Lisa Ann
10-22-2003, 08:05 PM
Hi everyone. I am new here. 2 days ago I had never even heard of Fibromyalgea until my dr. told me I may have it. I've been tested for arthritis, Rheumatoid, Osteo, and Lupus but they all came back negative. I have for years had problems and was down for months with my back, could barely walk but told nothing showed up...have gastreointestinal and acid reflux disease, sleep problems, unexplainable weight gain (40 pounds in the last 6 months) :( headaches, sensitivety to light and sounds, pain all over, I can't stand to wear my rings which I haven't taken off in 20 years of marriage, I can't see to read a book yet my eye tests come back fine, I have had numerous female problems (of course they say they can't find anything and just have a hysterectomy and get it over with), chest pains, (had a stress test and heart tests yesterday, all fine), and numerous other complaints and pain. I'm praying that the Rheumatoligist can for sure diagnose me. I have to wait until my primary care dr. can get me an appointment and he said the appointment may not be for months. In the mean time he did put me on some meds so maybe they will help. I've learned so much from just reading all your posts today. A nice person on Hometalk chat at HGTV told me about this site because I had posted a question there. By the way I'm 38, married 20 years to the love of my life, and have 2 teenagers (who btw are wonderful kids and have been helping me so so much).
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AliceBlueBelle
10-24-2003, 12:55 AM
Hi Lisa Ann, Welcome! sometimes it does help to have a name for what we are feeling. If you get any new troublesome symptoms, don't hesitate to have them checked out. Other things can develop in us just the same as other folks.
Alice
Alice
painsucks
10-24-2003, 02:35 PM
Well Lisa Ann it sounds like you've been put through the ringer, which is what most of us have had to go through. It is good to finally have a diagnosis so you can put a name to the pain and so you can research the symptoms, etc. It took quite a long time for my doctor to diagnose me too, and like you said, I'd never heard of fibro before that. It has been 10 years since my diagnosis. I'm glad to hear that your husband and kids are supportive, that is very important. Try not to over due it, listen to your body, when you're having a really bad day, just take it easy. On good days, don't push yourself or you'll be down in bed for days and that's just not worth it. Keep us posted on your progress and your diagnosis.
bjo
10-24-2003, 04:49 PM
I'm about in the same boat you are. I am almost 43, have been married 24 yrs, have one teen in college, and one still at home, who is a great help. I had been researching what could be making me so fatigued, and knew a little about fibro. But I had been on so much pain meds for TMJ (jaw pain), that I didn't discover the fibro pain until the pain from my TMJ miraculously disappeared, and I went off the pain meds. Last week I went into the PCP to see if I could have chronic fatigue (similar to fibro), and he informed me I probably had fibro! I will be seeing a rheumatologist on Nov. 5. He increased my antidepressant, but gave me no other meds or instructions until I see the rheumo.
Do you work outside the home? How is that going?
A few of websites I found helpful are:
http://www.myalgia.com/index.html
http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/CFS/fib_home.htm
http://fmaware.org/patient/coping/positive_attitude.htm
I will keep you in my prayers!
Do you work outside the home? How is that going?
A few of websites I found helpful are:
http://www.myalgia.com/index.html
http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/CFS/fib_home.htm
http://fmaware.org/patient/coping/positive_attitude.htm
I will keep you in my prayers!
daldre1269
10-25-2003, 08:02 AM
Hi Lisa,
Don't rule out hypothyroidism as the cause of your symptoms before you: 1. Get a full thyroid panel done which includeds TSH, Free T3, Free t4, Total T3, total t4 and antithroid peroxidase ab.. thyroid antibody test.
2. Even if these results are completely within range you may still be suffering from thyroid deficiency...
If you are hypothyroid at the cellular level this cannot show up on a test... you show up normal because, yes, you do have the correct amount of hormone but you are not utilizing it at the cellular level.
My thyroid tests all came out NORMAL so I was diagnosed with fibro also... but..
I did more research and realized I had the symptoms of hypothyroid even with the normal labs. I found a doctor who gave me a trial of armour thyroid and a year later I am still on it and symptom free.
If you do a search on "normal labs and hypothyroid".. you will get a wealth of information to arm yourself with.
This is just another highly important area to explore.. and not give up on. You should give up at the moment you are put on a trial of thyroid and it shows no improvement for you.
This is just my opinion and through all of the evidence of hypo and fibro being one and the same.... I believe fibro is hypo.
This is simply an opinion. Some may not share the same opinion which is totally okay.
Don't rule out hypothyroidism as the cause of your symptoms before you: 1. Get a full thyroid panel done which includeds TSH, Free T3, Free t4, Total T3, total t4 and antithroid peroxidase ab.. thyroid antibody test.
2. Even if these results are completely within range you may still be suffering from thyroid deficiency...
If you are hypothyroid at the cellular level this cannot show up on a test... you show up normal because, yes, you do have the correct amount of hormone but you are not utilizing it at the cellular level.
My thyroid tests all came out NORMAL so I was diagnosed with fibro also... but..
