Fibromyalgia is in fact an illness which includes chronic pain of the muscles and joints, brain fog(or as fibromites called it \"fibro-fog\"). There are a lot of people who don\'t believe that FM is a \"REAL\" condition including some doctors especially when a man develops the symptoms since fibromyalgia is seen primarily in women.

My life partner Michael has FM so I know that it is real....some FM\'ers even develop seizure disorders but the exact relation between Fibromyalgia and Epilespy is unknown at present.

Rose

how does michael treat his fibro? what drugs do you find to be the most effective?

actually its the opposite depression is a commen result of having fibro,
being in daily pain =depression
surely that no surprise:)

Well I\'m skeptical of skeptics. I would suggest the skeptics aquire a constant pain and after 6 month give testimony as to when their depression started. Go to another source for information.

Yes, for sure, muscle and joint pain and the resulting debilitation cause depression - and anger. When I have a flare up of FM, my entire day(s)is shot. Canceling plans with friends, missing work or not being able to get out in the garden cause me to be depressed and angry at my body. I try hard to nurture myself during these times!

Fibromyalgia is not a new disease - it\'s an old ailment with a new name. Fifty years ago, my aunt complained of \"rheumatism\" (that\'s what her physician called it then)in the muscles of her arms,neck,legs and hips. The only treatment then was taking aspirin and applying hot water bottles.

When I see a healthcare provider for any condition and he\'s skeptical of my fibromyalgia diagnosis, I end the relationship immediately.

Yes, for sure, muscle and joint pain and the resulting debilitation cause depression - and anger. When I have a flare up of FM, my entire day(s)is shot. Canceling plans with friends, missing work or not being able to get out in the garden cause me to be depressed and angry at my body. I try hard to nurture myself during these times!

Fibromyalgia is not a new disease - it\'s an old ailment with a new name. Fifty years ago, my aunt complained of \"rheumatism\" (that\'s what her physician called it then)in the muscles of her arms,neck,legs and hips. The only treatment then was taking aspirin and applying hot water bottles.

When I see a healthcare provider for any condition and he\'s skeptical of my fibromyalgia diagnosis, I end the relationship immediately.

You are so right Rose. I have seizures as well. I had my first one Nov 2005 and my last one Jan 2006. I am currently taking meds for them. It works, so that\'s good. I have not found research as of yet that supports Fibromyalgia patients developing seizures. That is going to be a whole new can of worms. Reseachers already have a hard time with Fibro by it\'self (LOL). I know there are people who do not believe and that is only becasue they can not make any money off of it. Until Fibromyalgia makes money alot of people are going to act dumb founded, like they did towards diabetes in the 1980\'s. Nevertheless we know it\'s real and as long as their are poeple who continue to advocate for poeple who have Fibro like me and your friend, we will be heard !

You are right Mary! I see it as working around Fibro. Because any other way will not work for me. If I have a flare up I am in bed all day and thats that! Later with freinds and family and definetly work. You know, there are so many other poeple in the world with chronic pain disorders,so why should we apologize? Between doctors, blood work, short term disability or long term who needs the extra stress. Love us or leave us right? Mary, I have fired at least two internal med docs, because of their medical documentation or how they viewed me as a patient. Please do not feel sorry for me just do your job is all I ask of them. It is hard to find a doctor that truly understands human life period. Because thats who we are human beings. Le\'s get that straight and then we can do business(LOL). Well, I hope you are doing well,
Marcia

Doug,

Please got to medline, or google, ask.com for your sources of fibro. Some sources are just a waste of space and they do give correct information about fibromyalgia.
National Fibromyalgia Association com, or .org is a goooooood web site.

well, i must admit, i\'ve learned more about fibromyalgia in the last 2 days than i thought i ever would. i feel all of your pain, and i can only hope that sufficient focus is being placed on ameliorating your symptoms and finding a cure.

as you may know, i\'m a founder of this site, and i\'m thrilled to have you on board. if there is ever anything i can do (features, bugs, general thoughts) to make the site better, please send me a message. we are making changes on a daily basis to improve things - for example, both <b>resources and treatments</b> are being overhauled in the next 2 weeks.

i thank you for the education. incidentally, my son has been having seizures, which we hope are febrile, but i may be back to ask you about that soon.

Doug,
it\'s depressing to be in pain as much as we are. most dr.and other so called normies think we\'re lazy or it\'s all in our head. who wouldn\'t get depressed. seems like fibro and depression go hand in hand. when i\'m attacked by fibro i feel depressed cause it hurts and i\'m not able to do the things i want to do.

i hear ya, kali. what do you do to alleviate the pain?

Marcia, thanks for your thoughts on the \"ignorant\" health care providers. I think one reason they dismiss FMS patients so readily is they can\'t cure us or know of treatments other drug therapy. Since FMS is considered a \"woman\'s disease\", research money has been slow coming.
That is changing (finally!. I live in Portland, OR and there is FMS research going on at Oregon Health & Science University Women\'s Health Center. Here\'s an interesting and encouraging site - it\'s a long address so may want to try this first www.clinicalreview.com/index

The entire address is: http://www.clinicianreviews.com/index.asp?show=lesson&page=courses/105241/lesson.htm&lsn_id=105241

if someone would like to create a list of doctors that truly understand fibromyalgia, i\'d recommend you use the RESOURCES section below. it\'s a great way to tell others about your positive (and negative) experiences.

I guess I was lucky to have gotten a dx when I did -I went to Johns Hopkins and spent over two hours with a rheumatologist there who explained that there are specific diagnostic criteria that have to be met to be dx\'d with fibro. There are aspects of the illness that are common across the board with FM-tender points in specific areas, bone-crushing fatigue, joint pain, muscle weakness, sleep disturbances, etc. There are many, many symptoms that overlap other illnesses and these must be \"sifted through\" and ruled out. Many people with FM also have other illnesses, which further complicates things. I have blamed every illness/pain that I have had over the years on FM, not knowing until Jan. of this year that I also had severe gluten intolerance/celiac and casein intolerance which was the cause of chronic diarrhea. I joined both communities in hopes of learning more about each and what the connection between the two are for me. I hope we can all help each other learn ways to cope and support each other through the pain.