I apologize in advance for the long-ness that is about to happen!!
So, I think that i had fibro symptoms at a really young age. I remember having sleep problems since I was young, I constantly complained of being in pain and asked for ice packs or heating pads as a kid. My mom always called it growing pains.
As I got older it never went away. I saw my primary doctor starting at about 15 for pain, who had me try physical therapy, steroid injections and multiple medications. His final conclusion was that I had depression. I wasn’t satisfied with that and I saw several more doctors who said the same thing. It really upset me that doctors were dismissing my pain. If I WAS depressed it was BECAUSE of my pain, not the other way around.
Throughout my life I have had many many many emotional triggers that seem to make my symptoms worse and I’ve noticed patterns in my pain levels that coincide with weather and the changing of seasons. Over several years i continued to see many doctors and specialists and be “diagnosed” with depression or acused of seeking drugs. After the birth of my second child, I was incredibly sleep deprived, crabby all the time and everything hurt! I decided to go to a whole new clinic that wasn’t affiliated with any I had been to before. I was starting to think I was crazy!! I refused the clinic any medical records (because I didn’t want them to see previous notes of my supposed depression and drug seeking), and I brought my hubby with me.
After 10 years of not having any answers, this doctor finally took me serious. He listened to me, like really listened. He didn’t accuse me of wanting drugs, in fact, I hate taking pills. He didn’t shove it off as depression. He did a series of blood tests and exams over about a month period and finally gave me a diagnosis: fibromyalgia.
For whatever reason just having a name for it and knowing I wasn’t crazy, having that validation made me feel like so much weight had been lifted off my shoulders. In the past 3 years since my diagnosis I’ve learned a lot and I’ve also developed more and worsening symptoms. My pain is literally everywhere: my joints, my muscles. From my feet to my head. I get terrible headaches, very little sleep and have more and more fibro fog symptoms.
I also have arthritis, chronic migrains, poly cystic ovarian syndrome, restless leg syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, TMJD, tendonitis in both ankles and developing carpel tunnel in both wrists.
I have chosen to not use medication to manage my fibro. I try to stretch, drink enough water, take vitamins and manage my stress. When I can cut out processed food I feel a lot better but finances are really tough so I can’t afford much for good food. I work 30-35 hours a week in a very physical and emotional job only out of need, Every day at work is a struggle. I have 2 young-ish kids and a few fur babies and I work with a local animal rescue. I have very limited amounts of time to do anything really. I have maybe 4 friends that I see only a couple times a year, my hubby and I don’t go out much because we don’t have babysitters. So my “me time” tends to be a quick bath before bed or watching a show before bed. I know that my life is so much better than some but it can be very difficult to cope emotionally with constant pain. Luckily my husband and kids and good friends are supportive and understanding.
Thanks for reading my book:)