Christina Frank
New member
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2016
- Messages
- 1
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 00/0000
- Country
- US
- State
- Wa
Hi there, I'm new here and was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia by my rheumatologist. She didn't seem totally confident with the diagnosis but sort of as a way to "give me something" and send me on my way. This is going to be long but I would so appreciate some thoughts.
Here's some background info on my symptoms and how/when this all started.
Dec 3rd, 2014 I walked into class at my community college, sat down, and like a light switch was suddenly hit with crazy brain fog. Unlike I ever experienced. I thought it may be due to menstruation, and sure enough I started cramping a few hours later and had started my period. So i figured that was why. But the brain fog didn't go away when my period did, it kept up. Then it kind of went away for about two weeks and then randomly came back and this brain fog episode has never gone away since. This is not brain fog like slightly worsened memory or feeling a little off, it's like a constant feeling of being drugged or high or something. It rocked my world for he first 6 mos or so, ER visits, being bed bound (not sure if that was depression about what was going on, or what). I had a 1 1/2 year old child also so that was hard. Along with brain fog was slight dizziness/light headedness. Occasional tingling above my eyebrow, cold sensation on eyebrow. The brain fog has been number 1 symptom and effects memory and makes me slightly disoriented.
Fast forward to about a year ago -- pregnant with baby 2, symptoms the same but started to get sensation of swelling behind the knees, numbness in shoulder/arm when doing hair or makeup, always random areas. Not sure if this was pregnancy related, but I still have it now (8 mos postpartum) on and off totally random.
Newest symptoms are knee pain specifically when going up stairs, squatting, straightening/locking leg when standing and a bit upon pressure. Fatigue, irritable bowel symptoms, exercise intolerance, weight gain.
Here are tests/specialists that I have had done/have seen:
Cat scan - clear
MRI - clear
ENT - nothing of significance seen or noticed
EKG - clear
Countless blood draws testing for: vitamin/minerals, thyroid, general blood work, arthritis (and other autoimmune conditions like lupus, scleroderma, sjogrens... And least the general work for autoimmune), Lyme disease, etc. probably more but I don't remember.
Rheumatologist -- she ordered labs which were all clear, so she diagnosed me with fibromyalgia but she didn't seem to even take brain fog into account. This is what makes me skeptical -- she did the tender point exam, and I barely had any tender points.
This is the thing, I don't have many tender points like the diagnostic criteria states you should have 11/18. My pain is more random times, random places, nerve type of pain instead of tenderness. Also, I don't have widespread pain all at once, mine focuses on one area and comes and goes and moves around. My main symptom is still severe brain fog, but knee joint pain is getting bad. I know so many people have severe pain all over and I just simply do not but this brain fog makes me feel so crippled at times. Maybe this is mild fibromyalgia? Does any one have any similar symptoms or any thoughts at all?
Here's some background info on my symptoms and how/when this all started.
Dec 3rd, 2014 I walked into class at my community college, sat down, and like a light switch was suddenly hit with crazy brain fog. Unlike I ever experienced. I thought it may be due to menstruation, and sure enough I started cramping a few hours later and had started my period. So i figured that was why. But the brain fog didn't go away when my period did, it kept up. Then it kind of went away for about two weeks and then randomly came back and this brain fog episode has never gone away since. This is not brain fog like slightly worsened memory or feeling a little off, it's like a constant feeling of being drugged or high or something. It rocked my world for he first 6 mos or so, ER visits, being bed bound (not sure if that was depression about what was going on, or what). I had a 1 1/2 year old child also so that was hard. Along with brain fog was slight dizziness/light headedness. Occasional tingling above my eyebrow, cold sensation on eyebrow. The brain fog has been number 1 symptom and effects memory and makes me slightly disoriented.
Fast forward to about a year ago -- pregnant with baby 2, symptoms the same but started to get sensation of swelling behind the knees, numbness in shoulder/arm when doing hair or makeup, always random areas. Not sure if this was pregnancy related, but I still have it now (8 mos postpartum) on and off totally random.
Newest symptoms are knee pain specifically when going up stairs, squatting, straightening/locking leg when standing and a bit upon pressure. Fatigue, irritable bowel symptoms, exercise intolerance, weight gain.
Here are tests/specialists that I have had done/have seen:
Cat scan - clear
MRI - clear
ENT - nothing of significance seen or noticed
EKG - clear
Countless blood draws testing for: vitamin/minerals, thyroid, general blood work, arthritis (and other autoimmune conditions like lupus, scleroderma, sjogrens... And least the general work for autoimmune), Lyme disease, etc. probably more but I don't remember.
Rheumatologist -- she ordered labs which were all clear, so she diagnosed me with fibromyalgia but she didn't seem to even take brain fog into account. This is what makes me skeptical -- she did the tender point exam, and I barely had any tender points.
This is the thing, I don't have many tender points like the diagnostic criteria states you should have 11/18. My pain is more random times, random places, nerve type of pain instead of tenderness. Also, I don't have widespread pain all at once, mine focuses on one area and comes and goes and moves around. My main symptom is still severe brain fog, but knee joint pain is getting bad. I know so many people have severe pain all over and I just simply do not but this brain fog makes me feel so crippled at times. Maybe this is mild fibromyalgia? Does any one have any similar symptoms or any thoughts at all?