4kids4me
02-08-2009, 09:59 PM
Well, let me start by saying I am so glad to have found this. I've read alot already and it seems that there are more people out there that have the same sort of symptoms as I do, and that is reassuring to me, that I am not dying LOL. Ok, so here's what my symptoms are
1. Pain in my muscles, and full body aching feeling like a flu for approximately 2 years now.
2. Chronic headaches and migraines (1-2 per week for migraines, nearly every day for headaches)
3. Fatigue that is so severe that I'm not functioning at a normal level at all (my house is becoming a bigger disaster by the day)
4. Insomnia for over a year. I wake up repetedly in the night, and in the morning I don't feel like I've slept at all.
5. Morning stiffness. It can take me hours in the morning to get mobile, which is especially hard since I've got 4 kids.
6. Extreme sensitivity to cold temperatures. It's painful to go outside if I'm not completely covered from head to toe. My poor kids and husband, I keep the house in the winter at a balmy 80 degrees.
7. My eyes are extremely light sensitive, so I avoid the sun and keep my blinds drawn in my house so it's not too bright in the house.
8. Chronic constipation. I don't thing I need to go into that LOL.
9. Having more and more trouble concentrating on what I need to. I blankly stare into the nothing until my brain starts working again. It's like a short circuit that lasts for 1-3 minutes sometimes.
10. Irritability that cannot be explained. Sometimes it's anxiety, but nothing has provoked it. Just random irritability and anxiety that is focused on nothing.
I'm not sure that fibromyalgia is the answer, but I cannot continue to live like this without some kind of relief. I'm frustrated and I'm tired and I'm in pain and I don't really know what to do next. Do I just walk into my doctor and say "hey, I think I've got fibromyalgia, can you test me?". What do I say? I feel like I'm trapped inside my own body and everyone thinks I'm crazy. What do I do now?
Thanks for any input,
Christi
(4kids4me)
1. Pain in my muscles, and full body aching feeling like a flu for approximately 2 years now.
2. Chronic headaches and migraines (1-2 per week for migraines, nearly every day for headaches)
3. Fatigue that is so severe that I'm not functioning at a normal level at all (my house is becoming a bigger disaster by the day)
4. Insomnia for over a year. I wake up repetedly in the night, and in the morning I don't feel like I've slept at all.
5. Morning stiffness. It can take me hours in the morning to get mobile, which is especially hard since I've got 4 kids.
6. Extreme sensitivity to cold temperatures. It's painful to go outside if I'm not completely covered from head to toe. My poor kids and husband, I keep the house in the winter at a balmy 80 degrees.
7. My eyes are extremely light sensitive, so I avoid the sun and keep my blinds drawn in my house so it's not too bright in the house.
8. Chronic constipation. I don't thing I need to go into that LOL.
9. Having more and more trouble concentrating on what I need to. I blankly stare into the nothing until my brain starts working again. It's like a short circuit that lasts for 1-3 minutes sometimes.
10. Irritability that cannot be explained. Sometimes it's anxiety, but nothing has provoked it. Just random irritability and anxiety that is focused on nothing.
I'm not sure that fibromyalgia is the answer, but I cannot continue to live like this without some kind of relief. I'm frustrated and I'm tired and I'm in pain and I don't really know what to do next. Do I just walk into my doctor and say "hey, I think I've got fibromyalgia, can you test me?". What do I say? I feel like I'm trapped inside my own body and everyone thinks I'm crazy. What do I do now?
Thanks for any input,
Christi
(4kids4me)
Sponsor
Glojer
02-08-2009, 10:15 PM
4kids, sounds like a lot of the complaints of fibro to me. You may have some overlap problems, which many of us do. The fatigue could be from thyroid problems and any gastro problems could be IBS which many of us have. You have mentioned almost all the major problems of fibro. I'm sure you will get a lot of others popping in to give you their opinions. By the way welcome to the board.
Glojer
Glojer
djl
02-08-2009, 11:26 PM
Hi 4kids...and welcome.
Im knew to this thing too. Just DX in late Dec. I wasnt real sure about this disease, I meam I have heard of it but wasnt realy sure ehat it was all about. My GP diagnosed me.
Have you discussed what your symptoms are with a doctor??
Im knew to this thing too. Just DX in late Dec. I wasnt real sure about this disease, I meam I have heard of it but wasnt realy sure ehat it was all about. My GP diagnosed me.
