Hi Everyone,

I discovered this board a week or so ago, and am just now trying to muster up the guts to introduce myself. I'm not very good with social situations, see I'm already nervous just doing this, afraid of what people's reactions are going to be. Don't ask me why.
But anyway, lol. I'm Jade, 22 years old, from Oklahoma. I have not yet been diagnosed with fibro, but it all fits with my symptoms, it's scary how much so. And I have been doing some research, and am amazed at how many things that are wrong with me could be related to fibromyalgia!! But I'm almost scared now to go to my doctor and suggest it, because even though I'm only 22, I have already spent YEARS being told, basically, that it's "all in my head". "Oh it's just psychological, here, have another Valium. Or some more Zoloft." etc. I have had so many tests and such run on me, only to have them all come out fine. So I keep thinking, but this pain is SO real! Why won't anyone believe me?? And I start to think, maybe I really am just crazy. But something in me just hasn't been able to believe that. And I have an even harder time getting doctors to take me seriously, with all the mental disorders I've been diagnosed with, and all the psychotropic meds I'm on. I have been diagnosed with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder w/ psychotic features, Schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, and the list goes on. One look at my records, and I'm sure the doctors make an instant snap judgement that I'm making everything up, before they even examine me. So needless to say, it's been so frustrating, I feel like I want to bawl for hours about it.
On top of this, I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which also causes me a lot of stress and pain.
So finally, after all these years, I find this message board, and start to research about fibromyalgia. And I think this may just be the answer. I may finally have a name to my pain. But what should I ask or say to the doctors so I can get them to take me seriously? And is there any other treatment for this, other than just taking pain medication?
So anyway, thanks for listening to me babble on.

Jade

hi jade, im april. im from uk. im not diagnosed yet either but my symptoms really fit! took doctors ages to listen to me too! i have had my symptoms for 17 months. waiting months for a neuro appointment and then mri. they have mri to rule out ms,etc. they need to rule out everything before fibro is diagnosed as it dont show up on tests. i have had deppression,pnd,anxiety,panic attacks. im ok now, get anxious sometimes, no panic attacks really and off meds. whats your symptoms? i would go doctors. anxiety and deppression can do mad stuff to you!!! i have had it, floor moving beneath me,heavyness,headaches, dizzinees but i know as you probably do that my symptoms i have now are not related to this, love april x welcome!!!

Hi Jade :wave:

My name is Mindy, i'm 27 from Ohio. Writing is very difficult for me but i just had to let you know that there is a treatment that i have hope in - it's called the Guaifenesin Protocol. There's a book on it called "What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Fibromyalgia". It's written by a doctor that seems to know the cause of FM... his theory makes sense to me!

Anyway, try to read this book and i hope it helps you

Take Care,
-Mindy-

Hi Jade :wave:

I'm new here myself. Everyone here is very supportive and is full of positive thoughts. I haven't been diagnosed either, but as you say, so many of my symptoms appear to be Fibro. My doctor just told me he doesn't like the term Fibro, but I feel in essence, he said I have it, he just doesn't like the term. Anyway, hang in there. I would mention it to your doctor yourself. You may be given something that will help you sleep-that should help a lot.

Bye,
KarenMA :)

Hello.

My first advice to you would be to find a doctor who believes in Fibro. Fibro is REAL. I had been Dx with Fibro by my GP, and when I went to my Rheumy, I was questioning all these other diseases and HE actually said to ME, "Dont downplay Fibro, it is a very Real and painful syndrome!!!" I knew I found a keeper.

Try to find someone in your area, a support group, or something where you can find a good Rheumy that treats and diagnoses Fibro. And a doctor who wont look at your medical records and just "chalk it up" to some thing psychological.

We welcome you here with open arms and are here to listen, not judge.
Welcome to our family.

hello Jade. my name is robin and i am from texas. i have had alot of diff. acc. throughout my life and had all kinds of treatment to try and either make the pain go away of relieve the pain. nothing worked not even all the diff kinds of meds. i have tried wether it was anti depres. pain med. anti seizure, just to name some. after working at a chiropractor for 6yrs i was around alot of diff back problems and most people would just get better after a couple months, but why wasn't i. i ran into a video talking about fibromyalgia and that is when i heard of it the first time and this was about 5 yrs ago. i thought to myself that it was explaining all the problems i was experiancing but was never dx. about 2yrs ago when i went to a new pain mangt. doc he went over my hx and determined that i had fibro. after that while i was working at another doctors off who was internal meds. had a nervous breakdown.. i was then dx with post traumatic stress dis. i also have anxiety and major depression, bone spurs and ddd.
gosh where does it end. i get realy depressed sometimes thinking that gee i am only 29 almost 30, what will i feel like when i am 40, 50 and older. if am talking all the meds i am taking now what will i be taking then when i am hurting worse with age: duragesic patch, norco, effexor, lexapro, restoril, and xanaflex. isn't that alot for a 30yr old?
well i just wanted to let you know to hang in there and try and get some exercise if possible, i know that is what has made me feel better when i was able to do it. right now i have been hurting so bad i can't even do it and i miss my yoga. ahhhhhhh!!!!lol
take care.

