Symptom Information ~ Pain?

aphrodite62782

Well usually pain is a very prominate thing with Fibro. At least from my experience. I have known in some cases where it started as minor symptoms and then turned into full blown Fibro though. What are your symptoms?

Amy26

From the post with the symptoms, this is what I have/had on and off for the last 8 months or so... been in and out of dr. offices and unable to figure out what's wrong with me ... it could still be like a handful of things...but I'm trying to narrow it down.

GENERAL
____ Fatigue, made worse by physical exertion or stress
____ Activity level decreased to less than 50% of pre-illness activity level
____ Recurrent flu-like illness
____ Sore throat
____ Tender or swollen lymph nodes (glands), especially in neck and underarms
____ Frequent sighing
____ Severe nasal allergies (new allergies or worsening of previous allergies)
____ Cough
____ Night sweats
____ Low-grade fevers
____ Feeling cold often
____ Heart palpitations

PAIN
____ Headache
____ Tender points or trigger points
____ Muscle pain
____ Muscle twitching
____ Joint pain
____ TMJ syndrome
____ Chest pain

GENERAL NEUROLOGICAL
____ Lightheadedness; feeling "spaced out"
____ Inability to think clearly ("brain fog")
____ Numbness or tingling sensations
____ Tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears)

EQUILIBRIUM/PERCEPTION
____ Staggering gait (clumsy walking; bumping into things)
____ Dropping things frequently
____ Difficulty judging distances (e.g. when driving; placing objects on surfaces)

SLEEP
____ Sleep disturbance: unrefreshing or non-restorative sleep
____ Sleep disturbance: difficulty falling asleep
____ Sleep disturbance: difficulty staying asleep (frequent awakenings)
____ Sleep disturbance: vivid or disturbing dreams or nightmares
____ Altered sleep/wake schedule (alertness/energy best late at night)

MOOD/EMOTIONS
____ Anxiety or fear when there is no obvious cause
____ Panic attacks
____ Irritability; overreaction

SENSITIVITIES
____ Sensitivities to medications (unable to tolerate "normal" dosage)
____ Sensitivities to foods
____ Alcohol intolerance

UROGENITAL
____ Frequent urination
____ Decreased libido (sex drive)

GASTROINTESTINAL
____ Stomach ache; abdominal cramps
____ Esophageal reflux (heartburn)
____ Frequent diarrhea
____ Bloating; intestinal gas
____ Weight gain (____ lbs)

SKIN
____ Rashes or sores
____ Eczema or psoriasis

aphrodite62782

Well you are just a mess aren't you? At least that is what my doctor told me. All those things have been happening to me since January of last year. When I say everything I mean it. My doctor diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia in June of last year. I would def see a specialist.

Amy26

Yes its driving me crazy... and my ear has been ringing for a month non stop. My ENT thought it was a result of the really bad sinus infection I had but it won't go away...that bothers me the most I think...that and the diarreah.

What kind of specialist do you see for fybro?

BeHappy2

Hi Amy, I have fibromyalgia and my largest part of fibro is severe body pain.
I was referred to a Rheumatologist for my fibro.
I also have the long list of symptoms you have mentioned but my body pain is most definately number 1 on list for me.
Maybe your doctor will refer you to a Rheumy to begin with.

BeHappy2

aphrodite62782

Well I actually saw a nuerologist who specialized in Fibro cases. He is said to be really good in my area. I don't see anyone now because of insurance and have been "self medicating" for a few months now. I don't mean drugs when I say that. Just natural remedies. Like ibuprofen for muscle tension, coffee for migraines, lots of water and stretching, etc.

aphrodite62782

By the way the ringing in the ear should go away soon. If it is anything like mine it will just annoy the crap out of you for a while and then move on it's way. The best thing I found for that is to make sure that you clean your ears good with peroxide and then use a heating pad if needed. Also try popping your ears by chewing gum. That helps a bit as well.

Amy26

Hmm...thanks for the replies guys. I actually don't need a referral to see a specialist...so I can just go whenever I want to whomever. I usually bypass going to see general practice or internal medicine doctors because they just don't have a clue. I'm sure there are some good ones...but in my experience its all been bad. I had a girl once at general practice that had to be like 24 years old or something tell me that I had to have surgery on my arm and move my nerves to the other side and possibly loose feeling in my arm bla bla... all cause two of my fingers and part of my hand was numb for like 2 weeks. I went to see a orthopedic and he looked at me for 5 mins and said it will go away in a month, go home. And I've had lots of other lovely things too...blah...

In regard to the ringing... I really really really hope it goes away cause I swear it really is going to make me crazy. I try to ignore it during the day but when I try to go to sleep its really hard. I'm thinking it might be TMJ as well ... anyways, I dunno, its just all very frustrating. Thanks for the support.

aphrodite62782

If it is the TMJ try stretching your jaw daily. That is what I do and it works wonders really. Also ice packs on the jaw helped with the pain there.

stars13

Hi Aphrodite, what kind of stretching do you do? i'v been recently dx'd and haven't started exercising yet, so afraid to bring the pain on, i'm in a pretty good place right now.
just sore, not unbearable.
stars

aphrodite62782

Hey Stars,

Well I will tell you stretching is not a walk in the park. It hurts pretty bad but the outcome is great. If you do the type of stretching you did in PE in school every morning and night, even though it will be painful doing it, the results are amazing. The more you stretch the better you will feel. The only thing is to make sure to do it when you wake up and before you go to sleep. And know that this is not an end all to the pain. But it is a way to feel a little better. And for people like us that is a great thing. Good Luck.

Sunnie

hippydave

chronic fatigue syndrome matches your symptoms.... tho i expect that's one of the handful of things you've already thought of.

aphrodite62782

Yeah i have chronic fatigue as well as fibro which is why I have all those symptoms. I forgot to mention that. You should check into that as well.

Amy26

Hmm... I looked in the CFS section but I didn't see a symptom list there.
Is one of the fibro symptoms headaches? I'm getting very bad headaches lately specially when I wake up from sleeping.

Also it was wierd... last night I was really cold when I went to sleep...then sometime during the night I got really hot... then I was cold and covered back up again... happened a few times. Is that a fibro symptom as well?