I did more research and realized I had the symptoms of hypothyroid even with the normal labs. I found a doctor who gave me a trial of armour thyroid and a year later I am still on it and symptom free.
If you do a search on "normal labs and hypothyroid".. you will get a wealth of information to arm yourself with.
This is just another highly important area to explore.. and not give up on. You should give up at the moment you are put on a trial of thyroid and it shows no improvement for you.
This is just my opinion and through all of the evidence of hypo and fibro being one and the same.... I believe fibro is hypo.
This is simply an opinion. Some may not share the same opinion which is totally okay.
californiasunflower
10-27-2003, 02:17 PM
Hi daldre
I am new to healthboard and just amazed at the wealth of information here by all! I am so grateful for the technology to access info and support one another this easily! Your post is very helpful. I have a question for you.
How long did it take before you felt the affects from the thyroid medication?
I am new to healthboard and just amazed at the wealth of information here by all! I am so grateful for the technology to access info and support one another this easily! Your post is very helpful. I have a question for you.
How long did it take before you felt the affects from the thyroid medication?
daldre1269
10-27-2003, 10:11 PM
Hi California,
Well... I was on armour for a couple of months and the dose was too low so I still had alot of pain... but then we added cytomel (t3) and bam... the pain subsided by the afternoon... not kidding.
T3 is fast acting and relief of symptoms can be felt very very quickly... whereas t4 is slow acting and can take 2 or more weeks to feel any effect and even at that it is not proven that t4 relieves the pain at all.
With the cytomel we gauged the dose increases when the pain would come back it was time for another increase... and finally I maxed out ... no pain.
It was horrible, I used to get such pain in my hands that I could not hold a pen... I was so stiff in the morning and so tired.
I feel no pain now. :)
Well... I was on armour for a couple of months and the dose was too low so I still had alot of pain... but then we added cytomel (t3) and bam... the pain subsided by the afternoon... not kidding.
T3 is fast acting and relief of symptoms can be felt very very quickly... whereas t4 is slow acting and can take 2 or more weeks to feel any effect and even at that it is not proven that t4 relieves the pain at all.
With the cytomel we gauged the dose increases when the pain would come back it was time for another increase... and finally I maxed out ... no pain.
It was horrible, I used to get such pain in my hands that I could not hold a pen... I was so stiff in the morning and so tired.
I feel no pain now. :)
Lisa Ann
10-28-2003, 10:43 PM
Thank you everyone for your replies. Right now I'm being hung up by my insurance. I have to get approval from them before I can even see a Rheumatologist. Big bummer. In the mean time the dr. has me on an anti-depressant that is helping me sleep and also a muscle relaxer that is doing nothing. The dr. did do a blood test for my thyroid and it came back negative. My dr. is just a general dr. and he's good for flu and cold but thats about it. Hopefully when I can see a specialist I can get more answers. Right now I'll just have to wait. I can't afford to pay a dr. out of pocket right now. Its crazy that I'm having to pay for insurance and then have to get their approval before I can see a specialist.
I have trouble walking right now because my back is really bad and so are my knees. I feel like everything sort of freezes up when I lay down. I do feel a little better today. My dh has been giving me a massage and using a linament on my back and we are doing simple exercises which I believe is helping a little. I'm still in a great deal of pain. I'm learning to take things slow which is hard for me because I am such a go getter.
Anyway thanks for your time and the welcome. :)
I have trouble walking right now because my back is really bad and so are my knees. I feel like everything sort of freezes up when I lay down. I do feel a little better today. My dh has been giving me a massage and using a linament on my back and we are doing simple exercises which I believe is helping a little. I'm still in a great deal of pain. I'm learning to take things slow which is hard for me because I am such a go getter.
Anyway thanks for your time and the welcome. :)
daldre1269
10-30-2003, 04:20 PM
Hi Lisa Ann,
There actually isn't a "negative" classification for thyroid... They call you this if you fall within range... but I had "negative" thyroid tests also and here I am on 270mg of armour and cytomel.... all with normal normal labs.
Normal test results do not rule out hypothyroidism since it could occur at the cellular level or it could occur as pituitary failure which can most reliably be determined by a TRH test..... not the TSH test.
There actually isn't a "negative" classification for thyroid... They call you this if you fall within range... but I had "negative" thyroid tests also and here I am on 270mg of armour and cytomel.... all with normal normal labs.
Normal test results do not rule out hypothyroidism since it could occur at the cellular level or it could occur as pituitary failure which can most reliably be determined by a TRH test..... not the TSH test.
ticker
11-09-2003, 09:48 AM
Lisa Ann, I suggest checking out the possibility of Lyme Disease and the other tickborne infetions Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis HME & HGE, and Bartonella. I have Lyme Disease and also live in TN. Lyme is very significant here but not recognized. It can cause the symptoms you describe. The co-infection Babesiosis (which I have also had) can cause heart symptoms.
It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. The closest one is in Springfield MO. If you would like his name, just let me know.
It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. The closest one is in Springfield MO. If you would like his name, just let me know.