Fibromyalgia Support Group
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I was diagnosed with FMS 12 years ago when I was 30. I suffered alot those first few years, took alot of herbal remedies and worked with my diet and exercise to control the pain, fatigue and fog. I battled constant infections and mental stress as well as depression and anxiety. About 5 years ago when I left my abusive marriage I started feeling much better. I actually started feeling like the diagnosis was wrong and it was just the stress of my marriage. Well fast forward almost 5 years and I'm in bad shape again. well there have been bad spells over the last couple years but not a long term, last year I put my back out again, this year I did it again in July, bad lower back and sciatica. I always deal with sleep problems, fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, digestion issues etc... so I'm sure I do have FMS,I'm just in denial. For the last three weeks I have had the most horrible case of hives I've ever experienced in my life. It seems like an allergic reaction but I've taken all the over the counter meds, creams etc and even a round of oral steroids and still they keep coming. I've eliminated anything obvious, stopped using soaps etc. I'm not sure if this could be related to FMS or not. Has anyone else ever gone through this. Its a stretch but I don't know what to think or do. If allergies are ruled out the next option is auto-immune disorder which I seem to remember hearing linked to FMS. Any input would be great thanks.
Hives..I Break out easily, I have No Real Allergies, but If there is Stress in my Life I Break Out..a few Years ago when Dean was heading for Texas I broke out 2 SOLID Weeks, Most of them were Pinhead Size, but I Actually had 1 that was as Big as the Palm of my Hand..
Stress IS Interlinked with FM Somehow...Not Exactly Sure How...but Most of us can Tolerate very Little to NO Stress..If it is the CNS, or our Hormones, or a Mix of Both, I am Unsure..But I Do Know there IS a Connection.
Our Brains and our Guts are Closely Linked...You have a Negative thought it Directly Impacts ur guts...do this ALOT and it is the Perfect Recipe for Disaster...I am Going in to the Hospital in a few days to take care of my Digestive Issues (I Hope)..and Coming out Knowing that I HAVE To Get & Keep my Stress Levels down at ALL Costs.
You get at ALL Anxious ? the Guts will go into Hyperdrive, Emptying as Quickly as Possible..All the Blood Averts AWAY from your Guts..this is OK as Long as it does NOT happen Often..but IF it Does..Yea...your in a Mess.
You have Not mentioned if in the last couple of Years your Stresses have again Increased..but this Is a Quick Spiral down..
I would take a Good Look at that.
Hugs & Prayers that you get some Serious Relief Soon.
The best thing is to avoid things that make you anxious, or take it in short bursts, puncuated with something that calms you down. I like to do small beading projects and huge math and logic puzzles :) If I'm frusterated with my children, I change what we are doing or take a minute for an attitude check.
You've had periods of remission before, you can do it again... or at least control your every day :)
I also noticed that my hives flare up worst at night when I'm wrapped up in bed in my blankets, especially if I'm too warm. Also if I get over heated during the day even my existing hives will swell up and get very hot and itchy - even spots I've had for 3-4 days already. This is very hard to control, not sure what to do about it really but I am trying to learn to appreciate being cooler; normally I love to be cozy warm.
I struggled with skin issues for the last couple of years. Mostly rashes and occasionally hives. saw two dermatologists and my GP. This summer I had a rash soooo bad on my upper body - mostly my chest and breasts but it had started to appear on my wrists and back and stomach as well. We were out of town when it appeared and finally stopped a hospital in a small town. The doc there gave me 5 days of steroids to take. It started to clear up almost immediately and at the end of the five days it was gone. I haven't had a rash or hives since. It is like it knocked it right out of me. I sure hope it has because that is really hard to take.... Benadryl always helps with the itching for me. Doesn't take away the rash/hives but provides some relieve. Helps me sleep too.
I see you have tried these things and they haven't helped. I hope you find some relieve somewhere...
I think it's good you'll get the auto-immune angle checked. Just to be safe.
Hugs,
Leo
I had an itchy situation after I got a pneumonia shot. At first the doctor said it was scabies, of all things! Wash all your linens don't get near your husband--all that junk. Turned out that the only thing that helped it was a steroid cream the doctor gave me. I just by chance was complaining about it in the dentist's office and one of the office ladies said the same thing when she was pregnant and it came back the next time she was pregnant. In my case and in hers, our immune systems were weak, hers due to pregnancy and mine due to the pneumonia shot. She said it ended up being from taking a vitamin that had a certain dye in the coating. So I stopped taking the crumby vitamins I had been taking and--voila! No more itching!
This may have absolutely nothing to do with your problem, but it sure was a coincidence that such an obscure thing as a dye on the outside of an over the counter multi-vitamin would be the cause of mine, too!
Anyway, good luck in finding your answer. If it turns out that you have the same thing going on. let me know!
Later,
Mizroze