robin,

hello apriltones that so cool that you are from the UK, i had said hi to you in another post but i guess you did not see it. i hope you get this message. :D :D

hi robin, i have been to texas actually!! houston. how are you? i used to be on effexor, love april xx

hey i am pretty cool. the weather here is great today but its never really the same day to day. the next day could be rainy or cold. glad you responded.
oh do you stay home with your little one? are you able to work?

talk to you soon
robin

i stay at home but i work some evenings or weekends, i do relief for mencap to support people with learning disabilities. i also go p/t to college 2 nights a week. what about you? x

i started staying home after the pain got to bad. i was a receptionist at a busy doctors office. it worked out great too so i could be home with the kiddos. i really just hang with the kids as much as possible. i am pretty much their maid it seems. lol. sometimes they drive me nuts. its also good though because my son is in pre kindergarten and while he is at school my daughter and i come home and nap for a couple of hours before he gets out. this really helps because i don't get to sleep much at night due to pain. this fibro is never ending.

talk to you soon

robin :D

vegan,
I'm new also, I'm Kathe, I'm old as dirty, not like you young things. Ya gotta ask why people so young are getting sick! Your not crazy. Even Mayo Clinic in Rockchester MN say's your not crazy. I went to one of their seminars, and they said that it's a real problem. In fact at their pain clinic CFS and fibro are their #1 pain complaint. Many towns anymore have fibro support groups. Also, when looking for a doc, like was said, find a fibro friendly doc. You can do an internet search, or check your yellowpages. Don't be afraid to call a docs office and ask if he's fibro friendly!

hello jeremy, how have you been? i've read some of your post and you seem like you are really cool. how long have you had your symptoms? i know that you also said that you may have something that an aunt of yours has.
what state do you live in?
well i hope you are doing okay.

robin :D

gee so okay i just read your post about your ER nightmare. how are you doing now? man sorry you had to go through all that.

Hi Everyone,

I discovered this board a week or so ago, and am just now trying to muster up the guts to introduce myself. I'm not very good with social situations, see I'm already nervous just doing this, afraid of what people's reactions are going to be. Don't ask me why.
But anyway, lol. I'm Jade, 22 years old, from Oklahoma. I have not yet been diagnosed with fibro, but it all fits with my symptoms, it's scary how much so. And I have been doing some research, and am amazed at how many things that are wrong with me could be related to fibromyalgia!! But I'm almost scared now to go to my doctor and suggest it, because even though I'm only 22, I have already spent YEARS being told, basically, that it's "all in my head". "Oh it's just psychological, here, have another Valium. Or some more Zoloft." etc. I have had so many tests and such run on me, only to have them all come out fine. So I keep thinking, but this pain is SO real! Why won't anyone believe me?? And I start to think, maybe I really am just crazy. But something in me just hasn't been able to believe that. And I have an even harder time getting doctors to take me seriously, with all the mental disorders I've been diagnosed with, and all the psychotropic meds I'm on. I have been diagnosed with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder w/ psychotic features, Schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, and the list goes on. One look at my records, and I'm sure the doctors make an instant snap judgement that I'm making everything up, before they even examine me. So needless to say, it's been so frustrating, I feel like I want to bawl for hours about it.
On top of this, I also have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which also causes me a lot of stress and pain.
So finally, after all these years, I find this message board, and start to research about fibromyalgia. And I think this may just be the answer. I may finally have a name to my pain. But what should I ask or say to the doctors so I can get them to take me seriously? And is there any other treatment for this, other than just taking pain medication?
So anyway, thanks for listening to me babble on.

Jade


Hi Jade, My psychologist just told me a few wks ago that it is very sad that once your dx'd with depression/anxiety/mental issues, that dr's just throw all or your symptoms/problems into that box. How hard is it for some dr's to understand that these symptoms we deal with 24/7 could actually be causing the depression/anxiety/mental issues???

I have been dx'd w/fibro since 96, I'm 34 yrs old, and live in Ohio. I have never used any prescribed pain medication (everyone's different). For pain I use (very rarely) Tylenol, take a hot bath. For migraines I drink a coca-cola, take a hot bath, and sleep.

