Well I finally have my diagnosis. The rheumatologist was thorough, straight to the point and gave me a diagnosis of muscular skeletal issues along with Fibromyalgia.
Hey at least I know what I am dealing with for sure now. He said the GOOD news is you do not have Rheumatoid arthritis!!!
What you have to deal with now is chronic but he is sending me to muscular skeletal program for 8 weeks with education and therapy to strengthen up my muscles and learn to adjust to this ... I am really happy that he cleared up so many things that have been bothering me. He says the partially reversible lung obstruction and the severe obstructive mixed central sleep apnea have all contributed to all that is causing me more pain.
He also said I was very stiff and hard all the tender points that tell him I have done damage somehow about 2 years ago and this has gotten much worse because my muscles hurt and then it creates some kind of chain reaction and is making me hurt and feel pain even worse.
So here it goes all , and I will keep posting and let you know how it all goes..
He also told me that even tho my muscles and joints are in so much pain the only thing that will help is to get them moving and strenghen
then them up.
He also took me off alot of the meds that my GP has had me on. Told me I must taper off the gabapentin or I may get some extreme side effects.
Well I am gonna follow his advice and see how it all goes..
He also told me to use my C-pap faithfully as the apnea can damage the heart. Nice man ... serious but nice..
So I am guessing more than a few of you have been here!!! let me know what worked for you and if anything did. I will post back.
I am looking as today as the first day of the rest of my life and hope his advice is sound. Thanks for listening Lisa
Hi Lisa,
So glad to hear you made it to the Rheumatologist and got so many good solid answers! So glad to hear there is no RA. They are really our best hope. I am glad you went!
Enbrel works for me! It's really helped even though there are still bad days, there are not as many!
Yes, my rheumy also told me that not using my CPAP was damaging to the body. And I also just read about how snoring can cause heart attacks. So, yes, that machine is the cat's meow! By all means, use it!
My rheumy has me going to Physical therapy. It will be part physical therapy, part occupational therapy and part diet. (I really dislike the idea of going gluten free.) Let me know how your exercise goes and I'll let you know how mine goes. I'm curious to see if it really does help more than hurt.
Congrats to you on finally getting a diagnosis and for not having RA. You dodged a bullet there.
Lisa, good luck with all of your new methods. I hope they help to bring your fibro into a more managable place.
Hugs to you,
Petunia girl