So it's Fibro...Now what?

Hello All,

Buckle up...I have quite a story to tell. It started in 2006, during a truly turbulent divorce. I suffered from chronic fatigue, IBS-C, and depression. In 2007 I made a job change and began having severe back pain. In 2009 I made another job change which brought IBS-D and migraine. I couldn't bare the lights and whatever else was floating around the building. I was told it was "sick building syndrome" or something like that, and I was just super sensitive. So I lived with that thought, nearly lost my job from absences, but ultimately left on my own in 2010.

In December of 2010, I had my first recordable Meniere's Syndrome attack. Of course I was unaware of what was happening to me so I was fearful of any dx. But after ruling out MS the doc dx me with Meniere's. My mother, sister, and nephew have it..yet they all had the same kind of prelim attack. Mine was not vialant vertigo and vomitting. Mine was severe migraine and visual disturbances that lasted for months!

So a couple years go by and I settle into my Meniere's dx and "treatment" (ha ha). I still have IBS, I spend rude amounts of money onchiropractic care and migraine exploration..to no avail. In 2014 my low back goes. My dx was sciatica..treatment; Physical Therapy. 3 months I spent trying to get better only to have the worst of the worst attack of some sort 3 days after graduating from the PT. I had started my period, which was weird because, even though I was only 43, I only had about 5 periods a year. I was in unbearable, excruciating pain. I made it to my doc office to find that my old GP quit. Its ok though, she wouldn't have believed me or done anything anyway. So as luck would have it a younger ARNP saw me and instantly said, "you have endometriosis"-- I had tests over tests, ultra sound, CAT, MRI, blood work, you name it..I had it. They didn't see anything but a fibroid because you can't see endo unless you do a LAP. During all of this I see an ortho doc to cover my bases..and guess what..I have a huge bulging disc that needs surgery but I decline and ask for steroid shots that didn't work.

In June 2015 I had a partial hysterectomy ththat found I didn't have endometriosis, I had its sister, Adenomyosis..oh and I got a dx of PCOS too (Yae..and you left my ovaries, why?). In August, just 7 weeks later, I had a Microdiscectomy to remove the bulge at my L5S1. I have lived in pain everyday since. Yes it got a little better here and there, but my recovery seemed so slow..I was stiff all. the. time. Then about 8 weeks ago, I began having the same pain I had last year..only not as severe..but I count work. I saw my ortho, had another MRI, and was told everything looks great.."I don't know what's causing your pain....here's some more meds so you can get fatter..and I'll see you back in 2 weeks." great. Now what? I made a trip to my GYN. I knew I had a new ovarian cyst, but could it cause such pain? Apparently not...I had an ultrasound that found a 2.4 cm cyst. Hmmm. But I wasn't getting better..the pain now had moved to other locations...my muscles, my joints... my skin. I felt feverish without fever...sort of like the worst flu you coul ever get. So I went to my new GP. And she immediately said "fibromyalgia." wow..I am only at the beginning of this journey. I'm taking gabapentin 300 mg per day x7 then up to 600 mg x 7..then 900 mg stay. In the meantime, I'm hoping to see the rheumatologist for more info and solid dx.

So what now? With all the changes I am making to ease this pain...it seems like a full time job with plenty of overtime! When do I have time to work? Ha! I haven't worked a full 40 in a year because of pain...and if I work 3 days Like 18 hours) and I spend 5 days recovering-ish.

Well, there ya have it. My only consistent question is.. now what?

Thank you Sherrine. I was surprised at the GPs dx as well, but after talking with her she confessed that she also has it. She was so knowledgable and knew that fibro had been discussed in my chart previously with another provider. She referred me to a rheumatologist who also has fibro and treats many of her patients. She also drew up all the blood work that the rheumatologist would need.

We discussed diet and lifestyle changes as well as the names of several books that she found helpful in her journey.

I've started taking vitamin D3 and Will def try the magnesium malate. I am also on low does gabapentin (300 mg) with gradual increases. The pain is decreasing little by little everyday but the gabapentin makes me groggy. I've also started daily 30 minute walks that we're really tough at first. But everyday its gotten better. Mornings are the hardest because My body is so stiff and aches so much after waking. It's taking a few hours just recover from sleep. But once it wares off I'm able to do more. Work is a different story. I have a very stressful job. We make fertilizer from sulfate compounds like iron, copper, and ammonium sulfate. I've been sensitive to the dust that it creates and I'm afraid it's part of the problem..as well as the stress. I'm able to work from home a little bit, but they really need me on campus..and..it's still stressful. I was going to depth hypnosis..it was helping..so I guess I need to get back at it. It's truly wonderful. I was beginning to practice meditation before this all got worse several weeks ago. I just couldn't concentrate.

Thank you so much for your input! I think fibro 101 is fab!

Namaste

Post Edited (Namaste) : 3/8/2016 4:08:11 PM (GMT-7)