Have you discussed what your symptoms are with a doctor??
MaMa24Bellz
02-19-2009, 08:05 PM
OMG reading your post I feel like I could have written that myself. I know exactly how you feel, I told my husband last night that maybe I have a mental disorder because all my test have come back fine. But there is still something. I feel like I have this feeling that they are missing something and they won't catch it and I am gonna die. I myself have 4 kids so that thought kills me. I just want to get back to my old self again. I'm sure you understand that!! Please write back when you have found something. I could use all the help.
4kids4me
02-19-2009, 09:30 PM
Well, as of February 9th I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My doctor did the tender point/ trigger point test and I had 12 of the 18 of them and he said I had fibromyalgia. I would suggest to your doctor that you think you might have this problem and even maybe ask him to do the test, and if he won't, go to another doctor. I hope that things get better for you, and hoping things get better for me too now that I'm on a whole bunch of meds........ :)
badpain
02-19-2009, 10:22 PM
I hope you don't mind a male point of view.
I saw my sister go through something similar a few years ago; all the symptoms were the same. I could understand the change from a lively person to almost a hermit. The pain the tiredness the headaches the IBS, she would cry a lot and simple problems would get her so worked up, what we did was change her lifestyle. First she went for a detox and I mean a complete detox to flush out her system. She had her colons flushed out once a month only for a couple of months.
She started a new diet not one to loose weight but more about what she ate, she cut out lots of things too things that slowed her metabolism down. She drank plenty of water and I devised a training program, we met twice a week at the local gym.
She even changed her job which I thought played a major part in causing Fibro. Finally I told her she had to do 1 last thing and that was to go abroad by her self for a long weekend. She did and visited New York for 3 days, it was the best thing she had done in a long time. She is now back to who she was if not better. She has a job she enjoys, looks fabulous but still watches what she eats. It was breaking my heart to see her deteriate but luckily she found the strength to beat it.
I would say get your partners or brothers or close friend involved. Set goals that your buddy will make sure you meet. Don't rush it things will not change overnight. Some of the things I’ve said may seem drastic; just remember drastic measure should be taken where your life and health are in freefall.
I hope there is some in there that can be used; I’m hoping her turnaround story will be an inspiration.
M
I saw my sister go through something similar a few years ago; all the symptoms were the same. I could understand the change from a lively person to almost a hermit. The pain the tiredness the headaches the IBS, she would cry a lot and simple problems would get her so worked up, what we did was change her lifestyle. First she went for a detox and I mean a complete detox to flush out her system. She had her colons flushed out once a month only for a couple of months.
She started a new diet not one to loose weight but more about what she ate, she cut out lots of things too things that slowed her metabolism down. She drank plenty of water and I devised a training program, we met twice a week at the local gym.
She even changed her job which I thought played a major part in causing Fibro. Finally I told her she had to do 1 last thing and that was to go abroad by her self for a long weekend. She did and visited New York for 3 days, it was the best thing she had done in a long time. She is now back to who she was if not better. She has a job she enjoys, looks fabulous but still watches what she eats. It was breaking my heart to see her deteriate but luckily she found the strength to beat it.
I would say get your partners or brothers or close friend involved. Set goals that your buddy will make sure you meet. Don't rush it things will not change overnight. Some of the things I’ve said may seem drastic; just remember drastic measure should be taken where your life and health are in freefall.
I hope there is some in there that can be used; I’m hoping her turnaround story will be an inspiration.
M
chilyrabit
02-19-2009, 11:06 PM
Hi there 4kids and djl! I just read your posts and wanted to tell you that like so many others, I have been there too!
I want to share a few things that I learned over the past several years and that have helped me along the way. If you read something that helps you - great; if not, keep trying -- there are alot of people out here.
I've learned that I can't stop moving; it will not help the pain. Also, isolating myself from others (family, friends, co-workers) is NOT good. I need all the support possible. I also need to interact with people (adults when possible) at least everyday. It has become essential to my overall well-being.
I am in the process now of really truly (I think before I was trying to pull one over on myself LOL) accepting that I will never be the Kim I used to be. It is what it is and I am who I am. I certainly would have changed over the last 15 years whether I had FM or not. So, either way, I changed and now I have to adapt to a somewhat modified life style.
I hope this finds you havig a good day.
