Needing advice

Posted by Sandy on July 30, 1999 at 12:58:51
I need advice or an oppinion or something.
For quite sometime now i have been having pain induced anxiety...my theropist says she believes it to be OCD ..obssesive worry over any pain i get in my body that causes the anxiety and the numerous ER visits. I have been doing a ton of research on Anxiety , panic , ocd ect...   Just desperate to end this cycle. In one of my searches for info i came across a web site about Fibromyalgia. I started reading it and Low and Behold! It described me to a TEE! I was so excited that i called my theropist and made an ( extra) session appointment for that same day. When i got there i told her that i thought i had found the caose behind all the aches and pains that were making me panic...she looked at me and shook her head. She said no........you do not have Fibromyalgia It does not exisit. There is no such thing. Now i am shatterd and devistated. I had even made an appointment with a Rheumatolagist specialist. My theropist says that i am grasping straws and that at this point i will cling to anything as an excuse for my pains. i did go through the check list.....chest pain , hip pain , knee pain , ect ect...please tell me what you think. there has to be a reason for all this , i dont invent the pain i am feeling.....the pain causes my anxiety. there has to be an answe!!!!!!

Posted by HFHS MD - RG on August 02, 1999 at 11:26:48
Dear Sandy,
    The diagnosis of fibromyalgia continues to generate heated debate. The presence of multiple lifetime psychiatric diagnoses was not related to fibromyalgia but rather to the decision of patients to seek specialty medical care.
    Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain and stiffness of the soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The etiology is unknown; however, it is often precipitated by stress that causes localized artery spasm that interferes with the perfusion of oxygen in the affected areas. Pain results with associated symptoms of anxiety, fatigue, and inabilty to sleep because of the pain. There are no laboratory findings. The diagnosis is made after excluding rheumatic disease or hypothyroidism.
    Treatment of patients with fibromyalgia continues to be of limited success, although the role of multidisciplinary group intervention appears promising. Analgesics such as aspirin or acetaminophen are useful for the pain and antidepressants have shown encouraging results.
    It is difficult with the information provided to assess the etiology of your pain. A consult with a rheumatologist may be helpful.
    
    The information provided in this forum is presented for general educational purposes only. Specific questions you have pertainng to your health should always be directed to your personal physician or you may call Henry Ford Behavioral Health at [phone].
I wish you the best,
HFHS MD - RG
*Keyword: Fibromyalgia