Fibromyalgia What You Have To Share?


Jun 14, 2013

For the past year I have had what appears to be fibromyalgia. I have had bad luck getting info from doctors so I am wondering what others who have a diagnosis might share.

View 14 Replies



Advertisement

ALIF Surgery :: Share Your Experience

I am finally on my way to getting a long awaited L4-L5 Fusion. My doc decided on ALIF due to my previous L4/L5 Laminectomy (2003) creating a lot of scar tissue. That surgery was done posterior and it would not be a good thing to reopen the same L/4 area. I am relieved that this fusion is finally being done. My disc is about 98% gone and I deal with bone on bone pain daily in addition to bone spurs and osteoarthritis. However, I tolerate it pretty well. In addition to the L4/L5 issue, I also have 2 herniations in my neck and another few in my mid back. But these are secondary to my initial problem and need to take care of this fusion first and foremost. I read a lot of negatives about fusions on this board, but I try my best to think positively. Everyone is different and not every situation is similar. My plan is to help anyone I can with my experience and give support. I will try to post my progress after surgery. If anyone had recently (2013) had a ALIF fusion on L4/L5, I would like to hear about your experience. This will be a journey that I will not forget and I am planning on making it the best I can given the circumstances.

View 13 Replies

Share Your Perilymph Fistula Experience

I am going through a possible plf and trying to talk to people who know about these. Please if you are still around I'd love to talk. There are very few people out there and. Very little information.

View 14 Replies

Pregnancy :: Being Induced - Anyone To Share Experience?

Any stories anyone would like to share about this topic? A little nervous but excited I'll be having him Oct 1st!!

View 6 Replies

Cervical Spondylosis Explored - Share Your Experience

I wanted to open a new discussion, to allow some space for those with Cervical Spondylosis (C/S) to simply express their opinions (including my own obviously) on how they think the C/S dynamics,  and its progress over time actually results in the changeable symptoms they experience.  I have my own ideas about how it all combines to produce the daily struggle we endure,  but I'm also aware that opinions differ,  and it might be a wise thing to do to consider other opinions,  so that I get a more balanced overview.  Same for everyone, I suppose.

I've had C/S a long time, over 30 years,  and I've many of the different phases that are common to posters on this site, and other sites.  One thing that strikes me is that most posters are in different phases of the condition,  and although sympathy/empathy are nice things, they don't quite get into the area of finding or sharing suitable solutions for those differing experiences.  What seems to be missing is a general overview, common to all, and acceptable to all,  which would give a foundation to build suitable solutions upon.  Some might even think that there are no solutions, except possibly medications or surgery....but, I personally, disagree with that, because I reckon that those possible but risky solutions are only relevant to certain grades of C/S.

The one thing that really stands out for me, after experiencing many different types of C/S phases, is that reasonable manageability always seems to return after difficult phases,  and I'm inclined to ask questions about that because that is not a common feature of many other chronic conditions.  It's like a rollercoaster effect, which in turn plays a bit of havoc with our expectations, and with our default settings for just getting by with the least possible disruption.  It adds to the overall problem, by introducing a mindset that can't predict tomorrow's issues.  Also, I think that just adds to an undermining of the decisions we might want to make in the present moment,  decisions which might affect how tomorrow actually does evolve.

Just going back to the issue of 'phases' which pass, I've come round to seeing that as an attempted 'corrective' dynamic,  whereby most of the symptoms we experience probably result from reactions to threats of nerve compression,  and that those same symptoms have little to do with bone degeneration except in the sense that the threat to nerves wouldn't happen if there weren't any bone degeneration.  I realise that some people with C/S have an underlying arthritic condition which increases degenerative rates, and thus increases symptom potential, but I still think it makes sense that symptoms result from threats to nerves rather than from spinal degeneration (although one causes the other, and the other causes the symptoms).  By that definition, I think it's possible that even where there is serious degeneration,  it doesn't necessarily mean the symptoms will get worse....unless there is accompanying increase of threat to nerves.  Make sense ?

View 55 Replies

Frozen Shoulder :: Age / Jobs And Lifestyles - Share Your Experiences?

