Hi. I was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia on Friday by a Rhuematologist. I am 41 years old, married almost 20 years, and have 3 children ages 8-23.
I was surprised by this diagnosis to say the least. I had heard of Fibromyalgia but not thought about it in regard to the way I was feeling. I had equated this condition more with that of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
For many years now I have been struggling with fatigue. Dr's always equated it to depression, anxiety, and being overweight. This past year my fatigue has gotten so unbearable that I sometimes have been unable to do even small things like go to the grocery store. I have seen so many specialists: internal medicine, gastro, neuro, sleep specialist. So many blood tests, I have had my vitamin and mineral panels run three times this year and my thyroid tested for times in the last two years. Everything came up fine. Due to my most prevalent symptoms (tingling, fatigue, itching, weakness, dizziness, coordination and memory issues, and generalized pain) I thought I was headed to an MS diagnosis. When my MRI came back negative for lesions last month I had about given up. I still had this rheumatology appointment in the future but almost cancelled out figuring the PA at my Internal Med Dr was right when she said it was all in my head (well, she said my depression was causing my pain). I also tested negative for RA, Lyme, Lupus, as well as any of the other Auto Immune markers (in total I have had over 60 tubes of blood drawn in the past 6 months). I have had a lot of lower abdominal pain and lower back pain in the last year as well (to the point where I thought my Ovaries were on the verge of exploding) but 3 internal sonograms revealed nothing "that would explain the extent of the pain that [I am] having". My gyno just said take 4 ibuprofen every 6 hours during my period to control bleeding and pain. However, I have the pain almost constantly. At one point, I thought I had kidney stones as well it had gotten so bad.
So on Friday when I got this diagnosis, I was surprised. The Dr explained a little to me and together we decided I would start Savella. I had been on Cymbalta prior to this (from the Internal Med PA for that depression) and did not like the detached feeling from the anti-depressant part of it. Lyrica was ruled out because the Dr said it can cause weight gain.
So far ok with the Savella (only three days in to the titration pack) as far as side effects. Just now, I am noticing the pain more it seems. Now that I have had time to look into Fibro more I realize that so many of my symptoms are classic symptoms of this condition.
My issue now is how to explain all of this to my husband, my kids, and my boss? So much is unknown about Fibro and a lot of the internet info out there makes it sound like a Psychological problem that manifests itself physically. A lot of people don't and won't believe that makes it "real". How do I tell people in such a way that they realize this is a true illness? This is weighing heavily on me.
Thanks for listening. I am definitely just now learning my way in all of this.
ETA: I have many other symptoms as well and the Dr did do the pressure test (I had no idea what she was doing at the time) right before diagnosing me so I must have failed that. After she told me what she had done with the pressure points and why I said how odd. For years my husband will squeeze my thigh thinking it tickles but it is always so painful. He never gets it. I always thought he just doesn't know his own strength. Turns out, I am more sensitive. I can think of a million times too where he sits on my lap or one of my kids touches me in a certain way and it hurts where it would not hurt another person. A lot makes sense now.
I was surprised by this diagnosis to say the least. I had heard of Fibromyalgia but not thought about it in regard to the way I was feeling. I had equated this condition more with that of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
For many years now I have been struggling with fatigue. Dr's always equated it to depression, anxiety, and being overweight. This past year my fatigue has gotten so unbearable that I sometimes have been unable to do even small things like go to the grocery store. I have seen so many specialists: internal medicine, gastro, neuro, sleep specialist. So many blood tests, I have had my vitamin and mineral panels run three times this year and my thyroid tested for times in the last two years. Everything came up fine. Due to my most prevalent symptoms (tingling, fatigue, itching, weakness, dizziness, coordination and memory issues, and generalized pain) I thought I was headed to an MS diagnosis. When my MRI came back negative for lesions last month I had about given up. I still had this rheumatology appointment in the future but almost cancelled out figuring the PA at my Internal Med Dr was right when she said it was all in my head (well, she said my depression was causing my pain). I also tested negative for RA, Lyme, Lupus, as well as any of the other Auto Immune markers (in total I have had over 60 tubes of blood drawn in the past 6 months). I have had a lot of lower abdominal pain and lower back pain in the last year as well (to the point where I thought my Ovaries were on the verge of exploding) but 3 internal sonograms revealed nothing "that would explain the extent of the pain that [I am] having". My gyno just said take 4 ibuprofen every 6 hours during my period to control bleeding and pain. However, I have the pain almost constantly. At one point, I thought I had kidney stones as well it had gotten so bad.
So on Friday when I got this diagnosis, I was surprised. The Dr explained a little to me and together we decided I would start Savella. I had been on Cymbalta prior to this (from the Internal Med PA for that depression) and did not like the detached feeling from the anti-depressant part of it. Lyrica was ruled out because the Dr said it can cause weight gain.
So far ok with the Savella (only three days in to the titration pack) as far as side effects. Just now, I am noticing the pain more it seems. Now that I have had time to look into Fibro more I realize that so many of my symptoms are classic symptoms of this condition.
My issue now is how to explain all of this to my husband, my kids, and my boss? So much is unknown about Fibro and a lot of the internet info out there makes it sound like a Psychological problem that manifests itself physically. A lot of people don't and won't believe that makes it "real". How do I tell people in such a way that they realize this is a true illness? This is weighing heavily on me.
Thanks for listening. I am definitely just now learning my way in all of this.
ETA: I have many other symptoms as well and the Dr did do the pressure test (I had no idea what she was doing at the time) right before diagnosing me so I must have failed that. After she told me what she had done with the pressure points and why I said how odd. For years my husband will squeeze my thigh thinking it tickles but it is always so painful. He never gets it. I always thought he just doesn't know his own strength. Turns out, I am more sensitive. I can think of a million times too where he sits on my lap or one of my kids touches me in a certain way and it hurts where it would not hurt another person. A lot makes sense now.