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Posted 2/26/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everybody,

I'm new here and I'm so glad I found this forum. I'm so confused about all I'm feeling and I'm trying to understand if Fibromyalgia is really what I'm dealing with. Unfortunately, most of my symptoms also match with the MS symptoms too. I'll try and introduce myself. Sorry I'll probably be way too long!
I'm almost 40, female, married with a 3 year old boy. My problems started one night 4.5 years ago with severe stomach ache, dizziness, numbness in my left arm and leg and pain in my big toe (left foot). Flu-like symptoms, shaky vision, floaters, feeling tired. After several visits to the gastro doctor I tried modifying my diet. It seems that processed food with preservatives and coloring bothers me. I started feeling much better by eating only organic fruit and vegetables and zero processed food. I've had up and downs but I made it through a pregnancy and I've had it mostly under control (except for my eyes)... Until last sept. I started having intestine pain, spasm, and nausea (a lot of nausea!). I've taken Zantac for a while and things improved except for my nausea. It feels way worse when I drink alcohol. about a week ago, I started having neck pain, weakness in my arms and shoulders, migraines, tingling and itchiness on my arm and leg, together with numbness. Also, I have some problems swallowing, sometimes it hurts and sometimes it almost feels like my tongue is swollen. I had noticed 4.5 year ago that, when turning my neck, I could hear a rubbing sound, I don't know how to describe it.
My memory is also getting worse and worse, I have difficulties finding the right words sometimes. And I feel confused.

Needless to say, I'm worried by all this. I visited so many doctors and never found anybody that could help me understand where all these symptoms are coming from. I'm ready to visit my family doctor on Monday but I'm afraid she won't be of much help.

Thanks for reading this. I would appreciate it if anybody could give me any thought that could help me in this situation.
My best regards,
Tiziana
Posted 2/26/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
Tiziana, welcome to the forum. You will find a lot of support and great people to vent to and provide excellent knowledge and share their experiences as well. I am sorry to hear you are going through all this and have not found the right doctor to understand and provide the right dx. There is a fibro introduction. It has a list of symptoms. You may want to write down all your symptoms and bring them in to discuss w/ your doctor on your next appointment. Sometimes we forget all the symptoms and when we go to see the doctor we discuss a couple but forget to mention a lot of the other symptoms that may be crucial to getting the right dx. I had a Rheumy I had been seeing for 3 yrs. and I found that he was doing absolutely nothing for me. He did dx me w/ FM but did not want to run bloodwork or listen to my complaints as they worsen. I just changed Rheumy's and I am so far happy w/ him. He ran some test and he was able to determine that I have autoimmune disease. I not only have FM, but also the beginning of RA symptoms. Although the bloodwork did not indicate RA there was one particular level that relates to RA in beginning stages. So don't give up and see as many doctors as you need to until you get to the bottom of your illness. Good Luck and keep us posted.
Posted 2/26/2011 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

As mentioned in the above post there is a thread called "fibro101", I think you would find it very helpful when you get a chance to read on it. It will have answers to a lot of your questions.

Fibro is strange. One minute you are fine and the next your life has changed forever. But it doesn't have to keep you miserable all of the time.

Once you get the proper doctor, you will be able to keep most of the symptoms at bay. Many of us use medications and a lot of us use supplements and herbs. So there are different ways to approach this to keep it under control.

The most important thing it to not stop moving. Moving around keeps your muscles loose and is good for the mind too. Walking is a good way to do that. Also swimming and a simple workout. Nothing stressful. Whatever you try, go slow. As you probably already know, your body isn't use to doing the things that you were once able to do. Have patience, especailly with yourself.

Take care, keep posting. Glad that you have joined us. But sorry for your troubles. I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/26/2011 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi tiz, welcome to the forum! Many of us here, also experianced seeing a number of doctors and went through numerous tests and did loads of bloodwork before a diagnosis finally came...it is very frustrating but it is important to get the correct dx so you can get the best possible treatment.

I found if I could manage my stress it helped alot with the pain. I take time throughout the day to do relaxation therapy....a combo of deep breathing exercises, mental imagery and meditation.
Exercise also helps me relax and helps me from getting stiff. I think I benefit physically and emotionally from exercisise. Walking daily has been the easiest to do for me...all you need are a comfy pair of walking shoes...and there are no fees to pay:)

When you see your doctor, be as proactive as you can...bring a list of questions and symptoms and don't be afraid to ask or have him explain things or even write things down for you. I make sure I get my moneys worth out of mine :) I was dxed by a rheumy and he referred me to other specialists for their input.

