^ Contrary to what is often heard, it's very common for women in their 20's to get this. I actually had the symptoms since I was 11, had a really bad problem with it starting at age 21, then after 10...
Very true. It's just that there are some days when you're so limited, that the anger flares up again (no pun intended). But yes, I had to completely reassess my life and make a lot of changes while...
Dear fibro gods, I ache so bad that I can barely type right now, so I'll keep it short. Please let the throbbing stop so I can catch some shut-eye this morning, since I've been up all night. Amen....
It's only normal to want a diagnosis. Understanding the enemy is the first step toward fighting against it. :)...
BEWARE of acupuncture, whether it's electric or needles. I've been injured by it, and the pain clinic I went to said they get a LOT of patients suffering from injuries from acupuncture. :(...
I haven't been able to wear a bra for years. It's just agonizing, and then I'm cursed with large breasts which makes bra-wearing even worse. :( I sew a lot of my own clothes, especially slacks,...
Alice, what doctors don't know would fill a black hole in space. Keep that in mind, and you'll keep your sanity. I went through years of hell before I was finally diagnosed. I developed FMS symptoms...
If I didn't take Trazodone every night, I wouldn't be able to sleep well at all. It makes my fog worse, I think, but so does insomnia. So I might as well get some decent sleep, right? :(...
My fog is terrible. I'm an intelligent person, was always the top in school, so fibrofog feels like my main reason for being has been taken away from me. I can't learn as well as I used to, I can't...
I have back problems (often quite bad at times!), and my upper body hurts too much to use it to get out of bed, except when my back is at its worst. So I use my stomach muscles, which are fairly...
Had to drive in to the city today, to do grocery shopping before a rainy, windy, stormy weekend. I waited until late in the evening because there was a wind advisory that was supposed to end at 10...
Post the link to the CDC website, where Fibromyalgia is clearly listed as a legitimate ailment. Then conclude with, "At least I'm luckier than you, because I can get help for my illness--whereas...
In most states, you only qualify for Medicaid if you have dependent children. If you don't have kids and you're too young for Medicare, you're pretty much out of luck. :(...
I've had fibro for half my life, but I only gained weight after menopause, by sitting on my duff too much and eating too much junk, LOL. But that's just me--everybody's different. :)...
I'm not saying your problem is the same as mine, meaning that I'm not going to tell you that testing isn't necessary. I'll just say that, don't be surprised if it turns out to be just fibro. I have...
If sleeping is that much of a problem for you, that you rack up that kind of sleep deficit and fatigue, maybe your doc could put you on Trazodone. It's an antidepressant, non-habit-forming, but it's...
Flexeril is good, but causes severe constipation. I only take it when nothing else helps, because with my IBS, that's the last thing I need, LOL....
Hi, SleepingDaisy! Welcome, and don't despair--your life has changed, but with information and lifestyle changes, you can be more functional, even if you can't work outside the home. My FMS got so...
IMHO, it's not unusual at all. In fact, it's the story of my life. :( I *occasionally* and *briefly* lift semi-heavy things, but I am always very careful, and take precautions. I strap both forearms...
OMG, I laughed so hard I nearly cried when I read your subject heading, because I can sympathize so much! :( I can't stand anybody massaging me at all, so I'm not surprised massaging is making your...
Fibromyalgia can cause depression, not the other way around. If you're depressed, a counselor might help; if not, forget about it. :)...
If you're really tired, this can happen shortly after you fall asleep, even if you're not on any meds--you just have to be really tired (which can happen with or without meds). Mom doesn't have FMS...
That's news to me, so I don't know what the connection might be. I didn't know anyone was aware of breathing problems with FMS. I guess I need to keep up with the news better. :) FWIW, I have...
Good show! I had a B12 deficiency, too, and the worst part is that it can cause damage to your nervous system. It's rare that a doctor thinks to check for this deficiency, so you got lucky. :)...
