My mother was dx with fibro about 5 years ago. The past 2 years I have been having pain and stifness in my neck, shoulders and back. I have slowly lost all my energy that I used to have and the only way I can actually sleep, is if I take Ambien or Tylenol PM. I used to be able to rearrange my living room and still have energy to cook dinner and clean the rest of the house. Now I get out of breath and dizzy from just pushing the vacuum cleaner across the floor. About 3 months ago I started having pains in my upper chest and numbness down into my left arm. After waiting 2 months thinking it was just a pulled muscle I went to my Dr. He sent me to a cardiologist. Still waiting on results of testing that was done. I am only 35 years old, so how did I get in this bad of shape in the course of a few years? I have been under alot of stress, as my husband who is with the National Guard was federally activated and sent to Iraq for a year and a half. My stepson has been recently dx as bipolar amongst other problems. Ok, I am rambling. My question is...

Fibro is it hereditary?
Can stress bring on symptoms of fibro?

I thank you all for any help. :)

Hello and sorry for your troubles dear. I am 35 too. Thank your husband for his service. I had a friend over there for a year and it was hard. I know you must be going through a lot. I don't think there is any specific "hereditary" link officially but, I have it, my mother has it and my grandma had it. So that's enough evidence for me.

It sounds like your doctor is doing a good job trying to rule out other stuff. But given the ruleout of other conditions, your symptoms are similar to the rest of us. I've had fibro since I was 22. But it stayed mild for years and years. Never had to miss work for it or anything.

Then two years ago I had a stressful job, then a baby and two post partum surgeries. My fibro became acute and I couldn't go back to work. It's hard to believe that just three years ago I was a team captain in an 18 hour walkathon.

Now I would be lucky to make it around the track once.

My Mom is bipolar so I know how hard it is to deal with someone who has it as well.

Try not to be too hard on yourself and focus on what you CAN instead of CAN'T do. That's what helps me the most.

Hang in there and rest. - Andy

hi andy, hope you dont mind me jumping in here and asking you questions about bipolar, i have a friend who has this, she had baby premature and few weeks later started acting out of character, making things up, saying strange things, she thinks there is nothing wrong with her and was admitted to hospital, her family dont understand her, her sister in law is my friend and i have tried to explain to her that ive read about bi polar on this board and its very complicated, am i right? hope i dont get told of talking bout this on fibro board?? just wanted to know this, my young friend has been through alot and as ive experienced deppression my self i understand alot more where every one else dont see its a illness making her way she is, thanks, love april, i was in agony last night, neck, shoulders, worst ever! how you doing? not long till baby then?

Taurus3
Thank you for your kind words. How do you go about getting tested for fibro? My mother had found out about fibro on the internet and talked to her Dr. But she has had 2 car accidents and neck and back surgery. I just thought that her traumas had brought on the fibro. I guess I was wrong. I guess I am just scared that maybe my mom is right that I have fibro. I just keep hoping to feel better. Its hard on my family to see me go from cooking and cleaning to having trouble just geting the energy to get out of bed some days. I know what I feel is actual pain, but when you go from active to nothing, your family starts to wonder if you are making it up. Have you had problems with family? My husband came back in March and I tried so hard to be active and energetic, but I just don't have the energy any more. We got into a huge fight a few weeks ago, he stated, that he thought I was a hypocondriac (I think I spelled it right) But, I know I feel actual pain and medicine helps some. I'm just tired of my husband thinking I am making this pain up. But he did not come back the same way he left. He used to be more understanding. Ok that is for another board. I guess I just need to get some rest, I'm just so tired, I couldn't sleep last night.
Again thank you, TM_Mom

I was find up to around 8 years ago when I had surgery on both knees then was fired from my job because I could not longer stand. I did sue the company but the stress just pushed me over the edge and I started having all the pain and fatigue then it took 5 years to find out I had fibro. I am 50 now and my days are spent in front of the computer, tv or sewing machine. I do work an hour a day but that is all I can handle anymore. Before I had the knee surgery I worked 2 jobs so it was hard to adjust to this way of life. Now if I could only find a doctor who could give me something that worked for my pain. I do take vicoden for pain but it does not really help the pain anymore but the doctor will not give me anything else so I just try to do the best I can and make the most out of what life has delt me. I am sorry you are having so much to deal with in your life I know that stress does not help. I also wanted to thank your husband for all he has done to serve our country it is people like him who make this a great nation his service to our country is very much appricated.
Pamm

Thanks Pamm! :)

Hi TM-Mom,

If you're regular doc won't pursue a fibro diagnosis with you find another one. I know this can be a challenge if you happen to be going to military doctors. Hopefully you are in the private sector. Not that they are bad doctors in the military just a different philosophy and not too great with "women's issues" which I think fibro is just because of the overwhelming number of women who get it. No offense to the men in the room because your pain is just as real but there has to be some sort of hormonal connection to diseases that primarily strike women.

If you can get a referral to a rheumy that might help but I would call some PCP doctors offices and ask specifically if they treat people with fibro and then start with them.

April I'll address the bipolar seperately...and we can talk about whatever we want to. Lots of people have bipolar disorder. The more we all talk about it the better it will be understood.

- Andy