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 everyone my name is laura...
I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia after seeing many doctors and a very unnecessary hysterectomy, not that I really regret it as it helped with pelvic pain and heavy menstrual cycles. I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist.
Anyway I have dealt with pain and digestive issues my whole life, the pain was manageable, but in my early life digestive issues were not. I was diagnosed with severe ibs as a junior in high school after losing a ton of weight and getting down to 89 lbs. But the chronic pain started in 2005. I had chronic pelvic pain and low back pain, which lead me to see many Dr's such as gynecologist s and just my primary care. Had medi-cal at the time, so specialists and tests were limited. Did not work for many years due to pain. Well I at that time was diagnosed after mri and laparoscopies with bulging disc and invisible endometriosis along with adhesions from previous c section. Had a pelvic surgery to remove adhesions.
Fast forward to 2011 pain and digestive/stomach issues increased tremendously. And the pain was what seemed like spreading to my joints, neck, shoulders, hands and feet. Not to mention the fatigue and what i thought was lack of sleep, but not being able to focus or process a thought.At this time I was working at my job um currently at, and have medical insurance. The journey begins with the hysterectomy as my internal med dr and gyro thought back pain and stomach issues may be related to more adhesions and endometriosis. This was after two scopes from GI dr who saw nothing but polyps that did turn out to be cancerous. So another severe IBS diagnoses from him. After the long recovery from hysterectomy the pain NEVER went away and increased a little more. All it helped was my pelvic pain. After this I had another huge weight loss.
So I went to see my gyno again and he sent me to a pain and physical medicine specialist, he pretty much examined me and said I had myofascial pain and prescribed physical therapy and stretches in the am before showering. I did what he asked and it NEVER helped. I went back in and told him it didn't help and that I was getti my an electric shock feeling in my feet, mostly the right one and toe numbness only on two toes, he was intrigued at this point and ordered mri and nerve conduction test.
Well when this all came back with no red flags (just my previous bulging disc) he said all was well with my spine and that he thought it was a sacral joint dysfunction, so he gave me a shot of steroid and after the lidocaine wore off (I was at work) I went into the worst steroid flare of my life. The pain was unbearable! It was from head to toe, after more missed time from work (not sure I mentioned I have missed a lot of work and am never able to accrue sick time because of the missed time) He decided to send me to pain management, she actually listed to the whole story and picture I'm telling you all and said I'm seeing to many Dr's that just focus on one part of the problem, she said all she would be able to do is the injections with xray and I might go into flare again. She suggested it might be something autoimmune and that I should see a rheumatologist. I got a referral from my dr and saw her on the 25th of last month.. After looking through my records and all my tests and surgeries, as well as doing a trigger point test in exam room said it is for sure fibromyalgia.
As of right now my pain management has always consisted of Norco for pain, which helps take the edge off the pain and she put me on wellbutrin which did not help and are fibro fog worse as well as making me angry and feel like I could not control my thoughts. Antidepressants always (I've been on a few) make me feel worse and do a number on my already sensitive stomach. Sorry for the long post, I just am excited to be apart of a support group as everyone is tired of hearing of my pain and I have no one who understands. And believe me when I say this is the short version, I left out a lot of other surgeries, issues and tests. Thank You For Reading AND Sorry If there are mistakes as I of course did not sleep well and am not feeling great :(
Also hope someone can tell me what has helped them. I'm new to the medications that can help, I have been on a few of the fibro ones, just never helped and they were prescribed before I was actually diagnosed. That y ou again for reading.
I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia after seeing many doctors and a very unnecessary hysterectomy, not that I really regret it as it helped with pelvic pain and heavy menstrual cycles. I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist.
Anyway I have dealt with pain and digestive issues my whole life, the pain was manageable, but in my early life digestive issues were not. I was diagnosed with severe ibs as a junior in high school after losing a ton of weight and getting down to 89 lbs. But the chronic pain started in 2005. I had chronic pelvic pain and low back pain, which lead me to see many Dr's such as gynecologist s and just my primary care. Had medi-cal at the time, so specialists and tests were limited. Did not work for many years due to pain. Well I at that time was diagnosed after mri and laparoscopies with bulging disc and invisible endometriosis along with adhesions from previous c section. Had a pelvic surgery to remove adhesions.
