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.
Hi to everyone here. I'm new to the forum, but I have been stocking it for a while. I actually have Lupus which has been very quiet for the past 10 years. Then this year, a TON of stress entered my life. My father passed. My mother has been ill. Potential job loss hanging in the balance.
In June I got bit by a bug while mowing my lawn. They gave me an antibiotic for 7 days. Then I started feeling really tired. That was July 4th (how can you forget). Then three days later, my stomach started hurting. In August I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy. Found I had mild gastritis. But I continued to coast downhill. Went to see my Rheumatologist who felt that it wasn't my Lupus, but very well might be Fibromyalgia. Of course I didn't want to hear this (or accept this). Feels so much like what I dealt with before.
My symptoms: Fatigue, dizziness, headache, sore joints (elbows, shoulder, lower back, knees), losing weight without effort. Brain fog. That's the main ones.
The dizziness and headache along with the brain fog, that really slows me down and affects my ability to do my job. I'm home today, just too lightheaded. I actually am going to a doctor in a couple hours, can't continue to deal with this.
Curious thought, I don't see many guys in this group. I mean Lupus is a disease that affects mostly women, is it the same for Fibro?
Thanks!
In June I got bit by a bug while mowing my lawn. They gave me an antibiotic for 7 days. Then I started feeling really tired. That was July 4th (how can you forget). Then three days later, my stomach started hurting. In August I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy. Found I had mild gastritis. But I continued to coast downhill. Went to see my Rheumatologist who felt that it wasn't my Lupus, but very well might be Fibromyalgia. Of course I didn't want to hear this (or accept this). Feels so much like what I dealt with before.
My symptoms: Fatigue, dizziness, headache, sore joints (elbows, shoulder, lower back, knees), losing weight without effort. Brain fog. That's the main ones.
The dizziness and headache along with the brain fog, that really slows me down and affects my ability to do my job. I'm home today, just too lightheaded. I actually am going to a doctor in a couple hours, can't continue to deal with this.
Curious thought, I don't see many guys in this group. I mean Lupus is a disease that affects mostly women, is it the same for Fibro?
Thanks!
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We're all troubled.WSo, to remind ourselves we're not at rock bottom (this is a reverse optimism thing I learned as a kid):We are not living on the island of Krakatoa when the volcano goes boom!Yeah, okay, that sucks.***Toay in 1942, Pierre Laval announced that the way to free France was for Germany to win WW2. Pierre did not win a lot of friends. When the war ended, quite quickly he was tried...
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Another day, another ouchie?My bruised achilles tendon (don't ask) makes my foot numb. Wonky on meds, whacked it.Now, as to fibro:A lot of reports are going around some parts of social media that fibro (and dang near anything else) are caused by post-Covid, post-flu, post-vaccinations, post-pick-something.1. Your risk of death or serious complications beyond "ow, that shot hurt!" are typically...
Some of your symptoms sound like fibro and some don't. But I am not a doctor. I'm glad you are going to see one today. I hope you get some help.
It is true that most people who have lupis and fibro are women, but I have a good friend who is a guy and has very bad fibro. We have a couple of guys here...Kel and Bear. So please feel welcome to jump right in and chat.
Btw - I'd like to recommend that you purchase the book "Fibromyalgia for Dummies." It is our go to book on this board. It will give you a comprehensive overview of this complex illness. You can find it on Amazon.
Leo is our fabulous host for morning check in. Interesting trivia, some sports stuff and helpful ideas to stay motivated. Lurk or join in!
That said? Fibro can be triggered by stress, and the situation you're in sounds like enough stress to trigger quite a lot of issues. I'm sure you were checked for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme, West Nile? If not, double-check. Most with West Nile never get a symptom, but I've had the Rocky Mtn (tick bite).... And the antiiotics made me miserable for two weeks, tho' I was on them for five days. Ugh.
BTW, we have several men (Kel, Sugarbear, and a few others who mostly lurk but we know they're out there), and while diseases may "generally" affect a gender more than another, the only absolutes are that women never get prostate cancer and men never get ovarian cancer. After that? Men get MS, RA, and other "mostly woman" diseases, and we gals get "man" ailments like heart attacks, so don't even think about the chromosomes. They're irrelevant.
Please, however, see a *neurologist*. The headache, fog, and dizziness could be something a neuro can better narrow down, and they also dx Fibro.
Welcome to our group:-)
Leo
Ida, you said some symptoms sound like Fibro, others don't. Can you clarify?
You mentioned that you have Lupus. Fibro can sometimes be a secondary condition associated with Lupus and a few other conditions. So I would agree with Fantod that you might want to get some additional information on fibro. if nothing else, it will arm you with information so that you can assist your doctor with treatment.
Best Regards,
Kimber
I have both fibro and neurocardiogenic syncope (vasovagal). Do you ever feel faint? They are not related, but both are affected by the autonomic nervous system.
Fibro is also related to the central nervous system.
Hope that helps.
Kimber
There is so much to learn about fibro I don't really know where to start. For me, when I got diagnosed, doctors really didn't help much. They usually tried to shove me off on other docs or just gave me a psychiatric referral. The best thing you can do is start reading books about FM. And not just you, but have your family members read them, too. Also, hang around here on this site because you will gain lots of support and learn a few odd things here and there. Once I read a couple of books and started getting the hang of things from this site, I was much better prepared to face doctors and knew what to request / talk about. You are your own advocate, don't just take anything the doctors shove in your face. Hang in there, ok? Blessings...
Sorry you are dealing with all of this on top of your Lupus (whether quiet or not).
There is a wealth of knowledge and support on this board.
Welcome.