Do Symptoms match Fibro?

I have been feeling horrible lately and it seems to be getting worse.  I am starting to think that i have fibro.  My first & main question is how many of you with fibro have endometriosis?  I have endo and doctor's keep telling me it is the endo making me feel this bad?!?!  I don't believe it is.  I am sooooo tired I can barely function, in constant pain (and have a high tolerance for pain but don't feel like I do anymore), achy, headaches, bowel problems/bloating stomach and there are probably more symptoms, just can't think to clear right now (Hey maybe that is a symptom also!!)

I have been to my gyno and pcp and they have both ran tons of bloodwork for everything from lupuss to RA factor to thryoid function, sed rate, etc.  Everything was normal.  I am going to my pcp again tomorrow and asking for a referral to a rheumy.  I want to see what they have to say about my symptoms and whether or not they think fibro.  I know that having endo makes you a lot more likely to develop fibro; i even read one study that says it is so prevelent in women with endo they thought about testing women with fibro for endo (but since that can only be done by surgery it is a little extreme!).  Any thoughts or suggestions on what I should do to get my doctor to help would be great.  I am so tired of being in pain and tired.  I take hydrocodone and that seems to help barely but enough to make me function right now.  I honestly feel like I am dying some days.  Thanks for the help!!

[mkseym]

I am sorry but I also probably should have mentioned that I am 30, 31 next month, and have an almost 2-year-old daughter. lAlso I would say this has been going on for a least the past year, maybe longer if I look back at my college years but i did feel better than that for several years.  Thanks again!

[kiddthekatt]

Hi;
  I am so sorry that you are in pain. Your symptoms sound like fibro, but I am  not a doctor, check in the top right hand coner in the health pages under Newly Diagosed. You'll find a list of symptoms for fibro. Your taking the first step in getting a referrel to a Rheumy. And to answer your question about endo, yes I had problems for years. Painful years. My ob/gyn doctor couldn't believe that I actually had 4 children. I did go into menopause early, I was 38 and to be honest I was tickled to death not to have to go through the monthly **** any more.

  Please hang around, this is a great site and the people in the fms/cfs are fantastic. We support one another and share our problems and good news. Welcome to the club.

,gentle hugs
Angel

[VaBreeze]

We had a poll taken about a month ago regarding endometrosis, uterine fibroids and FSM.  Not surprisingly, we discovered that most here did have one, the other or both.

Some of the symptoms you are experiencing can be contributed to the endo.   Pelvic pain, bloating, achiness...these (for me) were heightened as my menstrual period became close.  The headaches and fatigue do not sound related to endo.

What measures are you taking for treatment of the endo?  Regular checkups are important to insure that it does not attach itself to other organs, as this can cause major problems.  I ended up with a hysterectomy, because the fibroid came after the surgery I had to remove an ovary due to endo.  

I hope you find some relief soon and feel better.

[mkseym]

I have been treating the endo but the pain is not cylical...it is constant.  I know the endo pain that i have and still have but the rest is different it seems to me.  Thank you both for your answers.  I am hopefully going to get a referral to a good rheumy today.  I have one in mind.  Hopefully I can get in quick to find out of this is what it is.  Thanks and my hat's off to everyone who has to suffer!!!

[VaBreeze]

You're very welcome.  I hope that you can get in soon and gain some answers.  We know how frustrating this can be.

Take care and keep us updated.

[mkseym]

Thank you...I saw my pcp today and boy was it frustrating.  There was a student and he took me seriously and w/o me even asking about fibro did the trigger point testing.  He thinks I have fibro for sure.  My pcp was more dismissive and told me I was just depressed.  BUT THANKFULLY I finally got the referral to the rheumy.  They will be making my appt tomorrow!!  I know this is what I have and I just want to be taken seriously.  This pain is not in my head!!  This has been such a frustrating few months and I am glad that hopefully now I will be getting some answers.  I know this rheumy is good because my mom goes to her.  I can't wait!!  I just want to stop hurting all over.  I don't know why some doctors don't take people seriously.  It is so frustrating!!

Thank you all for your help and I will let you know how my appt with the rheumy goes.  

[VaBreeze]

I think we've all had those doctors who say it's in your head or it's due to stress and you need to relax (yada, yada, yada!).  That's because they can't explain it so they just stick it somewhere that can be explained.  

It's not in your head mkseym.  Everyone here knows that it's not so rest assured you are not alone.  Hope your appt. is a good one and you get some type of validation.

[mkseym]

Thank you.  Unfortunately I have to wait until July 1st to get into the rheumy.  I don't want to wait that long because I want to start treating and not feel the pain but at least I am going and am moving forward instead of just feeling stuck like no one hears me or believes me.  This is a step forward and I can't wait until I see the rheumy and start to be proactive about this.  Thank you for all your help and any advice on things to do in the meantime would be greatly appreciated.

[mkseym]

Today is the day...my appt with the rheumy.  I have been anticipating it so much but now am nervous.  Are they going to believe me?  Are they going to be able to help?  I am ready to get it over with.  Thank you to all who have helped w/ advice and I will post tomorrow and let you know how the appt went!!

[VaBreeze]

It depends on the beliefs of the rheumatologist.  Some believe; some do not.  Be firm but polite.  If this one doesn't work out, there are others you can chose from.  

I hope it goes well for you and that they can help you feel better.  Please check back in and let us know how it went.  I'm praying for you.

[mkseym]

Wow what a horrible experience.  She said I def have fibro but only is giving me Ambien and recommending I go to PT 4x to learn exercises to help my back.  I really wish she would have listened more.  I also am wondering if this is normal protocol.  The pain is my main complaint and she did not even give me anything for that.  What do you all think and is this treatment enough!!

[grendslori]

Ambien is there to help you sleep. During sleep the muscles repair themselves, Fibro patients are notorious for not being able to sleep. Most patients are given drugs to help with the pain such as Lyrica, but the side affects from some of those drugs are pretty bad. A lot of patients are also given anti-depressant drugs as well. This doctor did do all of the pressure points on you right? There are 18 of those points on the body and you must meet 11 out of the 18. It sounds like this doctor is really kind of blowing you off as well, kind of makes me wonder why? Why do you say you wished she had listened more? What didn't she listen to?

[elliemarie]

Hi there and yes, I too  had, a uterine tumor and endo, for years , so bad I needed invitro to have my son. I am suffering just like you headaches and fatigue too. I get told its depression but its not, its the disease thats got me depressed. I have been though all the tests you mentioned too and more, they can't find nothing! My gastro doc says there finding its related to IBS which I have too. I am interested in the theory of Mercury fillings though? I do have a lot, and mercury does affect the brain and nerves! I've researched that for my son, he was a premie because of invitro and endo, that I have. He was developing fine, he got his 1st MMR and DPT shots which contain thermerasol and went into Autism, Autism affects the nerves .  Does anyone else believe the theory about mercury and Fibro? its already been linked to MS, Filling have? I am 48 and have been suffering for 9 yrs now.