Fast forward to 2011 pain and digestive/stomach issues increased tremendously. And the pain was what seemed like spreading to my joints, neck, shoulders, hands and feet. Not to mention the fatigue and what i thought was lack of sleep, but not being able to focus or process a thought.At this time I was working at my job um currently at, and have medical insurance. The journey begins with the hysterectomy as my internal med dr and gyro thought back pain and stomach issues may be related to more adhesions and endometriosis. This was after two scopes from GI dr who saw nothing but polyps that did turn out to be cancerous. So another severe IBS diagnoses from him. After the long recovery from hysterectomy the pain NEVER went away and increased a little more. All it helped was my pelvic pain. After this I had another huge weight loss.
So I went to see my gyno again and he sent me to a pain and physical medicine specialist, he pretty much examined me and said I had myofascial pain and prescribed physical therapy and stretches in the am before showering. I did what he asked and it NEVER helped. I went back in and told him it didn't help and that I was getti my an electric shock feeling in my feet, mostly the right one and toe numbness only on two toes, he was intrigued at this point and ordered mri and nerve conduction test.
Well when this all came back with no red flags (just my previous bulging disc) he said all was well with my spine and that he thought it was a sacral joint dysfunction, so he gave me a shot of steroid and after the lidocaine wore off (I was at work) I went into the worst steroid flare of my life. The pain was unbearable! It was from head to toe, after more missed time from work (not sure I mentioned I have missed a lot of work and am never able to accrue sick time because of the missed time) He decided to send me to pain management, she actually listed to the whole story and picture I'm telling you all and said I'm seeing to many Dr's that just focus on one part of the problem, she said all she would be able to do is the injections with xray and I might go into flare again. She suggested it might be something autoimmune and that I should see a rheumatologist. I got a referral from my dr and saw her on the 25th of last month.. After looking through my records and all my tests and surgeries, as well as doing a trigger point test in exam room said it is for sure fibromyalgia.
As of right now my pain management has always consisted of Norco for pain, which helps take the edge off the pain and she put me on wellbutrin which did not help and are fibro fog worse as well as making me angry and feel like I could not control my thoughts. Antidepressants always (I've been on a few) make me feel worse and do a number on my already sensitive stomach. Sorry for the long post, I just am excited to be apart of a support group as everyone is tired of hearing of my pain and I have no one who understands. And believe me when I say this is the short version, I left out a lot of other surgeries, issues and tests. Thank You For Reading AND Sorry If there are mistakes as I of course did not sleep well and am not feeling great :(
Also hope someone can tell me what has helped them. I'm new to the medications that can help, I have been on a few of the fibro ones, just never helped and they were prescribed before I was actually diagnosed. That y ou again for reading.
I spent my life with severe dysmenorrhea and in 02 I fought advanced stage three colon cancer where they did surgery and that also involved a complete hysterectomy. I was officially diagnosed in 98 with CFIDS/ME along with the Myofascial Pain Syndrome. After surgery I had scare tissue and this became IBS over time. I have severe dizziness and fall down a lot where any longer I use a cane and seated walker that has hand brakes and this has allowed me to stay independent.
I take Adderall for the fatigue and Norco for the pain but the Norco I can only handle a couple times a week or it causes withdrawal symptoms -- or what at least felt like it was withdrawal after I had taken it nightly for three weeks for the night time pain. I'm forced to rest in bed so much of the time I have had to give up outside employment as there was just no way to live a life with a schedule at all any longer. Severe secondary depression where I take Prozac. I tried the wellbutrin but it really messed me up with just a very small dosage. I later learned it should not be taken by people who have had fungal infection issues -- and I have. Prozac and Adderall are the two meds that seem to help the most without leaving me so messed up and the Norco is a couple times a week at the most. Resting as much as needed combined with gentle exercises and avoiding as much stress as I can seems to help the most.
So sorry that you've been through so much with your health. Most of us here have multiple health issues and can empathize. Glad you came here. It's a great group to belong to and a good place to come to when you feel like nobody understands.
I hope your docs get meds in order for you soon.
Jo