Hi everyone,
Just want to say this board is great!!! :) Let me tell ya a little about myself. I am 36, mom to 2 girls, married to a wonderful hubby, preschool special ed teacher. RIght after the birth of my 4 year old things started to hurt, first my hands and wrists, then stomach, then chest, then tingly feelings, then fatique-(of course I was a new mom so no one paid any attention to that),widespread joint and muscle pain,sleep problems, stiffness, especially in am, hurting just about everywhere!! After many visits to docs, with lots of "you are just a tired new mom!", all bloodwork negative-thyroid, RF, ANA, sed rate, etc... THey sent me to a rheummy who said Rheumateud arthritis, with negative blood factor, went on low dose of plaquenel-he said i had a mild case. I never really believed I had it but took med and was glad to have a DX!!! Think the dx helpeed more than the meds just glad to have something!!! SO after a year my dr said off med b/c swelling was gone, so I did, the whole time I really thought I had fibro b/c of muscle pain, IBS, other weird symptoms that i saw were often fibro related. I have tried nortriptalyne (sp?) but it gave me opposite effective palpitations instead of sleep so I am not on any meds, tylenol. advil, aleve do nothing for the pain. I have actually asked for a 2nd opininon to a rheummy that a friend of mine works for-she says FM when I tell her my symptoms so I will go see him as soon as I can get an appt. Now I have developed a bit of anxiety over not knowing what is wrong with me so my PCP gave me a referral to a therapist so I hope that will help. I also have handrwiting/typing problems so please forgive me if words are mispelled, etc... It is to the point that the pain interferes with my daily life ;household things, work having a hard time-calling in sick alot;just my quality of life is horrible. STRESS definitely seems to make it worse so I am thinking i am having a bad flare-came on around Christmas (stressful to me)and after the death of my GM and uncle (died on the same day in early Dec)!!! UGH!!! DO you guys think I have fibro? :confused: I have just had all the bloodwork done again, all negative, cardio workup all negative (chest pain symptoms), been to neurologists (have headaches alot too), been to ENT (have allergies), dentists (Have TMJ),had chiropractic care, PT, all for back pain and nothing seems to help!!!! THanks for listening sorry so long!!!! jessica

Jess welcome to the board. Lot's of your symptoms fit into the fibro catagory. I think we still have a sticky post at the top with a list of symptoms, I think it is call The List. Also check the lupus board, the sticky post at the top has a list of symptoms. I know you said all your blood work was negative, but sometimes that doesn't tell the whole story.

Fibro is a strange illness but I hope you can get some help from a good rhuemy and anytime you need help or support we on the board are here for you. This is a wonderful place with lots of caring and sharing people.

Glojer

Hi Jessica, I'm the grandmother of this board because I'm much older
than anyone else....let me welcome you to ''the family''. My introduction to
fibromyalgia came suddenly at age 69. I was still working and very active. I
had no thoughts of retiring. I fell down some steps and injured my knee.
After an arthroscopy to find the damage, the pain never stopped. It went
to my legs, feet, back and places I didn't know I had. My family doctor
diagnosed fibromyalgia, but I didn't believe her. I found a rheumatologist
and went through all sorts of tests, like the ones you've had....all were
negative. He had me sit on the exam table and he got behind me and
placed his hands on my back...when he pressed down, I really thought
he had stuck a knife in my back. I jumped off the table in tears. I had
all the points they check for fibro. After trying several antidepressants
that put me in a total fog for 5 weeks, I knew there had to be a better
way. I went back to my family doctor and ask her to treat the fibro.
I have taken the least amount of pain medicine to control the pain and
AmbienCR for sleep. I have posted all this before,but I believe the pain receptors
in the brain get mixed up signals after trauma or stress of any kind. There are
quite a few who had an onset after a car wreck, others after childbirth or
some great personal loss. Someday the cause will be found, then maybe a cure!
If I had one hint to offer, it would be to find a good doctor and stay with him/her.
You sound like a lovely person and I pray you find answers soon.
Bilij

Thanks for responding!!! GLojer just wondering what made you think Lupus? I have an aunt with lupus and I have had bloodwork at least 5 times over the past year that showed my ANA was good, is there another test they can do to check for lupus? All other bloodwork was neg. Thanks again

Jess, I think I keyed in on the joint pain, the tingling, and hand and wrist pain. I know all these symptoms can be fibro as well as other problems. I was just thinking that if you read the list of symptoms from lupus as well it may help you to sort out some of your symptoms. Goldenwings on this and the lupus board has had lupus for years. I am still in the you have it/you don't stage. I have had a positive ANA twice but after meds it is normal. There are some very specific blood tests for lupus and I can't think of them off the top of my head. All of mine are negative, but I also don't have internal organ damage. I do however have the sunsensitivity and joint pain and malar rash and antiphospholipids and mouths sores.

Fibro is a connective tissue disease and lupus is an autoimmune disease that falls under connective tissue also. Sometimes they overlap and reading about lupus symptoms can help you determine which symptoms are really in the forefront for you. Good Luck!

Glojer

Hi Jess, :wave:

I welcome you to this board also.

This is a great place to find the understanding and support one needs. This board has done so much for me and still does.

Like bilij mentioned, find a good doctor. This can be difficult in itself. Just do not get discouraged, you will eventually find the right one. If I understand correctly, you will be going to another rhumie in the near future?

I developed Fibro in 1994 but was not diagnosed until 2001. I went through surgeries, tests, tests, and tests. You name it. I know all these docs were trying to help but it was a long hall. In hindsight, I think about this or that symptom and how it pointed to fibro. That is why this board can be invaluable. At the time I didn't have this tool. When I was diagnosed it was one of the happiest days of my life. Sounds strange, but I finally had a name to what was making me so miserable.

Going to a therpaist is a great idea. I think it is so helpful to have someone to talk with. Try not to get to stressed. That old saying always applies, what will be will be. I will write it out in French but I don't think the spelling is correct, Ke-sara-sara???? :)

I hope you feel better, take care and try not to be to hard on your precious self.

Peace and love, Hangin