Hello - New to Fibromyalgia

Just wanted to introduce myself to the board. I had posted over in the Rheumatoid board when I was unsure of what I had.

I just got back from the doctors office with a possible diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. He's pretty sure it's what I have, but there is other stuff going on too. Almost all my symptoms (too many to list) fit and all the trigger point were tender and sore. I was not expecting so much pain when he pushed on the trigger points, as not all the areas have been bothering me, just the majority.
I have other symptoms as well that may be palindrome rheumatoid, or something else.

He is trying me on Cymbalta, and I go back in three weeks to let him know how it's working.

I'm also trying to get short term disability. I've been off work for two months, and my initial disability was denied. I am going through the appeals process now, just really stressed as I am the only person in the home with an income and haven't had any for two months. The doctor won't release me to go back to work because my pain is too much for the type of job I have.

Not sure what to do from here. Will be doing a lot of reading and researching, I guess.

I hope you can get the Short term disability. It really helps out. I just got approved for my LTD and I applied back in July for it.
I've found out there is a lot of help available for those in our kind of fix...
food banks
Churches
Food stamps (SNAP)
Medicaid
Also some doctors have discount prices for self pays and reduced incomes.

Nancy- welcome to the fibro forum. I hope you have your Dr's on your side. It's important for the short term disability. I hope you can receive it. Most of the time companies will give you short term, it's long that is hard to get.

This is a great place to learn how to manage your fibro. I finally am getting a good balance in my life. I mostly treat my fibro through natural ways. I have tried many meds and I am so senstive to them that I decided to go mostly natural. I did have to give up work and that is probably one of the reasons why I am doing so well. I rarely have lots of stress now. Stress will make fibro so much worse. Hopefully you can find out what works for you. It does take trial and error for some time. Just remember we all react so different to meds.

Educate yourself with reading material on Fibromalgia. Read other post to get some ideas on how others are managing their fibro. Ask questions and ask for support. It really does make a differnce. At least you wont feel alone.

Thanks for the welcome!

After spending the evening, yesterday, doing a lot of reading, I realize that the Fibromyalgia diagnosis that I was fighting against, makes so much sense; the increase in my migraines, the increase in pain. I have always had pain, for as long as I can remember. I've had more than one boyfriend/ husband comment on it, wanting to trade me in for a "newer model"; jokingly, even when I was younger. I never really put much thought into it until things escalated this year, and new symptoms developed.

I'm happy to have a diagnosis, even if it's only partial at this point. The Doc said that he thinks whatever else is wrong with me triggered the Fibro. I'm beginning to think I have had Fibro for a very long time, and it just got worse. Who knows. I am worried though, my insurance isn't the greatest and I am locked into this doctor. He seems to be a "by the book" doc and won't consider anything outside of it. With my hand symptoms he said that because all of my blood work is normal and I have not had continuous redness and swelling for 6 weeks (non stop), I do not have Rheumatoid. Since my symptoms come and go during the day (stiffness and redness in the morning, with use, and again in the evening), it has to be something else. I am a mystery to him and he's been doing this for 40 years. He's also supposedly "the best" in this area. So I'm stumped.

I am going to take this diagnosis and go with it. Try to get my appeal for STD to get approved, which the Doc is very willing to help me with (he won't let me go back to work until I find pain management that works). Thank you all, and I look forward to getting to know you all better as well. I'm so happy to have found this place. :)