I don’t know where to start. But I will start with back at about 23 years old. I was always hurting somewhere on my body and always tired. I thought it was arthritis so I went to a rheumatologist. No visible signs like swollen knees arms etc. and nothing on blood work. So he said it was Fibromyalgia. Now back then fibromyalgia wasn’t a well known condition. I didn’t take the meds and I kept going with life. Fast forward to today. I’m 42, brain fog, forgetful, hurt daily, fatigue daily even with a good 10 hour sleep. But really I have been suffering from insomnia which lead me to nightly take a sleep aide so I can function at work. But on the outside to family and friends I look fine. That’s the hardest part for me. I want a definitive symptom something visible. But nothing. I have suffered and I’m tired. I’m depressed bc I’m tired. And I want to be like everyone my age who can go all day with no pain not feeling tired. Do I have fibromyalgia? My appointment is with a rheumatologist tomorrow. I need to know what other blood tests I can get tested for. And would the doctor test me for all autoimmune diseases?
It’s time I tell my story.
- Thread starter Tabwash
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2016
- Messages
- 3,906
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
Hi @Tabwash
What exactly your doctor tests you for will pretty much be up to them, but you can find comprehensive lists of all of the many things which have the same symptoms as fibromyalgia if you do a search on line. Then, you can make sure you are being tested for, or in some other way determined not to have any of those.
As you may well know, there's no definitive test for fibromyalgia.
By the way.....If the doctor says they can diagnose you with a "pressure point test" just walk out the door. That "test" was debunked over 20 years ago and is useless. If the doctor thinks it's useful, they don't know anything about fibromyalgia and has no business diagnosing or treating patients with fibro, as their knowledge is woefully out of date.
Of course, even getting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is not especially helpful apart from being something you can write on a form, because there's no medical intervention that has yet been discovered that helps even the majority of people with fibro, and there's no known cure. Mostly, having fibromyalgia is a process of figuring out, day by day, what is going to work for you to help you to manage it and have a life even with fibromyalgia.
Many of us here, myself included, can fully relate to what you say about being depressed, tired, and in pain. I think we've all felt that way, so at least you are not alone.
Let us know how the appointment goes tomorrow, and if you have any questions we will do out best to help.
What exactly your doctor tests you for will pretty much be up to them, but you can find comprehensive lists of all of the many things which have the same symptoms as fibromyalgia if you do a search on line. Then, you can make sure you are being tested for, or in some other way determined not to have any of those.
As you may well know, there's no definitive test for fibromyalgia.
By the way.....If the doctor says they can diagnose you with a "pressure point test" just walk out the door. That "test" was debunked over 20 years ago and is useless. If the doctor thinks it's useful, they don't know anything about fibromyalgia and has no business diagnosing or treating patients with fibro, as their knowledge is woefully out of date.
Of course, even getting a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is not especially helpful apart from being something you can write on a form, because there's no medical intervention that has yet been discovered that helps even the majority of people with fibro, and there's no known cure. Mostly, having fibromyalgia is a process of figuring out, day by day, what is going to work for you to help you to manage it and have a life even with fibromyalgia.
Many of us here, myself included, can fully relate to what you say about being depressed, tired, and in pain. I think we've all felt that way, so at least you are not alone.
Let us know how the appointment goes tomorrow, and if you have any questions we will do out best to help.
When you really think about it, how many diseases, illnesses, conditions, etc, have visible signs. Not many. When I walk through a parking lot and I see someone getting in their vehicle, parked in a handicap spot, with a handicap license plate or sticker, but they do not appear to have a "handicap", the first thought that comes to mind is, I wonder if it's their heart.
I have severe OA with my FM, but I keep those areas of my body covered. I do not wish to show the scars.
Nowadays, I think most doctors will test you for concerns that you want to be tested for. Not like it used to be. When I was diagnosed with hypothyroid, I requested all of the tests to determine that. BTW Hypothyroidism does mimic FM. Actually, so does ADHD. Lots of things other than FM.
Do your homework and communicate with your doctor. Since your post was a couple of days ago, I hope you found out some things. May take a while though. Good luck.
I have severe OA with my FM, but I keep those areas of my body covered. I do not wish to show the scars.
Nowadays, I think most doctors will test you for concerns that you want to be tested for. Not like it used to be. When I was diagnosed with hypothyroid, I requested all of the tests to determine that. BTW Hypothyroidism does mimic FM. Actually, so does ADHD. Lots of things other than FM.
Do your homework and communicate with your doctor. Since your post was a couple of days ago, I hope you found out some things. May take a while though. Good luck.
JamieMarc
Very helpful member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2021
- Messages
- 523
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 10/2021
- Country
- US
- State
- FL
Welcome, @Tabwash We know what you are going through and we all empathize with you. You have come to the right place. A place where you can be understood, appreciated and seek advice or just vent. We take care of each other. 
As far as blood testing, your rheumatologist will know what to test for. You should ask him/her what other testing is available should the first results come back negative. Also, I recommend asking for imaging tests...wherever it hurts. I recently completed orders from my own rheumatologist consisting of bloodwork and imaging of my entire spine, both hands and wrists, the places where I suffer the most pain daily. If you are not satisfied with the rheumatologist, I recommend seeing an orthopedist next and maybe even a neurologist, especially if you have any nerve pain.
As mentioned above I believe, FM is a syndrome, not a condition that can be clinically diagnosed. A syndrome is a collection of symptoms of unknown cause or multiple causes. So, by seeing a rheumatologist and searching for potential causes, you are taking the first step toward possibly finding out what conditions you may suffer from and get proper treatment.
As for what you can do for yourself now, work on finding solutions for good sleep, especially deep sleep, of which many fibromyalgia patients suffer from a lack of. You said you are taking a sleep aid, yet you say you are still tired? Is that right? Is it because the sleep aid is not working or are you still tired anyway despite getting adequate sleep? That's an important differentiation.
Hang in there, my friend. We're here for you, and one another. Hugs!
As far as blood testing, your rheumatologist will know what to test for. You should ask him/her what other testing is available should the first results come back negative. Also, I recommend asking for imaging tests...wherever it hurts. I recently completed orders from my own rheumatologist consisting of bloodwork and imaging of my entire spine, both hands and wrists, the places where I suffer the most pain daily. If you are not satisfied with the rheumatologist, I recommend seeing an orthopedist next and maybe even a neurologist, especially if you have any nerve pain.
As mentioned above I believe, FM is a syndrome, not a condition that can be clinically diagnosed. A syndrome is a collection of symptoms of unknown cause or multiple causes. So, by seeing a rheumatologist and searching for potential causes, you are taking the first step toward possibly finding out what conditions you may suffer from and get proper treatment.
As for what you can do for yourself now, work on finding solutions for good sleep, especially deep sleep, of which many fibromyalgia patients suffer from a lack of. You said you are taking a sleep aid, yet you say you are still tired? Is that right? Is it because the sleep aid is not working or are you still tired anyway despite getting adequate sleep? That's an important differentiation.
Hang in there, my friend. We're here for you, and one another. Hugs!
