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Posted 1/14/2012 8:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, here I go again. I lost my other posting! Sorry I'm new.

I just made it through a four day Fibromyalgia attack. I don't know if that's what they're called, I just call them that. I don't have a pattern for these attacks, they just happen. I can usually tolerate the body pain, headaches, fatigue, back pain, nerve spasms, nightmares etc., but I just can't get use to the horrible crippling leg pain. I feel like my feet and ankles are broken and brittle. The way it sounds anyway, I've never had my ankles and feet broken. I literally scream and cry because I have nothing left, then I lay there in a fetal position for a few hours until it passes. I wish it would just go away. Is this torture ever going to end. If it ended, that means I would end, and I don't want my family to be sad. This condition is enough to make me insane!

When I'm going through the attacks, I panic, I get anxiety, and fear and I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up. I don't mean it literally. People say things when they aren't thinking straight. I have my family and cats to live for. But sometimes, I feel useless, I just can't do anything, it's a miracle I still have a job. I'm angry, good for nothing and I become very scared. It passes eventually. I get plenty of medications from my doctor, but sometimes they refuse to work; and I'm the type of person that's afraid to take too much medication. People die on these pills. Thank God I don't drink, I'd really be in trouble then. I guess after all the suffering I,m happy I have my family by my side; I don't know where I'd be without them. I'm seriously thinking of seeing a therapist to see if she/he could find me alternatives, like medication to cut the connection from brain to the pain. I don't like the medications I'm on now.

I recently had an upper GI scan, you know where they stick a tube down your throat while you're awake and take pictures. They found ARD or Gerd. That's all I needed, and they thought I had cancer, what a thing to tell somebody, but it was just a scare, I couldn't eat for three days. They told me to quit smoking, funny, I've never smoked in my life of 49 years. Does anyone know if there is a connection with having intestinal problems and the Fibromyalgia pain? Does anyone know of anything I can do to relieve some of the Fibromyalgia symptoms besides medications. I have tried, Cymbalta, Lyrica, Prozac, Neurontin, Elavil, Geodon, and a few others, and none of them helped one bit. I feel even more sick listening to these doctors and getting no results. I don't think they understand. I'm okay with the doctor I have now, but he still doesn't help much, just gives me pain killers and sleeping pills. I don't like taking them, they don't work too well, but so far they are the only relief I have.

Again, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please let me know, I would be every so grateful. Thank you so much for listening. Take care.

I gave you a subject line so you will get more responses.  Welcome!

 

Sherrine

Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 1/14/2012 6:15:05 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/14/2012 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Valentine, and welcome!  I'm so glad you found us and joined in.  What you are describing are symptoms of fibromyalgia.  We call your attacks...flares.  They can be short or last longer and one thing for sure is they are definitely not fun! 

 

Anxiety is another problem most of us have and I think this is affecting your pain...big time!  Stress makes you hurt more with fibro.  What you are doing is fighting the fibro.  You do need to relax and accept this illness.  Once you do, and find what helps you control your pain, you will have a full and enjoyable life in spite of it.  I have done so many wonderful things even though I have fibro.  I always have pain but I have it under control.  You will too.  It just takes some hunting to find what will work for you.  We are all so different so what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

 

I see that you realize that anxiety is fear and you really don't have anything to be afraid of.  I suffered from anxiety, too, until I realized this.  Now, when the anxiety tries to raise it's ugly head, I can kick it to the curb.  This is why I have the scripture in my signature.  This scripture has helped me a lot with anxiety.

 

You are projecting yourself in the future and figuring that you will have no life.  But, no one knows the future!  We have a member that posted yesterday in the thread called "Great News!"  Read that.  You will see how her life has changed in under one year!  No, we don't know the future.  Because of this, I look forward to each new day with anticipation because it could be a really good day.  If it isn't, I can handle anything for one day.  I only take one day at a time and never project myself in the future.  It's a total waste of my time.

Try making a list of your positive things and negative things in life.  This helps too because you will see that the positive list is much longer than the negative list.  I count as blessings things like flowers, the critters running around in my yard...the simple pleasures that can put a smile on my face.  

 

I have also found that having a positive outlook helps me as much as any medication.  Things really could be worse.  I try to remember this when I'm having a really bad day.  I also remember that fibro waxes and wanes so I know I will feel better again.  

 

I use malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 to help with pain and fatigue.  I'm also using a product called Curamin that I get on line and that has been helping me, too.  It's also an alternative medication.  I do daily stretching exercises and I do a daily gentle exercise.  I walk as my exercise and in the summer I swim, too.  Yoga is another good gentle exercise.  These really help a lot.  I don't feel like going out for a walk but, by the time I get home, I have less pain and more energy!  If you sit or lay too much, you will be stiff as a board and have more pain.  That's why, when you get up in the morning,  you usually are very stiff and have more pain.  At least most of us are like that.  Another thing is to pace yourself.  You can get everything done but in a different time frame.

 

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 would be called Symptoms, What Else Could It Be, and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia.  You just might see yourself there.  You also will find links on the gentle stretching exercises, malic acid/magnesium and vitamin D3 supplements and how these work in your body, and even a wonderful article about maintaining a positive attitude.  These all help me a lot.

 

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 1/14/2012 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, Valentine, welcome to the club! We do understand how frustrating this illness, syndrome, whatever you want to call it, is.

I'm like you in that I don't like to take too much medication, either. I always try to keep the dose as low as possible. Right now I'm having to take more Tramadol because of sacroiliac pain :( and it makes me nervous! - not to mention kinda dumb..... :)

How presumptuous of them to tell you to quit smoking! People can drive you crazy at times...how insensitive to scare you like that.

My husband has GERD, too, and Barrett's Esophagus (precancerous condition.) It scares me but apparently not him, because he's put off the endoscopy he's supposed to have for over a year now. He just doesn't want to spend the money. I must have nagged him about it 100 times!

I hope you can find some relief soon.

Debbie
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