Confused

[Dshell]

Hi everyone,

I have fibro and all of the accompanying "syndrome" related issues along with, sleep apnea, insomnia, asthma and issues bringing me to you all for some clarity.

I have recently been diagnosed with a loss of the natural curvature of my neck, have a bone spur, ruptured disk at and facet joint arthritis all at C4-C5.  Further, I have moderate DDD of my lower back and just today was diagnosed with a grade 2 meniscus "change" "tear"? both in the L knee and Chomdromalacia patellae and DJD again all L knee.

I am 34 years old and have been seriously overweight for the first time in my life the last two years.  I feel pretty young to have all this damage.

Does any of this sound like a larger issue to anyone.  I understand I need to lose the weight I gained two years ago but is that a long enough time period to cause all this damage?

Any feedback out be appricated as I am frightened and confused.

Thanks Michelle

[sandee1818]

I wsih you the best of luck:)
I wanted to point out also that some medications such as Elavil will cause sugar cravings.

[Dshell]

PS I start PT next week so wish me luck :)

[Dshell]

thanks! I am 5'9' and in no was petite, but look great at about 180. College maybe 140, with the stick thin look.  When I began to get sick, the sleep apnea and fibro kicked in I gained a whopping 120 pounds.

I sleep eat, and do various other weird things at night and crave carbs like nobody's business.

I was hoping and kinda intuitively know if I can loose any weight it will put less stress on my joints.  I am just getting a little scared.  Probably like most of us, I have had to see literally countless doc to get a fibro Dx and I sort of feel like the "big one" is coming.  Does that make any scene at all?  I am just waiting for a doc to say,"oh, well it did present like fibro but we now think RA."

I suppose all of these muscle-skeletal issues are feeding fuel to my anxious fire.  Thanks for letting me process and confirming what I thought was true about the weight loss. I actually heard for every one pound you can take off it releases 4 pounds off your joints.

Between the laundry list of ever changing symptoms, doctors, people who think I am nuts and my new collections of unpleasant MRI's I get really confused what is real anymore. sigh  

All my best.
Michelle

[sandee1818]

Due to the various symptoms you have from the fibro and other problems you will gain weight and your going to need to set up some kind of exercise program to help get your weight back down and you will notice a huge difference in your pain levels. The problems you describe can surface in the two year peroid but most likley they have been there for awhile and the weight gain just made the symptoms worse.
I have fibro and when I gain weight it makes my pain levels sky rocket. I have to be dilligent in keeping up with my excercise.
You can talk to your doctor about medications that will help you.
I hope your feeling better soon:)