Posted 11/21/2016 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
My name is BKelly, I currently live in New Jersey (it's COLD). I am 39 and was diagnosed with FM about a year ago, although I had been looking for a diagnosis and had been symptomatic for years.
I began to notice a few years ago that every fall would find me feeling the same- nausea, fatigue, and a severe intolerance to what most consider mild fall temperatures. All of my blood work would come back normal at every check, but I KNEW something was not right. Finally, last year I visited a rheumatologist and was given the diagnosis- everything clicked. I'd imagine a lot of us here have a similar story.
This fall, I am being hit harder than ever. I don't know for certain what a 'flare up' is or feels like, but I might now. I have had alternating shoulder bursitis, left to right to left, and now right again- to the point where I am up at night, rocking in pain. I took a percocet Saturday night- which I hate to do- and I was finally able to get some sleep. I cannot move my arm away from my body and have it in a sling. LUCKILY, I had a scheduled day off today, I JUST started a new job two weeks ago. Also this past weekend, my left wrist was swollen, my fingers were swollen and the tendons cramped, I could not open my hand. Before that, at the end of last week, the BACK of my right hand was swollen and painful. Yesterday I was SO tired, like never before, I could NOT keep my eyes open. Weatherwise, in the last few days we went from 65 degrees to freezing.
Is this a flare up? I am terrified- what if all of these days had been work days for me and I was without a hand? I type ALL DAY. :(
We are talking now, my husband and I, about moving to Texas. I know that some of us have different weather tolerances, I need the heat- that is when I feel good. My daughter will finally be graduating high school in June and we can move on to a warmer climate.
Any thoughts, input, suggestions, experiences that anyone can share are so appreciated. I am so glad that I finally found this group.