I'm so glad that you have joined our family...keep posting, we care!

hugs, Robin
Posted 2/26/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Tiz, Hi hon. My stepdaughter has MS I have Fibro. You may have fibro but there is somethong else going on too. This forum is great and will help you know what to do. Get on the MS site also. I have to tell you it took the Drs. 10 years to find her MS. They made her feel like it was all in her head .Dont give up, do not let the DRS. brush you off hon. Find a good DR. Good luck.
Posted 2/27/2011 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. im not sure if this is the same thing as your neck pain but if you turn your head back and forth from side to side it sounds like rubbing two ceramic plates together and you can hear clicking and it feels real tight then you feel pain coming on. I took an xray last week and one of the poses was where i had to open my mouth and place it in front of me on the aray maching w a paper towel while looking up. I could not do it. i cant open my mouth and lookup @ the same time. I had no idea. i cried like a baby it hurt so bad everything around me turned blue. The headaches i have seem to start from my neck. i dont have the results yet. hopefully its just a pinched nerve or something minor. i hope you get to see a specialist that can get the proper testing done and find out what it is.
Posted 2/27/2011 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tiz I am just as new as you are probally even newer consider i only started having problems a 8 months ago. I do however know what your nasuea may be. I am not A DOCTOR though. So only do whats best for you a couple of months ago i started having a similar problem i would be starving to death and then take a bite of food and then couldnt take another. thought i had a virus or something but it kept happening. so i went to my doctor and he couldnt figure it out. thought maybe gallbladder or appendix none of those thing . Turns out i have abdomen muscle spasms that are causing me to be sick the best thing for it is any medicne for stomache spasms. i only take it when i feel pukey that day and been eating fine since.
Posted 2/27/2011 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everybody, your words and your stories are of great support for me. Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I'll keep you posted. I had another sleepless night and was hard getting up this morning. But I did and I also did some light exercise. A lot of cracking sounds came from my joints! But I started feeling a little better after that. I've just made a list of all my symptoms and I'll be bringing it to the doctor. You are right Robin, I just say what's bothering me the most and forget to mention some symptoms. Yes Chrissie, that's what my neck feels like including the clicking sounds! I'm able to do that movement you describe but my neck feels really stiff when I do it. Hope your situation will improve soon. I had a look at the MS forum too, it feels really scary.
Thanks misplaced, I had read about the stomach and intestine spasm and questioned my doc's decision of going with the Zantac instead of something to reduce the spasm. My intestine moves like crazy sometimes!
Off to get my weekly supply of fruit and vegetable! have a great Sunday everybody!
Tiz
Posted 2/27/2011 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tiz just want to welcome you to our fibro family, I also want to say that I have fibro and my husband has MS. I guess the biggest difference that I notice between the two of us is that his body does not work in coordination with his mind. He doesn't have alot of pain but for him to carry a plate full of food or a cup of coffee is close to impossible because he shakes so bad. But he still has alot of strength.

I cant say that you dont have MS because I have met people that have it who are in constant pain. MS like fibro effects people differently. I hope you get some answers soon.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 2/28/2011 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tiz, have you had a brain MRI? My doc had me get one first thing to rule out MS and my friend was being treated for Lupus for 4 years until they did an MRI of her brain and she ended up with MS.

I also have major neck problems that are not a surgical fix, so I have been told. I also can't think of words that I absolutely know, my hubby always asks if I have been drinking (NOT AT ALL).

I also have a habit of not mentioning all my symptoms, kinda like the "out of sight out of mind" theory. No pain here or there so I forget. I have gone to different doctors that did not get a true history because of this. I'm learning LOL.

Good Luck to you and keep on posting.
Posted 2/28/2011 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks a lot Shirley for your welcome and your input. I can't say I'm constantly in pain, I just feel stiff most of the time and sometimes I have localized pain in my back, shoulders, and foot. The neck used to be only stiff and now is more in pain.
Hi GSDgirl, I don't have much hope that my doctor will prescribe an MRI. She tends to make everything seem nothing to worry about and just caused by stress, environment, wrong postures, and so on. English is not my native language so whenever I have troubles finding words, that is my excuse. The thing is, I have friends in my home country saying that I don't seem to be able to talk my language anymore and in several occasion a friend of mine said: you seem confused. I often say to my husband: I have no language anymore! Does this symptom improve with medication?

Have a good day everyone.
Tiz
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