What's the average age on this site?

Hi! I have been on the Fertility forum of MedHelp for a number of years now, but was just re-directed to this forum today (The Complete Idiot's Guide to Fibromyalgia recommended it)...

I am 37 years old and have had fibromyalgia since being run over by car in kindergarten. Unfortunately, I wasn't diagnosed until the late 90's and just today had my first appointment with a fibro-specialist.  When he did the tender points test, I cried so hard that I had to ask him to stop just so I could catch my breath. It was the worst thing that I've had to experience in a long time! I almost feel traumatized about it, even as I type!

I am just curious what the average age of the folks on this site are - thanks for taking the time!

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0%

 (0) 

under 20

11%

 (5) 

20-30

28%

 (12) 

30-40

59%

 (25) 

over 40

42 Members voted

[scaredmom330]

I am 50, but have had and been treated for fibro for over 20 years...

[kiddthekatt]

I'll soon be 54 and I was diagnosed a year ago.

gh
Angel

[wanting4#1]

Thanks for sharing...

Kiddthekatt - what's 'gh' mean? :)

[luckydzack1]

I am almost 50 and was diagnosed in Jan. 08 but he thinks I have had it for the past 25 years & was misdiagnosed with Lupus,Hepatitis B & Rheumatoid Arthritis. This time the flare started in Oct. 07 & hasn't let up.

[kiddthekatt]

  GH means gentle hugs

[wonko]

I'm 29, rounding the bend on the big 3-0 this spring.  

[lvfrogs]

I rounded the big bend, 50, almost 2 years ago. I think that I have had CFS roughly 4 years ago, so around 47-48.

[junglejim46]

I developed Fibro. a year ago now after drama I'd been through. I didn't even know it existed until I started trying to find out what was wrong with me.  I  am 57 years old.  I have spend many months in lots of pain and still trying to get my doctor to listen to me.
This site has been a real life safer.  I can see what's happeing to others, how they feel, vent and get information.  It's wonderful.
Thanks to all
junglejim46

[dai3symae]

I'm 52 and was dx'd with fibro 6 years ago.  I was originally told I had osteoarthritis.  I've had some rough times with muscle spasms but I'm pretty good right now    :)

[FurballsMom]

I'll be 40 in a few months.  I've been dealing with symptoms most of my life.  As I get older, the symptoms seem to be adding up more and more.

[HowComeCook]

I'm 31 and was just diagnosed with fibro 2 weeks ago. I've had all the symptoms and several flare-ups since I was 19, with my last one being since 2006. My doc says that it was probably fibro all along. I think all of us just had to learn how to deal with it until we couldn't anymore, then had to get some answers! It's just so frustrating that none of my previous docs ever even mentioned fibro even when all of my symptoms painted the perfect picture of a poster child for fibromyalgia! I know that tender point test is nothing nice (at all) but I hope that you at least feel a little better about having a diagnosis. There are just so many people in here that haven't even been diagnosed, so they are in some sort of "pain Limbo"...where I was for so many years.
Good Luck in everything.

[PlateletGal]

That is one of our biggest challenges: physicians. It is such a shame and tragedy that there are STILL physicians who do not believe that fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome are even real ! They see their patients as "hysterical women". (sexism ?) These physicians, IMO, are the ones who will never really succeed... because they are 20 steps behind physicians who do keep up with the latest research. You know even if physicians don't believe in these syndromes, at least they could mention fibro or CFS to their patient as a possibility.

When my insurance company called me to do a telephone questionnaire, I agreed. The only reason why I agreed is because I was waiting for the part where the interviewer had said, "what can we improve ?". When the guy finally got around to that question, I told him that their website should list their physicians who regularly treat diseases such as fibro, CFS and lyme disease. I also told the guy that if they did this, then they would save a TON of money.

[deedee332]

I am 46 and was diagnosed a year after a car accident in March 2000, I was only treated for the herniated disc in my neck until Nov. 2007 which is when my problem became more apparent to me.  When the rheumy did the tender touch test on me In October 2008 I cried like a baby too.  I had pain in 16 out of the 18 points.  When I was diagnosed the second time by the same rheumatologist I put it all together.  I was actually diagnosed the 1st time in 2001.  It took me to find a receipt of my co-payment mixed in with some papers to remember that I had seen him before.  I believe as you age it gets worse too.  I had been taking pain meds since 2000 and basically have tried them all.  At this point nothing seems to work.  My condition is documented as severe at this point and I have been captive to this problem non-stop for a year and a few months.

[zippazappa]

i was dx two years ago with fibro and cfs but i have always had these symptoms but milder than now

take are

zz

[Phtartist]

I've had FM/CFS for 12 years or so diagnosed for 10 or so, I'm 56. Mine started with EBV and I know this for sure. My Dr. tested me throughout the illness of EBV to see when I would develope the antibodies, when I did, my stamina increased somewhat. When I have FM flare-ups my EBV numbers rise.

I tell you this because I am seeing a FM specialist who blows off EBV as a cause of FM. He and his team say everyone will test positive for EBV.  

I'm frustrated and confused that my belief about the origins of my FM can be blown off like that, even with the numbers off the charts.!!

[PlateletGal]

I think this would interest you... it is a link to a new page on a website with a wealth of information on the Epstein Barr Virus and high EBV titers:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Autoimmune/Increased-levels-of-EBV-antibodes-explained/show/648?cid=181

[Kitty76]

I'm 32 and have had fibro since a bout of flu in June last year
Hugs Kitty

[strut526]

I am 51, diag.when i was 25.  

[2Pegasus]

Hi, I will be 47 this summer, been diagnosed with Fibro last April.
Been an on going battle, even before I was diagnosed, like I am sure many or most others here.
Nice to be part of the community. No one really fully understand what I go through, even though I have some wonderfully supportive family, and friend.

Gentle hugs, 2Pegasus