In your sig file, you mention that you take 3 peppermint oil caps a day. That, alone, would cause me to start projectile vomiting and end up in ER getting ulcer treatment. That stuff is WAY too...
No tats here, have had fibro since 1980's....
^ I agree. When I have trouble with too much salt, I puff up in the usual places, like the hands/feet/legs. Drinking more water might exacerbate the problem--I don't know. Best to ask a doctor about...
As I read your post, I thought that your symptoms sounded quite different from fibromyalgia. You might have it, too, but the hair falling out, etc., seem more like a disease than a syndrome. I agree...
As others on this thread have observed in themselves, I too have grown a lot more sensitive to chemicals. As for meds, I suddenly developed a severe allergy to penicillin and related antibiotics....
The sound of running water used to make me nauseated, and I couldn't even listen to music for about 6 months or so, years ago. It doesn't help that I have super-good hearing, so I'm even more...
I have fibro-related eye trouble, too. I can't tolerate anything hi-def (DVD, HD television, hi-res monitors). It causes a lot of pain around my eyes and in my face. As always, doctors are clueless....
I have a 1996 Buick LeSabre that I love! I notice that a lot of people in this area, who park in handicapped zones, have late-90's Buick LeSabres and Park Avenues, too. We've had 2 LeSabres. Unlike...
I have a disabled friend who wants an iPad for himself, and I think it will help him as much as it does you. :)...
My condolences for the loss of your mother-in-law. It always irks me when families split up because of religion. God wants us to be together, living in harmony, so rejecting anyone based on religion...
I use a combination of both. Meds like Paxil, Neurontin, etc., and natural things like a multivitamin, Glu-Chosamine (which helps my foot pain immensely), some homeopathic remedies (I like these,...
Though I'm too new here to know you well, I'd also like to add my congratulations on your wonderful improvement!...
You are NOT a wimp--don't ever put yourself down that way. :) I'm aching like mad today after a trip to Wal-Mart...I don't know how people manage to work with FMS. I really should be adding some...
I inherited a TempurPedic, and have been sleeping on it for 4 years. I put an "egg crate" pad on top of it, and now it works perfectly for me. The Tempur material alone isn't good because it seems to...
I am so very happy for you! I began applying for disability in 2003, and am still not on it. It's good to hear of someone else succeeding, in spite of the system being stacked against us!...
Welcome, everybody! I hope you find solace on this forum. We're behind you, even if circumstances prevent us from posting as much as we'd like to! :)...
In my case, my age made them think I was anorexic. Let's see, I'm SCARED about my weight loss, asking them what I can do to stop it, begging for something that will stop the diarrhea, but they...
You forgot to mention that, for those of us who have IBS, Mg triggers painful cramping and diarrhea. Thanks for contributing, but if there was a cure as simple as what you're suggesting, we all...
That's being very generous. "Idiotic," "insensitive," and "shouldn't be in the profession" come readily to mind. You need to find other doctors. A psychiatrist should take your depression seriously,...
This truly deserves the acronym "LMAO!"...
I think what they mean by your being "too young" for disability is that it's REALLY hard to get on it when you're under 50. The govt. doesn't like to pay out disability for prolonged periods of time,...
If the symptoms stopped when you stopped the Lyrica, stay off it. I've heard a lot of horror stories about it. :(...
I don't know, but I'd definitely see a doctor. Something like that can be the symptom of a mild stroke leading up to a major one....
In my experience, fibro does mess up your body's internal "thermostat". Be thankful you perspire, even if it is too much...I tend to stop perspiring, and it's EXTREMELY uncomfortable. My skin gets...
My fog seems to get slowly, increasingly worse. I think the meds have been adding to it. I've just adapted by using sticky notes, to-do lists, and all sorts of things, to get by. I have a high IQ,...
Thanks for your reply. I've tried dark glasses, and have darkening vinyl over my PC monitor as I write this. Just today, I went through a car wash, and the rhythmic way the water was spattering on my...