I've been lurking a bit and reading posts by others, but I figured I'd sign up and join this community so I can ask questions and hopefully contribute in some way.
I have not been diagnosed but I have this suspicion that I have fibromyalgia or something similar. However, I have two issues when approaching this: a) I don't have a great relationship with my doctor and she is quick to jump to the conclusion that I am being ridiculous (or at least that's how she makes me feel) and b) so many doctors in the past have told me that it's all in my head (psychosomatic, or whatever word they choose to use; usually with the word 'psycho' in it...was never a fan of that) and this is SO FRUSTRATING. So my first question is: how do you deal with this?
I am only 24 and yet I feel as if I'm deteriorating from the inside. I am always in pain, but it's generally the joints and extremeties of only the right side. Most of the pain is (physically) in my head...so my jaw, my temple, the area where the head connects to the neck, etc. Definitely consistent with TMJ, but even my orthodontist asked if I had fibro because I mentioned that the pain stems all through the right side, down to my feet (but intermittent). Second question: is it possible that it's fibro with pain in only one side?
I am exhausted almost all the time and sleep an abnormal amount (or would if I could now, because I now have a 1 year old and need to keep pushing...sometimes I pass out on her bedroom floor while playing).
I have a very poor memory most of the time and definitely benefit from writing things down.
So, in short, all the tell-tale signs of fibro...it is also in my family...I won't waste any more time listing symptoms because you've heard it all before.
The other thing is that I had a urine test come back with abnormal amounts of protein. I am supposed to test a couple more times but I keep forgetting as my doctor wants me to do a test once a month for two months to see if it's consistent. I have read that this could potentially mean lupus, especially with my other symptoms. My concern is that my doctor doesn't seem to look at 'the big picture'...I am dying for someone to look at my symptoms whollistically so I can get to the bottom of everything. What should I do? It's really difficult to find a new doctor where I live, so I'm not very hopeful about that.
Any input/advice would be appreciated!
The following user gives a hug of support to erffin: monalisa24 (12-24-2011)
Iwent thru 4 or 5 drs and got tired of trying to get answers . Thats when I sought out a rheumetologist, after a year or so of tests and for once not being treated like a whiner I got the fibro diagnosis. I was somewhat relieved because I was kind of afraid that I'd hear eith RA or Lupus or worse yet to go see a neurologist.
I guess the bottom line is if it were me I seek out a rheumey or a doc that works alot with FM patients.
I wish you luck finding your answers
Last edited by WoodsWalker; 12-20-2011 at 06:20 PM.
Reason: welcome aboard
The Following User Says Thank You to WoodsWalker For This Useful Post: erffin (12-21-2011)
Hi Erffin and welcome to the Fibro board. My experience mirrors Woods Walker, and any advice I could give you would be the same, except that being in Canada, you can't simply seek out a rheumatologist, you need your primary physician to refer you to one. Your physician has possibly started you on the road to finding out what's going on by this urine testing for protein levels. What you have to do with her is stand your ground and stop letting her make you feel like you're whining. You're not whining! You have a problem, and need to get to the bottom of it. It may be Fibro, it may be lupus, it may be something completely unrelated. But it definitely needs to be investigated.
Good luck Erffin. Please let us know how this works out for you.
Id call around and ask does this Dr treat Fibro, you also need all needed tests to rule out everything else....and chances are since it doe s run in your family yes you could have it.. as with me i didnt know it ran in my family till after a dr said i could have it. good luck....
