My PCP suspects that I have Fibro, and my symptoms seem to be getting worse rapidly. I don't have an appt. with a rheumotologist for further diagnosis until Dec. 3. Until then, I have to make do with what I'v learned already.

I am concerned that even if I can get thru work, with the help of morphine (originally prescribed for TMJ), that it is not good for me to push myself. My PCP does not want me to take it on a regular basis, but that is the only way to get thru work. He suggests that I save it for "flares". But since I have not experienced anything except what feels like a "flare", I'm not sure what to do.

Do you think the symptoms would subside somewhat if I took time off to take care of myself, and experiment with home treatments?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hi, nice to see you here.
Taking some time off from work may relieve the stress that working brings on for you and for you to get "your bearings."
Getting a diagnosis will help you decide how to progress with your life and life style.
If you get a diagnosis that it is fibromyalgia it is important to learn all you can about this invisible disease. That can help you determine how to proceed with various types of therapies, some may work and some may not. Everyone of us have to be our own "detective" when it comes to using drugs and life style changes and therapies.
I am wondering what kind of drugs you have tried in the past, what worked and what didn't.
I know the misery of trying to hold a job and needing a pain drug just to get through the day. I struggled many years and tried many drugs while keeping employment. I finally got to the point where I had to take simple jobs, less stressful jobs, just to keep getting a paycheck. At one point I was on so many drugs that it was hard to function at the "simple jobs." I don't want to discourage you. It is important to feel useful, even if the job is part-time. I ended up working part-time which made me feel better about myself and also wasn't as hard on me physically or mentally. I needed less medication working part-time.
Please keep us posted. We are here to encourage each other and help in any way if we can. MistyMisty

About flares, for me it is when I have had total body pain, muscle spasms in neck and shoulders, extreme tiredness, loss of the ability to think clearly because I felt so terrible, and a genralized lethargic feeling. Also, every thing seemed like a huge chore and I was irritable. Pain meds did not help or did not work at the time. Others may have different things to say about what a flare is! MistyMisty

Hi bjo,

Misty has a good point, taking time off work may help you adjust to what's going on with your body. And, as Misty pointed out, you may have to change jobs. I used to be the director of the legal department at a publically traded software development company. Some days I worked as much as 20 hours a day, I was on call 24 x 7, it was killing me. Now I work as a paralegal in a large law firm, still a very rewarding job but not nearly the stress. And, when I'm done at 5:00 p.m., I'm done, I can go home and leave the job behind. No more cell calls on the weekends or when I'm on vacation, etc. But working gives me more than just a pay check (which I have to have) it does give me a lot of self-satisfaction and it gives me a reason to get up in the morning and push myself on some days when I'd rather just roll over and go back to sleep. Don't get me wrong, there are days when the pain is so severe that I do just that...roll over, pick up the phone and call work and tell them I'm in too much pain to come in, then take some pain meds and go back to sleep and sleep all day.

I've made a lot of other changes too. I have a lot more dust in my house than I used to. Sometimes the dishes don't get done every night after work. And if a load of jeans stays in the dryer all week...oh well, we just go to the dryer and get them out. My boys are raised and married now, I have two grandsons and a granddaughter on the way. That is what is important in my life now. I spend whatever time I can with them, if they want me to do something with them on the weekends or after work, I do that now instead of worrying about the dust and the dishes.

Fibro is a huge adjustment, but you can do it. Take inventory of what you're doing in your life to cause yourself stress. Get rid of as much stress as you can, look at what's really important and enjoy it as much as you can. Find a good doctor, take the meds prescribed for you, stay tuned to this message board for support and tips on how to get through it. Best of luck to you.

Thanks for all your input.

Right now, I do nothing but work & transport my daughter an hour to & from school (carpool when possible).

My husband is very good about doing housework, and my daughter sometimes does the cooking, if we cook at all. Last weekend I even sent my daughter to do the grocery shopping. I get home and crash in my recliner, and on the weekends I do the same. I don't even feel like stopping to pick up a prescription on the way home. There is nothing else I can cut back on, except work.

Originally I had problems with TMJ. I saw a pain specialist who helped me get that pain under control, but I had sensitivities to many of the first meds he tried. Eventually settled on narcotics (hydocodone, then morphine)& Paxil for depression & PMS, though about 2 months ago, due to Paxil not working as well, my PCP switched me to Effexor (sp?), I think it is. Then when he determined I could have Fibro, he increased my dose to 15mg. instead of 10mg.

Many of my symptoms (especially fatigue) began probably 2-4 years ago, but my pain focus at that time was my TMJ. Then last month, my TMJ pain disappeared for the most part (I believe this was a miracle, due to special prayer). So I began weaning off my pain meds. This is when I really began to discover the achiness all over, and the joint pain. I may have noticed fleeting pain her and there, but I had pain meds for TMJ, so didn't worry too much about it, and it was soon gone, anyway.

So, that's pretty much my story.

Hey! I know it's early in the morn and I can't sleep again, no sleep last night either but what is TMJ? I have every thing else symtomatic with Fibro and I'll bet cha I have this,too. Also, your question about quiting work or going part-time was of interest to me. I had to take early retirement this year because of not feeling like getting ready, no desire at all. Couldn't remember half the stuff I was suppose to be doing anyways. I worked for 27 years and because of this no mercy disease I had to quit. I had an excellent job that I had prepared for and worked hard to get and I wasn't ready to quit. It's pretty simple. If you don't have the energy to get ready and the pain is all you can concentrate on then you have no choices left. I am working part time. Truely part time,too. Every thing is such a chore to do. I have my beautiful Victorian home on the market. Can't handle the steps up nor down. Needless to say anything about trying to keep it clean. Those were the days...I've decided to buy a much smaller Ranch which I have never liked ,but at least I can walk to all the rooms and try to keep some type of organization to it all. As someone said earlier, it really doesn't matter if the dishes are all done, I use a lot of paper products now. Everything I can minimize I'm doing it. Who knows, I might like it after all. Back to your thoughts. If you can afford to reduce your workload, do it. If you can't, then work as long as you can and prepare for the days when you won't be able to do it any longer. Good luck

Everything said here is so good. If you are diagnosed on the appt. in Dec. please check back here and talk to poster(mIsty,Misty). She has made a dent in this disease with a protocol she has been on for a few months. But, one can't be taking morphine based medication and take it. I reccomend you talk to her on here if you have Fibromylagia in the future. I believe she could help you. Soleil

singintheblues,
TMJ is an abreviation for any condition that involves the temporomandiular joint (the jaw). Both sides of my jaw show indication of osteoarthritis.

The rest of you...
My job is a blessing & my supervisor & manager are willing to do just about anything for me. I let them know of the possibility of fibro, and of cutting back on hours, and they got together to discuss what would work best for all of us. The issue now is whith short term disability, and whether I have to have a diagnosis before taking advantage of it.

I know I can't get along financially without some kind of compensation. My husband backs me up 100% in all areas except where money is concerned.

As far as my job goes, I will work at least part time if at all possible. I can't ask for a better job, or more understanding & cooperative management. My manager even told me she has a couple of friends that have been diagnosed with fibro, and if I need a good doctor, one of them has a docter she just loves.

So, I'm taking one day at a time, sometimes even one hour at a time, and waiting for whatever's next.

PS...they had a cancellation, my appt. moved up to Nov. 5th!

[This message has been edited by bjo (edited 10-22-2003).]