Posted 1/11/2015 8:09 AM (GMT 0)
For over the last year I have been having serious health problems (undiagnosed after many tests) that appear and disappear on a reoccurring schedule. My symptoms seem to be close to fibromyalgia symptoms (I had the points test done and no reaction, but that was about a year ago during my first bout of pain) and am wondering if anyone is familiar with it following a three month schedule -one month on, two months off.
Every three months I start an episode of that lasts about a month, and then goes away for about two months. I have just started my fifth episode. Episodes include pain/stiffness all over body (ALL over), and is worsened by exercise (exercise may include routine activities like washing a few dishes or standing for 10 minutes). Exercise can leave me feeling broken and bruised, and sometimes like there is glass being pushed into my bones. The pain is all over and if I focus on specific body parts, it doesn't seem high (pain level), but all together it adds up to awfulness that often brings me to sobbing. I get really stiff and moving my body parts can feel exhausting. I sometimes get overwhelming feelings of irritation or impatience, but through mindfulness I can usually identify that the cause is pain, and if I'm able to lay down immediately, those feelings pass. During episodes I'm EXTRA tired. Sleep becomes more problematic due to pain. I'm extremely limited, and going to work (where most of my energy goes during episodes) is all I can do for the day. I notice when my pain is worse, my respiratory system feels off, like I might be getting a cold or something, but it will recede when I feel better and I don't typically get the cold. I find that I seem to have short term memory glitches that may be increasing. In recent episodes my extremeties seem to get numb/tingly/fall asleep much more quickly and intensely than in the past. I experience restless leg. Various body parts throb.
Outside of episodes (two month "breaks") I never feel great, but can be active (hike for several hours, bike for hours, etc.) but not to the extent that I used to be able to do. I still seem less capable of general every day activity then many people my age (housework, making meals, going places), and this was not the case a couple years ago. I haven't had a night of rest producing sleep in about a year and a half.
Even before my first episode, I can track back minor symptoms that follow the 3 month rule (primarily intense, unexplained stiffness without other symptoms).
Is anyone familiar with fibromyalgia following such a pattern? One month on, two months off, almost like clockwork (until the most recent, the last episode lasted a few weeks extra due to stress and the most recent episode started a few weeks late). I'm at a loss, as my symptoms could also be lyme disease, etc. (things difficult to diagnose).
Sorry this is so long. I feel lost.