Fibromyalgia Community

Hello...I know that I also sometimes wonder if I really have FM and other times I do not question it....I do take a joing supplement since I have had 4 knee surgeries and have problems with both knees...and I can tell it when I forget to take them as well....I have had the synvisc injections several times which has helped with my pain.

I would encourage you to try the Stopain Spray as well....it is good stuff...and you can find it at walmart for approx $8....

I hope you will find something today that will help you feel better.

Take care and good luck.


MiMi

Hi sp2001 - Welcome to the FMily.

I also wonder whether my dx was correct, but I know I have benefitted from the meds and other thins I do to alleviate pain. I think the feeling comes from this: we're all different,and respond to pain and meds differently.

I have pretty good days most of the time; many people here are the opposite. Some respond well to their meds, others don't. I'm glad we all found each other here , can answer each other's questions, and encourage each other!

Have the best day you possibly can!
Lou

I was diagnosed a little over 1 year ago and like you there are days when I question the diagnosis - but there are days when I'm certain the diagnosis is correct.

I was just telling a friend at church last Sunday that I think I was accepting the Fibro diagnosis.

The days when I'm feeling the worst are the days I'm questioning the diagnosis. Probably because there's part of me that is wishing I'm suffering from something else but Fibro and that other condition would be curable. (I hope that makes sense.)

Me too. Try to work with your doctors and also keep track of your symptoms. Any new symptoms are worth reporting at your next appointment. In the meantime, work on acceptance. I know I started feeling better about my condition when I started working with it instead of against it.

Thanks everybody....

It's true about hoping it's "something else". I think it comes from the fact that FM is still not totally understood. It's very frustrating. On bad days, the pain and fatigue are intolerable. I know I'm not alone on this. I'm lucky my boyfriend believes me and listens to me rant and vent LOL I'm thinking it's the process of "accepting it". Still.... *sigh* =P

MiMi... I did pick up the Stopain spray yesterday. I sprayed my toes/feet and hands; I didn't notice a difference, but on a side note, it rained this morning, so... yeah. That made sense on why I felt worse. More rain coming later. Thank you for the suggestion though, I'm open to trying new things.

I have started a journal to track my days. Hopefully, this will help with Dr appointments and for me to see any patterns.
All your support and understanding helps too, thank you SO much!

Hi sp2001,
I understand...I've had Fibro symptoms since I was 20 and didn't get dxed until I was 43. Once the relief at having a name for what I was feeling had passed, though, I too wrestled with the"chronic" aspect of it. Sometimes I still do!

I have days where I wake up feeling good and ready to take on the world. Then other days I can barely drag myself out of bed and feel like I was run through one of those road eating machines (the ones that grind up the asphalt) overnight and spit out in bits. My brain on those days says, "Move? Are you kidding me??" Even breathing uses too much energy, lol..

That's when I know that the dx was right, as much as I dislike it. But the Fibro is teaching me to take better care of myself, slow down, and actually enjoy what's around me. I never did that before. It takes practice, and I still have my "Why me---this isn't fair---life sucks" days. But over time I have learned to move myself past them faster.

It's nice to :meet" you, by the way. Welcome to the Fmily!

That's how I felt too! I was so happy to have a name for it and know I wasn't crazy! Then a few days later, I questioned everything LOL I did ask my Dr. at the time about arthritis too, but he had already sent me for blood tests for that and many other things. I guess I just wanted peace of mind.

Glad to know I'm not alone on this, thank you
P.S. LOL @ road eating machine, good analogy!

Another thought:
Many people here also have other conditions, like arthritis or allergies. Instead of saying you FM mimics arthritis, you might have arthritis too.
Lou

I think we all feel this way at times. It is not a fun thing to deal with. You are suffering with symptoms and then have to deal with doubting doctors, coworkers, family, friends. It makes you feel like you are crazy, alone, hypochondriac, what is wrong with me? etc.. I believe you know your body better than anyone else and you just have to be in tune with it and do some self treatment also. There are many great suggestions here on this site and much encouragement and support. Thank God for the people here. I myself would have given up a long time ago if not for the support of this FMily.

It is true though you may have other conditions as well as the fibro. I myself have fibro, hypothyroid, arthritis to name a few. You have to find a balance that helps you and know and accept that there will be days when you will not accept your diagnosis. Hang in there and God bless you and all of us:0) Cat :0)

KatmanduLou: I thought so too, but Dr. said blood work came back normal. I know there are several different types of arthritis, is it true that blood work would reveal this?

