Fibromyalgia symptoms and treatments?
I havent been diagnosed with fibromylagia yet, and am half afraid to tell my doctor thats what I think I have. Shell probably tell me im nuts, plus I read that theres no real test to say...Yes you have it. But after accidentally stumbling across an ad for Lyrica, and it listed some symptoms of fibromyalgia, I thought to do some research on the subject. Ive been back and fourth to the doctor...goodness like 15 times in the last 2 years! Initially just complaining about extreme fatigue, troubles falling asleep, and not being able to stay asleep once I fell asleep. Then it stemmed into joint pain complaints. I did find out I had lyme disease, so my doctor thought thats what the problem was. Well I took the meds, got re tested and the lyme is cured. This is over a year ago now...but my symptoms are worse. Been back again a few times since then, and she just said theres nothing wrong with me, im just depressed. She tried giving me sleeping pills, which just made me more groggy so I stopped taking them. Then she gave me some off brand stress management med... not quite a depression med, which didnt help. After doing reaserch on fibromyalgia, im SURE thats what I have. Besides the extreme tiredness, and lack of ability to stay asleep, I have horrible muscle and joint aches. I wake up and feel like ive excersised for hours the day before! Im stiff and find it painful to move. What really got me though, is I have pain in all the places ive read online that affect people with fibromyalgia the most. The neck, hips, shoulders, and knees. Thats where most of my pain is. I have frequent headaches, and the other thing that really sold me was the IBS thats linnked with fibromylagia. Ive always had bad cramps and gas like I have to go to the bathroom realllly bad even when I dont have to go, and my bowel movements have always been strange, going alot some days, not going for a day or two at other times. Ive always wondered why until I read about IBS. I know fibromyalgia can mimic lupus and other conditions, but my doctor did test me for lupus and a few others and they were all negative. I also read that fibromyalgia can come about after very traumatic times, and it seems like mine started about 2 1/2 years ago. And ALOT has happened to me in that time. My sister was murdered 3 years ago, my mom died 2 years ago, my brother had a cancer scare shortly after our mom died. So thats another reason I suspect fibromyalgia. So does it really sound like I have fibromyalgia? And what can I do to help it? I cant live with this tiredness anymore! I dont even care about the pain as much as I do about constantly being tired and fatigued!
Public Comments
1. NO test exists that can prove that Lyme is cured. You were under-treated for the Lyme you had, which allowed Lyme to develop into a chronic condition, and the result is the symptoms you are now experiencing. Every single symptom you describe is consistent with chronic Lyme. Suggest you order the book "The Lyme Disease Solution," by Dr. Kenneth Singleton (who himself was misdiagnosed as having fibromyalgia which turned out to actually be Lyme disease.)Good sources of info about Lyme disease:
http://www.lymedisease.org
http://www.ilads.org
http://www.canlyme.com
http://www.lymeinfo.net
http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org
http://www.lymenet.org
http://www.lymedoctor.com
http://www.touchedbylyme.org
http://www.facebook.com/lymedisease.org
2. its possible you have fms
but its also possible you have a post lymes syndroome
lymes can cause permanant symtpoms if not treated early enough
it could also justbe the lack of sleep
a better sleep med is trazadone--its an antidepressant, but only taken at night.in a smaller dose
.much safer than traditional sleeping pills
most docs dont know what fms is and use it as a general label for pain
they will say the pain of lymes is fms..that is not true..fms is its own specific neuro condition
3. It sounds like what I have been through too. I was convinced I had Lupus . I had all the symptoms of it except for the butterfly rash on my face, but I still get this unexplained rash just above both my ankles every so often, just out of the blue.
I had them do a test for Lupus and they said it can back inconclusive ! Well I still believe I have it, it just has not bothered me lately. It should be either yes or no, not inconclusive.
However, I know I have Fibromyalgia. I have every symptom of it. No I am not a hypochondriac, I had 3 rd stage breast cancer and had a bilateral mastectomy done, Chemo and radiation.
Every since then I have suffered terribly with hurting all over and cant breath, like my lungs hurt inside, I get these bad cramps in my ribs and my legs and I can't take a deep breath.
And yes the fatigue is relentless! all I want to do is sleep. The Chemo ruined my heart so now I cant do much before I have to sit down or fall because I cant breath!
well I could go on & on about all the symptoms I have but I'll tell you what I did because they did not believe me either.
I kept a journal every day of what was going on and how I felt from the time I woke up til back to bed & the can't sleep, hurts too bad etc...
I got tired of my Dr looking at me with cow eyes like I was crazy so after filling the journal with 3 months of proof, I went to my Oncologist and let her read it.
After asking me many questions and doing a few tests, she said at that point in time I had Fibromyalgia. She tried may of those drugs on me but I couldn't take them. they made me hear weird things. So Finally she put me on some Neurontin and although it never goes away, it does help some, enough to where I don't want to scream when ever I get out of a chair or try to walk.
So try to wright everything down no matter how trivial it might seem and take it to a Neurologist or even an Internists and see if they can figure it out for you.
Sure hope you fell better! ;)
