16 year old fibro sufferer - Fibromyalgia Message Board

mzkels · 10-22-2006, 09:30 PM

hey there,i am a 16 year old female currently suffering from Fibromyalgia! i know of no one else that suffers from it. I get so tired and sore,all my joints and especially my shoulders neck and bac. I feel like i am a hopeless case because i don't really know of anything to help combat my pain and depression,i have been tried on anti-depressant pills (fluoxetine/prozac) to help my moods and the pain but that was hopeless.i hope one day i can lead the normal life that i deserve pain and care free!! if anyone has any ideas advice or suggestions, i would greatly appreciate them!! many thanks!!

GodsGirl4ever06 · 10-22-2006, 10:15 PM

I'll start by saying hi. I think I was 17 when I joined this board (almost 19 now). I was 16 when I was diagnosed, which was after months and months of testing. I completely know where you are coming from. It's so not fair. We are teenagers. What are we supposed to be doing? Not suffering like this. We are supposed to be out hanging with our friends, going to parties, not worrying about the pain, not trying to figure out if we are going to feel good enough to do this or that tomorrow or next week.

I was depressed, and still get that way every now and then, but Zoloft has helped me immensely. And this new medicine I started a couple months ago, amitriptyline has decreased my headaches significantly, and my FMS pain slightly.

Okay, here's the deal on how to feel better (at least a little bit) without using a bunch of drugs:

~excersize (but don't over exert. For some of us, stretches or walking across the room are enough to about kill us!)
~eat healthy (no fun, but it's good for you whether you have FMS or not)
~get enough sleep (sometimes this might require some meds . . .)
~ergonomics (meaning, know what you can and can't do!)

However, you probably need to see a rheumatologist if you have not already. I haven't had that opportunity yet, but if you can find a good one, they can really help you find what will be good for you specifically. Every one of us is different and different things work for different people. Unfortunantly, there is no one way to make FMS better.

I also suggest you read up on FMS and keep up with all the news. It's always encouraging to hear about breakthroughs, and you can always learn more and more along the way.

And also, let people know about it! I'm sure you've noticed that FMS is something not a lot of people have heard about. Tell people! Educate them! And don't be ashamed that you have it. It afflicts so many people, mostly women, and tons of them don't even know they have it, they have no name to put to the pain. Those of us who do are lucky. At least we don't have to wonder what is going on, or think we are crazy! Anyway, the more people who know about FMS, the harder people will work to find a cure!

FMS is horrible, but if we all stick together and keep fighting, in the end, it will all be okay.

I'm on here checking up pretty often so if you have any questions or just want to talk to someone your own age, I'm here!!

kirstee · 10-25-2006, 03:30 PM

Mzkls:

My heart goes out to you. To be so young and suffering with such a complex syndrome is difficult. My recommendation to you is purchase "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia" by Dr. Paul St. Amand. This is an excellent resource for coping strategies and pain relief. Dr. St. Amand also pioneered the Guafenesin protocol which helps to eliminate a lot of the symptoms. I've been on his protocol for 3 years, and I am feeling 80% better. I am no longer in pain, but I do have flares such as IC or migraines. But the constant pain is gone. I still have a bit of the CFS that goes along with FM, but I am much, much better than I was.

There are other types of treatments available as well. I'm sure with a little research on your part, you can find something that will help you overcome.

Blessings,
Kirstee