My name is Alyssa and I was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia on Friday. I was also diagnosed with an autoimmune on October 11 ,2013. The reason I went to the doctors on Friday it was because I was experiencing new symptoms and the pain was just to much to deal with. My doctor checked my pressure points, with less than 5lbs of pressure, and told me he was 100% sure I had fibro. Truthfully, I wanted to cry. Now I have so many questions like, what will happen if I choose to start a family? Will my child get what I have? What helps the most with controlling fibro? Will I seriously be in pain for the rest of my life? I've been in pain everyday for over 4 years and I can deal with a lot, but when the pain is BAD I can't take it.. I joined this group to talk with people I can relate too because it's hard to talk with my family and friends. They can't relate. I am grateful for the people in my life who support me and try to understand.
Welcome Alyssa. I’m newly diagnosed as of two weeks ago. I have a lot to learn myself but I am here to listen and for any support you may need. I also have autoimmune for the last 16 years and I have suspected that had fibromyalgia for the last couple years now. My rheumatologist prescribed Gabapentin 300mg twice a day but I am only taking it once a day because of my work schedule and I wanted to see what the side effects were first. I have only been on it for about a week so I will have to see how it works for me. Did you get prescribed anything?
Hi Alyssa my name is Stacy. I was just diagnosed last week. It is scary when you have so many questions. I am still learning about all the ins and out. I am just tonight starting Cymbalta and trying to wean off soma. But I will continue with tramadol for pain. My Dr. said that the Cymbalta (antidepressant) should help with depression and pain, and tramadol with pain, and I will see a rheumatologist soon. I hear Cymbalta is widely used to help with fibro. I have so many questions too though, like you. This seems like a great place to start though. But you aren't alone in this. I am here with you.
Mine came back to back. My mom suggested I join a chat room so I can meet people that is dealing with the same problems as me. I can't take gabapentin. It makes me feel super weird. I just started taking Cymbalta 4 days ago. I have a couple side effects but they don't last that long. I hope it works because the pain is too much to deal with. Do you have children?
Thank you, Stacy! Today is my 4th day on Cymbalta. I had a couple side effects but they don't really last long. I'm hoping it will help. I've tired gabapentin but that makes me feel funny. I also tried tramadol but that didn't work for me. Cymbalta is on only option. The only thing that will help with my pain is a narcotic but only when my pains mild. I was told my doctor that exercise is good, but you don't want to over do it or not do anything at all. Hopefully Cymbalta will help you.
Thank you. Nobody in my family has fibro or an autoimmune. I'm the only one, I never wanted children and neither did my husband, but as we are getting older and becoming more financially stable we might be changing our minds. My health is a big factor. I don't wanna pass this down! I can't work and my husband works long hours at work and he doesn't like leaving me alone. He thinks starting a family will be good. Thank you for writing me back. Xo..
I am praying for relief with Cymbalta :). Where is your pain the worst? Mine is hips and lower back. Although my knees swelled up today and it hurt like crazy to bend them. I have decided to get a journal to write in. I am just constantly noticing symptoms and going to drive my family crazy. Do you find yourself noticing everything, now? Like I am assigned "watch" patrol on myself. SO silly! What really gets to you? pain? emotions? although I feel like the pain makes me emotional.
My pain is in my right wrist and elbow, lower back, and my knees(recent). I got an mri and the the root to the nerve in both my neck and back was damages so my doc sent me to pt. My lower back will still have a little pain but it wasn't as bad as it was. My knees have been locking up on me whenever I bend down to clean or ride the bike machine in pt. I cant' straighten my legs with out my knees hurting and it hurts my back. Today and yesterday have been good days for me. Thank god. My hand will always hurt tho. I hurt it back in 2009 and from then I've been in pain everyday. I'm extremely emotional and the pain makes it worse. I think if I do to much it flares me up. I haven't really figured it out yet. You're not silly. I do notice new symptoms, and my 3 new symptoms are my knees aching (followed by my whole body), hair loss (a lot. makes me soo sad), and sensitivity to bright lights. Then when I told my doctor that and how I can't deal with this pain he checked my pressure points, using less than 5lbs of pressure, and knew right there I had fibro. Fibro and an autoimmune have the some of the same symptoms but still are a little different. So I don't know anymore. I'm confused with what's what!!
Yes I have two boys. My boys are 22 and 16. My rheumatologist won’t let try anything else until I try the Gabapentin because of the insurance. I’m having no luck with the Gabapentin so far. I have been getting migraines. I need something for sleep. Do you sleep well?
Interesting, my pain is in the same places, along with my neck and parts of my feet. I have been light sensitive for years. Most recently a lot of my muscles are twitching. At different times. and wanting to cramp. Then when I hold or use something I shake, from weakness, I think. My Dr. Never touched my pressure points, but boy are they there! Are you working? I am off for a month. But the thought of going back to work sends me into sheer panic. My quality of life is nonexsistant trying to hold down a job with this pain.