I want to share a few things that I learned over the past several years and that have helped me along the way. If you read something that helps you - great; if not, keep trying -- there are alot of people out here.
I've learned that I can't stop moving; it will not help the pain. Also, isolating myself from others (family, friends, co-workers) is NOT good. I need all the support possible. I also need to interact with people (adults when possible) at least everyday. It has become essential to my overall well-being.
I am in the process now of really truly (I think before I was trying to pull one over on myself LOL) accepting that I will never be the Kim I used to be. It is what it is and I am who I am. I certainly would have changed over the last 15 years whether I had FM or not. So, either way, I changed and now I have to adapt to a somewhat modified life style.
I hope this finds you havig a good day.
rosebuddy
02-19-2009, 11:23 PM
if i knew at the onset of fibromyalgia what i know now this is what i would do and other tips:
1. get the book fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain by devin starlanyl asap. this book saved my sanity. I am serious, you need this book. Have your husband and other family read it also. fibromyalgia advocate is also good, same author.
2. find a good pain mgmt doctor. Mine has a brochure that states her number one thing she treats is fibromyalgia and the second is chronic myofascial pain. she is wonderful and without her i would never have gotten to the point that i rarely flare and do not have any active trigger points. (trigger points are not the same as tender points) I had injections and physical therapy there and she orders my pain meds. and see her as needed, usually once every one or two months for active trigger points in my back with referred pain to my gluteals.
3. don't believe everything you hear or read on line, i was so confused and rightly so. that is why you need the book.
4. try not to stress out because it releases hormones and chemicals into your system that cause flares.
5. fibrofog is real. don't feel down on yourself because you can't finish sentences or do the bills or even get lost in your own town. try not to multi task it makes it worse and be really careful driving. I said the signs outloud to myself and the light is red etc. I have never had fog like i did at onset of fibro. and eating refined sugar makes it worse.
6. malic acid and magnesium will ease the deep muscle pain. a heated mattress cover will warm your cold muscles but the stiffness is still there for me but does't last as long. a warmed rice sock draped around your shoulders helps with neck and shoulder pain. I could not make it without my foam body pillow that i drape one leg over. it was expensive but worth every penny. My chiropractor ordered it for me.
7. don't over do it on your good days. you will pay dearly the next day or day after.
8. don't waste your time explaining your pain to everyone so that they know you don't feel good. I did this for years. Now i just keep it simple. I am flaring. Accept that some people will not believe in fibromyalgia or that you are sick. some docs are not supportive. do not waste your time on them.
9. I got counseling and worked through the stages of grief/loss of good health/job. I highly recommend this.
10. fibro is a central nervous system disorder. you brain is sending and receiving pain messages. this ofcourse involves the brain and that includes depression. You may need an antidepressant. some of them help with the pain like cymbalta, but it doesn't work for everyone.
11. Lyrica doesn't work for everyone. Neurontin works better for me for burning skin sensation.
12. your sensitivity to cold and light may spread to noise and smell. Just so you know. I can hear flourescent lights. I cannot stand going down the cleaning supplies isle at the grocery store. I also have to wear soft clothes with the labels removedbut i have had times when i could tolerate more. at onset i had a terrible time with the cold, just like you are having.
13. You will find the right combination of meds that will help you sleep. Don't think that you just have to live with it. I don't know what you can take with having kids. I take flexeril and valium and lamictal. and it kind of konks me out.
14. release your expectations of being a perfect mom and running a perfect household. you will need help. your husband needs to be understanding and take a lot of responsibilities that you used to do. talk about it. but don't make your life fibromyalgia.
15. do creative things that you enjoy. make time for yourself. do something that you enjoy everyday. don't just make a list and do one task after another. drawing, coloring mandalas, whatever... again good chemicals are released that will ease your pain.
and lastly, don't become a victim to fibromyagia. Be proactive. You are the leader of your health care team. they aren't your bosses, you are not at their mercy. there are lots of good docs out there. keep looking. I have a great pcp, rheumy, and pain mgmt who are all supportive, listen to me, and even helped me with my disability papers. rheumatologists see more people with fibro than with rheumatoid arthritis.
No matter what anyone tells you, fibromyalgia is not necessarily a disease that gets progressively worse, people do get better.
I hope i helped. I wish i had someone to tell me all this at the beginning. I was just so lost and freaked out. I had always been active and healthy. I was in so much pain, i could't think straight and not sleeping made it worse. I hope you feel better soon. Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.
1. get the book fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain by devin starlanyl asap. this book saved my sanity. I am serious, you need this book. Have your husband and other family read it also. fibromyalgia advocate is also good, same author.
2. find a good pain mgmt doctor. Mine has a brochure that states her number one thing she treats is fibromyalgia and the second is chronic myofascial pain. she is wonderful and without her i would never have gotten to the point that i rarely flare and do not have any active trigger points. (trigger points are not the same as tender points) I had injections and physical therapy there and she orders my pain meds. and see her as needed, usually once every one or two months for active trigger points in my back with referred pain to my gluteals.
3. don't believe everything you hear or read on line, i was so confused and rightly so. that is why you need the book.
4. try not to stress out because it releases hormones and chemicals into your system that cause flares.
5. fibrofog is real. don't feel down on yourself because you can't finish sentences or do the bills or even get lost in your own town. try not to multi task it makes it worse and be really careful driving. I said the signs outloud to myself and the light is red etc. I have never had fog like i did at onset of fibro. and eating refined sugar makes it worse.
6. malic acid and magnesium will ease the deep muscle pain. a heated mattress cover will warm your cold muscles but the stiffness is still there for me but does't last as long. a warmed rice sock draped around your shoulders helps with neck and shoulder pain. I could not make it without my foam body pillow that i drape one leg over. it was expensive but worth every penny. My chiropractor ordered it for me.
7. don't over do it on your good days. you will pay dearly the next day or day after.
8. don't waste your time explaining your pain to everyone so that they know you don't feel good. I did this for years. Now i just keep it simple. I am flaring. Accept that some people will not believe in fibromyalgia or that you are sick. some docs are not supportive. do not waste your time on them.
9. I got counseling and worked through the stages of grief/loss of good health/job. I highly recommend this.
10. fibro is a central nervous system disorder. you brain is sending and receiving pain messages. this ofcourse involves the brain and that includes depression. You may need an antidepressant. some of them help with the pain like cymbalta, but it doesn't work for everyone.
11. Lyrica doesn't work for everyone. Neurontin works better for me for burning skin sensation.
12. your sensitivity to cold and light may spread to noise and smell. Just so you know. I can hear flourescent lights. I cannot stand going down the cleaning supplies isle at the grocery store. I also have to wear soft clothes with the labels removedbut i have had times when i could tolerate more. at onset i had a terrible time with the cold, just like you are having.
13. You will find the right combination of meds that will help you sleep. Don't think that you just have to live with it. I don't know what you can take with having kids. I take flexeril and valium and lamictal. and it kind of konks me out.
14. release your expectations of being a perfect mom and running a perfect household. you will need help. your husband needs to be understanding and take a lot of responsibilities that you used to do. talk about it. but don't make your life fibromyalgia.
15. do creative things that you enjoy. make time for yourself. do something that you enjoy everyday. don't just make a list and do one task after another. drawing, coloring mandalas, whatever... again good chemicals are released that will ease your pain.
and lastly, don't become a victim to fibromyagia. Be proactive. You are the leader of your health care team. they aren't your bosses, you are not at their mercy. there are lots of good docs out there. keep looking. I have a great pcp, rheumy, and pain mgmt who are all supportive, listen to me, and even helped me with my disability papers. rheumatologists see more people with fibro than with rheumatoid arthritis.
No matter what anyone tells you, fibromyalgia is not necessarily a disease that gets progressively worse, people do get better.
I hope i helped. I wish i had someone to tell me all this at the beginning. I was just so lost and freaked out. I had always been active and healthy. I was in so much pain, i could't think straight and not sleeping made it worse. I hope you feel better soon. Keep posting and let us know how you're doing.
4kids4me
02-20-2009, 11:08 AM
Thank you for that rosebud, it's very helpful. There are many things that I think I can use for my own journey. I really appreciate all the input I get. I've been devouring information and trying to take what I can use to make my journey better. One thing I've learned, is that i need to quit smoking. I've been smoking for 12 years, so it's going to be tough, but it HAS to be done. Anybody got any ideas about how they quit smoking? I've tried and failed many ways, but I'm still searching for the one that will work for me. Anyhow, thanks everyone.;)
djl
02-20-2009, 02:27 PM
4kids...actualy I quit smoking 7 months ago. You have to put your mind to it, thats the first step. I had to get a tooth pulled and I new that if I continued smoking I would end up with Dry Socket and harder and longer for it to heel. So I just stopped. I didn't use anything to help me just plainly stopped and haven't had one since. There are alot of aids out there to help you if neded. But like I said, the first step is that you want to quit !! Honestly it would be the best thing for yah and that Fibro thing !!
