I have been through the ringer with tests, MRI, Nerve tests etc. Told to go to Psychiatry! Found another Dr, a female, who diagnosed me today. I have never even heard of this, but I have every single symptom. I am releived and scared at the same time. She put me on Noratryptiline? I see her again in three weeks. She said it will never go away. What will I do? I have been off work since December 19th. Going back part time tomorrow. What if I cannot continue to work? Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the board greeneyes. Fibro never goes away, but you can learn to live with it. It is all in the attitude and of course to have a very caring doc who listens. There are a lot of people on this board with lots of knowledge and we will be there to help you through the rough spots. Ask questions and vent whenever you need to.

Glojer

Hi Greeneyes:
It sounds like you are having such a rough time. Hugs to you! If you are anything like me, the initial onset of the fibro is really a rough patch. The subsequent flares weren't nearly as bad for me. Do some research on fibro to find the best care for yourself. There are many good books on fibro that will help you! Educating myself on the condition really helped keep fear at bay and helped me progress towards successful treatment.

I hope your first day back to work wasn't to hard on you.

Blessings,
Kirstee

Hi Greeneyesblue,

I feel for you. It's nice to KNOW what is wrong, then you have to deal with it - and FM isn't easy. I have it, too. Plus now I had my thyroid removed due to nodules and am hypo. I am sure you had thyroid tests - if you have the results of those, you might post them on the thyroid board - sometimes all these things go together. I have learned to get copies of every test they run. It can help down the road. Some docs go by the old values for thyroid tests and say you are normal when you are not. It never hurts to check.

Fibromyalgia is a recognized disability and all authorities agree that if the condition is severe enough, disability benefits can be obtained. This is NOT an easy path to go down.

Short term disability is usually a first step & then long term. If you are in the USA the FMLA may help you - but you don't get paid while not working. I know of a girl who was pregnant and used the fmla to let her go home or not come to work whenever she had "problems" - so it can work for a number of medical problems. Do a search for disability + Fibromyalgia and you may find some info.

I noticed from previous posts you have diabetes. My husband had Diabetes (passed away now) and "retired" with that disability from the government - even with all the documentation and dr's filling out all the paperwork it took awhile.

Oh - I was told to go to a shrink by one doc :eek: back in 1998- then another doc diagnosed FM. It was NOT all in my head! :D

Take care.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful replies. Yes, I do have Diabetes. It's well controlled now for the most part but likely was not for several years...

hi greeneyes,
in the beginning i was told to go to a shrink. it made me really mad at the time. about a year later i realized that jerk was right, i needed help to adjust to this new life. i found a really good therapist and spent the next 9 years learning new coping skills. i went thru alot of doctors, 16 of them. i only had 2 therapists, both outstanding!
this does not mean i was crazy. i was lost. i had no idea how to live in this body that hurt so much and so often. take some time to think about it. i like not being afraid anymore.
remember to breath deeply, drink plenty of clean water, eat healthy and make yourself exercise. gentle stretches to lubricate the joints. i have no doubt with diabetes you are already taking good and loving care of your body.
life sure does throw us some curve balls!
peace,
bluelakelady