Fibromyalgia Support Group

A good doc will send you to a rheumatologist who will do blood and other tests to rule other processes out. when they all come back negative it often leads to the diagnosis of Fibro, through trial and error. I went thru many docs until I found one who could help, I go to a pain doc who works to help quell the pain so I can live a "normal" life, able to care for my 11yo daughter and a husband....

I have the trigger points in my hips shoulsers lower back and feet. I will get flare-ups where I can barely get myself up moving, I want to lay down, but the more I lie down or stay immobile for too long, the pain becomes worse. As with any disease process, intensity will vary person to person . My flare ups usually occur on my left hip and is an intense tooth ache pain to the point I want to pull off the leg...

as far as docs go, ask around to find ones who are caring and listen well to their patients. We could tell you all this, but if you think you have it, you won't know until you see a rheumatologist or such doctor. I hope you do not have it or anything else....

Yes it is best to see a rhuemy as they rule out other stuff. Sometimes though it is trial and error finding a good doc to treat fibromyalgia. hugs and good luck.

Yea, not sure Why ya have to see a Rhuemy...any Dr. can rule out anything else, do the tender point test on ya...the best Help I received came from an Internist.

My Most Consistent Symptom is the Flu Like Muscle aches..Tight achey Muscles..Strange symptoms {That Come & Go}, Nerve pain, Headaches..Random shooting Pains..

Fatigue, at times can be SO Severe, you have No choice but to sleep, yet you feel worse when ya wake up...

I don't know..Many things need to be rules out..Like I said, Any Good Dr. can test you for many things..I would Hope that ou do not have this, # 1 because it is HELL to Live with, # 2. because once ya have the Label, dr.s tend to look at ya funny...like they Really just don't wanna deal with ya..Many Dr.s believe this to be the "Physical Symptoms of Depression"...and want ya to go see a Psych Dr...these Dr.s will tend to shove every symptom you have Under the FM Unbrella !!

So Beware the Diagnosis !!

Amen, DakotaRose, I was sent to a psych doc once from my family doc because I was hearing voices. The psych said, "Fibromyalgia is an over-used diagnosis", as if it was a catch-all for anything the doctors can't figure out.
I was hearing voices for two full days because I took myself off of Cymbalta one day without weaning myself off of it. I will never take Cymbalta again--and will never drop a drug like that again!

laur266-there is lots to learn about fibro and what might help you on this site-please keep writing and reading.
Gentle hugs.

Hi, Lauren!

My symptoms began after a bad case of the flu...it started with severe fatigue and numbness in my arms and legs...I also have several tender spots, and often have the achy type pain, like with a fever. I saw many docs, had tons of tests to rule out other things. I was finally diagnosed by a rheumatologist, who oversees my care now. But I think Dakota is right, just find a doctor who will work with you. Fibro is becoming more well known and accepted, but we must be careful not to put everything under the fibro label.

Good luck, and HUGS from down south :)

For a long time, I kept feeling like I was coming down with something, like the flu, but it never happened. I was nauseous and dizzy for over a year before I finally mentioned it to my doctor. That was when they had just discovered Epstein Barr virus, or the Yuppie flu.

It took another year of him thinking I might have CFS, running all the tests, trying all the antibiotics, before he dx'd me. Then he suggested I see a shrink.

I was out painting some plywood to replace my floors and I was in so much pain I could hardly move. Like the rusty tinman, I moved in slow motion feeling like I was going to squeek at any moment. I knew something was terribly wrong with me, but didn't know what. I was always a shaker and mover. I always got it done from dawn to dusk. My determination and hard work always paid off. When I could no longer soar with the eagles, it was the RED flag. After being tested by my neurologist, I was diagnosed. Happy to put a name to the insanity, I have researched everything I can about my disease. Learning along the way and learning new things every day. I owned it and it would always be a BIG part of me. Living it I learned my limits and how to say NO. I try to roll with it the best I can. Sadly enough it dictates how much I accomplish in a day. I accept that that is how it is and how it's going to be for the rest of my life. And that's that for me.

hi there,

i was just diagnosed last week so its still pretty "fresh" in my mind. ugghh. ive been seeing the same doc for years and he did a simple trigger point test and when he barely touched my hips, i almost fell off the table from pain.

he believes mine was caused by stress and i had the H1N1 virus a couple months ago.

he has also done blood tests to rule out anything else but put me on meds for the pain already. he treats alot of people with FM.

my certain areas are my hips, thighs, backs of my knees and calves. the pain varies each day.

i hope you can get some answers. but i KNOW this exists. my body tells me so.
good luck to you.
keeping you in my thoughts.

I was sure I had it just from what I had heard about it. Family doc first diagnosed me in 2003 and confirmed by a Rheumatologist in 2006. I have far too many symptoms to list at the moment as I'm so tired. It does progress though most docs will tell you it doesn't. More symptoms continually added to the pile. I would see a doctor about it if I were you. : )

Sherry

I mentioned it earlier, and I hope you dont have it, but there is a great magazine called Fibromyalgia aware. But you don't need the magazine. There is a website called www.FMaware.org/hcplist and it will give you doctors of all specialities that are experienced in Fibromyalgia. My current doctor was recommended for something else, but we have not had good communication, at all, and I cannot get referrals and medicines are always confusing, labs are confusing, I have gotten worse. I just got a woman who referred me to a doctor. I looked her up and she is on that list, with many positive testimonials about her kindness and thoroughness, and this girl said she would go with me too, as I have wanted an advocate. I need someone to take notes, or I say things wrong, I do not know, I just know I want someone with me. Best wishes, Rain