Who else had FMS

[schellie69]

Fibromyalgia I don't normally say anything because I have been told to many times. Oh that is a made up disorder or that just in your head. I have seen a few people who have posted they also have FMS so I thought I would start a thread about it. I was in so much pain for 3 1/2 years until I got to my pain specialist and he figured out I had Fibromyalgia and carpel tunnel along with arthritis in my lower back and hips. I finally was able to be a mom again and live my life. Just thought I would share and see if there was anyone else on here who had it. Does anyone else find that chicken therapy works wonders.

 

[turney31]

I have had it for 20+ years.

It is definately challenging.

 

[LittleChickenLady]

My mom was diagnosed with it, and they thought I had Lupus for several years during high school. I was taking medicine for it too, but it was making me even more sick, so I quit taking it.

I got send to another Rheumatologist and was told that I didn't have Lupus, that I had Fibromyalgia. I'm only 19, and I struggle with it pretty often.

What kind of treatments do you guys do to keep it under control? My doctor just has me taking muscle relaxers and pain killers, which I hate taking.

 

[Slinkytoys]

Yeah. My mother has it. So do I. It sucks.
Slinky

 

[EweSheep]

My mom and I have very similar symptoms but our doctors brushed it off like you need to lose weight, eat different knid of foods but never really give us the DX of FMS. Oh the aches and pains are horrible.

Mine came after I had my daughter, never ever experience this kind of pain that would just literally disable you sometimes.

 

[schellie69]

Ewesheep I went thought that for 3 1/2 years until my pain specialist he was God sent. I do take different pills I don't mind since they help manage the pain. I also try and make sure that I get a good nights sleep. That seems to be the most important thing. I use a pain med that is time released then I have meds for break though pain. The best thing I found was taking the pain pill when the pains start not waiting it just makes the pain pill work harder and that is where it seems that sometimes people need higher doses. Ewesheep I would recommending finding a good pain specialist they seem to understand and treat better then regular doctors IMO. I have found that working out side in the summer and getting sun therapy as I call it helps a lot with the pain. I know the cold is not great for me I use heat in the winter to help with the pains.

 

[EweSheep]

No, I do not get enough sleep. I would sleep hard for two hours and then I'm up sometimes or tossed around, achy and pains. Lately my feet would swell and doc said there was nothing wrong with me except to cut back on the salt. I've taken aspirins which now it gives me tummy aches, so I quit taking them in larger doses, the RX is too strong that I need to be alert for my seven year old daughter, and the cold weather is the pits. Massages seems to help temporarily but I would need to go every other day to keep the pain to a minimum level. I dont like to take possatisum (found in bananas, yummy) and it didn't help the muscle cramps either.

I may need to go visit a pain specialist even in the past my Medicare and Medicaid does not cover but my hubby's insurance would cover specialists.

 

[Slinkytoys]

Google George Jeutersonke Wonderful doctor. Best thing for pain is Musinex. The guifenisen (sp) will really really help. Read up on it. I was on a very high dosage-----long story short I am out of the wheelchair and quite active. I have a good pain threshold, so I just get on with my bad self. Massages do help, do will yoga stretching.
Slinky

 

[gritsar]

I was diagnosed with fibro. in 1996, after having symptoms since 1986 (after the traumatic birth of my daughter).

Now, some 15 years later, they're not so sure.

The doctors now know without a doubt that I have celiac disease, which can attack the joints and mimic fibro., and a seizure disorder, so they are not so sure of the fibro. diagnosis anymore.

I take lyrica. Tried going off it one time recently, against drs. advice, because I can't handle the weight gain. Felt fine for about 5 days, but on the 6th day OMG! I couldn't move off the couch. Won't be trying that again anytime soon.

Instead the doc and I are looking changing my seizure meds. around a bit to help take off some of the weight I've gain since I started taking the lyrica.

 

[Laurajean]

I've had FMS for about 12 years now. I don't take a regular pain medication because if I took a pain pill every time I was in pain, I'd be an addict by next week. I do have a prescription for Tramadol, which works decently on the pain, but I only take it occasionally when I really need to get something done. I used to do acupuncture, which worked quite well, but I can no longer afford it. Taking Cal-Mag (Calcium Magnesium) helps with the sleeping somewhat. I've had horrible sleeping habits my entire life, and I think it plays a major role. I simply cannot sleep at night! I'm up until very late, and then sleep through most mornings, or, if I have to work, I force myself to get up despite having only had a couple hours to sleep, which wreaks havoc on my body. I cannot seem to get to sleep at night like normal people do, no matter what I try. My body just feels better during the night hours, and so that's when I do things like housework that most people do during the day.

As far as people not "believing" it, I've dealt with that too, and just ignore them at this point. I KNOW it's real, I don't care what anyone else says. As far as the chickens Schellie, yes, I do find that they help me, in that they FORCE me to go outside and move around, when I might otherwise be inclined to be sedentary. I've learned, and am still learning, to limit myself in my activities, and that is very hard. Just the other day, it was finally warm, and I got excited so I went for a walk in the woods. Well, apparently I walked too far, because for the next week my body hurt so badly that I could hardly walk, and was limping around the house in pain. It's tough. Hard not to overdo it, because on the days I DO feel good, I want to try and make up for all the things I didn't get done while in pain, so I tend to overdo it and regret it later, putting myself in pain for another week or so. It's a very difficult balance.

I read somewhere that if the average healthy person were to deprive themselves from sleep for several days, they would feel the exact symptoms of Fibromyalgia. I think sleep must play a role, but not sure what the answer is on how to get that sleep.

Hugs to all with FMS...