I am new to FM so can't really help with your question. Have you contacted your doctor about all these recent problems? One of the things I have read is that you need to be aware that everything that is wrong with us can sometimes mask other illnesses. Not to scare you and maybe you have had these same problems in the past, but I would see my PCP to see if there is something different going on.

Praying for you and gentle hugs

I have alot of those days. I keep adding to my health problems that I start to wonder if it's time to throw in the towel. But there is a part of me that keeps hoping things will turn around.

I would check with your doctor not everything is fibro. I have heart problems and when my hands or feet start to get swollen I have a perscription water pill that draws all the water out and brings down the swelling. I also have problems with my feet but that is more because I go barefoot or don't ware shoes with the right support. I find if I where shoes with a good arch support most of the pain goes away.

Sending Hugs and Prayers that you feel better soon. There is alot of research going on so I do believe they will find the causes and hopefully a cure or better treatment soon.

I have had very few good days since Dec. 09. You do not sound like a pity party, but if you decide to have one, can I come?

It gets rough at times. I'm okay most of the time, but every now and then I feel discouragement overwhelm me. It's those times that I try to meditate/pray more, watch comedies on TV, journal, or other things that may make me feel good or take my mind off of how lousy I feel.

Never give up hope! Many gentle hugs :)

Thank you so much for your hugs and mostly your prayers. I went to the doctor Mon. and was sent for more lab wk. Fortuanantly my hands were swollen bad at the time.She put me on Medrol dosepak. I think it's for the fluid. Then on Mobic for inflamation. I'm eager to find out the results. She also wants to recheck me by the end of the month.

Sorry you're in so much pain right now!! There is always hope.There is no rhyme or reason to FM.You could have a flare for one day or weeks.My favorite time of year is now comming to an end and I'm afraid of waking up feeling terrible and having my pills not work.Fall and winter get to be very hard and long.When I'm in a long and painful flare and am feeling hopeless,I talk to myself.Tell myself to just BREATHE.........Sometimes I have to take it a minute at a time,hour or day at a time.If I look at it like: I'm going to feel this way forever,I'd give up for sure.And I have felt like it many times.It does get real sickning feeling like that day in and day out!I'm glad you are reaching out and talking about it because its too easy to let depression consume you when you don't get any relief for long periods of time.Hang in there sweetie!! Sending prayers and gentle (((HUGS)))

Yes, there is hope!!!! What seems so terrible one day can and does change over time. I had been almost bed ridden for about 18 years, and just when I was giving up all hope, I called several friends and told them that I just could not see how I could put one foot in front of the other. I had people praying for me all those years, but over the next couple of weeks, I did get to the point that I have been able to get out of bed on most days. I still have significant pain and fatigue and have to pace myself. Can't be on my feet very long. I started out with foot problems and was on crutches for several months, but it moved out of my feet after a few months. It seems like the manifestations can occur in most any part of the body and at any time. Just be sure that nothing else is contributing to your current problems, but don't ever give up hope because when just when you feel the lowest, things can change. Try to do something to get your mind diverted from the Fibro. I know that is the hardest thing to do when you don't have any energy and also experience " brain fog", but watch funny movies and try to laugh. There was a true story about a man who watched comedies and he overcame. I cannot think of the name of the book right now " Fibro fog", but I will post it later. You might enjoy reading it. Know it is difficult when you are facing everything you are facing right now to find something to laugh about, but movies may help. I'm under a great deal of stress and it seems as if nothing has been positive for me for a long time. I'm really struggling, but I know that at some point, things have to improve. You just try your best to hang on. Everything will work out for the best!!!!! You've got a lot of people who care and are concerned about you and feel the same pain that you feel. Keep looking up!!

Bless ur heart. Hope u feel better soon. I'm there with u though so I'm not sure when the good days come. Ur in my thoughts and prayers
take care

You don't sound like your having a pity party at all. You just need some encouragment and I understand. Sometimes it seems to me like one hurting place triggers another place to hurt and before I know it I hurt all over. I know the swelling of feet and legs will be tender like a bruise. Once you get the fluid off that should ease up. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

I had a three year flare once - NO good days for THREE YEARS. Of course, I also had three kids under my care and an ex husband who was constantly harassing me (took me to court three times to try to take the kids away) but wouldn't help with the kids at all.

There's always hope, but i totally get it. There have been many days where I prayed for God to just let it end. F is SO friggin' tiresome.

I have not been on in a long, lomg time. But there is hope. I feel alot of it is mind over matter. once u know what is wrong, u have a choice to feel like crapola all the time, or keep saying I can't realy feel this bad.. and force yourself to or will your self into feeling better.

keep trying things until u find the program that works for you.. don't let the fibro control u. learn how to control it, and u will have some whay of ur life back, its never going to be as it was b-4. but it can get better. lots of love an hugs.

See a podiatrist about your feet - you may have a condition called Morton's Neuroma, which is an inflammation of a nerve in your foot. It is treatable with cortisone injections (and throwing out any shoes that remotely can be described as "pretty" or "sexy" LOL)

As for the rest, there is a lot of hope. New research leads to more treatment options, and the more you educate yourself (and coming to DS is a big part of that) the better off you'll be.

When I first go here in 2007, I was depressed, in pain, unemployed, and miserable. I'm still in some pain, some of the time, but I'm so much better than I was when I got here, and a lot of what's helped I learned here.

Hope faith keeps me going.. I am happy to hear you went to your doctor and they are doing things to help reduce some of the swelling problems etc. and running more tests. Sounds like a good doctor. Hope U feel better soon !


take care gentle hugs

Ohhh Hon..I So Wish I had Answers for you, I see you have also been Diagnosed with RA..I Know we had a Member here (have Not seen her on in a Long time)..she had been Diagnosed with FM...then later with RA..and Once she Started getting the RA Treated all her FM Symptoms Disappeared..I think they Put her on Humara..I prolly Butchered THAT Word..I will Look up her Profile and see what I Can find..BRB..

K...Here is a Excerpt from her Journal..

Maybe there is a Humira connection... Mood
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 | A General Update story

I was looking back in my journal to answer a question about FM and arthritis and noticed that on March 12, when I was 4 days without pain meds, I had taken my first dose of Humira the week before. It wasn't a full dose because I messed up the shot and only got part of the drug in my system, but it was a start.



Ever since, I've been pain free, both FM pain and arthritis pain. I truly thought that the absence fo the FM pain came a few weeks before, but now that I re-read my journal entry, I think it was only a matter of a couple of days overlap.



People have been asking me what's my secret for making it stop and I've told them I have no idea. Maybe it's been the Humira all along. I'm going to ask my rheumatologist on my next visit. I'd like to hear of other people who have FM who may be on Humira to treat their arthritis.
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It has been a couple Years already since she has been gone...WoW Time Flies..at any rate...what are they doing to Treat ur RA ?

Hey, TW!

I don't know how long you've been sick, but I have read, and have found it to be true personally, that after 7 years of this illness your symptoms level off.

That was true with me until I was exposed to black mold and went through menopause while having 5 of the big viruses I'm famous for at the same time. So I have definitely gone way backward because of that. After I leveled off, I had four or five fairly good years where I was able to babysit for an agency and help out at my daughter's school. Also gardened in spite of the pain and was pretty active.

Sadly, I am pretty isolated and on the couch most days.

Check in with you later,

Mizroze