possibly fibromyalgia

[mommaof2aspies]

Hi, I am wondering if fibromyalgia can be missed for years before being diagnosed? When I was a kid up until now I have always had muscle pain. Charlie horses, cramps, tingling in my feet & swelling. No doctor ever said anything to my parents or me. Now I'm 34 haven't been able to work for the last 4 wks due to muscle pain, cramps so bad I'm unable to walk, confusion so bad it interfered with my work, my immune system is basically null & void. I've been seeing a physical therapist who mention fibromyalgia & said I needed tested. My arms, hands, legs, feet & face all get tingle sensations throughout the day. Sometimes I feel like my face is swelling & its not. My calfs & feet get the sensation like they are freezing cold & I can taste anything but my sense of smell is thru the roof. Any ideas??? Please help  

[LazyMoose]

I see no mention of thyroid history or testing here, or did I miss it?

All your symptoms can also be some of the many that severe hypothyroid people have had - for years before being tested.

We've all heard of hot flashes - which both genders can get in hypothyroid. Well, there are also cold flashes like your last post.

T3 and T3 needs testing called the "free t3" and "free T4" tests. The TSH test, is to some extent a joke. Been there, felt all that plus more.

A high quality magnesium supplementation also helps with hypothyroid - its food for muscles, the brain and nerves. Anything but Magnesium oxide, which is low quality.

[mommaof2aspies]

Just had something weird happen & its a first I got upset & yelled the whole left side of my head down to my feet went ice cold & tinglely. I feel like its numb but its not... Is this normal? It has now happen a couple times & last about an hour each episode & once it lasted 3 hours. This really scared me more than anything.  

[TheLightSeeker]

Hey mommaof2aspies,
I read your post and I felt to respond, even with a short reply
for now, so it will be on my watch list.

You should consider getting a full hormonal blood test panel.
If any hormones are out of balance, hormonal modulation therapy
should be considered. It is quite common mainly in females with Fibro.

The latest research in FMS hypothesizes that a self perpertuating
biochemical cycle of high Nitric Oxide, produces a number of symptoms
like yours and more, and is being considered as a possible cause of fibromyalgia.
There are different ways to down regulate nitric oxide, by removing or reducing the various triggers/causes of high nitric acid. One of them is comprehensive stress reduction. Another one is by increasing anti-oxidants through diet and supplementation-specially Glutathione!
It is  the master Anti-oxidant in the body and it acts as a recycler as well
for other anti-oxidants such as vitamin C.
That frees more energy for other functions, reduces the need for frequent and higher supplementation, as there are waste byproducts generated
and putting more strain on the body to process and eliminate them.
If you need specific info on a great way to boost your Glutathione efficiently, let me know, as it is a rather delicate task .
There are ways to down regulate NO, but this will suffice for now.

EVCO - see my post IwillDoTHis mentioned - may help with cognitive function as it can supply the brain with energy should adequate glucose delivery be impaired.
EVCO is one of the few things that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Just start with 2T of EVCO daily the first week and gradually build up to 4T daily by week 3. I really hope this will help with the brain fog.
If you have any questions or to comment please post again.

Blessings to you and your family.
Niko

[IwillDoThis]

Oh my gosh, hang in there hon.  Remember you have to replenish the well (you) or there won't be anything to draw from for your kids.  Try to treat yourself with as much care as you can, keep up finding that balance in your diet.  Niko posted something yesterday about all natural ideas- check it out and I wish you much luck hon.  The brain fog can be so frustrating!!!!

[mommaof2aspies]

Thanks. I actually went to work for the first time in a month today only was able to do 3 hrs I'm on my feet the whole time at work. But I made it & luckily they are standing beside me bc they know me I'm the girl who gives 200% and will work all the hours you need me to then go home & take care of my 4 kids 2 of which are special needs and now I the one who needs cared for. So that part is a learning process. I went from working 11 straight days over thanksgiving while dealing with my autistic daughter in the hospital with pneumonia & still working on a shift on thanksgiving day that ran 11 hours into black Friday to being deathly ill for a week. Then was able pull together for a week then down again. Not like me I go to work sick I now am having trouble walking, talking & thinking. I have no muscle strength, pain all over, headaches, can't spell, barely can speak a sentence. I have been fighting the biggest scare of my life. I'm now fighting Chiari 1 Malformation, Scoliosis, Seizures & Fibromaylgia  my biggest fear isn't any if these things either its not being here for my kids. So I fight hard I push sometimes to hard & to fast so my backs itself down. My immune system is still at zero if someone has a cold I have the flu. So I drink tons of purified water, eat lots of oranges, bananas, fiber & all those  types of foods. I eat healthy & take vitamins. My health is turning around my speech is improving, I'm walking better, still having brain problems, loved math, suduko & word searches before & having trouble with them now & still unable to help kids with homework. Still in a lot of pain take Epson salt baths & use heating blanket & pad when need. Oh & get cold super easy now easpecially feet & legs.  

[IwillDoThis]

Absolutely - there is no real "test" to say you have fibro, other than a collection of symptoms over a period of time.  I wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 and I'm 42 now.  It's frustrating and debilitating at times, doctors make you feel like your crazy.  I went into pain management and I just want to caution you....it can be a slippery slope.  Try to learn to manage your fibro with diet, exercise (even if it hurts) and alternative medicine.  I never abused my pills, I took what my doctor prescribed and never more but my body is physically addicted to these pills I've taken for years and years.  I just finished detoxing at home and let me tell you it ain't fun.  After years of taking hydrocodone/soma and various other pills for chronic pain, I was finding I was still in pain and I just didn't want continue my life this way.  I found Kundalini Yoga a year ago and it gave me the strength to realize I no longer want to put poison in my body and it is a low impact form of yoga that has worked wonders for me.  I know the pain can drive you to think you'll just live on pain pills, it did me but those pills will eventually dull everything except your pain.  Keep trying to find a doctor who takes the condition seriously and doesn't want to just push pills.  Best of luck.