Diagnosis incoming...

**Nishu** · 10-05-2008, 08:51 PM

I'm not sure how to explain this so I'm just going to jump right in.

I'm hurting right now. Actually, I pretty much hurt 24/7. About a year ago I started noticing body aches, pains all over that made no sense. I was a little overweight, so I could easily explain away the pain in my lower legs and joints, but I wasn't sure why my elbows and shoulders would be hurting.

I got it in my head that something was causing it. It wasn't serious, just enough to be annoying, so I started toying around with my diet in an attempt to stop the pain. I first got rid of the artificial sweeteners in my diet, and then most of the junk food, and then all the wheat and dairy was gone. When I got rid of the wheat and dairy, I started to feel really, really good. I remember thinking how smoothly my house was running and how much energy I seemed to have. Then about on day 7 I got a headache. Not just a tension headache or a sinus headache, but the most painful and frightening headache that I've ever had in my entire life. It lasted for two days and for some reason was only on one side of my head. I stuffed myself with bread and milk trying to make it stop, thinking it might be withdrawal of something.

That was on a Friday, and by early next week I was in the clinic because although that headache was gone, I was getting smaller pains all over my head that only lasted a few seconds. That's also when the rest of the pain got bad. I'd get a pain in my left arm just below my elbow that lasted for an hour, then later that day get it in the exact same place on my right arm. My lower legs were hurting worse. The back of my head was hurting. My hands, my feet, my face... everywhere.

I was sent to a neurologist. While I was waiting the couple weeks it took for my appointment, other stuff started happening. My feet were going numb, spots on my face were going numb, and my knees started to give under me. When I finally got in to see a neurologist, I sat in his office and cried while I described every pain, every odd thing that had started happening in the last few weeks.

I was pretty relieved when he told me he didn't think it was anything 'serious'. He thought it sounded like fibromyalgia, but ordered a cat scan just in case there was something else causing my headaches. When I finally got the referral two weeks later, I was told that I needed to know for certain that I wasn't pregnant before taking the test. I didn't think I was pregnant, but since I wasn't sure I decided to put it off for two weeks just to be safe. Well, some of you might remember how that turned out. My daughter is almost 3 months old now.

Since I wasn't able to get a cat scan, I had to wait until I moved and saw another doctor before I could discuss it any further with a doctor. When I told my new PCM in Ohio, he told me that fibro would be very difficult to diagnose while pregnant. Since that conversation, I probably didn't say 10 words about it to a doctor (or anyone else) until the end of my pregnancy.

Just last week, I got to see a doctor about my pain since that last visit a year ago. He also believes it's firbro, but he ran a ton of different tests just to rule other things out. I have an appointment on the 17th to find out the results of the tests. Get this, he doesn't think I even need a CAT scan. I guess we'll revisit that in a couple weeks.

So anyway, I don't really talk about it much to anybody, but the truth is I'm very scared. If it's FMS, fine, I'll deal with the pain and move on. I just need to know why I hurt all the time.

Anyway. I got to go make dinner. I just needed to cry to someone.

**Sara Noel** · 10-05-2008, 08:58 PM

I'm sorry you've experienced so much pain.

Happy you'll have some test results and answers soon.

**AmyBoz** · 10-05-2008, 09:04 PM

Nishu...I'm sorry to hear about this.

Hopefully you'll get the diagnosis soon and be able to deal with it.

**joyofsix** · 10-05-2008, 09:56 PM

Sorry to hear about your pain. I hope they can get you some answers and relief. Oh, and the headache on one side-that sounds like a migraine to me (and I know where of I speak).

**frugalfoster** · 10-05-2008, 10:00 PM

I see you live in Washington, so do I. My joint pain has been worse lately....it's getting cold! Where about in Washington do you live?

**dcompton** · 10-05-2008, 10:03 PM

Fibromyalgia's not easy, but it always helps to have a definite diagnosis. If nothing else, it puts the imagination and accompanying anxiety to rest. I'm glad you're hearing soon. I have always found the waiting was more difficult than dealing with the diagnosis when it came. It's tough that you've had to wait so long.

Let us know how it comes out.

**pip** · 10-05-2008, 10:03 PM

I'm sorry that you are in so much pain. I hope you find some answers and hopefully some strategies to help.

**Marie78** · 10-05-2008, 10:16 PM

I'm sorry you are in such pain and I hope you find some answers soon (Hugs).

**Nishu** · 10-06-2008, 12:34 AM

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your kindness.

**Jskell911** · 10-06-2008, 07:14 AM

Nishu, I am so sorry. I can totally sympathize with you. I just got a Fibro diagnosis along with them telling me I have arthritis in my neck. This on top of a 10 year old diagnosis of CFS. I just sat there feeling like he sentenced me to a life in pain and narcotic medication...... I have been doing a lot of research. And changing my diet some.

Hope you get answers soon. While knowing doesn't always feel wonderful, at least you will know in which direction you need to move forward.