Please help!!! I am just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia - Fibromyalgia Message Board

2danes · 11-12-2008, 10:02 PM

I just joined this group to some imput from others who suffer the same as I do. After14 long years i have just been diagnosed. I have been through a range of medications , all knds of tests, trigger point injections and an epidural to name a few. I am very frustrated because my neuro sent me to see a pain management dr. yesterday. I get in the office and go through the entire story to find out he does not treat FMS because HE does not believe it is a REAL disorder. I feel like I am going in circles. I trying to get as much info as a possibly can as to which type of dr. I should see. I live in GA, northwest of Atlanta. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get help. I am tired of getting the run around and many doctors thinking its all in your head. I am schedule for the 5th MRI and a nerve conduction study. I am getting very depressed at this whole situation. I know I am not the only one with the same problem and I am not trying to complain to anyone. I am at a total loss and do not know where to turn. I cannot afford to keep going from dr. to dr. without any help. Thanks to all for any help you can provide!!!!

sgtyogi · 11-12-2008, 10:54 PM

I can only speak on this in that my wife has had Fibro for several years and we went through many of the same things, running from doctor to doctor, there is nothing wrong, its all in your head. We finally got some results when she was sent to a Pain Managment Clinic. While there she asked them which doctors would they see who has an understanding of Fibro. Perhaps you have a Pain Management Center/Clinic in your area that receives patients from your area from a specific doctor who at least has an understanding of what you are going through. I personally am very impressed with the resources and large number of helpful ppl here. I hope this at least gives you some direction. As I mentioned I have only gone through this with wife and at times wish that I could take on half of what she is going through. Please don't be discouraged but continue to seek out help, easy for me to say, but the family suffers as well watching a spouse, and mother go through this. I hope that I have at least given you something you can use.

kim840 · 11-13-2008, 08:52 AM

I'm sorry you are going through all that you are. Keep going. I have found that by asking over the phone if a doc is "fibro friendly" has netted me results. No use wasting anyone's time if they are not. You might try that when calling around to see where to turn to next. I agree that a pain management clinic might be the next step.

I send you gentle hugs and will keep you in my prayers for finding a compassionate and educated treatment.

rosebuddy · 11-13-2008, 03:31 PM

OK you need to find a doc.

search.

If not for my pain mgmt doc i don't know what i would have done. So keep trying.

The MRI will rule out MS.

I am almost symptom free, but it took over 3 years of all kinds of treatments mostly by my pain mgmt doc. She has a brochure about her practice and the first thing on the list of what she treats is fibromyalgia and the second is chronic myofascial pain.

Who did your trigger point injections?

I am also on percocet and ultram as needed and take 20 mg of flexeril at bedtime. and i take neurontin for burning skin.

The only time i have symptoms is when a cold front is moving in. I get all achey and tired like the flu and just lay around.

I am on disability but started feeling so much better i got a part time job. I sure would hate to work full time but i like this.

I know a whole lot of people that it has taken a long time to get diagnosed and treated. I was diagnosed by 2 docs on the same day. saw a rheumy that sucked. and a pain mgmt doc that thought i was crazy. but my neuro sent me to a pain mgmt doc and just love her. I don't know what i would have done without her. so don't give up. And try not to get upset or stressed about appointments because it will make you flare worse. What i did was draw a picture of a person and colored in each of the painful areas with different colors and had a key for burning skin, shooting pain, muscle pain, numbness and tingling, etc. I handed it to my doc and she put me on a treatment plan that has changed my life. I didn't have to say a word.

Sometimes we get too emotional and it really turns doc's off. they think that we are crazy. I know i worked for doctors for 12 years. and they hate it when you bring a list. but bring in a list of the 3 most important things and go from there. that way you won't worry about what to say or that you will forget something.

I hope i helped. keep posting and let us know how it goes.

also i highly recommend Devin Starlanyl's books. I thought i was losing my mind til i read them. there is fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain it has the most information. and the other one is the the fibromyalgia advocate. it helped me get disability.

rosebuddy · 11-13-2008, 03:38 PM

Have you tried the Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Center of Atlanta? It might be worth a try.