FIbromyalgia or Anxiety Disorder

[nanosuna]

Hi, Im a 32 yr old male very physically active, dont drink smoke.. never had any medical conditions.

Ive been under constant stress for about 2 years now.  I went throught a very rough break up and ever since i started developing anxiety which affects me almost every day.  About a year and 8 months ago i was diagnonsed with a Giardia infection that has persistend ever since and that ive battled on and off since symtoms bet better and then they come back.  About 3 weeks ago while sleeping i felt a very bad case of tingling and burning/acking sensation along both of my arms that woke up me up in the middle of the night.   I started researching on the internet about the correlation between infectious diseases (giardia in my case), stress, and fibromyalgia.  I am really scared cause i started developing a lof of the symptoms described for fibromyalgia such as fatigue, numbness/pain tingling mostly in my left arm but every now in my legs and right arm also.  i also have skin sensitivity around my upper back area which feels like somebody is poking me with acupuncture needles.  My sleep has not given me any refreshment, i wake up very tired and keep waking up every two hours every night for the past 3 days.

Do you think i should see a specialist to check for fibromyalgia.. i have checked for tender points but have not noticed anything.  But im VERY concerned and ive been very stressed over these por the past two weeks.
I saw my primary doc and he said he thinks i dont feel the profile for somebody with fibromyalgia but all these symptoms specially my fatigue have really scared me, also the connection bettween stress, infections, and the developing of fibromyalgia.  i don't know whether it is just the lack of sleep or what.

thanks for you prompt response.  God bless

[smitty59]

I've been taking Celexa now for about 4 months, and I started experiencing "fibromyalgia-like" symptoms 2-3 months ago.  All joints on both sides of my body hurt (especially my knees), and I too feel like someone is pricking me with a block of needles all the way across my shoulders.  I have been researching fibromyalgia as well as googling "Celexa and joint pain" on the web, and I'm convinced that Celexa is the culprit.  I just saw my psy. doctor this past week and didn't mention the pain because I didn't think it was related to the Celexa at that time.

I've been off Celexa now for 5 days due to lack of money to buy them until tomorrow (I'm unemployed), and the only side effect I've noticed is sweating.  I now believe strongly that I want to wean myself off Celexa altogether but I'm not sure how to do it.  I know, I know....I should consult my doctor, but I think I can do it safely by myself.  I have also been plagued with weight gain on these pills and would love to go off of them entirely.  

How do you go about weaning yourself off these pills?  How fast is too fast; how slow is too slow?  Any feedback?

Smitty59

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

your doctor is in a better position to make the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  It appears to me that it is more likely that you are having an anxiety experience related to your ongoing stress and that you would be better off being treated with psychotropic medications and talk therapy.

[Jaquta]

It is always advisable to consult with a doctor regarding any medication changes.

I think you should ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist and follow that up with psychotherapy.

I expect your physical health is making you more vulnerable to the stress you are experiencing.

In my opinion it would be more important to discuss giardia, anxiety and stress.

[nanosuna]

Hi there, thanks so much for the info about celexa and joint pain..  I have something very intersting to tell you too.. and reading our post has given me some peace of mind... ive been taking Steraline (zoloft 25 mg) for about a week now and ive developed joint pain in my knees, and maybe a bit in my elbows too..

ive been doing a little bit of research and i found out several articles about zoloft and other depression/anxiety medications causing joint pain side effects....

Should i consult my PCP before i stop taking them?  cause i dont like the way im feeling.. i think i was freaking out and i was thinking my pain in my joints was something like fibromyalgia or something else ...

[Jaquta]

Hi smitty59

You might try addressing your question to the doctor in a new post.  He usually recommends a three week taper.  I don't like offering advice about medication so he or someone else can give you details.  Or you can try searching the forum archives.

Good luck.