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arwenmark

New member
Joined
Apr 7, 2015
Messages
2
Reason
DX FIBRO
Diagnosis
05/2012
Country
US
State
MA
Hi,
Three years ago I went to a Rheumatologist and after reviewing a questionaire I had to fill out and not really examining me at all, she told me I had Fibromyalgia and charged me $300. for the visit.
I did not believe her at the time as my then symptoms did not really seem to fit the description of Fibro.
Now three years later, I have no doubt, My skin hurts and that is spreading and now covers about 2/3 of my body. in addition I have arthritis all over and extreme fatigue, I have had that part for over 20 years now. I also have sudden extrememly sharp nerve pains all over the place.

Anyway since the skin senistivty and nerve pain started, I have been in constant pain of one sort or the other. So I called the same Rheumatologists office to make an appointment to see if I could get treated for the Fibromyalgia.

The person on the phone said, "you were diagnosed with Fibromyalgia three years ago. The doctor normally does not see you again after that. She leaves treatment to your primary care doctor."

I was Flabergasted!

Is this normal? The Specialist diagnoses you and sends you on your way?:?
 
no it's not. you have knife pains/nerve pain. thats why we have a neurologist. my 5-7 RA's have been just as worthless. when i asked one of them a question he just shrugged his shoulders! see if your PCP can prescribe you fibro meds like gabapintine or cymbalta. they are nerve blockers to the brain.

now your PCP may tell you i dont do that because he/she sent you to a specialist. look out for a pissing contest between the doctors.
good luck and let us know what happens from here.
 
How is your relationship with you primary doc? As you have the diagnosis, you should be able to discuss options for relief if you've had conversations about fibro. If not, educate yourself as much as possible about those options so provide information to your doc. Beware leaping directly to serious pain meds like opiates for a couple reasons. First your doc will understand that you've done your research and if you may be able to manage without those big guns. Better to have something left if you need it for flares than to get your body habituated to having it onboard. Keep in mind that likely nothing will stop all the pain. Keep an open mind toward supplements, lotions, exercise, and meditation to help manage pain. The usual meds for nerve pain are gabapentin (cheaper) and Lyrica. I hope you find some help with your doc. If not, look for a pain management clinic that offers help for fibro to get you started. Take care.
 
Well it is in the uk. My dr does all my care ,and I can see him a lot faster then a rumy.
 
My pain specialist treats my FM. From him I get the meds, from my PCP I have general care and I keep him updated on the FM treatments. Then the massage therapist and chiro give me the "oil can" (think tin man). With this team I've been able to get help with not only FM but the other chronic pain issues. If I did not have FM I'd still need these 4 specialists in my life. ( Just a broken down house!)

If I was a car I could go to the body shop and get fixed better and look great too.
 
How is your relationship with you primary doc? As you have the diagnosis, you should be able to discuss options for relief if you've had conversations about fibro. If not, educate yourself as much as possible about those options so provide information to your doc. Beware leaping directly to serious pain meds like opiates for a couple reasons. First your doc will understand that you've done your research and if you may be able to manage without those big guns. Better to have something left if you need it for flares than to get your body habituated to having it onboard. Keep in mind that likely nothing will stop all the pain. Keep an open mind toward supplements, lotions, exercise, and meditation to help manage pain. The usual meds for nerve pain are gabapentin (cheaper) and Lyrica. I hope you find some help with your doc. If not, look for a pain management clinic that offers help for fibro to get you started. Take care.

I am about to lose my primary Dr. of 30 years as she is going VIP and we cannot afford $3600 a year just to have her be my Dr.
So now with all my conditions, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, late stage Lyme, and Fibromyalgia I have to find a new Dr. that will listen and take me seriously and that will write perscriptions for the meds I already take for all those things.
Also no worries about going for the big guns, as I am allergic to ALL Opiates.:(
 
I am about to lose my primary Dr. of 30 years as she is going VIP and we cannot afford $3600 a year just to have her be my Dr.
So now with all my conditions, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, late stage Lyme, and Fibromyalgia I have to find a new Dr. that will listen and take me seriously and that will write perscriptions for the meds I already take for all those things.
Also no worries about going for the big guns, as I am allergic to ALL Opiates.:(

Oh, do I know that feeling. I lost my doc when I moved back to Maine and had to find a new one last year. After a bit of a rough start, we did settle in and I continued with the meds I'd been taking that were helping after explaining how my old doc and I settled on the protocol. Maybe that will work for you. She later helped me tweak it a bit and just as we were in smooth sailing, she moved away last month! Fortunately, I was able to get in to see a FNP, who is terrific and actually told me that I was the boss of my fibro! I hope you'll have good luck as well.
 
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