Fibromyalgia Community

I am a nearly 57 yr old white female, dx'd w/SLE & glomerulonephritiis at age 15 in 1968. Had the "normal" ups/downs over the yrs until 1999 when found to have stage 4 kidney dx. Prior to my dx in 1968, drs were telling my parents symptoms were all in my head because I didn't want to go to school. New doc came to town & recognized it right away, supported by LE prep, only blood work known to test/dx lupus. 2 yrs ago, diagnosed w/FM by my nephrologist using trigger point pressures/tenderness, all positive. My lupus is quiet now but I'm not sure I even buy into FM; I feel docs sometimes don't know what else to call it, hence, FM. I do take Prednisone 10 mg daily, Cozaar for HBP, Nexium. However if there had not been definitive blood work for the lupus, would I be on some psychologist's couch still; actually, I would probably have died as my prognosis was 5 yrs. Was also told by my nephrologist that as a woman goes through menopause, lupus tends to "fade away". Could this be true? He is a world renowned doc, currently practicing at Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio. I never feel I can plan activities until the day of it because I never know how I will feel. There are times I can just push through the fatigue & pain & go; other times I'm so ill I can't even get dressed. I have taken so many meds over the yrs for the lupus, Imuran, Plaquenil, Prednisone, Cytoxan, Cellcept, others I've forgotten I wonder if the symptoms are just remnants of all the poisons, or do I really have this phantom dx of FM? I am afraid of the new meds, i.e., Lyrica because of side effects of weight gain. Over 2 yrs have lost 80 pounds by developing GB dx with no appetite (removed in Feb 2009) & changing eating habits. Had total knee replacements in May & August of 2008, hospitalized 3 times due to dehydration & pneumonia between Dec 2009 and March 2010. Now having problems w/left knee due to fall in Aug 2009. Knee is constantly retroflexing causing pain & instability, using a walker to get around; this is not what I planned after getting through both knee replacements/rehab fabulously. See orthopedic doc 5/14/2010 for help but the PA is not very encouraging. Will the FM ever go into remission & let me have have some normalcy back in my life? Husband & I raised our daughter, I worked 1 full-time job & a part-time job for 17yrs, took care of my parents, moved my Mother in w/us for 4 yrs before she passed over & now I feel like a bump on a log. My hubby is a captain on the fire dept, works 24 hr shifts on, 48 hrs off so I am alone much of the time. Is this all I have to look forward to? I am a very outgoing person, I love God, my family, friends and dogs. I want to travel w/my healthy, almost ready to retire husband who is my main helper. Doctor P, do you have any hope for all of us out here co-existing with this FM?? Thanks for listening & so sorry that you also have to deal with this "fibromyalgia" in such a stressful job as yours. By the way, since age 20 until 2005, (30 yrs) I worked as a medical transcriptionist and moved to a physicians' office as an office manager. Sorry for all the abbreviations in medical terminology; it just comes natural to me! I look forward to your remarks and comments from others out there also suffering, probably much more than me. Thanks in advance, Suze