I'm also dx'd with TMJ, endometriosis, GERD, depression, anxiety, and essential tremors. Don't give up on finding answers for yourself.

luv, i think that is so awesome that you only have to do the minimal. i am 29 and take so many meds its crazy. i did try all the stuff that you do at the beginning but it just did not seem to do anything for me. i wonder why that is?
i have been dealing with all this since i was 18 and just graduated h.s and it just got worse year after year.
hope you are having a wonderful Easter.
take care,
robin

Hi Robin, I'm a stay at home mom who wanted to go back to work after the kids got in school full time. I would have to honestly say that I keep my symptoms at a low level because I do stay at home. I can sleep when I have to, take a hot bath when I have to, I can do stretches and walk on the treadmill when I want to.

I'm so afraid of going back to work!! I wouldn't have to work full time, but even part time would for sure bump my pain, fatigue, brain fog to a higher level.

Our boys are 12 and 9 now , and still a stay at home mom who some days doesn't know how I'll get the energy to make dinner, help w/homework, do laundry, etc.

I have a few friends that don't call anymore. My energy and time during the day is spent on sleeping, getting pain level down, getting house work done, etc., so that I'm just "mom" when the kids get home and not a total zombie.

I do take 150 mg effexor xr before bed and it is wonderful for my depression/anxiety/and for TMJ relief. I take Nexium every night for GERD. And that's it.

I feel for those of you who do work outside the home. Trust me, if I worked outside the home, I'd most likely be taking other things also. If someone who works outside the home gets in a flare up at work I'm sure they will take a med. Since I'm at home, I soak in hot water for 20 minutes...take a nap....maybe take a tylenol.

Also....I no longer have the energy to keep frienships up. Hubby and I are all about the kids. We might go out 3 times a year to a bar with friends. That's it.

That's a shame that you got fibro at 18 yrs old. You've been dealing w/it a long time then. I haven't met too many people who don't take meds for fibro. I'm also the weird one w/fibro who sleeps like a baby. I can even take a 3 hour nap in the afternoon and then at bedtime read my book and fall right to sleep. Fatigue just overwhelms me, feels like I'm constantly in a drunk state!!

Anyways, I sure hope you had a great Easter also!!! We had a great day today!! Now it's raining here and my bones are screaming at me to take a hot bath! :eek:

hey luv i stay home to but i also have a 2 and 5yr old. that is a really big job in itself but i am sure you know exactly what i mean. after i drop my son of at school in the am thank goodness my daughter likes to go back to sleep. we usually sleep for about 3 more hours. after i pick up my son thats where the fun starts: snack, homework, the arguing with each other, mom he hit me and mom she took this away.lol it makes me laugh just to think about how crazy it gets sometimes. you know thank goodness for frozen food because i don't have the energy to cook all the time. every one including their father pick what they want and its ready in mins. its wonderful. hahaha. i could not imagine working either because i need to take naps when i need them and relax when i need to.
all those meds can sometimes make you sleepy thats for sure.
i too take effexor 300mg for dep and pain. at night lately i have been getting some sleep due to resteril and zanaflex. that'll do it because without it i can stay up all night.
anyway it sure is nice i guess you say talking to you. you seem really great

robin :)

Hi robin, I remember those days. You will be glad to know that once the little ones are in school all day, the stress that seems to love fibro symptoms will be lower. It's still a fight to get through the day, but at least you can start taking care of "you" while everyone's out for the day.

Ok, I still deal w/the argueing and fighting though!! As soon as my 12 and 9 yr old get home they are fighting over something. I have a feeling the fighting will not go away for awhile yet.

Frozen dinners here too a lot. Frozen lasagnia (sp?), frozen salsbury steaks, thank goodness for Oncor (sp?) dinners!! :D I do make a mean Broccoli Cheese Noodle Soup that is awesome I must say!!!

Now to figure out what me and the kids are going to do every day when school is out for the summer!! :eek: I feel a flare coming on just thinking about breaking up the fighting! Oh well, someday they'll be all grown up and out of the house and then I'll wish they were little again!

Take care

Hi, Im a newbie here myself, never be afread to speak up, thats what we all need. People to get there stories out, so others can learn what there dealing with. I'm 37 and been in and out of the Doctors and Hospitals with all kinds of problems sence i was 17 and everytime I would go in they would ask me what did you pull or hurt this time. They dont seem to take you for real when you say, i didnt do anything to it, it just hurts. Ive lost my husbend, kids and jobs. do to no one being able to tell me what was wrong with me, no one beleived me anymore, they just believed I was lazy and it was all in my head. Well three weeks ago I finally found a Doctor who told me that my main problem was Fibromyalgia, CFS - with the begaining stages of RA..well its nice to know and its about time, so talk about it get the word out maybe we can save some other familys some heartach and suffering from not knowing.

Candi

you know candi you are right, when ever i tell people that i have fibro alot of times they look at me like i am crazy or something. they say "what is that!"
i let them know so that way they are educated on it that way incase they come across someone else like us they can understand a little better.

welcome to the board candi!!!!!!! :)
if you have any questions ask away. this is a great site.

robin :D