Long time Fibro patient needs help!

I also have cerebral palsy. I was diagnosed Fibro (and IBS) 15 years ago. Always been mostly manageable but the last week or so has been tough. Cramps (Mostly at belly button level), constipation (I can still #2 with "effort"), no blood in stool except for when I'm straining and I wipe (Bright red, just a little) and when I know it's a stressful time for me my cheeks tingle. August is a bad month for me because of family tragedy. Plus had some new issues stress me out the past month. I sleep OK. Not great.

I wake up feeling awful, then took a pain pill, a bath, and then bowled four games with no issues yesterday and walked about a mile and a half just to take a bus to and from.

Is it just all in my head?

Help!!

Hi and welcome, KeilthF07! This is a great forum. Check out "Fibro 101" which is the very first post on the list--lots of good info.

So sorry you're dealing with all that. Have you seen a gastro doctor for the cramps? That might be a place to start.

I also found it helpful to see a neurologist. Since you mentioned tingling, it sounds like it could be something nerve-related.

I have fibro, and a secondary neuro condition. The neurologist's best guess was cerebral palsy, or something similar. I had MRIs and nerve conduction tests, among other tests, and things were inconclusive. If you don't mind sharing, could you tell me your symptoms for cerebral palsy---or are the symptoms so similar to fibro that it's hard to tell the difference? Just curious.

It seems the best way to deal with health issues we're just not sure of is to get them checked out. It eases the stress, too. I'm so sorry you had family tragedy, which no doubt would add to your stress. I hope you can take some time for yourself to revamp and do something relaxing, just for you.

Strange how some days can be so good and it can seem like maybe it's in our heads! I sure know that feeling. Then--wham--and something kicks up the symptoms again. I do appreciate those little breaks, though.

Hope the gastro doctor and/or neurologist can give you some answers. Keep posting here, and you should get others' input. Many (probably most) of us deal with odd symptoms at times, so we hear you and are here for you, too. Take care and best wishes.

Pain meds can slow down your bowels.
The blood when you wipe could be hemoroids.
Have you tried a daily stool softener?

They diagnosed me when I was 31 after I thought I was having a heart attack after dealing with the stress after my Mom died. Everything was normal. Then a couple days later the flareup started again so they then gave a full MRI/CAT of my chest/abdomen. That was normal. So they gave me the amitriptyline to sleep/relax. Going down the tender points list kind of confirmed the Fibro because they matched me almost perfectly.

They said I had IBS after I told them about bowel issues I've had since I was a kid. I could be fine all day, than bam, I'm running to the bathroom. My brother and I refer to them as "attacks".

I'm also a "rocker" if you know what that term means, have been since I was a baby. In fact after I type a few lines of this, I stop, review what I've typed, rock a bit, and then resume.

You are right about the face tingling being from stress/anxiety, because that's the only time I get it and I've been stressing over this for two days. Like I mentioned earlier August is a bad month, it brings up terrible memories, and I have been dealing with issues a friend has had for a month as well. Also have some very minor stuff dealing with me. Nothing serious, just an inconvenience.

I've been eating pretty healthy (and nothing between meals, a weakness for me) lately and with walking I've been losing some weight (I always drop weight in summer because I walk more), but I was bad on Friday after bowling (sweet tooth) and had a couple Hostess and MnM's, and MnM's again yesterday. I don't drink much soda. I did have two Mt. Dew's Friday. But I mostly drink water.

Rarely drink booze, and only beer when I do. I've had two beers in August.

I don't not smoke. I live in Colorado and I don't even smoke THAT. LOL

Eating isn't an issue. No loss of appetite at all. Last night I took half an imodium and a muscle relaxer and slept for almost 7 hours straight, which is good for me.

Going to try to bowl again today, I'll be back later with an update.

Thanks for all the support everyone, I've never really talked to anyone about this before.

Post Edited (KeithF07) : 8/21/2016 12:08:58 PM (GMT-6)

Ate dinner. That's never a problem. Just waiting to see if I have to do anything.

Sometimes I don't know what's worse, the IBS or the Fibro.

Yesterday I wasn't regular at all. Today I am regular but the cramps are back.

Is this normal for IBS? Or is my stress/worrying doing this?