Help! Weird exhaustion and skin burning episodes

I am a 27 year old female and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2000. I have learned ways to deal with all the pain and strange and various symptoms that come with it. But about 8 months ago I had this strange episode. I have had the occasional symptom of full body skin pain. It feels like I have bruises everywhere and then a sunburn on top of that. For a long time it was just my back and then it spread. and then about 8 months ago it was suddenly everywhere and about 50 times more intense. Being touched hurts, laying down hurts, my clothing hurts and now it has gotten so bad that I cant put my hair in a pony tail because it hurts my scalp. Along with this I had very sudden fits of exhaustion. as a life long insomniac this was very strange. I would fall asleep no matter what I was doing, I was talking nonsense, and I was slurring my words. My boyfriend seriously counted all the pills in the house making sure I didn't accidentally overdose. I also have a hard time breathing. I just run out of breath a lot faster. I went to my doctor and she said she thought it was allergies and allergy induced asthma. Since my allergy is to mold I take pills everyday and I use an inhaler as needed and the episodes pretty much disapeared. My skin still hurt sometimes but it was tolerable. But last month, actually the day after christmas they came back with a vengence.  even my eye lids hurt. It is literally excrutiating and pain medication is doing next to nothing and I am so tired I cannot keep my eyes open. All I wanna do is sleep. and walking to the kitchen leaves me out of breath. I am also running a low grade fever. does anyone have any idea what this is or what to do? I am in college and this is making school impossible and me miserable. Someone please help!

[acker]

sorry but it sounds like you have to go along with resting as much as possible - you have to slow down before it slows you down even further. i know this is impractical, but - it's an impractical condition. the fever is worrying. i would defer college. you're in bad shape and need to prioritise wellness... sorry i have little clue on the painful skin. what happened the day after christmas, to make it return?... be kind to yourself...

[iconoclastgrey]

Thats just it. As far as I can tell nothing happened. I didn't wear myself out or do anything unusual thats why its so concerning. I already had to defer one college semester because of several different things and I can't do it again or I'm just never gonna finish. Basically its like I can go to class but thats all I can do for the day. Sigh. I guess this is just how its gonna be and I will just have to do my best with these limitations. I just wish I knew what was wrong or how to avoid or manage it.

[patsy10]

Make sure you have been tested for Lyme disease.  Your state is endemic for it and it can be  misdiagnosed as FMS and or CFS.

[iconoclastgrey]

Thank you for mentioning that. The thought actually occurred to me as well. I was tested a few years ago but I believe that the tests can often give false positives not to mention I might have contracted it since the last time I was tested, Thank you again I will ask my doc about it asap. Do you know if thats actually a symptom for it or just that my state is endemic so its more likely?

[Piper222]

I have the same burning and pain symptoms with extreme exhaustion but can't sleep.  Mine is just due to continued anxiety and pain from the fibro, wears you down.  Shortness of breath comes with both.  Make sure you do deep breathing exercises alot.  Are you depressed or anxious about the situation or is it just the pain?

[iconoclastgrey]

well since I am also bi polar its hard to tell But both my bi polar and anxiety are well managed and I cannot remember one of these episodes happening when I was under more stress, had more anxiety or was particularly depressed. when that stuff happens my fibro pain is worse of course but I don't remember any episodes, I know that the symptoms do get worse the more tired I am. I will feel better in the morning but by the time I am out of school at 2 I am in screaming pain. What do you do to help your symptoms?

[Piper222]

I have a lot of other weird stuff going on besides the burning. For now am trying Lyrica and Cymbalta but not really finding they work all that well.  Like you it gets worse when your tired.  I had neck surgery that aggrevated mine even more, ice packs use to help.  There are a lot of antidepressants that are used for pain besides Cymbalta, are you on something good for your bipolar?  I vibrate (not shake) that against a chair or the bed causes even more burning.  Am now getting in on my face and in my hands.

[iconoclastgrey]

After many years I now have a good cocktail of meds that work for my bi polar but its a very precarious balance and apparently I am really sensitive to anti depressants cymbalta didn't help my pain but I stayed up for three days straight and cleaned my house *L* I know how you feel. The burning for me has spread to my face and hands. oddly enough I have figured out that the only place it doesn't hurt are the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet. I've also noticed in the past couple of years that if I let my hands get too cold (I live in Pennsylvania so thats pretty easy to do) They become stiff and very painful. I was tested for arthritis but big surprise the test was negative and nothing works to help my hands except time and sometime repeatedly running them under hot water. This is freaking me out. I'm only 27. Is this just gonna keep getting worse?

[patsy10]

You are far more likely to get a false NEGATIVE lyme test than a false positive.

[iconoclastgrey]

Yeah I do know that about the lyme test, But I just did a bunch of research and I am thinking it might be fibro and chronic mono which really *****. People are talking about how they had to quit school or jobs and be bed ridden and the like and I just refuse to let that happen. I don't care what I have to do I am going to make it through college.

[iconoclastgrey]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. If anyone thinks of anything else please let me know.