Hi all just thought I would try and get us all together; to see who we are how we got here, how many there are of us; our ages , jobs lifestyle etc to try and find any plausible link to what we are going through..

I have just turned 48, i live in Norfolk, UK.

I think I am starting to go through the change in life with the dreaded hot flushes and lack of menstrual cycle. I have had frozen shoulder since Oct 15, although I believe my first diagnosis was rotator cuff injury ? I had not had any injury to my shoulder, just a bucket load of stress prior to the onset ??

I would consider myself healthy, with a good diet, I drink occasionally and do not smoke. I am a senior support worker, I do use a computer daily...., and I probably did not exercise as much as I should have.

There is history of FS in my family and arthritis?

This forum has kept me sane (thank you all).. I believe I am now FROZEN, movement is restricted and the pain;although still there is more bearable. I still need the comfort of my heat mat and I have found a TENS machine works well , I have also started Trigger Point Therapy which is helping: I am also sleeping a little better although 8 hours sleep is a very distant memory ! Anyway I'm rambling now my idea for this discussion was bullet points to try and find a connection ; so I've blown that already anyway if you want to respond.

View 47 Replies

Mucosal / Rectal Prolapse Share The Same Symptoms As Piles / Hemorrhoids?

I'm a 32 year old male and I have had a Mucosal Prolapse for about 10 years.

A bit of history:

When I was around 22 (2004) I used to suffer from itchiness and the occasion leakage from my back passage, I put up with this for 4 years until I started noticing blood the toilet paper, this prompted a visit to the doctors who at the time was a stand in Doctor and he diagnosed me with a anal polyp.

I received a letter a few days later saying that he wanted to get it checked out by a specialist and have for me to have a colonoscopy, the colonoscopy came back all clear only for doctor to say it was a prolapse. I refused further treatment because I couldn't bear the thought of having an operation on my anus. So I managed the condition by changing my wiping technique and using wet wipes instead of dry toilet paper, this helped massively.

Fast forward four more years and in 2012 I had a normal bowl movement, and when I went to wipe there was quite a bit of blood, I headed off to the Doctors again (different Doctor), had an examination and he diagnosed a mucosal prolapse and said bleeding is part of the symptoms etc...

Over the past few years until last week, I had been managing things well, only the occasional spot of blood on the toilet paper until last Monday when I went for bowel movement and had a fair bit of bright red blood on the toilet paper along with streaks on the stool, this worried me but I put it down to my Prolapse, Tuesday was the same and then the rest of the week up to Last night were ok, last night I had had a few beers and felt the urge to go, which I did, and because I was anxious about seeing blood i had to strain to get it out, this was followed by the most blood I have had while having a prolapse, the bright red blood was dripping into the toilet and covering the paper, after about 3 - 5 minutes it stopped, and there was no blood at all, I have since had a bowl movement with no blood.

A few questions answers to questions you may ask.

My bowl movements had been normal up to the latest episode last Tuesday, then my anxiety set in...

The blood is bright red, I have had 1 occasion when the blood is on my stool.

My stools are normal looking with no visible blood inside.

I have no pain when passing a stool, only a slight stinging occasionally just inside my rectum. 

I went to the Doctors last Wednesday and he felt no lumps on examination. He did acknowledge my prolapse and gave me a slip to get some anusol cream..

My Questions.

Does anyone else have the same condition?

Can alcohol make you bleed more? as last night I bled more than ever and felt a little drunk.

Does a Mucosal Prolapse share the same symptoms as piles? 

View 1 Replies

Could I Have Fibromyalgia?

I don't know where to start really but I'll give it a go. This may end up all over the place so I’ll apologise now.

6 years ago I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. 3 years ago I had a fall trying to take my jeans off and had pains in my left wrist. I never had a diagnosis for the pains. I was given a few steroid injections and splint treatment and eventually the pains stopped.

