HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Typical Fibro Fog?

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/31/2011 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone!

I'm new here. I'm a 22 year old guy and I'm not totally sure I have Fibromyalgia yet. I've always had pain, but with the short term memory loss (forgetting words, jumping from one task to the next and forgetting the last one, getting asked a question while in a conversation and not remembering what I was talking about, etc...) I'm experiencing I doubt it's anything else. Right now I'm trying to relax my neck, it's killing me. It's so stiff that it hurts and make my jaw clench. I'm using a heat pack and it helps some.
My back feels like bamboo.
Headaches almost everyday.
Can't tolerate cold (and I used to swim in my pool at 50°f when I was younger).
DSPS (delayed sleep phase syndrome, I sleep from 4-7am till 3-5pm).
Photophobia (NEED sunglasses, sometimes even when it's cloudy)
"Bone" pain in my hands and feets
Joint problems (back,neck,hands,elbows,knees)

Does all this sound like fibro fog to you? I don't know anyone who has fibromyalgia so I can't ask them how fibro fog affects them.
Thank you!
Posted 12/31/2011 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, SunnyHours, and welcome!  I'm so glad you found us and joined in.  Yes, this does sound like fibro and also fibro fog.  The fibro fog is the cognitive memory problems you mentioned.  The rest are symptoms of fibromyalgia.  BUT, fibromyalgia has many of the same symptoms as other illnesses so these have to be ruled out before a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is given.   So, get a good doctor that treats fibromyalgia patients and find out what you really are dealing with.

 

Be sure to read 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.  You just might see yourself there.

 

Neck pain happens to most with fibro.  Feel the top of your neck at the base of  your skull.  You might find "lumps" on each side of your spinal column.  If so, start massaging these and also press on these as much as you can tolerate and massage them some more.  They should get smaller in size because these can be muscle knots.  I get these and once I massage them down so it's smooth, my neck pain gets better. 

 

The moist heat works the best, too.  Many have a Bed Buddy.  You can get these at Walgreen's and other places and you put them in the microwave to heat them and they give off moist heat.  Or you can make one by taking a tube sock, filling it 2/3's full of raw long grain rice, and tie a knot at the end.  Pop it in the microwave and it gives off moist heat due to the moisture in the rice.

 

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

 

Sherrine

Posted 12/31/2011 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
SunnyHours,

Sorry you're having these problems. Yes, sure sounds like it could be fibro to me. But as Sherrine says, it can easily be mistaken for other illnesses, or visa versa. So get a good doctor, to be sure.

I think of the pain and the fog as 2 separate fibro issues, but they do feed on eachother as well.

Debbie
Posted 1/1/2012 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome sunny hours- your symptoms sound whole like fibro. Best way is to get diagnosed by a Dr. that specializes in fibro. I have had fibro for many years and this is the first year I have had great control of my fibro. I have had great advice and wealth of good information from this forum. I can say that I had a great year! Hope you can improve your health like I have from this forum.
Posted 1/1/2012 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! Im 23, so we are real close here :) You sound like me to a tee, but as everyone else has said, it is important to find a doctor. I went to my primary, told her about my aches and pains, and she ran an arthritis blood work set. It showed I had an elevated RF, and she referred me to a rheumatologist. If you can talk to your primary, I suggest you do so soon. The sooner you have answers, the sooner you will feel better :) Good luck, I hope you get those answers soon!
Posted 1/2/2012 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome SunnyHours,

Yeah it sounds like the fun of Fibro. I have the same things hurt me, too. I also have to wear my sunglasses in all light. Overcast light is just as painful as bright sun. I wear my sunglasses when it rains and snow is brutal. The winter sun is even harder on my eyes than the summer sun and that's bad enough.

I can't tolerate the heat or the cold. Sometimes I have to add or subtract layers of clothing w/i minutes. The heat makes me nauseous and the cold can make me shake so bad I can't function. I have to sit w/ a heating pad behind me and an afghan around me until I'm coherent.

My back is my most painful area, constant pain & burning. I have to stretch and use heat to try to tame it. Doesn't help much. I have to lay down when it gets unbearable.

I've had this all my life, so I do know how miserable it is to deal w/ this in your 20's, I'm 58 and I'm still learning new ways to deal w/ it.

Hope you have a good day tomorrow!

God bless.  Alice.

Posted 1/2/2012 8:43 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome SunnyHours...so sorry for your reason why. I agree with the rest it does sound alot like Fibro however, I would find a good doctor who knows about Fibro...

All the best, Amy
Posted 1/2/2012 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your answers guys! about finding a good and comprehensive doctor, it's really not easy...at least not in my area.
It might also be due to my sleep schedule, it makes it quite a task for me to wake up early enough to get in the clinic before its "full". And because of that, my age and the fact I usually just go when the pain gets unbearable...gets me a "dug seeking" red ag for doctors because being young you aren't supposed to hurt all over ;)
But just in general, I can never wake up in time to go for a blood test or some radios so the whole early medical care is a torture for me!
I keep a positive attitude, and it feels there are mostly good days and so far I'm still able to do all that I need done :)
Wishing you guys a pain free holidays (I know, you'll say its "not gonna happen" but it's the thought that counts!) ;)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply