I am having a pretty rough week. I had surgery on my shoulder for 4 different things June 29th. Been going to PT since and last week and due I believe to surgery stress and sleep test stress I have having a full blown flare.
Surgery went good--no complications. Took some good drugs for pain and they helped with fibro--the evil oxycontin. Surgeon said my fibro would flare and he was right.
Then had to have a sleep test done to see about my insomnia and possible sleep apnea. Guess that is one of the problems. Also RLS/PLM as well as just plain bad sleep once I get asleep. This is really stressing me out as my husband does the CPap thing and he doesn't think I can handle it and such. I don't know about that. It would improve my sleep maybe and we fibroites need all the sleep help we can get.
Got to talk to my GP about sleep test and my thyriod which they found a cyst or something on that MRI that needs to be tested. I hate the idea of getting the thyroid biopsy done. It runs in the family and that test is pretty rough according to my mother. Also am seeing him about losing several pounds to help with the apnea---------------blalllllllllh. But maybe a messed up thyroid contributes to the fibro--is that right???
Next week I have to recheck with the shoulder surgeon, go to Gp for sleep and thyroid decisions. Make PT for shoulder and back 3 days. Got to set up a CPAP machine to use at some office. My 2nd brain MRI is on Thursday to determine whether it is a tumor or just "artifacts".
The next week I finally get a lumbar epidural to ease the pain in my back. My poor fibro doc is working so hard to help me. The epidural is on the 26th, then I see the rheumy for the summary of my lupus blood test....which will be all neg.
I have been missing my shrink. But I have him down for next wednesday--maybe he can help walk me through all this medical stuff and remind me it is all worth it.
I sound like a general mess don't I? I am finally feeling the stress of a very long couple of months. My fibro had been in recession for a few weeks and I thought maybe it would be gone for a few month. I don't want to put others here in a bad mood, it just helps to share my turmoil sometimes.
I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I have many medical condition's and some of them contribute to my Fibro. I also had surgery on both of my shoulder's back in February as I had Bilateral Frozen Shoulder. I do have other injury's as well to my shoulders but surgeon said that I don't need to have my SLAP tears fixed as I don't play any sports. Gosh I sure would love too...
I am also having surgery on Wednesday for my bladder and have another scheduled next month for my neck. But their is a possibility that my bladder surgery could get canceled as I found out last week that my iron counts are extremely low once again and my white cells are elevated. So I have been popping the iron pills, and praying that my iron count will raise in time. Then to top it off, I just found a lump under my right arm pit and this has me a bit concerned. I will tell my doctor on Monday when I go in for medical clearance. If it isn't one thing it's another....
I also have sleep apnea as you can see in my signature. I have been using a CPAP for several months. At first it is hard to find the right mask to make you comfortable. I had started with the nasal mask and then had a problem with it as I open my mouth at night. Then went to the facial mask and I couldn't get the darn thing to stop making a whistling noise. So now I am back to the nasal mask and have to get a chin strap to keep my mouth closed. I do wish you luck with finding the right mask for you. And getting the right amount of sleep with help the Fibro a bit.
My doctor also explained to me that with surgery it could cause the Fibro to flare up even more. Well, I don't think that is possible for me as I feel I am in a constant flare. So I do understand your pain and I will pray for you.
As for the depression, I too experience this from time to time. I am taking Effexor XR and it did seem to help for a while. Both with depression and sleep. But lately it hasn't been working as well, so I will ask my Rheumatologist to increase it at my next visit. Do you take anything for depression? Sometimes these meds can help both depression and Fibro.
It seems the only time I leave my house is for doctor's appointments for the last year. But I still keep my chin up as I still got plenty to be greatly for as I have a wonderful family. Oh, and I am going to be a grandmother, so that gives me something to look forward to.
As I read your post, I so much related to it. Your post did not put me in a bad mood at all. Their are many times that we need to vent and I am grateful for these Health Board. It is just like joining a support group but at the comfort of your own home. I will pray that things get better for us both.
Jeanne
____________________ ~LUMBAR~
Posterolateral Fusion & Infuse with Laminectomy & Discectomy on L4,L5,S1
June 2003
Instrumentation = 2 Rods, 6 Screws, 2 Disc Spacers FBSS-Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ~CERVICAL~
Straightening of the Normal Cervical Lordosis.
Mild Congenital Narrowing of the Spinal Canal.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Disc Osteophyte Complex
Compression Deformity & Spinal Lithiasis
C4-5, C5-6, C6-7 Herniated & Bulging Disc's
C4-5 & C5-6 , Cord Flattening at these levels.
Jeanne,
Thanks for the reply. It has always helped me to vent on these boards then have someone as nice as you to come along side and say "I understand". That is such a help when you feel so alone and in pain.
This morning I have been in agony physically, but mentally feeling much better. (2 excedrin, one percocet, one lortab, one lexapro is starting to help)
I think the thing that gets me so desparately down is the feeling of "what now?" with my life. So much has and has not happened in my 49 years that it is overwhelming to consider the future and what plans I need to make to be secure financially. I will inherit plenty, but I HOPE that is a LONG time off--long time. I need to cover the years between now and , hopefully, my 70s.
With so many aches and pains, married 29 yrs, 2 grown children and ONLY 18 months out of that last 29 yrs in the work force, I am trying to figure out a job pathway. I have about 2 years of college. Seems like so many things require stamina I do not have and that is something I think about a lot. My husband makes enough to take care of things, but God forbid, something happens to him then I am left floundering.
It is so hard to even get the energy to think about school...or anything else.
I have one grandbaby--Ava, who is 17 months. It is amazing!!! My son and his wife now live about 200 miles away where he teaches school and that is hard because I wish I could see her every day!! My daughter, a nurse, lives close though and that is nice!
Well, this is getting off topic and so I will once again say thanks for your encourgment.
Karen
My fiance was diagnosed with the dreaded fibo and had spinal fusion (C5 & C6) three months ago. He is in more pain now than before the surgery. We didn't find out for sure that he had fibo until last week and we had no idea that surgery would cause a flareup. Unfortunately, his days have been painful even before surgery but its been so much worse since.
We just got back from the Mayo Clinic in AZ and there wasn't much they could do. They see countless amounts of people with fibo. Now I need to find him a good doctor in my area (NYC).
I wish you both and everyone else here the best of health. I really feel for you guys.
It seems that the only thing that does make me feel somewhat better is my medication's. I am on MS Contin and it is a pretty strong med. But unfortunately the longer you take the med, the less it stops working for me.
I am also in the 40's as I will be 41 the end of this month. I have been in the work force as I was a CNA (certified nurses aid) and then had to leave that line of work because of my back pain. I myself haven't worked in about 6 years and it doesn't look like I will ever return to work. My husband of 23 years does struggle to support our family of four. My children are 17 & 21 years of age. Unfortunately we don't have anything put away for retirement at this time. So this is a very stressful issue for me as well.
My daughter will live here in NY for about of year and then she will be moving to CT. I will have a hard time handling it when she does move. I have to stay strong as then I will have to take a ferry to go and see her and her family.
I did see my primary doctor today and he actually gave me a medical clearance for my surgery on Wednesday. Also the lump under my arm is just a cyst thank God. I guess the iron pills and vitamin c have been working.
I hope that you are feeling a little bit better today. I also give you a lot of credit for even thinking about going back to work or school. But please think of your health first and I will continue to keep you in my prayer's.
Jeanne 
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