My sister is on a gluten free diet because of lyme disease.
I have now been told I have a sleep disorder.Which comes with FM.
This doc has me on paz xil and mobic.That is alot easier to do than gluten free.
I priced gluten free flours and recipes call for things I can’t pronounce.
I feel a difference with the paxil.I take it at night because it makes me tired.
I think it is helping the exhaustion problem.
Irishroots - I’m happy the Paxil is working. I wanted to mention that I read folks with the gluten probs can deduct the diff between a GF food and a reg priced food on their taxes. I thought it was interesting. Also I highly rec Amazon for GF food in bulk packaging with free shipping. That is one way I save money. Good luck
Well, I don't know where to start. I feel like this Fibro has been creeping up on me for years. There are so many different symptoms:
Fatigue; Been getting worse as the time goes by. I always thought I was anemic, I would take iron and eat lots of greens.
Fibro fog; Now this is definately getting worse. I can't think of the most simple words, I forget why I entered the room. If I don't write a list for shopping, I'm doomed.
Pain: All over now. The weather really dictates just how bad I feel. When the Barometer drops, so do I. It is much worse recently. I have always had lower back and shoulder pain but it is in my feet, hands, shoulders, elbows, neck, even my jaw hurts. I can't kneel down without terrible pain.
Depression: I have been in a depression for years, been on Prozac for over ten years.
Sleep Disorder: I just got home from a sleep study last night.
Stiffness: Especially each morning, my husband helps me sit up in bed every morning, it feels like every muscle in my body has locked up. I can't stand on my feet, bad pain there.
I had to stop work last year, I just couldn't do my job, filed for disability and still waiting, this is gonna take awhile!
The worst thing I think for me is that I loved working in the garden, planting veggies and flowers, I can't mow the grass. I can't do anything!
I think I will grab another cup of coffee and sit in my yard and watch the grass grow.
Lyrica gave me even worse memory problems. It was the most awful medication I have ever taken in my life. I would NOT take that pill again for any reason, and have told doctors since then that I am allergic to it. I had no short- or long-term memory and became a totally different person. In fact, my husband was at his breaking point because of that darn pill. I do take Cymbalta, which seems to do okay although the body aches are awful some days.
Does anyone know what makes so bad some days?
Wow, thats a lot to deal with isn't it. Your stomach problem sounds to me like an ulcer, but thats just my guess. Aw, you sound so stressed out too. That will not help your symptoms. It's really hard to get a balance with fibro.
Do you work a lot of hours too? That will exacerbate the symptoms you are having. (cor thats a big word for me. lol) The fibro fog, fatigue, pain and low mood.
We have to try our best to not over do things, although this takes time and experience. It may be worth keeping a record of your daily activities and level of pain / fatigue for a few weeks and see where you could "cut down" on activity.
I just looked up costrochondritis as I have not heard of it before. Is this where your fibro symptoms started? I have amitryptiline at night to help with the symptoms but nothing successful in the day time yet. The doctors often have to try out a few meds before you find some that work for you.
It's great to find a new friend too, and I'm sure you can find answers to all your questions here. This is a really good group of people! Welcome to the family sister!
Struggling over words is something I've noticed in myself and, until I joined this group yesterday, didn't realize was 'normal' for fibro. Thank you! Now I don't feel quite as bad.
Welcome Shan, sorry you have been cursed with this evil diagnosis. Have you tried an elimination diet? A lot of foods we eat can cause fibro pain and exhaustion. I can’t eat milk as the next day I have a migraine and I was also diagnosed with IBS so the milk Tears my stomach up. And if I eat too much sugar ie: candy. I wake up and my whole body pain is a lot more.
If I think of more suggestions ill bring it up later.
Gentle Hugs
Punkin
My stomach issue is gastoparesis. You may want to check it out. It is very painful. I had ulcerative colitis. Digestive diseases go along with this disease. I hope you get your answers.
