tombraun
Member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2014
- Messages
- 15
- Reason
- DX FIBRO
- Diagnosis
- 01/2012
- Country
- US
- State
- FL
Hey everyone, I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Tom. I'm in my mid-thirties. I have been struggling for about four years with what I have since determined to be fibromyalgia. For me this manifests itself in pain throughout my back and neck, and also as tiredness and a lack of energy.
It took me quite a while to actually get officially diagnosed. After I learned about fibro and started suspecting I had it, I discovered my GP didn't believe in fibro. I was then sent to a rheumatolgist who didn't think I could have fibro because I'm male. I jumped ship when he decided I must have ankylosing spondilitis (sp?!) and wanted me to get $2000 shots that have side effects like 'cancer'.
Eventually I found a rheumatologist who was supportive, and listened and did not try to diagnose me with exotic diseases. I also saw a sleep specialist which helped a lot. For a year or so my fibro was well managed and I lived normally.
Recently I've been experiencing a new flare-up. This time the pain has mostly been in my neck which then causes tension headaches. I've been having a LOT of headaches. Basically every day. The muscles in the sides of my neck are constantly stiff. Spend too long doing 'the wrong thing' (which could be almost anything) and I can feel the headache coming on. Sometimes I can head it off at the pass by taking some meds or doing something else. Other times the headache goes into full bloom and I'm down for the count until it wears off.
Since I am in a period of transition where I am going part-time contract at one job so I can start up my own consulting and writing business, this constant interruption of headaches and pain is frustrating and discouraging. But I am very blessed to have helpful family and friends.
I live alone. I haven't decided if this is a good or bad thing yet. I am glad I do not have a partner to inflict all this on, but on the other hand someone to help me on bad days would be very nice.
Anyway, I've gone too long without finding a proper support group. So I started Googling and found this forum.
Hello and thanks for reading if you made it this far!
It took me quite a while to actually get officially diagnosed. After I learned about fibro and started suspecting I had it, I discovered my GP didn't believe in fibro. I was then sent to a rheumatolgist who didn't think I could have fibro because I'm male. I jumped ship when he decided I must have ankylosing spondilitis (sp?!) and wanted me to get $2000 shots that have side effects like 'cancer'.
Eventually I found a rheumatologist who was supportive, and listened and did not try to diagnose me with exotic diseases. I also saw a sleep specialist which helped a lot. For a year or so my fibro was well managed and I lived normally.
Recently I've been experiencing a new flare-up. This time the pain has mostly been in my neck which then causes tension headaches. I've been having a LOT of headaches. Basically every day. The muscles in the sides of my neck are constantly stiff. Spend too long doing 'the wrong thing' (which could be almost anything) and I can feel the headache coming on. Sometimes I can head it off at the pass by taking some meds or doing something else. Other times the headache goes into full bloom and I'm down for the count until it wears off.
Since I am in a period of transition where I am going part-time contract at one job so I can start up my own consulting and writing business, this constant interruption of headaches and pain is frustrating and discouraging. But I am very blessed to have helpful family and friends.
I live alone. I haven't decided if this is a good or bad thing yet. I am glad I do not have a partner to inflict all this on, but on the other hand someone to help me on bad days would be very nice.
Anyway, I've gone too long without finding a proper support group. So I started Googling and found this forum.
Hello and thanks for reading if you made it this far!