Whilst I was pregnant with my daughter last year, I developed SPD (where the pelvis loosens too much during pregnancy) and ended up being on crutches for the last month of my pregnancy. I had a traumatic delivery with my little monster and ended up with an emergency c section. I was still on crutches for about 2 weeks after her birth and then seemed to end up using her pram as a support whilst we were out and about. If I take her out and about on my own I have to take her buggy as I can't lift her pram in and out of the boot (it's only double the weight of the buggy!) The longest I can stand holding her is 10 minutes before I'm in agony with my back, pelvis, ankles and feet.

Continuing from her arrival I have been getting the pains in my left wrist again and I'm now randomly getting them in my right wrist and the insides of my elbows too. I have even had to remove my wedding ring on the odd day because that causes pains in my finger. My daughter is now 10 months old and I am still getting the pains around my pelvis and back. I struggle to get comfortable at night laying on both sides and wake in agony with my neck and shoulders. I'm also waking during the night with the loss of sensation in my hands and/or pins and needles feeling. During pregnancy and now I get pains in my ankles and feet (I was in and out of hospital at the end of pregnancy over pre-eclampsia fears) to the point where I can only walk around for a maximum of an hour before I'm in agony. Fairly recently I've been getting pains in my jaw where no matter how I try to "rest" it, it hurts. I was given a mouth guard a few years ago as my dentist felt I was grinding my teeth during my sleep.

I should probably also mention that I have been diagnosed with Post Natal Depression (PND) and have been put on a low dose of Fluoxetine. I recently went to see one of our GPs as my hubby was quite worried about the fatigue I have been struggling with. I can't get through the day without feeling tired. Come an hour or so after lunch I have to summon up all the energy I've got to continue with my day, I just don't seem to have the energy to do much at all anymore. The GP just said it's probably a side effect of the anti-depressants and wasn't worried about it. I haven't mentioned anything else as I just feel like I'm over reacting. Just typing this out I've got aches and pains going through my fingers and wrists.

I had been receiving physio on my back from a fantastic therapist, but at the end of my maternity leave we were moved to a new unit. I went to see the physio at my new unit and had an awful session. She basically turned round and told me the only way my back was going to get fixed is loose weight, get back in the gym and get on with things. Not really what someone with PND needs to hear on top of everything else that they're dealing with. I didn't go into any further details about all the other problems I've been having as I just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. This was 3 months ago and I haven't been back since.

My other concern is that I’m in the RAF. I still have just under 7 years left to serve until I reach my 22 year exit point. I just can't help think that if I do have this condition then I could end up being medically discharged. I wouldn't know what to do if I was. The RAF is all I've ever known, I joined when I was 16.

View 3 Replies

Hypothyroidism And/with Fibromyalgia

Have had hypothyroidism for 10 yrs. 2 yrs ago started with lots of joint/pain/tenderness and extreme tiredness. Had blood tests to check thyroid function - told that my symptoms were because I was on too high a dose of levothyroxine (125mcg). Told to reduce to (100mcg). Done this. Symptoms lot worse now and just been diagnosed as having fibromyalgia but I am so tired etc. and my symptoms are very much like when I was hypo and was awaiting a diagnosis - very dry skin, hair loss etc. (I have no record of my function test results so I cannot gauge what the pattern has been) Anyone else who has hypo and has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia? I cannot help but wonder if my symptoms are more to do with inadequate treatment for hypothyroid than fibromyalgia. Any ideas please?

View 1 Replies

Are These Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

I have these symptoms for over a year and each time it's a little different.

1. I get burning back of head usually back of left side neck at the base of my head then it goes up to my top of head.

2. I get dizzy or drunk like feeling, usually with a bowel movement.

3. confused feeling, lots of gas.

4. My back of the left side between my should blade and spine has a constant pain.

5. I crack in weird places I never used to. Example, the back of my head makes a clicking noise. Sometimes my chest will pop. 5. Burning in my abdomen, sometimes.

6. Pain by my heart or breathing, usually when I have to poop or pee.

7. Feeling like I have poor circulation when I sleep or awake in the morning. I will often wake up because of numb body parts.  

8. jaw pain or jaw burning.

9. I will get like heat or burning in chest to face then, I sometimes break out in a rash? I get red bumps on my skin, often. This comes usually with my hot face feeling. It kind of prickly.

