Hi all-I'm sure you all have run into someone who thinks that your symptoms are just depression.I've had fibro for about 5 years but diagnosed 3 years ago.My mother in law thinks it's from depression-she thinks I do have fibro but that it's caused by depression.this really offends me especially lately because for me it's getting a little worse as time goes by-so I recently applied for disability because I haven't been able to work for 4 years now-and when I told her about how I was applying she kind of looked at me disapprovingly but didn't say anything.shortly we were at her house for the holidays and she told me about how a client of hers(she's a massage therapist) had fibro for a really long time and she ended up going to a shrink and all her symptoms went away.I find it hard to believe that all her symptoms went away and found it suspicious that she waited til then to tell me-also in the same weekend she told me about how one of her clients has such a bad bak that when she gets up she can't straighten her back for a while-she went on to say that this lady is still so pleasant and said it's all in your attitude! I don't know does it seem to you that she is saying something without having the guts to say it? thanks

Hi all-I'm sure you all have run into someone who thinks that your symptoms are just depression.I've had fibro for about 5 years but diagnosed 3 years ago.My mother in law thinks it's from depression-she thinks I do have fibro but that it's caused by depression.this really offends me especially lately because for me it's getting a little worse as time goes by-so I recently applied for disability because I haven't been able to work for 4 years now-and when I told her about how I was applying she kind of looked at me disapprovingly but didn't say anything.shortly we were at her house for the holidays and she told me about how a client of hers(she's a massage therapist) had fibro for a really long time and she ended up going to a shrink and all her symptoms went away.I find it hard to believe that all her symptoms went away and found it suspicious that she waited til then to tell me-also in the same weekend she told me about how one of her clients has such a bad bak that when she gets up she can't straighten her back for a while-she went on to say that this lady is still so pleasant and said it's all in your attitude! I don't know does it seem to you that she is saying something without having the guts to say it? thanks



That has to be frustrating. Speaking as someone who has bipolar disorder AND firbromyalgia, I am already wondering how difficult it is going to be to get treatment for the fibromyalgia (w/out the constant focus being on my mood). Regardless of anything else, the pain is REAL.
I could see what you mean about your mother-in-law implying the whole "mind-over-matter" thing, w/out saying it. All I can say is, you can either: a) ignore it, or b) confront her about it in a civil way, and express your views and feelings on the topic. Hang in there,

Angie

that's true-one of us should be civilized right? I'm bi-polar also and I have to say the right doctor makes a world of difference! good luck and thank you -the slayer

that's true-one of us should be civilized right? I'm bi-polar also and I have to say the right doctor makes a world of difference! good luck and thank you -the slayer


You are so funny. Well, I have to say, I have hit the point in life where I don't care what people think, so I wil just come and say it. As for the doctor issue, the verdict is still out on my rhematologist. I don't know if he is even the righy type of doc to be seeing for this. If he ends up not being the "one", I am going to look into a pain specialist. As far as the bipolar issue and docs go, you do know that if you stub your toe, it must be because your bipolar....either that or you just think you stubbed your toe :p


Hang in there,

Angie

LOL angie that was a riot-ifyou stub your toe it's cuz of the bi polar! truer words were never spoken! and I really hope you find a doc that will help you-I've been there-it is no fun-well I hope things workout for you and thanx for making me laugh! :D

hello slayer and angie!

i have bipolar too, is three a crowd?

i have a similar problem. but my therapist doesn't acknowledge the bipolar as causing a lot of problems for me, and i suspect he will not acknowledge the fibromyalgia. for him, everything wrong with me is trauma-related! argh- can't win! :rolleyes:

i think i've had "dormant fibro" (not even sure if that is possible) for years and years. i had a severe case of epstein-barr about 15 years ago.

since then i've had severe fatigue, but not severe pain. my mom has fibro, and insisted that i showed all the signs of it, but i guess i was in denial.

i suffered intense trauma both physical and mental starting in october, and it hasn't let up. then i got a "flare", and was dx'ed with fibro a couple of weeks ago.

anyway, sort of hijacking the thread here...sorry. but a lot of my depression, fatigue, "fog" etc. has been blamed on psychological problems. both my therapist and psychiatrist are going to have to re-think things (as am i), especially the fog, because that has been called "dissociative disorder".

sigh...long story short, i understand the misunderstanding of fibro, and relating it all back to psychological issues.

anyway, hi! :wave:

hello slayer and angie!

i have bipolar too, is three a crowd?

i have a similar problem. but my therapist doesn't acknowledge the bipolar as causing a lot of problems for me, and i suspect he will not acknowledge the fibromyalgia. for him, everything wrong with me is trauma-related! argh- can't win! :rolleyes:

i think i've had "dormant fibro" (not even sure if that is possible) for years and years. i had a severe case of epstein-barr about 15 years ago.

since then i've had severe fatigue, but not severe pain. my mom has fibro, and insisted that i showed all the signs of it, but i guess i was in denial.

i suffered intense trauma both physical and mental starting in october, and it hasn't let up. then i got a "flare", and was dx'ed with fibro a couple of weeks ago.

anyway, sort of hijacking the thread here...sorry. but a lot of my depression, fatigue, "fog" etc. has been blamed on psychological problems. both my therapist and psychiatrist are going to have to re-think things (as am i), especially the fog, because that has been called "dissociative disorder".

sigh...long story short, i understand the misunderstanding of fibro, and relating it all back to psychological issues.

anyway, hi! :wave:




Pookah:


My mom has fibro too, but is not bipolar. I am being followed by a rheumatologist for the fibro, who believes that the fibro and bipolar are caused by a similar chemical imbalances. I am starting to get the feeling that this is why the guy won't give me ANYTHING for pain relief. I am so frustrated.