Did you have your autoimmune and fibro when you first had your sons? I tried the gabapentin years ago when all I had was tendonitis. I just felt really weird on it. Say I was talking to you and I would be focusing on you but everything else around you would be blurry! For a while I wasn't sleeping at all. I would get like 2-3 hours of broken sleep a night. I now take flexeril about an hour before I go to bed. it helps. It's a muscle relaxer but it knocks me out. When I have a flare up taking the flexeril doesn't help me sleep.
I never had any pain in my neck. Just everywhere else. I haven't been able to work since 2010. Might I add I'm 26. Any kind of repetitive use sets me back days. I wish I could work. I'm also right handed and when I over do it I can't use my hand at all. My right arm is weak and it shakes. In physical therapy my left hand was 3 times stronger than my right. After being in pt for two months my right hand got a little bit stronger but the pain is still bad. I don't think my hand will ever be ok. How did you get diagnosed with fibro? My doctor told me checking your pressure points is how they tell you have fibro. I don't know tho. I'm sure all doctors do it differently. I know that stress and negativity can make our problems worse. I'm a positive person but when I have a flare up it's hard to stay in that frame of mind. I was also told to stay active, but not overdo my workouts and not do nothing at all because it can make me worse. I was told to try water aerobics.
I was diagnosed with autoimmune after I had my second son almost 17 years ago. As for the fibromyalgia, I have been experiencing the pain and the lack of sleep for a few years now. I was admitted to the hospital in December of 2012 while I was working. I work in the ER and I experienced the most painfully back pain I have ever had before. It literally took me to my knees. While I was in the hospital the doctor suggested I had fibromyalgia but when I followed up with my primary she said no. So for the last 18 months my symptoms have gotten worse and I put my foot down and demanded a refer a to a rheumatologist. He diagnosed me officially two weeks ago with fibromyalgia. Now I just need to find the right plan and something for me to sleep. I go days without sleeping. Which of course makes the pain worse.
Oh lord.. back pain is no joke. Physical therapy really helped with my back and they showed me exercises how to ease the pain, but when it hurts you don't even want to more. I'll still get a sharp pain in my lower back on the right side and feel pressure in the middle, but the sharp pain will only stay in that one spot when before it went halfway up my back and down my leg to my knee(only on the right side). The pain still will be bad to where I can barely walk or put pressure on my right leg. I ice it and put a heating pad on it. Also, I have some bio freeze stuff that helps somewhat. Ask your doctor for flexeril. It might help you sleep, and you don't wake up feeling groggy or anything. I still take it on my bad days just to see if it will help, and it doesn't. It's something tho. I'm scared if I have children that they will suffer too, and that's the last thing I want.
Right now I have Unspecified Diffuse Connective Tissue Disease. I don't have a full blown autoimmune, but I recently did a blood test to see where I'm at. That's kinda how I got diagnosed with fibro. I have signs of both lupus and r.a. I guess you're right about that, but with me actually having them both my children and grandchildren would have a higher risk to getting this. I'm the only person in my family that has both of these. I've been getting stressed out a lot and it makes my problems worse so I'm trying not to. It's hard, but I try. It's hard to do the things l love or simple chores, but I still try. I have to take a lot of breaks too. I hope you start feeling better soon. Xo.. Hugs!
Welcome Alyssa. New to this also diagnosed May 1st. I am on Cymbalta also, the first dosing was 30 mg., but it wasn't helping enough so I've been doubled this past week. What sort of side effects are you having?
Like you I am looking for answers. Suggestions.
I'm so sorry, love!! :( All that is a headache. I got a call from the doctors too that wasn't too good. Bio freeze is just like bengay. Well, I do a pelvic tilt that helps relieve the pain, but when you are hurting bad I say ice it. I can't do the exercises when I hurt super bad. I hope your migraine goes away soon. Xo..
Hi Tina. I'm only on the 30mg. It makes my mouth really dry, it use to feel weird to swallow(but not anymore), and in the beginning it made me feel sick. Todays the 3rd day I've actually had good days. Maybe it's because of the Cymbalta but I don't know. I know that being stressed out and being negative makes our problems worse. Light exercise is good, but you don't wanna over do it or not do anything at all. That's what my doctor told me. Are you having any side effects on Cymbalta?
Thanks sweetie! I appreciate all the information. It’s so nice to talk to others who understand what we are going through. I’m sorry that you had a bad phone call from your doctor. I hope everything is ok. I hope you have a nice weekend! It’s my weekend to work in ER starting tomorrow for the next four days. Talk to you soon.