10. tingling in hands of both. 11. I get weird beating or heart beat beats faster sometimes.

12. I feel nauseous when I drink water, often. Or when have to poop, sometimes.

13. short of breath at times.

14. Floaters in the eyes.

15. head pressure or eye pressure.

16. Tired arms, usually left arm.

17. If I push on my chest with my fingers at the right time, it will hurt so bad MORE than normal with just a push.

18. I bruise so easily on my legs.

19. twitching in different areas more than norm.

20. I find pain in certain area of my body that should not hurt.

21. crawling skin on head at times and, muscles moving or slightly tightening for no reason on my upper body.

22. Tooth pain all of a sudden, then goes.

23. I feel different in my mind.    

I have been to the E.R. a lot, it's annoying. They usually do not find anything wrong. I went to my Doctor she said nerves and I have ibs irritable bowel. I have a heart ultrasound looks good. I have bad tooth decay. I had a bad tooth infection 1 year or 2 ago. I used to drink a lot of energy drinks and WAS addicted to painkillers for about a year. All my basic blood work came back normal. I had an allergy test my Doctor said I don't have any.  Of course I was diagnosed with anxiety. I say of course because, it seems like a trend that most people have.

View 17 Replies

Fibromyalgia - How To Deal With It?

Does anyone have any coping strategies that they could share with me. I have to have a cleaner because I'm too exhausted to even wash my clothes and a carer to shower me. My body is killing me with pain from top to bottom,especially in my back. The pain relief isn't working. I feel like bursting into tears. I can't go on like this any more.

View 3 Replies

Fibromyalgia? Flu And Aches All Over

I was looking for some help a couple of weeks ago i felt really ill like i was gonna get the flu aching all over only lasted about a day and a half but last weekend the same thing happened again was in tears with the pains and it lasted about 2 and a half days this time but now when i have the chance to get to docs i feel fine but am worrying its gonna happen again.

View 14 Replies

Can You Have Fibromyalgia Without Pain?

I have been ill for around 4 years, mainly with persistent fatigue, episodes of intense sleepiness and episodes of lightheadedness on exertion. I have had probably hundreds of blood tests that have ruled out everything from thyroid to diabetes to iron etc etc. I have also had sleep apnea ruled out. I went to a rheumatologist yesterday as I have coeliac disease (which is under control) and wanted to rule out the possibility of other autoimmune conditions. Anyway the rheumatologist prescribed me vitamin D tablets as I am vitamin D deficient but he said if that didn't improve things his next option would be fibromyalgia. However (and I told him this) I don't have any pain! None! I was under the impression you can't have fibromyalgia without pain? I have already been to see an ME/CFS specialist and chronic fatigue syndrome was ruled out as I don't have enough other symptoms, ie I have fatigue but no memory/concentration problems, I don't have periods of feeling worse after periods of activity etc.

Am I right in thinking that I don't have fibromyalgia?

View 2 Replies

Fibromyalgia And LDN For Two Weeks Now

I've been on LDN for 2 weeks now. Started at 2,5mg increasing 0,5 a week, now at 3,5. I see some improvement.  Anyone's taking it?

View 35 Replies

Steroids :: Prednisolone And Fibromyalgia

I have been taking Prednisolone now for 6 weeks now for Fibromyalgia and i have been fine with every thing, but there is one problem i have been having and that is sweating very badly iys like my whole body is like a tap it happens as soon as i get warm or when i am doing housework or even walking the dog.

View 3 Replies

Sarcoidosis Along With Fibromyalgia And Asthma

Just been diagnosed with sarcoidosis of both lungs. Also have Fibromyalgia, Asthma and various other medical problems.

Had bronchoscopy and biopsies on Tuesday, felt every one taken from my right lung was in complete agony. Had x-ray 2 hours later and was told there was no pneumothorax and sent home.

On Wednesday I was in a lot of pain, but as I was seeing my consultant on Friday decided to wait to see him and it had subsided somewhat by then. Told him about the pain and he sent me for another chest x-ray which confirmed I had a pneumothorax, which he said would heal on its own.

