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.
I don't know what to do anymore. This is the first time I've ever joined a board like this of any kind just because of how bad it is. I was diagnosed with the shitty fibro August 2014. I haven't worked really since July 2014.
I technically had a job for a few days with a company and was fired because I decided that staying with my dad in the hospital during his open heart surgery was more important. I just left an unpaid internship after three and a half days because my body just could not take the stress of the bending, kneeling, etc.
I have no idea what kind of employment to look for! My doctor doesn't want me to lift more than ten pounds. I have developed carpal and tarsal tunnel as well. No stupid medication seems to work for me and I take it for months. I also am awaiting brain surgery.
My education is a high school diploma and some college but no official degree. I have experience in retail and as a lab tech.
I know it is a lot to lay on random strange internet folk especially for my first post, but I am at the end of my rope. My boyfriend who has been pretty damn supportive and I have been just arguing with each other because he thinks that I need to stick shit out and I just feel like I can't. He has his own health issues, but right now due to a shitty sticky situation we're both pretty financially screwed and living with his mom and I feel so utterly pathetic.
I technically had a job for a few days with a company and was fired because I decided that staying with my dad in the hospital during his open heart surgery was more important. I just left an unpaid internship after three and a half days because my body just could not take the stress of the bending, kneeling, etc.
I have no idea what kind of employment to look for! My doctor doesn't want me to lift more than ten pounds. I have developed carpal and tarsal tunnel as well. No stupid medication seems to work for me and I take it for months. I also am awaiting brain surgery.
My education is a high school diploma and some college but no official degree. I have experience in retail and as a lab tech.
I know it is a lot to lay on random strange internet folk especially for my first post, but I am at the end of my rope. My boyfriend who has been pretty damn supportive and I have been just arguing with each other because he thinks that I need to stick shit out and I just feel like I can't. He has his own health issues, but right now due to a shitty sticky situation we're both pretty financially screwed and living with his mom and I feel so utterly pathetic.
The loss of work is a huge issue for just about all of us. We find it difficult to get, keep, or survive jobs---I work from home, and have for about 15 years, thank goodness. And my hubby is super supportive 80 percent of the time, but the other 20 he is human, tired of being the big breadwinner, and just wants it all to stop. (So do I!)
OK, with all that neuro stuff going on---and why the brain surgery? if I may ask?---are they sure it is fibro? Did they rule out the other 200 million things that act like it? (Or vice versa?) MS, RA, Celiac, are three of the commoner ones I know of in my experience; others here will add to that list. Also, some vitamin deficiencies, blah blah blah, you get the idea.
First rule of Fibro is: Buy Fibromyalgia for Dummies. You, your loved ones, and possibly your doctors will all come to rely on it as a good resource for the basics.
Also, investigate physical therapies involving yoga, tai chi, warm water pool therapy, very very gentle stuff. It helps us keep our muscles toned while very very slowly and gently expanding our ability to move.
I think here we've tried everythin. My carpal tunnel did great after acupuncture for six months. Yeah, I know, sounds odd to some, but whew, so much a relief!
Also, various muscle creams, TENS units, heat, don't be afraid to ask neurologists where are good places to put pressure, heat or cold to maximize effect. (My neuro helped me a ton with that.)
Sorry to go on so long, but I've just celebrated my 25th diagnosis anniversary for fibro. (Hurray?) So I've been in it a good while.
You are NOT pathetic. You're stuck. Happens to everyone. We dont' ask for it, want it, but patience really is a virtue. Stress management course helped me with that. (Yep, I tried that!) ...
YOu can feel proactive by tracking symptoms and triggers for flares in journals, keep track of diet as well to see if there's a food trigger (some people can't tolerate sugary or salty foods; I just avoid all processed food period)....
That really helps us as patients to take some control of our treatment.
Again, welcome, and gentel healing to you!
Welcome to the group, also sorry you have to be here. I agree with Leo I know we don't have your back story and it's probably a laundry list of crap, like most of us. But BrainSurgery seems a little far out there.
Most of us have to fine tune a cocktail that works best with our bodies. For me tramadol does nothing. Like at all, it can years to find what works best.
Finding a job that works best with your body is damn hard. And relationships are hard enough with out the added strain of an illness that NO ONE understands.
I'm glad that you cone looking for us. Letting everything out is a BIG deal. You will find the more you talk about these things the less stressed you will be and the easier to deal with things will become.
Your lucky you have a place to go to. Although it's not ideal, living with family can take a lot of stress out of it while you get back on your feel finacially.
I know the shity feeling of spiraling down a hole, literally downing in debt. It sucks. But things do eventually work out and we are here if/when you need us.
I was tested a ridiculous amount of times for various things before coming to the conclusion of fibro over a period of ar least nine months. I don't have the money for classes as I have no income. My insurance doesn't cover acupuncture or botox (also for fibro apparently). I will try muscle creams. I'll have to remember to keep a journal :p.
Having a therapist that actually worked with me would be nice.
YouTube has great stress management and stress relief videos---I predate the internet, so I took in-person classes. They were fre, however, via a local health clinic community program.
Just keep trying. That's allw e can do sometimes, but it does often pay off.