Fibromyalgia Support Group

You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

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CaptainFibro 07/07/2013

Anyone else here get the Bipolar + Fibromyalgia double whammy to the extent that both make the other so much worse? I had my Bipolar Disorder pretty well in control until a major FM flare onset that caused me so much physical and mental stress that BP multiplied exponentially. And when I am manic from the BP, I can't always pace myself properly which in turn causes my FM to get worse.

deleted_user 07/07/2013

Hey There,

I'm not Bi-Polar, but I do have PTSD, so it may not be exactly the same, but the 2 definitely play off one another-PTSD flares up, Fibro Flares up-if I am managing my PTSD ok, than Fibro tends to be OK.

On the flip side if my Fibro flares, the intense pain can trigger bad memories causing a pretty bad PTSD episode or phase.

I think mental health plays a big role in health problems-not just fibro. It's why I just bought my therapist his new house after 15 years of weekly payments :)

deleted_user 07/07/2013

I have Borderline Personality Disorder. As you say, after I finally got a diagnosis during a major "crash" when I was 33, I worked very hard and got it "under control." The doctors call it "in remission," but I don't like that as I still struggled daily to keep it under control.

That said, when fibro hit the BPD re-exploded. They do play off each other. The way I think of it is that the fibro and BPD each take a certain level of energy and control to keep them in check. When one of them takes more than its fair share, it can cause my whole system (mental and physical) to be overloaded and everything descends into chaos.

CaptainFibro 07/07/2013

Thanks. It's comforting to hear from others that have experienced similar problems. I can't hold a job anymore but I've also been rejected for disability twice. I have a lawyer now and he has gotten me in the queue for an appeal in front of a judge but he says that it can take 12-18 months to actually been seen. Sometimes I'm not sure that I will make it that long.

Joyssis 07/07/2013

I'm not bi-polar but I have panic disorder and agoraphobia. Sometimes when fibro flares up so do these two. That's when I have to hit the Xanax.

deleted_user 07/07/2013

Captain Fibro,

The Disability process can be grueling...I am sorry you have been declined twice and now have the stress of going before a judge, and even more so waiting 12-18 months.

I don't know if you live alone or have family, but there are a few resources if you need them based on whether or not you have any income and a few other factors-depending on your living situation, you may be eligible for food stamps, cash benefits (only if you have kids) State Health Insurance (again need to have kids). If you have your own place you can cal 2-1-1 and get connected to the United Way for emergency assistance with utilities, rent, food, clothing, etc...

I wish you the best and hope you do not have to wait a year for your trial.

Keep posting and use every resource you have for suppor during this time.
Best, LuLu

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