3 during the winter months and almost immediately felt less achy, I agree with Leahj diet will help or hurt, choose your energy boost carefully, I would have a slim fast drink.....not for weight but for the vitamins and calories for energy, and it did fill me up abit so I felt full no need for the snacks. My flare really changed how I do things for myself....it really is a self preservation method of coping. Does your employer offer shorter days, or job share thats sharing your full time hours with someone, sort of 2 part timers. I am new at this too, I hope I could help, ask your dr if it is a better idea to go back to work gradually, start with 4 or 6 hours aday, build yourself up over a month or 2, it might help. sorry this is so long. Take care.
Posted 3/31/2010 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Again, and welcome to our forums! This is truly a great site - everyone here really cares about each other and we do our best to support each other as well.

I can certainly understand your worries about working with your Fibro being so bad. I've had it for 30 years and I know how it affects every part of your life. I've been working fulltime for the last 17 years, and finally this past October had to say "enough". My Fibro, along with everything else I'm dealing with, just got to be too much and I had to give up work. I went on short term disability thru my employer, and just this week was accepted on long term disability with them.

It's been great being able to rest when I need to, and to work on gentle exercises and other treatments I've been prescribed to do. I don't have kids at home so I don't have those sorts of worries, and my sweet hubby takes care of the household stuff, so I am very, very fortunate that way. I don't know if your employer offers something similar but it might be worth checking into.

In the meantime, I hope you have a good doctor who is willing to work with you to help you find medications that help as well as giving you guidance on exercise, etc. If you haven't been recommended to a pain clinic, you should ask about it...they can be a godsend.

Good luck and I look forward to your posts.

hugs,
Pam
Posted 4/6/2010 7:01 AM (GMT 0)
Its me, again.    Dr appt tomorrow.  Don't know what to do.  I don't feel ready to go back but will make it difficult for everyone if I DON'T.  I wake up with terrlble headaches and can hardly move in the mornings.   It takes about 10 minutes to get out of bed and stand up straight.  Around 3 in the afternoon I start to get shaky and have extreme anxiety that lasts a couple hours at least.  Maybe have to try Celebrex again.   I have had 2 deaths in the last couple months and the depression from these losses is having a huge inpact on everything I think and do.  I am on so many meds as it is.  I was hoping to begin weening myself off, or lowering the dosage of at least the opana er 40mg, 3x a day.   I wonder if anyone has a psych dr on their team and if they think it helps.   As far as diet, what type of diet is suggested?    I've tried things in the past but am willing to jump back into something else if there are any new guidelines that I may not be aware of.    Thanks for allowing me to vent.  I can't explain the pain to my family.  You can't understand if you're not :in: it, and I wouldn't wish this on anyone.   Bless you all and wishing you peace  :)
Posted 4/6/2010 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I, Again, and a belated welcome!  The deaths and the anxiety are probably doing a "number" on you!  They can cause more pain...definitely.  I'm sorry you are going through that and you probably are still in a grieving period, too.  Unfortunately, life goes on in a hurry.

 

I used to have huge anxiety problems until I realized it really was fear.  Once I realized that and also realized I didn't have anything to REALLY be afraid of, then I could get a grip on the anxiety.  When it would start to rise inside me, I recognized it, knew I wouldn't die from it, and was able to "dismiss" it and kept moving on.  I would get busy doing something to take the focus off of me. 

 

That's a problem with fibro.  When  you hurt, it's hard not to think about how you feel.  But, once you get control of the pain, it just becomes a part of your life and you and move forward and enjoy life, even with the pain.  I can usually find ways to work around the fibro to do the things I really want to do.  I'm stubborn and will not let fibro control me.  I control the fibro. 

 

Have you checked out Fibro 101 yet?  It is the second thread on the forum.  There are links with good information about fibromyalgia and you will learn a lot there.  The more  you know about this illness, the better you are able to cope and control it. 

 

I wish I could help you as far as your work goes.  Try not to be frightened.  So many times we worry ourselves sick over things that never happen!  You might be just fine at work but you won't know unless you try.  If you have a desk job, there are some good stretching exercises on Fibro 101 that you can do sitting down.  Also, try to get up and walk around as often as possible.  Perhaps the work could help you with the anxiety, too.  You will be focused on something else and the pain and your problems will fade some in the background.  If you have neck and shoulder pain, get yourself a Bed Buddy.  They sell these at Walgreen's and other places.  Or, you can make your own by taking a tube sock, filling it 2/3's full of raw long grain rice, and tying a knot at the end.  Pop it in the microwave and it will give off moist heat due to the moisture in the rice!  These do help and feel wonderful!

 

Let us know how your doctor's appointment goes and what you have decided to do.  We really do care about you.  I hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 4/6/2010 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Instead of the celebrex ask your doc for something like prozac. This med is highly effective in evening out the brain chemistry in fibros. It helps you hang on to the serotonin that your body has made so you don't feel so tired, sad and painful. It will also help you sleep if you take it at night. SSRI meds are an effective tool against fibro.
Posted 4/6/2010 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Again,
I get shaky too, don't know why, but I hate it. Feels like it must be a blood sugar thing but the tests are normal...who knows? Good luck.
Posted 4/6/2010 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome Again. I don't know how you slipped by so many of us, well yeah, we have fibro fog. Stress and weather are my two biggest enemies. I take anti-depressants and xanax for anxiety and it sure helps.

 

I haven't worked since getting fibro except helping my DH with his business. I have a lot of respect for those that do work with fibro cause I can't imagine doing it myself.

 

Good luck!!!

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

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