I finally got the diagnosis that I have FM, it has been a long time coming and to be truthful I honestly believed that it would be FM long before my doctor settled on it. I have had unexplained hip, low back and joint pain with no inflammation found for years. It has become more intense and frequent in the spikes. The hip pain is present 24/7 and can be just a mild nag to almost to wear I can't walk.
I have suffered with sleeplessness and anxiety for the last 3 years or so. My doctor has been great and done more research and attended recent seminars in an effort to assist him in providing me better care.
I just found this and one other forum and will eventually get through many of the threads to see what you all have had success with and what you haven't, I know we are all different and what works for one might not the other.
I found an app for my phone and tablet specific to pain tracking and have begun to keep a journal of sorts to track the amount, duration etc of my episodes so I can give the doctor an idea of what happens day to day with some clarity, as my memory is awful these days and seems to be getting worse.
I have a couple of family members and friends who have FM (all females) and have had occasion to chat with them and have found that theirs seems to be much worse than mine (I can't imagine), one of them is completely disabled from working because of it.
My biggest challenge is getting those who don't understand that you can have a lot of pain with nothing to indicate why. My spouse struggles with it and the varied types and amounts of medications I have tried or am trying to control the pain. That is almost as frustrating as the pain and knowing that right now there is little to nothing available to ease it. It is a matter of time and trial and error.
It is nice to have a place to go to vent. Thanks to all of you for your support and understanding. I don't have much to offer at this point accept the fact that I know and understand where you are coming from, as you do me.
I have suffered with sleeplessness and anxiety for the last 3 years or so. My doctor has been great and done more research and attended recent seminars in an effort to assist him in providing me better care.
I just found this and one other forum and will eventually get through many of the threads to see what you all have had success with and what you haven't, I know we are all different and what works for one might not the other.
I found an app for my phone and tablet specific to pain tracking and have begun to keep a journal of sorts to track the amount, duration etc of my episodes so I can give the doctor an idea of what happens day to day with some clarity, as my memory is awful these days and seems to be getting worse.
I have a couple of family members and friends who have FM (all females) and have had occasion to chat with them and have found that theirs seems to be much worse than mine (I can't imagine), one of them is completely disabled from working because of it.
My biggest challenge is getting those who don't understand that you can have a lot of pain with nothing to indicate why. My spouse struggles with it and the varied types and amounts of medications I have tried or am trying to control the pain. That is almost as frustrating as the pain and knowing that right now there is little to nothing available to ease it. It is a matter of time and trial and error.
It is nice to have a place to go to vent. Thanks to all of you for your support and understanding. I don't have much to offer at this point accept the fact that I know and understand where you are coming from, as you do me.