Who Diagnosed You?

Ok so I've had 2 MDs tell me I have fibro, the symptoms I have, there is not much doubt. The achyness, fatigue, pain that comes and goes.( Some of it never goes.)    The forgetfulness and lack of being able to concentrate is almost as bad as the other symptoms.

My first MD was so nice and did all the testing, and had been trying meds to see what works for me, I really liked her so much. She's moved to Chicago, and I saw her replacement about a week ago. He is older, and nice, and took his time going thru my med file, which I liked, but he has not treated fibro.  I was relieved when he gave me refills of what I'm on now. I asked him to refer me to a rheumy, and he said yes. Still waiting for an appt.

Sorry, it always takes me awhile to get to the point. I want to know what you all have experienced who were diagnosed w/fibro from a Md, then went to a rheumy, did he or she accept the diagnosis you were given, or did they test you again? I'm wondering what to expect. I've read such awful stuff online about how alot of docs are when it comes to fibro, I guess I'm a little nervous.  

The other reason I'm going is the severe osteoarthritis in my left hip is really bad now. It hurts terribly after walking about a block, and hurts at night, wakes me up. So not sleeping well, going up and down the stairs etc.  I'm thinking I need a hip replacement, but I'm not working, it got to be too hard just working part time, so I have no insurance!

 My DH is on disability and working part time, thats how were surviving. Its a bit depressing, I'm 54 and went from being active and in pretty good shape to stuck at home, and trying to deal with all this. I was given the generic for Celexa by my first MD, but I started gaining weight, and so I stopped. I want something to help the depression, not make it worse! Lol! I do enjoy reading the posts here, you are so supportive of one another, and I'm learning from you all. Some of you are real comedians, and have made me crack up as if I were watching I love Lucy, or Carol Burnette. Loved those two so much!

 I havn't posted in awhile, so sorry this is almost a book! I think writing this has actually helped.  I gotta get off to bed, but will answer any replys in the morning. Take care, and God bless you all.

Debbie

Debbie, I gave you a subject line.  You will get more responses that way.

 

Sherrine

Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 8/18/2010 9:49:19 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Debbie!

Glad to see you posting again. Gosh, I would be depressed just by the amount of stuff you have to deal with! OK, just kidding there but there are a lot more solutions than your doc is telling you about.

First about the antidepressant. I understand about the problems of gaining weight on that type of medication. BUT, one thing I learned from my doc (who is a local, "country" doc and is fabulous!) that if one antidepressant is causing you side effects that you find hard to tolerate then you should try another. My doc kept trying until the 3rd or 4th one and I finally found one that I tolerate and is effective. There is no reason not to take something if you need it because there are so many of them to try. Also, most often your antidepressant will seem to 'give out' after a couple of years or more. That's when it's time to try a different one again. It's just how that type of medication works.

I was first diagnosed with fibro my my primary doc and then sent to a rheumy for confirmation. Most of the lab work had been done to rule out other problems so he just finished with a couple others. Then he gently went through the exam being very considerate of my pain. Didn't take much for him to agree that fibro was it!

So often doctors refer you to someone and tell you that "They" will set up an appointment. ummmm, no thanks! I'll set my own appointments, thank you very much. What we see so often in the forum is people waiting and waiting for some secretary to make the appointment and after waiting weeks no one has even called! What I do if someone offers to make the appointment is tell them I need to make it myself since my calendar is at home and is so full. I guess it irks me to think that they can make an appointment and assign it to me without any consideration whether I'm available or not. My time is important too! (ok, I'm getting off my soapbox again...lol)

You might consider calling your doc's office and ask for the name and phone number of the referral. Then call them yourself and ask whatever questions you have and/or make your own appointment. No need to be treated that way... IMHO.

I do hope you get some good treatment since it sounds like you're uncomfortable with this 'new' doc. Keep us posted.

Chutz

I was diagnosed by my Internist and then I moved and found another board certified Internist.  I have never seen a rheumatologist.  BUT, my Internist does treat fibro patients.

 

I hope you get the help you need to get you up and about again and feeling better.

 

Sherrine

 

 

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and sharing what you went thru in getting diagnosed. I feel more at ease now.

 

Austen.....  how true, I read that people with fibro may be better treated from a Neuro, because it is seen now as a pain processing problem. So Neuros better be gettin up to speed about this condition that causes so much pain!

 

Sherrine..  I didn't know Internists treated Fibro. Course theres alot I don't know. I thought I should see a Rheumy cause they treat Fibro and Arthritis.

 

I read your 2nd Timothy verse everytime I read one of your posts, it always encourages me. I believe God's Word is living and powerful to help us every day.  I would be lost without it.  Anyway thanks for the kind words too.

 

Shirley.... Thanks for mentioning the cortizone shots, I will ask him, if I can ever get an appointment! And I will ask my MD for another anti-depressant. I'm guessing you've tried them? If so how long did it last? And if you don't mind me asking, wheres your arthritis at? Besides hips, n  knees, I think I have it in my right elbow cause it's been really achey, and hurts like the dickens when I move it up or down, and now my fingers are all hurting! 

Thanks for replying.

 

Chutz.... Thank you for the info, I guess I need to be more assertive, and keep trying  till I find what works. And I'm glad you told me about how they will stop working after awhile. I guess it's like pain meds  and we build up a tolerance. 

 

I know your right when it comes to setting appts for other doctors. This health center I go to has a sliding scale that I qualified for, so it's what I'm stuck with, well, I;m grateful I can go there, it saves me 60% of the bill. I think it's odd they want to set up people's referrals for them too, every other doctor I've been to in my whole life would just give it to me. I will ask them why they do it this way, it is frustrating. I did call today, and had to leave a message, but told them I am in alot of pain from my hip, and need the referral right away.

 

Hey Debbie... love your name by the way!  I'm glad you have a doctor you know and trust, it is so important, I know because I had the same one in California for about 18 years. Then moved to Md. I hated losing him, cause I trusted him, and he was so kind and compassionate, took my kids to him all the time.. back then I was healthy so didn't need to see him much myself.  If i could just bring him here to MD!!

 

Thanks again all of you, 

 

Hope you all are having an easy day today.

 

Debbie  

 

Debbie,

Wellbutrin (bupropian) is a good anti depressant that doesn't cause weight gain.

Good luck,

Hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen

My GP mentioned fibro about 8 years ago.  Went to neurologist last summer for my neck which he told me there was too many discs involved so there was not a surgical fix. 

Then went to a rheumy around feb or march and was diagnosed with fibro.  he gave me my choice of going to him every 3 months or to just continue with my GP which is what I chose to do. 

I do have an appt at a pain clinic on Sept 7th.  The pain doctor I went to a few months ago did not believe in fibro and told me that I was too active to be in any real pain.  I just remembered that I went to a pain clinic last summer also and they wanted to do a cervical epidural.  I opted out of that real quick after I researched it.

It just seems like such a merry-go-round....of doctors

When I went for an appt with my gp about 2 & 1/2 years ago, she said she "thought" I might have fibro and referred me to my rheumy.  After some test, the tender point test and blood work, my rheumy told me she was certain I had fibro, oa and carpal tunnel.  The carpal tunnel was the only dx I wasn't surprised by.

   

 

just_grace, I'm sorry you have to deal with fibro and osteoarthritis. We have those 2 pain issues in common. And it's funny, well not really funny, but I suspect I have carpel tunnel too. My wrists and hands hurt and get tingly. It mainly happens when I'm sleeping though, but my right wrist starts hurting alot just from typing.

 

Ohh Shirley, I know the pain your talking about from the arthritis. And then all the other illnesses your dealing with has gotta be really hard. My Mom has the osteoporosis and copd also, and arthritis in her back.

Thanks, and I will ask the Rheumy about the shots in the hips.

 

God bless, and take care

 

Debbie S.