I have found that having traditional physicians AND integrative/holistic physician working on your diagnostics gives you a better chance of getting to the root of your problems. They both can help you, but in different ways. One might miss something that the other will catch.
This has worked for me so far, especially with my stomach/digestive problems. The digestive problems such as intestinal candida, leaky gut syndrome, gluten intolerance etc. will all lead to malabsorption and malabsorption can lead to alot of the symptoms that you describe, because you are not getting the nutrients from your food. It's slippery slope that you go down. The holistic physicians have been the most knowledgeable with diagnosing the digestive issues that the regular docs missed finding on me. There's alot more to this fibromyalgia than meets the eye. It can get very confusing and overwhelming. You need good resources and testing even if it means having more than one type doctor investigating your problems. If you're dropping that much weight, I'd be real concerned and be getting other opinions. I hope you find some good doctors that can get to the bottom of it soon.
Hi Shan and welcome. I'm feeling shocked at the sheer volume of young people with fibro, as the fibro sites say it's more of a middle-aged person's illness. I'm thinking that they are wrong. It's truly disturbing to think of ever so many young people with this awful disease.
Have you been checked for stomach ulcers? I had one (think it's back) from taking too much Ibuprofen. Like you, I had a constant bloated feeling. Some days it felt like I ate a bag of concrete. Also made me lose weight. Additionally it caused pain, constipation and diarrhea.
Another possibility could be gall bladder, as it can also cause bloated feeling.
Fibro can also cause Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I'm no doctor, think you should bring this to your doctor's attn if you haven't already. Otherwise, if all tests are negative, could just be the fibro.
Your patience, memory, mood swings and vocabulary issues are all classic fibro symptoms.
About the only thing that really helps me is getting a lot of sleep. Our poor minds are simply overwhelmed with pain, which causes them to become fatigued. Plus our sleep isn't refreshing or restorative. So we need more of it in order to function closer to normal.
If I were you, I'd set an alarm clock to go off when you get home at midnight, so you can remember to take your medicine.
Hope this helps a bit; I'm sure you'll get many more good tips from other readers.
I know; I honestly thought I had Alzheimer's. And it's sooo embarrassing to forget simple words like "water." Makes you doubt yourself and your mental resources. At least now we know it's the fibro.
Hi Shan, I’m so sry that you have been diagnosed with this dreaded fibro, it Truley is impossible to wrap ones brain around this. I was diagnosed 3 years now and still at times can not believe How terrible i feel, it was like I developed a horrible flu and it has just never gone away. Some days are harder than others and it does take time to learn how much you can do, what you can not do and how to deal with day to day life. Savella has helped me a lot, I could not function with out it.
I have had the costrochondritis twice now, very painful, both times a dose pack of steroids helped, first time was worse And lasted longer. I think most people with fibro suffer some type of digestive issues, and I bet most of us have had upper endoscopes and colonoscopies, I have had diverticulitis twice and do have the bloating and pain. It’s so annoying when you can’t remember a simple word, or spell it, I could go on, but I think you can see that you are not alone, this site has been very helpful !!! WELCOME !!
I have recently been diagnosed too and I’m 19, I have bad anxiety an mild depression because of fibromyalgia, I’ve chosen not to take meds as I have been prescribed anti depressants in the past and they seem to make my brain fog and everything worse. I used to be really bright and now I feel quite stupid, my memory has got so much worse and sometimes I have problems finding speech. I deal with the pain quite well, for me it’s the lack of energy and the complete exhaustion and the feelin in my legs, does anybody else get that? A weak, heavy feeling where your legs feel like they’re about to collapse underneath you? It’s terrifying! I’m here if anyone wants to talk
Hi Melissa,
Yes, I'm sure we all have that feeling in the legs. I certainly do. It feel like I have lead boots on and struggle up stairs. Also, the weakness comes from my back and trying to hold myself up. It's hard work with this illness isn't it?!