I am starting to think I need to try a pain management center or something. All this doc will suggest is Physical Therapy, and I have a baby and I'm broke, so I can really not afford PT. Not to mention I am in a flare and need pain relief NOW.

What type of doc follows your fibro? Oh, as far as the "fog" goes, I know what you mean. I also have complex partial epilepsy. Beofre I knew I had that, I was told I was "dissassociating", it turned out to be seizures! Now, I can't tell when I am having fibro fog or seizures.

Angie

interesting that your rheumatologist thinks bipolar and fibro are caused by a similar source. i know that seizures and bipolar have generally been accepted "cousins", but i've never heard of the fibro link.

i just recently started seeing a new doctor (rheumatologist who also does general medicine) who dx'ed the fibro. so this is all really new to me.

maybe your doc won't give you any pain med because he thinks it will exacerbate the bipolar? my psychiatrist doesn't want me taking anything but vicodin (he doesn't like the idea of using ultram, and elavil is very likely to cause me bad side effects). if i didn't take coumadin they'd probably have me taking ibuprofen all the time.

sometimes i wonder if i don't have a seizure disorder. i think i mentioned the grand mal (we think it was, anyway) from wellbutrin, and i did have an "olfactory seizure" ( don't know the name of it, but it was where an unpleasant smell came to me out of nowhere and lasted a few minutes). also i had a jamais vu type seizure and another one that no one can figure out, these were all med-related. but the dissociation label concerns me. my therapist is very insistent on labeling me with this and not considering anything else.

now, i don't know what is dissociation (i do accept that i do it sometimes), fog, or perhaps a seizure.

i am so sorry you are in so much pain. :( it's horrible to be in pain like that and not have any relief!!! i just kind of got "lucky" with having the doc use vicodin. i know some docs think that patients will abuse narcotics, so maybe that's part of what your doc is thinking. luckily i have my psychiatrist, who can vouch that i am not a pill-abuser.

i hope that you get some relief soon.

interesting that your rheumatologist thinks bipolar and fibro are caused by a similar source. i know that seizures and bipolar have generally been accepted "cousins", but i've never heard of the fibro link.

i just recently started seeing a new doctor (rheumatologist who also does general medicine) who dx'ed the fibro. so this is all really new to me.

maybe your doc won't give you any pain med because he thinks it will exacerbate the bipolar? my psychiatrist doesn't want me taking anything but vicodin (he doesn't like the idea of using ultram, and elavil is very likely to cause me bad side effects). if i didn't take coumadin they'd probably have me taking ibuprofen all the time.

sometimes i wonder if i don't have a seizure disorder. i think i mentioned the grand mal (we think it was, anyway) from wellbutrin, and i did have an "olfactory seizure" ( don't know the name of it, but it was where an unpleasant smell came to me out of nowhere and lasted a few minutes). also i had a jamais vu type seizure and another one that no one can figure out, these were all med-related. but the dissociation label concerns me. my therapist is very insistent on labeling me with this and not considering anything else.

now, i don't know what is dissociation (i do accept that i do it sometimes), fog, or perhaps a seizure.

i am so sorry you are in so much pain. :( it's horrible to be in pain like that and not have any relief!!! i just kind of got "lucky" with having the doc use vicodin. i know some docs think that patients will abuse narcotics, so maybe that's part of what your doc is thinking. luckily i have my psychiatrist, who can vouch that i am not a pill-abuser.

i hope that you get some relief soon.



That's just it, i DO have apsychiatrist you will vouch for me NOT being a pill abuser. I need to get these two talking and if that doesn't work, I think I am dumping the rhematologist. I cannot live w/this kind of pain (at least these flares w/NOTHING for pain. It's really starting to affect my mental health,

Angie

Hey folks, Saw this thread and feel so bad for your situations. I have had many experiences with doctors who look at me like I'm just a mental case.

I have two full bottles of oxycodeine in my drawer right now. I am in moderate pain, but not taking the oxy. I save those for severe pain. Just having them available makes a world of difference...knowing that if the pain gets severe, I can have relief, almost immediately. I hardly take them as I don't want to get acclimated or addicted. It is so comforting to know, however, that if I need to, they are there for me. And very stress-relieving to know my doc will prescribe more whenever I need them. He doesn't treat me like a drug addict or a junky. He believes me when I say the pain is severe; I need a stronger med. That makes so much of a difference in being able to handle this chronic pain disorder. No matter what the cause, depression (which I have), FM, or aliens who implanted a chip in my neck, the pain is very real and having a doctor who believes me is gold!

By all means necessary, find a doctor who believes you and who respects you. One who will treat your pain and take it seriously. That relieves so much of the additional stress that pain can cause. Also, keep trying different antidepressants until you find one that works. I have had to try more than ten different ones, till I found one that works for me, with fewest negative side effects. Hope this helps, :wave: Cloie

LOL cloie-aliens who implanted a chip in my neck-are you an x-files fan?? I am-anyway-that's great that you have an understanding doctor! I am very fortunate also in that the med regimen I'm on keeps me sane-I mean I'm never totally out of pain but it's totally manageable(I'm on nortriptyline and zoloft) I also take quinine occasionally for restless leg in flare up times-I am going through a flare up right now this time it's mostly back pain and anxiety and the nerve crap. This disease is aweful! The right doctor IS the difference between managing this or crawling along! I hope everybody here can hook up with the right doctor sooner rather than later!! hugs to all!