Fibromyalgia - HEPC - Post Treatment

[meki]

Someone very kindly suggested after reading my posts that I might be having an episode of Post TX Fibromyalgia.

After reading through the symptoms - and through multiple websites I'm thinking there is a very good chance that this "catch-all" name for all of the symptoms I am having fit right on there. I'm no hypochondriac by ANY means... But I am a realist. And I hate feeling badly - without knowing precisely what it is that is causing it.

Just a repeat on my symptoms: Muscle Aches, Bone Aches (more like the connective tissues and tendons/ligaments), extreme fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, brain fog, inability to focus, exhuastion after sleeping 18 hours, pain in lower back, top thigh muscles ache, neck and jaw pain that "thrums" but goes away, jaw popping, "arthritis" like feeling and swelling, constant constipation, chest area cartilage popping (very uncomfortable - freaky feeling, but not necessarily painful). Heavy Menstrual pain and Bleeding - and irregular periods. And a few other odds and ends (LOL - ok - yeah I know that's a lot - but it's what is happening.)I guess I kind of feel like a giant Guby doll that if I move the wrong way my interconnective tissues holding my bones together will pop and I will just sag down to the ground like a sack of potatoes... And feeling depressed, sad... without being depressed. Mood swings - especially anger... that I have to control.

I would like some information from those of you who might be experiencing it.

And I want to know when your symptoms started - pre - during - or post TX.

Just FYI I felt miserable during tx - but the full blown symptoms of this ---- whatever the heck it is --- didn't come into play until AFTER TX.

Thank you in advance for all of your knowledge.

Meki

[meki]

"When you are confused be silent if possible. The less you say the less likely you are to call attention to your dumbness."


OMG - Thank you for the laugh on that one!

All of your guys' info is great - I will have a double check on my thyroid.

Meki

[Cry Baby]

I have a lot of the symptoms you have. I too have FM And Hep C. The popping drove me crazy too.  I did it for several months and stopped.  I have started popping again but not as frequently as before.  The brain fog has been bad but is better now.  Are you taking  Ambien?  I think that really messed me up.   Cymbalta helped quite a bit.  Less fog - more energy

Sleep will help the fog. You need a lot of it.  Excerise, eat healthy, rest.  Pain pills help the pain.  Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!

Read everything you can find on your illness.  Educate yourself.  Do not carry a purse.  If you must make it as light as possible. Hot showers, hot baths, hot tubs, heating pads, a heated mattress pad. All of these help the muscles relax.  When you are confused be silent if possible.  The less you say the less likely you are to call attention to your dumbness. Do not lift anything.  My muscles have been robbed of the strength I had. Two or three pounds max. Let others open doors ..etc.  Look for soft cushioned seats to rest on. Grow close to God!   Focus on others less fortunate than you.

Find a good Dr..

The more you learn the better you will become at managing your health.  Confide in your husband.  It has impacted his life also.   If you do not have a husband find a friend that you can share your concerns with.  May you be blessed

[ladybug52]

I wondered what a guby doll was.
Thanks for clarifying.
Don't let work define you.
Bug

[lackalustre]

going to curves helped me get back to shape after tx. and it was hard i was so wasted. i started very slow.  i cleared the hepc virus but felt like you after tx.
i had fibromyalgia too.  
   you need to have to correct thyroid tests done.  dr.s kept telling me my thyroid was fine-- it was not.
    i finally found an osteopath who checked   Free T3, Free T4, thyroid antibodies, TSH,   ferritin.      go to www.stopthethyroidmadness and get educated.  we have to do these things ourselves.   good luck you will get better.  
  

[motheroffour]

When did you have your last thyroid check?  It's my H who is on Hep C treatment, but I had all the symptoms you describe 18 years ago at my doc appointment he said there are 7 things that could cause your symptoms (fibromyalgia being one of them).  I came back with anemia and hypothyroid.  I still have sporadic type fibromyalgia stuff - but I'm attributing that to aging not anything specific.

[meki]

Thank you very much - You might be right on the brain scan issue - but my problems seem to come from more muscle achiness/pain etc.

I mean - I feel like a Giant Gumby doll. All elasticy and achy. But popping.... Like if I try to do a deep knee bend - my knees scream in agony and pop pop pop crackle pop.

Feeling like a Rice Crispies commercial. LOL!

But I'm more worried about not being able to function mentally. Because that's where my skills in jobs lay.

And if I can't work - then what the heck am I good for?

Yanno?

[Kit07]

Hi Meki, on this same page, or the prevoius one,  there is a thread called  
    " Post tx symptoms the real problems."  http://www.medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/46917.html

I just now posted some of my post-tx problems at the end of that link.  You might want to take a look at that.  My post tx symptoms resemble fibromyalgia, but I have never pursued that diagnosis eith my rheumatilogist because he thinks those syptoms are so easily explained by hepatits c, so we don' need to resort to a broader or less-accurate diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  I wonder how frequently doctors take that opinion with fibromyalgia paitents with hcv?

Best
Kiy