It's hard to find people who have had this dx for over 10 years, anyone else? I would love tobe able to just get around with out feeling 100. I have been going to a great doctor but, Over the years it just gets worse. Thank you

------------------
Dale

I have not had it as long as you have Dale but we did a topic a while back on progressiveness...you may find it interesting...scoobs

Hello Scoobs, Good! Thank you. Any other good sites or information from doctors? Let me know.

------------------
Dale

I was asked on another post this. I have had what they first called fibrositis. Now, FMS well over ten years. How not sure. I don't like to say how much I suffer. A lot. I have tried everything I can get my hands on and what the doctor says to try. I just keep getting worse over the years. I find that you can get short tempered easily. After time you get use to the apparent rudeness and so do others. It's pain and being scared of what is next that makes people that way. I have found. The problems keep mounting and your temperment to. It is hard when people look at you funny. You get use to it. Any one else have this for many years.

------------------
Dale

Dale,
Thanks for the reply, Yes! in the last ten years I have gradually gotten worse, and these last 3 years have not been a walk in the park. It has become apparent that we are told to grin and bare it!!! But simple things can hurt the hands, and when you need to lift anything, just hope I don't drop it. I have tried everything in the book, from herbals to every market pill you can get...but to no avail. I live here in Alaska, and my wife is from the Yukon river, we are trying some herbal meds her grandfather and fathers before them have tried, but it seems good for the colds, but not for the pain or joints, but it was worth a try, its a plant the grows around here, but you have to know, the difference between the ones that are poisionous and the one that is not, because both plants look very similiar, so I don't get them myself, knowing my luck I would pick the wrong one..lol....later, take care!
peteybear

I've had the symptoms of FMS since 1973, but wasn't diagnosed until 1998. My symptoms would come and go at first, and I mean for about 18 months, then reappear for about 8 months. But since 1994 it has been a pretty constant thing. Ask your doctor about lidoderm patches.(They are fairly new on the market). They have 5% of lidocaine in them and you can wear them up to 12 hours. They have helped me alot; the pain is still here, but at least if one area is acting up, I can slap on a patch and then not have to worry. The next day I may have to put it very close to where it was the day before, but once again you are in somewhat of control

Hi, No, I don't have fibromylagia. All I have is a suggestion. Try sleeping on a magnetic matress. I have learned quite a bit about magnets lately and they work on lot of different things. It can't hurt to try. Barb

Thank you Barb, I have friends that have used them.

------------------
Dale

Have you all had a slow and sometimes in spirts of degression? That stays? I will be doing Warm water Hydrotheropry soon. The doctor said it would be relaxing and should be the last scheduled of the day. Can't wait to try it. I go at 8:00 Pm perfect.

------------------
Dale

I have had it for over 30 years, long before they had a name for it.

"Acceptance" of the condition goes a long ways in avoiding depression and lessens the misery.

How, you may ask? Simple, take charge of your life and do not let Fibromyalgia be the boss, well, not full time!! Go about life regardless of the misery, you will hurt at home, you will hurt while out, you will hurt no matter where you are. Learn to put misery in back of mind and concentate on other things and your days will be better for it.

This is the same thing our forefathers suffered and was called rheumatism. Doctors cannot agree on what to call it. As far as they were concerned it did not "really" exist until a "male rheumatologist" got the condition. It has been dumped into the "arthritis catagory" and also has become the name to give to any and every misery a person has just because doctors do not want to take the time or be bothered finding out what is really wrong with a person.

If you have been diagnosed as having Fibromyalgia, be sure and get a second or third opinion and make sure all other problems have been ruled out. No need to suffer from a treatable condition and get worse due to lack of care. Better to be positive you "really do have fibromyalgia".

Life goes on and we can do much to make it a more pleasant life provided we do not give in to the misery and think about it all the time. Fibromyalgia will not cripple you but you can cripple yourself by sitting around, not moving because it hurts. Joints will become stiff and soon will not move for you. Lack of use will allow this. Exercise is the best thing for fibromyalgia, yeah, I know, the thought of exercise makes you cringe but it has proven to be true.

You want to know how bad I hurt? Well, I hurt bad enough to know what any of you are going thru. Remember when we hurt, it is always worse than when someone else hurts!!!

Smile as if you felt like a million dollars and trot off to life to the fullest.

You will appreciate days gone by when you realize you were not so miserable then versus what you might be now!! There is light at end of the tunnel so do not allow yourself to have a pity party, only makes matters worse.

We all have a condition that has no mercy on us but we can endure!!

Smile, candied camera is on YOU!!!!!

Thank you Marie55, I agree with whay you are saying. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
Dale

Marie55, I agree 100%!!! I did find a way to lessen the pain for myself. I thank God every day that it's me and not one of my children. I thank God that they are healthy. I'd spend every day of the rest of my life in pain before having them spend one single day in sickness or pain. It's funny, that was one of the things on my gratitude list (list was suggested by a close girlfriend last week) that really made the pain more bearable for me. One of my nieces is chronically ill with Crohn's Disease and it's heartbreaking to see her, she looks so terrible most of the time. I would take my FM any day over the pain of being the parent of a sick child. I'm grateful too, every day, that I don't have to work full time outside my home any more. I was sitting on my sofa today playing "go fish" with my 4 year old and I just choked up with gratitude. I'm so so so lucky, I just have this health problem but I refuse to let it run or ruin my life!!! There are worse places that I could be and I just have to keep REMINDING myself so I don't sit too long on the pity pot.