who else has fibromyalgia?

**pita1213** · 03-19-2006, 07:23 PM

i did a search for threads and it's been awhile since fibro was talked about.

i had a doc appt last thursday and he thinks i have fibro.
what i wanted to know from the others out there are what tests did ya'll have before the doc said you have fibro? and what treaments are you going through for it?
i wasn't given a lot of information about it from the doc so i'm doing most of my resaerch on my own about what it is and all that. thanks ladies.

**sonnyjoy** · 03-25-2006, 07:29 AM

I have fibro and CFS

**ubumartin** · 06-03-2006, 11:45 PM

hi.
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia for about four years but suffered about 8. I thought it was all in my head as my doctor did every test, some several times. It was not until I went to a rheumatologist that i was fiinally diagnosed. I still have pain every day, some not as bad as others. It doesnt stop me from doing anything although I am constantly tired. I take soma which is a muscle relaxor at bedtime and I was taking an anti-inflammtory but it bothered my stomach. I occasionally will take an Aleve but I am going to try to take something else to see if it bothers me less. I know my diet is bad and I don't get enough sleep. That certainly makes me feel better but I work full time and also part-time on the weekends. I have four children and I stay up late catching up on laundry, house cleaning etc. Hope you get some relief soon. Nancy

**EmilyD** · 06-04-2006, 12:20 AM

I was diagnosed with fibro about 2 years ago. I don't take any meds for it now, I did for a while, but they caused other problems. I hurt daily and am always tired and yes, it slows me down a lot.

Last year, I had three surgeries and that complicated my health problems a lot. Warm water helps and we will soon be moving to a place with a hot tub and pool and sauna so that should help a lot.

I read a lot of books and try to get as much rest as I can. I also was changing my food habits for a while but have not been lately.

**mrsmac62** · 06-04-2006, 07:04 AM

I have had fibro for 12yrs along with CFS. You need to learn what your limits are and not over work your muscles, although it is important to keep mobile. Winter time is harder, but I get a doctors referral to the hospital physio, they use a lovely warm, almost hot, pool to exercise in. This is free, but I know in the States your health system is different to ours. Also, Paradex 3x daily when the pain is severe but i try not to take this dose too often cos it makes me sleepy.
Hope you get some help & answers soon

**mrsmac62** · 06-05-2006, 08:10 PM

Forgot to mention that cutting out tea & coffee can really help, so can being tested for food allergies/ sensitivities. I follow Blood type diet as best I can, it makes a HUGE difference

**dolphin** · 06-08-2006, 01:26 PM

I'm sorry you have this too. I was diagnosed in 1996 following a car wreck. The only test that they do is the pressure point test and all the blood work and other testing they do is just to rule out other things such as Lupis and Arthritis. You have to communicate your pain and where it is located to your doctor and it will usually be in a different area each time you visit him/her.

A rheumatologist is the best for diagnosing and ruleing other things out but if you don't have insurance to cover one, an MD will do fine.

All the information you've been given is good info. But, like you've already found out, there isn't much written about it. There is more online than in books. Just type in Fibromyalgia and you'll find lots of information. Watch out for any quick cures because there aren't any. Some of the alternative med type remedys help some people but research them well before trying them.

I also take few meds now and rarely take any at all. Anti-inflamatories tore my stomach up. I take Lortab for extreme pain, regular ibuprophen or extra stength tylenol for moderate pain. I take Elavil (Amytriptaline) to sleep and help with the anxiety. You must take time to rest when possible but yet you have to remain active or it seems to worsen.

I ocassionally go to the Chiropractor where I get an ajustment and a deep tissure massage with heat packs. But, ice might make you feel better. You have to find what works for you. I'm so sorry you have this too.

The Arthristis Foundation online has a booklet they will send you on Fibromyalgia and it helps to explain it in easy terms to your family members and others.

**Jeanna** · 06-10-2006, 05:52 AM

My fibro started at the age of 32. They did run all kinds of bloodwork, x-rays-mri's, cat scans, etc on me to rule out it being anythingelse.
I have really hard times when the weather is cold and damp. On those days I have to do as little as possible. Most other days I do regular things but I do know I am so much slower getting things done.
When I was first diagnosed they had my on so much medicine (about 14 different kinds), now I only take sleeping pills, because non restoritive sleep is one of the worst things for fibro, and if I am really having a hard time I go on skelacton(sp?) which helps some.
The thing with fibro is that it seems to have so many different things that seem to creep up with it. I now have hypothirodism, IBS, CFS, and many other smaller disorders.
Just do not give up. You are not alone. The best advice is to get educated and educate you family from the start. Good Luck.

**Panndy1** · 08-14-2006, 03:57 PM

I have Fibro. and found out in Sept. 2004 but feel like I had symptoms longer and especially my back for years. At the moment not taking anything for it. I ache all over, some day worse than other and don't sleep well. The worset part is my lower back. It is frustrating that I can't do the things I use to. No heavy lifting, moving furniture etc. If I do anything out of the ordinary then it aggravates my back. I am thankful that mine is not as bad as as what alot of people have.

**pita1213** · 08-15-2006, 05:33 PM

i haven't been on in a while so i hadn't seen the newer responses. thank you ladies for teh encouragement. after changing gp's i feel like i have a better handle on things. my new GP is a woman and she doesn't dismiss my aches and pains like the other one did. she's been on maturnity leave the last few weeks so i had to see a different dr in the practice but he was understanding and listened to what i had to say. he had seen my daughter once for an earache and was really caring to her so i knew i wouldn't have problems with him. anyway, he got me an appt with a rheumy who sent me to get some more blood tests done and to redo one of the ones that had been done before. i go to see him again on the 29th to find out the results from those and to see what is next. he put the possible dx as polyarthlagia. he wouldn't say it's fibro until after the blood test come back. i saw a nuero. in early summer and had an mri to rule out ms, but it was only of my brain and not my brain and spine which seemed to bother the rheumy a bit.
i am taking cymbalta and trazodone right now. cymbalta in teh morning and trazodone at night. i haven't seen much if any improvement but i'll see what they have to say when i go back for follow ups.
i do try to pace myself so i don't get tired and the kids help me with stuff that causes a lot of pain, ie sending them upstairs for stuff.
i found a fibro message board that has been helpful as well. i also found a funny site with stories about fibrofog, she calls it fibrohaze. a few of them had me in tears from laughing so hard.
i'm trying to reduce stress as well. the store i work as is going through a remodel in sept through dec. i'm going to see if i can join in with that as i won't have to deal with the store manager, i won't have to deal with customers. i'd be putting out merchandise on the new fixtures after the men put them up. as picky as i am about how the stuff is on the shelf, it's a good task for me. and the manager that is in charge of it was by the store yesterday and asked if i would do it. i told him i would and he should call the store manager and bug him about it. i'll say something to him on thursday. i get along well with the manager running the remodel and if i'm having a bad day, he'll let me pace myself.