CLKWC1964: Thank you for your support I also have a hypothryroid and allergies. Plus, psoriasis and Cervical Spinal Stenosis. I wasn't terribly surprised to learn I have FM too. *sigh* LOL

Thanks again everybody!

I waited to answer this one. I wanted some time to think about it.

Like looking at a door in front of you....what does it mean?

Accepting anything takes a process. I am in a better place to say I am dancing with this disease "finally" as apposed to fighting the label placed on me. Funny how I spent so much time and money looking for a label and when i got it, I disagreed with it.

I am pathologically more CMP then FM, but they are cousins and I am under the umbrella of pain eachday and stiffness and struggle as everyone here. So, I stay and lean in for help often.

No one passes through the stages of acceptance the same and you can go back to tears at any time, get angry again at any time.......I have bounced all over the place. God bless the staff I work with as I struggled with the early work I was doing to be better.

We have a tendency once you have come into this label to BLAME EVERYTHING on our dragon...he did it...he is acting up...well you have to be extra careful to follow changes in your body in the future as they are NOT always this dang mess we have.

I blamed a change in vision on him, as it can get to the eye muscles....but I have a wrinkle in the retina called a macular pucker.(comes with age) I blamed the monster but not so. I did seek out help and they had no answers (wrong docs) saw a really good ophthomologist and she gave me to the retinal specialist and I am set now. I am educated and aware.......

It is tough as we age to filter through the body speaking out, what is FM/CMP and what are the issues to deal with.

For me getting educated and, like the book I have "FM and CMP" a survival manual by Dr. Devin Starlanyl. It helped me learn to fight within this. It leveled the playing field to understand the mess I am in. My doc is a good fit and I am on the right meds to assist lowering the pain so I can get a bit of life in there...

It is the pits to have this, but I said this last night at a dinner I was at. I have seen that eveyone is given something to struggle with. Some have life threatening things Me I am feeling lucky that it is just this, as I master the tools I use......I can move forward. But the others, they have a terminal end...this is not going to kill us, just hurt us. I think you get used to the pain. At least my daytime pain. The morning arise still makes me bite a bullet and think "why do I stay?"

The things get better as I have coffee and the meds take a hold of a bit of it. Then a shower gets it down lower and I get moving and distraction takes even more down.....a process.

Give yourself time and use the toolbox under resources to learn some tricks, pick up that book or pick up Dr. Pellgrinos books..he uses humor and education as well to help you through.

I am so sorry you are here, but being here was a big step in better. .
The fmily is here 24/7 and will hug you anytime you need it. See all theposts above me? WE KNOW how hard the beginning was.....how challenging a step can be There is light at the end of the tunnel.....I promise you.

Biggest thing for me was hydration with water (all I drink now) and knowing it is forever...but not thinking like that "a day at a time". Just do today right and eat right and be good to you and becareful with the muscle groups and how you do things..this has moved me forward.

I kid that we live "groundhog day" It doesn't matter what you attained this day in better, the next morning you wake up and it is square one and oyu start over again!...GET MAD not SAD and move forward, you can do. We are walking this road with you! Hugs, Nancy B

Nancy B, Thank you SO much for your kind words & advice! I agree wholeheartedly! For me (& so many others) this is a "new chapter" in my life. I'm still learning to adjust my life, and know that this will be an ongoing process. The "ongoing" part is obviously frustrating, but like many people here, I have good days and bad.

So true about fighting for a diagnosis! I was happy to know what "it" was, followed by anger and sadness at it all. I was down for a few days, then started to learn more about FM. I have talked to my close family members (all VERY supportive) about this and am feeling better. I know I'm lucky to have support and understanding.

I did laugh at the "groundhog day" reference, it's so true! And coffee, gotta have my coffee! LOL Again, thank you for your advice and support, it means a lot!

There are diffferent types of arthritis, but I didn't know there were blood tests for them!

Since you (and I) have psoriasis, you're probably as risk for psoriatic arthritis. At least we have a celebrity who speaks for us (golfer Phil Mickelson). That's what we need - a sookesman for FM, and So many people will realize we're not faking or slackers.
Lou

As it seems with most things with the body, it's difficult to get a clear diagnosis with these painful illnesses. There are blood tests (rheumatic tests) to test for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sjogren's, etc. Some people have one or more of these auto-immune diseases but their blood does not indicate it. The rheumatologist has his hands full! There are groups of symptoms they use to diagnose, and just one item in that group is blood work. I know this because I'm in that minority who's blood is borderline but other symptoms clearly indicate rheumatoid arthritis (plus FM.)

The best chance we have for a celebrity to speak for us is if someone famous comes down with it after being famous, as we are all so pooped we can't find the energy to be celebrities...LOL