Hi from a newbie, who thought he was losing his mind

Hi to all, glad to have found this site and fellow sufferers. I was a perfectly healthy 35 year old male 5 years ago. Woke up one morning feeling nauseous, experiencing chest pains, terrible sweating and pins and needles in hands. Went through 3 years of blood tests, ECG's, stress ECG's, having pipes stuck into me every which way and rushing to hospital at all hours only to be told that I was in perfect health - YES RIGHT!!!!! I was finally diagnosed 2 years ago with FM (it was almost a relief to know i was not really losing my mind). I am now taking muscle relaxants, doing a light gym programme and luckily enough seem to have found a good doctor which helps a lot. I still have the attacks at totally irregular periods, but at least now i know what it is. Early morning, late nights and cold, wet weather seem to aggravate the condition. I am still working, not too bad, except for the colleagues who think the condition is rubbish, again luckily my wife (who has MS) and friends are very supportive. I am learning to live with the condition but the continuous fatigue does get me down a bit. Well thats my story.

Hey Sailor, Been thru the losing my mind stage. My condition has been about 18 months. Remember looking at my husband last year wide eyed and scared. He said" My God, I think you are losing your mind". You could see it all over my face. I have a picture of me then and now. What a big difference! Knowing the truth of the fibro condition, taking it one day at a time, taking all my supplements, yoga, stretching, prayer, relaxation - meditation all helps. But I think acceptance is the key. It was so difficult to accept this is the life-time new me but I am alive! My Dad just died in December of mesothelioma asbestos cancer and watching him die was devatasting but it made me appreciate I am alive. Make each day count. Best wishes.

Thanks guys and best wishes to you all too. :)

My sympathies Sawa, I lost my dad 18 months ago, 1 day he was fit and healthy 6 weeks later he died and nobody could or would tell us the cause.

Okay, I'll be the first to make the obvious joke: "Hello, Sailor!"

The thing I've learned to hate most is tests coming back normal. Doctors act like you should be overjoyed...yeah, right, I really loved not knowing why I was in excruciating pain! It really is the "losing your mind" phase. It's hard enough for women to be diagnosed...probably even worse for men, when docs think FM is a woman's ailment.

And Sawa, I can relate...my aunt died of heart failure, at home, and it was really traumatic for me.

Blessings to you both.