hello new here

Hi my name is Wendy and I'm 33 yo. I have been in extreme pain since March and am on my 2nd dr to try and get a diagnoses of fibro. My first dr did a full blood panel gave me pain killers and when the blood came back normal he said he didn't know how to help me and just conintued to give me pain killers. When i suggested fibro he said maybe but that's it.(from what i've read fibro can not be found in a blood test)

So I went to my 2nd dr last week and of course the first thing she said was well it must be depression. I was so discouraged because I've been doing the reading and research. i have 14 of the 18 points of pain, hot flashes, fatigue, you name it i have it. I brought up fibro and she said that was a quitters disease only if they didnt find something would they dx me with that. Yet she put me on cymbalta and tramadol. She also took another full blood panel

Well I had my follow up today which I was so unsure of. I was going to make sure she listened to me and understood that no the reason I could not get out of bed was not because of depression but because it hurt so bad and the fact that no one would listen to me was causing me depression. Imagine my surprise when her PA came in instead of her.

She started off with the depression and when i told her how I felt she stopped and really lsitened. I told her I knew that the dr didn't believe in fibro but I felt this is what i have.She said I was right that the dr didn't believe it and her herself didn't know where she sat on it. Yet after looking over my weekly journal( I keep one for day and night of symptoms and meds) she told me to quit taking the cymbalta since it was making me so fatigued, and wanted me to try savella which she told me is a fibro med.

It's so frustrating why won't any dr just dx me. When i told her about being on pain killers since march she said so were they not working? I was like no they work but I want to know WHY I'm in pain! She also referred me to a nuero. Yet she also said she was going to do some research.I hope this Savella works that we can get somewhere with this

Anyways like I said I'm 33 the mother of 4 which I homeschool I just got remarried in April and I'm also an online student.I feel so bad because we have not had a normal marriage yet. My husband is very good but as much as i tell him it hurts he thinks just holding me will make me feel better....not even close! My poor kids come up and touch me to get my attention and sometimes i scream. I've been so tired this week I've only laid in bed. I've had problems keeping up in class. I already dropped classes in July hoping in a month I could figure something out.Luckily if needed I can teach the kids from bed.

Thank you for letting me vent and intro myself. I'll be reading a bunch around here.

Hi Javamommy, welcome to the forum! I'm sorry you are going through the
frustration of getting a diagnosis. Finding a good doctor who believes in fibromyalgia
is really necessary. Are you seeing a rheumatologist? It seems strange that your
doc would put you on Savella without a fibro diagnosis.

Checkout fibro 101, pg.1...top of the page. It is a wonderful resource filled with alot
of great info. Your symptoms seem to fit fibro, but there are other disorders with
many of the same symptoms...that is why it takes so long to get a dx.

Exercise is very important, inactivity makes you more sore. With 4 kids, I guess
you are always moving. Walking helps me. Heat is a fibromites friend, soaking
in a hot bath helps., also using moist heat...like the microwave rice heating pads.

I have been on Savella a year and it has helped some, but I suspect I may need
a dosage increase. We all take tollerate meds so differantly...what works for one
doesn't always work for another.

If you are not pleased with you doctor, DO find one that is very familiar with fibro.
Wishing you the best of luck. Glad you joined our family! Come back with any
questions or concerns. The people here are very caring and understanding.

Hugs, Robin

Hi, Java, and welcome!  I want to wring any doctor's neck that implies that this is all in our head!  Also, that we are all depressed.  I'm not depressed and I do not take anti depressants, either.  I did try Celexa for a while and absolutely nothing happened except my wallet was lighter.  Guess that could have helped my back muscles! 

 

You need a doctor that believes in fibro.  It isn't a quitters illnesses.  Oh, if that doctor could walk in your shoes for a weekend.  Then we'd see who the quitter was!  Rheumatologists are good at diagnosing this illness but make sure the rheumy you choose believes in this illnesses.  There still are far too many doctors out there that don't.  Look for board certified doctors and perhaps, in the Yellow Pages, they will list the illnesses they treat.  But, I'd ask if they treated fibro patients before I made an appointment.

 

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro including a list of symptoms.  Also, there is a link to Doctors Respond to New York Times Article.  There you will see learned doctors that believe in this illness and what they think is going on.  Nope, this isn't all in your head. 

 

I'm so glad you found us and joined in.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine