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Posted 4/6/2010 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
 

    Hi everyone my name Is Carmel, I'm 43yrs young and a mother of 5. I have been having lots of little symptoms over the years like burning skin

     headaches blurry vision and brain fog.  In september last year I had a lot of symptoms start to develope, this took me to the dr who promptly put me on a anti depressant. Was not happy with that so changed drs. this one was really good and listened to me. I tried some physio for back neck pain but when other symptoms did not stop she decided I needed to see a neuro. In december I suffered vertigo and for the last 3 months my burning in feet and legs, numb spots on body throbbing pain in left leg, electric shock like feelingsthat last but a second in hands and legs have all gotton worse.

   Well finally today was my appointment with neuro, she was nice looked at my long list of things going on and promptly told me I didnt fit and real criteria for anything as my symtoms are widely spread across my body and asked was I depressed or highly strung, I said no. She did a neuro

testing on me with pins and flex test and so on. As she is just training in her speciality for neuroligy she rang the main neuro who promptly diagnoised me with fibro.

 Now I'm not saying I have not got this, I sure have alot of the symptoms, but what confuses me is that I had no pressure points checked or anything like that. No MRI to rule anything else out, the dr said she would not know where to scan as my symptoms r wide spread and the cant scan whole body.

Well they gave me another script for a different type of antidepressant that works on chemicals in brain and have discharged me back to my GP.

From the few posts I have read on here it sounds like fibro usually take alot longer to diagnoise.

Would just like to here what u all think of my diagnosis. And hope I can make a new home here and lots of new friends.

Sorry such along post

Carmel  Australia 

Posted 4/6/2010 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carmel, welcome to the forum. Fibromyalgia is not always easy to diagnose. There are
many other conditions that have many of the same symptoms. Bloodwork is usually done to
eliminate the connective tissues diseases. You have seen a neurologist who has eliminated
the neurological disorders. A tenderpoint exam is usually given and 11 out of 18 tenderpoints
that are wide spread and bilateral help confirm fibro.

Checkout fibro 101 at the top of page one. There is a wealth of information for a fibromite.
Medication varies for all of us, what works for one doesn't always work for another. We all
seem to tolerate meds differantly. It is trial and error for sure. Many of us are on a SSRI or
SNRI. Fibromites tens to have low serotonin levels. I take Savella (SNRI) daily and a muscle
relaxer when I am flaring

The symptoms you have described are those that many fibromites have dealt with. One of
the most important things is to establish an exercise routine. Keeping your muscles moving
is very important. Learning to pace youself and taking time to relax is important also. Heat
is a fibromites friend and helps relax muscles.

Carmel I'm glad you have joined us . This forum is like family, lots of people who understand
and care. Come back often to comment, ask questions or to vent. We do care!

hugs, Robin
Posted 4/6/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Well, Carmel, I'd say go ahead and assume you have Fibro, try the antidepressant and see if it helps. Don't rule out something else, though, esp. if you haven't had any bloodwork, as Robin said. The important thing is to be kind to yourself, and don't be afraid to move (just don't overdo it - sometimes impossible to tell at the time!) In a way, if it is Fibro, you're lucky to have it diagnosed quickly rather than paying thousands to different doctors over the years like I did, only to have them tell me I was "fine." Physical therapy only made me worse....
Posted 4/6/2010 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Carmel, and welcome!  Okay.  Most doctors will run a battery of tests to rule out other illnesses that have many of the same symptoms as fibromyalgia.  Lupus, Lyme, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis are a few.  There is a link in Fibro 101 called What Else Could It Be and you will see what I'm talking about.  You want to rule these out because there are treatments for these.  But, once these are ruled out and they usually take a tender point test, fibromyalgia will be diagnosed. 

 

You very well could have fibro but I know I would want to know for sure.  Did you have any testing done with  your first doctor?  Also, many doctors treat fibro by using antidepressants, too.  I don't take them but many on the forum do.

 

Since you are heading back to your GP, see if they treat fibromyalgia patients.  Also, see if they will test you for these other illnesses to rule them out.  That's what I would do.

 

I am so glad that you joined our fibro family! Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Let us know what happens, alright?  We really do care.

 

Sherrine

Posted 4/6/2010 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Also, for your peace of mind, the "antidepressant" is really a SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) which helps you conserve the amount of serotonin your body produces. Serotonin is useful in pain perception and coping, sleep cycles, appetite, mood (depression) and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember right now. If you don't have enough serotonin (and we Fibros burn it up like nobody's business!) you feel sad, hurt more, can't sleep and get grumpy. What the "antidepressants" do is help your brain chemistry work better so you can cope better. They are not "crazy people drugs" as some think.
Posted 4/7/2010 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Carmel, I am new to this forum too. Even my first post sounds like yours. Our symptoms are different but I was just diagnosed with fibro today. I have lot's of symptoms but the worst is deep muscle pain all pver my body and lethargy so bad I can't budge! I don't have a lot of the pressure points either When the Doctor wanted me to try Cymbalta I was mad too. I told him I am not! depressed but you know what? There is more then one symptom that most med's are good for and he was right because it works. It's not gone but I feel much! better. Give it a try you never know. Good luck
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