Misserable and Unhappy with Fibromyalgia

[ViRuSeL]

I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia recently and I am trying to understand it as its making my life miserable and hell. I have very bad pain in my joints, neck, hands, arms, fingers, toes...basically everywhere.Recently, I started to get very bad headaches that continued for weeks and wont go away. Not sure if this is related to fibromyalgia, but my GP prescribed me a treatment for migraines which didnt help. I cant sleep at all and everyone thinks its in my head.
I did go to see a rheumatologist about 2 years ago and that was when he sugested I have fabromyalgia even thou he wasnt quite sure, but I suffer from all these pains for about 5 years. He did only a blood test and nothing more.
Could this be fibromyalgia or maybe i have something different???

[sara12345]

There are many other treatments for both migraines and fibromyalgia.  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago.  I was like a cripple trying to get dressed.  Taking a small dose of Trazadone helped me some.  Over the years, I kept increasing it which cured most of my symptoms.  

There is a new fibromyalgia med called Savella which I read praise after praise on another website.  

Also anti-depressants can serve as pain killers.  I have severe migraines, which my headache specialist said to raise my current anti-depressant Effexor even more to treat the migraines.  The Effexor has no doubt also helped both my fibromyalgia and migraines.  Due to one side effect from the Effexor, I said no.  He then suggested Savella.

Lyrica is another med for fibromyagia, but some have problems with it like I did.

Also there are many preventative meds that you take daily to cope with headaches and some of them are anti-depressants.  The doctor should have explained that to you.

I have to disagree about the chiropractic treatments since they can cause carotid artery dissection strokes which I had.  And you have to keep getting them again and again.  Another thing that greatly helped my fibromyalgia was getting a Migun bed which is a mechanically driven massage table.  If you can find a store, they usually let you try it many times to get the good effects before considering to buy one.

There are good treatments available for both fibromyalgia and headaches.

[ViRuSeL]

thank you FurballMom, its not that I do really care that much what my work colleagues think, but sometime that can really affect you, espeacially when you are not feeling well. I am trying to get my husband to understand and  have a little idea al least what I am going through, but sometimes I just think he doesnt really gets it at all, even when he says he is there for me. But the most scary thing is that this is only the beggining....

[FurballsMom]

Check out my photos.  I have a couple of lists I found online that are posters you can print out and keep in your cubicle about "What NOT to say".

[FurballsMom]

This is where our support network comes into play here.  There are times when some people think I exaggerate, too.  I do know what that's like.  You're not exaggerating.  Your workmates just haven't got a clue, so they don't understand.  It's mostly others with some kind of chronic health issue who understand.  Most others have no way of really understanding, so they believe what they're saying is true.  Not that know that makes it any better, because I know it doesn't because you have to work in that kind of environment.  But, at least here you can lean on others for support.

[ViRuSeL]

Hi all,

Sorry for not replying, i was having troubles with this site and finally managed to get my password sorted.

Yes I have all the symptoms you have mention above and now I think is getting worse. I have been feeling dizzy for the last few days and very weak and the pain is unbearable. It feels like I have been hit in the back of the head, my feet are ice cold, hands started to swell a lot, knees/anckles/elbows/fingers are completly numb. Its very hard to explain this and i feel very frustrated because everyone in my work place think i am crazy and exagerating things.  Sorry, just feeling very down at the moment and I guess the pain just got me really bad.

[ewford]

get tested for babesia, Bartonella, and Lymes disease.   The Western blot is useless if the bacteria is in the tissues, not the bloodstream.  PLUS, the immune system is so overwhelmed, it dosent know what antibodies to make since the surface proteins are changing so often.  Listen to my advice, I'm not a Dr but I have been through what you have and am getting better.

  Also, get a HHV6    IFA test for antibodies and a CD57.   HHV6 virus reactivates when you are immunosuppressed and causes MS like symptoms.  A CD 57 test looks at your immune system.  If it shows anything under 60, you have a good chance at having Lymes and coinfections of HGE, Babesia, Bartonella or all 4 at one time.  These are INTRACELLULAR bacteria and WILL NOT show up on standard blood testing.  

  Do you retch/throw up occasionally?  chronic headaches?  eye pain?  sore feet/ ankles?  stabbing sensations? bowell issues?  sleep issues?  sometimes feel like you cannot get enough AIR?

[ViRuSeL]

I think he did, but i dont really know to be honest. I went back last May for a another visit, same clinic, but it was a diffrent specialist. This time there was no tests done, just asked me if the pain was still bad and prescribed me antidepresants. I got very angry and left.
I am going to see a neurologist in a week and hoping for more answers as this time decided to go private. I live in Dublin, Ireland and unfortunatelly doctors in this country are useless.

[FurballsMom]

Just a blood test?  He did test the ANA and SED rates, right?  I don't know if it's something different, but I would suggest seeing a chiropractor and a neurologist.  There is supposed to be more than a blood test involved for diagnosing Fibromyalgia.  I would find a different rheumatologist.  Both the chiropractor and the neurologist together will help with the pain and the migraines.  It will take a while to get rid of the migraines, but the neurologist can help with that.  The chiropractor can help with the pain throughout the body.  It's not a perfect solution, but I suffer a lot less when I see my chiropractor regularly.