I have to go back next week for another x-ray to see if it has healed.

He said that he wouldn't prescribe steroids at the moment and will be sending me for another lung function test in the next 3-4 months to see how things are going.

Just feeling very tired and slight pain from the pneumothorax.

View 1 Replies

Fibromyalgia - Have 16 Of The 18 Tender Points

I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have 16 of the 18 tender points, I'm tired, I have headaches, my muscles and joints ache and, occasionally, my fingers and toes get tingly. Oh, and I'm cold all the time. The only actual test I had done was a blood test, which came back perfect. The problem is, my lymph nodes are sore. Not swollen, really, just sore. My doc told me it's from the fibro, but I'm not finding any info to support this online. Also, sometimes I wake up with a headache. Is this normal? I should add, my left side feels IDENTICAL to my right. The pain, lymph node soreness, etc...It's all perfectly symmetrical. Is this normal for fibro? I am 36 years old. I would really appreciate any advice from someone who actually HAS fibromyalgia. My friends/family think I must be dying with all these symptoms, and that fibro can't really cause so much discomfort. My doctor, who is generally on top of things, is certain it's fibromyalgia. He said the tender points are what really tipped it off for him. I should add...this is causing me a lot of anxiety which seems to be making the symptoms worse.

View 1 Replies

Ankylosing Spondylitis Or Fibromyalgia?

I'm 30 years old and have suffered back pain and knee pain to an almost debilitating stage and the fatigue can be immense. I've had this since I was 17 ish. Quite often out of nowhere my knees will 'pop' or 'crack'. This can be when I'm walking, starting to sit, try to kneel or even stand still! Sometimes the pain is horrendous. I've also noticed my back has become less flexible over time (in fact my whole body). My calves feel heavy and my feet hurt like crazy. I find it hard to sit for very long without my spine hurting. My wife has tried massaging my back, but she hates it because she sees the pain I'm in. I have been to a Chiropractor, but I seemed only to get worse! I have been to the Dr and they seem to only want to look at one thing at a time rather than collectively. However, I do get some violent jolts or shakes which has been diagnosed as Myoclonus. It has been suggested by one Dr that I may have Fibromyalgia, however, I read through the literature and although some of it sounds familiar I'm not so convinced. By chance I then read an article in my local newspaper drumming up awareness of AS. I'd never heard of this before so I googled it and I would say the symptoms described struck a chord with me. I'm yet to discuss this with my Dr. Has anyone else found the same awkwardness in regards to getting to the bottom of what their suffering from? I'm convinced my mother also had it, although it was never confirmed. I can remember how much of a struggle daily life was for her. One Dr even tried telling her she was a bored housewife and that she needed to get out of the house more! Unbelievable. Anyway thanks for reading this, just trying to build up more of a picture of what it is I have :'

View 4 Replies

Taking Steroids For Fibromyalgia

Now my husband has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and is taking steroids. The pain in his legs is eased but he sweats all night. I have sent for

Dripose which is for fatigue. He is still taking bp pills but not statins. He is diabetic.

View 1 Replies

Suboxone For Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

So yesterday I went to see the RA and it appeared as if he cared. He explained that I was severe with FIBRO and that there isn't too much that he could do. He upped my LYRICA to 200 mg (not sure why as it gives me more issues than taking pain away) . He also suggested that I go to a Fibro Clinic in UF , some where in the panhandle of Florida, I can not do it (Finances, Insurance, I don't drive because of LYRICA) . He also gave me a referral for SUBOXONE This is a medicine that they usually give for people who have had problems with pain pills.The RA explained how he just read an article in how this could help me. Has any one else experienced this? Did it work?

View 2 Replies

Fibromyalgia Syndrome / CFS :: Have You Tried Selenium?

Selenium deficiency is considered by some naturopathic doctors the key to Fibromyalgia and CFS.  

Some even relate it with animal “Nutritional muscular dystrophy” AKA “White muscle disease”.

Should we go to the vet?

View 52 Replies





Copyrights 2005-15 www.bigresource.org, All rights reserved