Desperate for suggestions...10 years of poor health.

I have been having sleep/pain issues for 10 years.  It seems that no one really knows what is going on with me but they label it fibromyalgia.  I've had tons of blood work done that didn't find anything too significant (slight hypothyroidism that is being treated, some vitamin deficiencies that have been corrected, blood sugar issues which I'm supposed to be working on through diet and exercise).

I also had a sleep study done in 2007.  It showed that even in deeper sleep, I had awake-like brain waves that intruded .  This happened hundreds of times during the night.  Most were what they labeled "spontaneous arousals", as in they were not due to sleep apnea or restless legs.  They said it seemed like chronic insomnia.  No real suggestions were given on how to overcome this.

I also have pain.  Not all the time but a lot.  Especially in my calves, hands, arms, wrists, back.   Since the sleep study, my sleep has also gotten worse.  I am concious of being awake a lot.  And the one thing that has happened everyday for 10 years is that I wake up not refreshed.  I feel so exhausted that it is hard for me to get to work.  Its a terrible fatigue and almost like a slow burn in my arms and legs.

Another thing: my bloodwork always shows elevated SED rate and C Reactive Protein...so there is inflammation in my body but we don't know where.

Does this sound like fibro or some other chronic illness that Dr's are not finding?  Is there anything else I should be getting tested for?  I'm having a 2nd sleep study next month.

I have a theory that maybe anti depressant use since age 13 casued something to become mis wired in my brain and this is the result.  I began on SSRI's so young due to severe OCD.  They worked wonders for this but I do wonder the effect of such strong medications on a developing brain.

I am on Cymbalta 120 mg which works well for depression, but hasn't helped my aches or fatigue.  Provigil/Nuvigil helped but the side effects were bad.  I've tried Melatonin, Trazodone, Chinese Herbs, Acupuncture, Gluten Free Diet....nothing has made me feel less tired and achy.  I also saw a naturopathic Dr. in town who is known for treating fibro.  She had me on a ton of supplements that didn't do much.  She also suggested the gluten free diet, which did not help.

Any insights would be helpful.  Thanks.

We are not doctors but it sure sounds like fibro.  Fibro has many of the same symptoms as other illnesses and the doctors usually run a lot of tests to rule out these other illnesses before a diagnosis of fibro is given.  Sounds like this has been done.

I always have pain in my back, shoulders and neck.  Then pain fluctuates all over my body.  Sometimes it's a hip or a knee.  Sometimes it's my wrists and fingers.  Every winter I get pain in my feet.  Go figure!  This is such a weird illness that we really do have to become our own advocates.

Sleep.  What's that?     Sleep issues occur with nearly all of us.  We don't get in the deep REM sleep where our bodies start to heal.  I think I'm sleeping but wake up many times during the night.  I'll be asleep and my eyes pop open.  I run to the bathroom about three times a night too so that doesn't make for a restful night.  I keep myself on a sleep schedule and that has helped me a lot.  I don't worry if I'm having problems sleeping.  If I start to stress over the fact I'm just laying there, I'll NEVER get back to sleep.  If I can't after about 20 minutes, I get up and get on the computer for about an hour and then I'm tired again.  Sure beats just laying there counting the specks in the ceiling.

Fibromites do wake up tired...like they never went to bed.  I really drag when I first get up.  All I want to do is crawl back into bed but I don't.  Instead, I take my dog out for a walk of at least one mile!  Noooo, I don't want to do that but it really helps me a lot.  When I first start out, I'm basically forcing one foot in front of the other but, by the time I get back home, I feel more energized and have less pain.  I'm ready to face the day.

I use ibuprofen with food, extra strength Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 supplements to help with my pain and fatigue.  I also do stretching exercises, walk daily (swimming and yoga are other good exercises for fibro), get gentle massages once a month, and I pace myself when doing things.  All this combined helps me be in control of the pain.  I have lived an enjoyable life in spite of this illness.

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the second thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  Good starting links are called Symptoms, What Else Could It Be, and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia.  I think you just might see yourself there.  Also, there are links to the gentle stretching exercises, the malic acid/magnesium supplements and how they work in your body, and a link about vitamin D3.  All the links are good so check them all out.  Knowledge is power and, as I said previously, we do have to be our own advocates with this illness.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  I hope to hear more from you soon.

Sherrine