Good Luck !!:wave:
Good Luck !!:wave:
rosebuddy
02-21-2009, 01:44 PM
I quit using the american lung association's plan and i went to classes twice and quick both times and started again. then i used the plan again and it took. I prayed for God to remove the desire to smoke and give me the willingness to quit before it made me sick. I prayed that a lot.
I also made a list of hours of a day and every time i made it an hour i put a check mark. It really helped me. quit at night and then in the morning you have 7 or 8 hours all ready to mark off right off.
I decided to quit before i went back to work after being off for 4 1/2 years or so. I didn't want to have to go to my car to smoke. You have to really want it. One of things they had us do was list 10 reasons to quit and then the top 3 and read them throughout the day or when you have a craving.
I also "smoked" a half of a straw the first few days. there is a health board for nicotine addiction that you can check out too. If i quit, you can too. I smoked since i was 13 and i am 48. you can do it.
I also made a list of hours of a day and every time i made it an hour i put a check mark. It really helped me. quit at night and then in the morning you have 7 or 8 hours all ready to mark off right off.
I decided to quit before i went back to work after being off for 4 1/2 years or so. I didn't want to have to go to my car to smoke. You have to really want it. One of things they had us do was list 10 reasons to quit and then the top 3 and read them throughout the day or when you have a craving.
I also "smoked" a half of a straw the first few days. there is a health board for nicotine addiction that you can check out too. If i quit, you can too. I smoked since i was 13 and i am 48. you can do it.
djl
02-21-2009, 03:47 PM
Keep up the good work Rosebuddy..that is awsome !! Keep it up !!Ive been smoking since I was 16...Im 43 now...beliueve me ANYONE can quit !! You juyst hagve to realy want to !!
Pammyann
04-02-2009, 03:59 PM
Your symptoms all sound too familiar. Please go see your doctor. You may be referred to a specialist or two or three. But alot of the symptoms have to be addressed individually.
I wish you the best and hope you find a good doctor who can help you. I did and it makes a big difference!
I wish you the best and hope you find a good doctor who can help you. I did and it makes a big difference!
valentine92
04-04-2009, 08:47 PM
I know exactly how you feel. When I first began not feeling well I literally thought I was dying or going crazy. I knew the pain was real. I went to many doctors who found nothing wrong with me. My mom and older sister both have fibro. I finally went to a family friend who is an internist. He ran a bunch of tests to rule out stuff. We tried a bunch of different pain pills, muscle relaxers and then finally an antidepressant, it was a long journey. I also found a chiropractor that specializes in trigger point release therapy and began seeing him. The treatments hurt so bad the first few visits I was crying when I left but it really did help a lot. It took a long time to get it under control. I remember spending many nights pacing the floors or rocking in my recliner because the pain was unbearable month after month and trying to manage everything with no sleep night after night. I remember my mom saying oh my you got it soo much younger than me. It hit me when I was 38 and I thought my life was over. It finally got better for me. I was put on nortriptyline and the dr kept on uping the dosage until the pain leveled off without the need to use pain pills that much. Then I began to feel real good that I didnt need the pain pills or muscle relaxers. From there I began to ween myself off of the nortriptyline and ambien. I remember my hubby asking me if that was a good idea since I was doing so much better. I am now taking no medication for my fibro/myofascial pain. I did a lot of reading and researching and began taking supplements instead of medication. I have been off of my medication now for 3 months and feel wonderful.
Find a dr that listens to you, research medications so you know what your optons are, find a good chiropractor or massage therapist that will work with you to release the trigger points when they act up, know what your daily limits are, find the time to take care of yourself, because if you can't take care of yourself you can't take care of your family.
Find a dr that listens to you, research medications so you know what your optons are, find a good chiropractor or massage therapist that will work with you to release the trigger points when they act up, know what your daily limits are, find the time to take care of yourself, because if you can't take care of yourself you can't take care of your family.