fibro or something else?

Hi. My name is Jennifer.  I'm new here.  I am dx Fibro for about a year and a half now.  Treating with rheumy at big nyc hosp.  I have soo many other symptoms.  He draws blood and nothing is ever indicative of what is suspected (lupus, RA, ms etc).  I also have osteopenia, hypercalciuria, severe degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy, my list goes on.  I keep "waiting" for some other diagnosis that would explain and bring all these other things together to make some sort of sense as to what is going on with me.  I go back to my rheumy next week to go over recent bloodwrk.  Not that I want something to be wrong...and I know a label will not change anything.  It's more of understanding it and hopefully treating it. 

My meds are not working either.  I had to go off adderall xr due to the palpitatios that I just started having.  I had already been on it for about a year and all of a sudden I started having tachycardia.  I'm also having massive hair loss, extreme weight gain, swollen painful hands in the am (swelling goes down but pain persists), dropping things constatly, loss of balance, memory and verbalization issues, and severe flare of pain and fatique...I know there's mre but I can't recall right now.  I am in so much pain I can't stand it!  I feel like I'm not "living" I'm spectating.  I feel bad that I am not able to be "there" for my husband and my children at times.  I have no desire to socialize and make small talk with anyone because I feel like I have nothing interesting to offer and half the time my thought don't come out right. 

Oh, and I'm on 100 mg of amytriptilene (Elavil)...it seems when he increases it, it works for maybe a week then nothing.  I just feel like theres more going on than just fibro.  Anyone else experience this?

Many of the problems you're having could be hormonal...especially the hair loss and weight gain. Perhaps have thyroid checked. I know its a major pain, but other things need to be ruled out (ie don't think automatically that everything us Fibro.) Take care and let us know how you are doing.

Hi Jend,

My advice is try and take optimal care of yourself through diet, daily light exercise, stretches, supplements, a good night's sleep, and try to keep your stress to a minimum.

Diet: My fibro becomes worse if I eat the wrong foods. I feel somewhat better when I eat the right ones.

Daily light exercise: To release those feel good hormones and help relieve stress, to keep yourself limber and less tight. Exercise is good for depression too especially walks outdoors.

Stretches: To help deal with the tightness.

Supplements: I take a good multivitamin and krill oil for my dry eyes.

Sleep: I would have a very difficult time sleeping if it wasn't for the sleep supplements I take.

Stress: Exercise helps with this and talking with a good friend. Coming into this forum and sharing and advising also helps.

Due to my back and neck injury along with my fibro, I have to limit how much I do. For example how long I sit and where I sit, how long I stand, how long I walk, how much I lift, and how long I socialize.

My fiancé knows I have to live in a bubble of sorts. I'm relieved he's supportive of that.