I have Fibro or MS

[Tahiri_Veila]

I was told by my GP after a huge amount of tests, MRI's, etc, that I have either fibro or MS.  Feel free to look at my timeline to see my symptoms.  I have a couple of questions

1-Does fibromyalgia come and go in flares?  And when it leaves can it go away completely sometimes and other have residual symptoms?

2-Does fibromyalgia become dormant when you are pregnant (no symptoms)?  Does it get worse after pregnancy?

3-Does it affect your vision? balance?

4-How likely are you to present with most of the symptoms of fibro or do many only present with a few?

Tahiri

[Phtartist]

I get confused about myself.  I go along with classic fM (15 years)  CFS has left me, but with the grace of God and my immune system battling the viruses that had me down and fatigued.

Now my symptoms are complicating my newly complicated life.  New stress has brought on rampant neurological symptoms.  Is it that or is it my meds that has given me breakthrough stress and neuro symptoms?  Its one of those chicken before the egg things.  

I'm not one to sit back and ride things out, but I also am not one for any quick alternatives that give you temporary relief.  To me that soaks your pocketbook and you still have FM after a short while all the symptoms return. AKa massage, acupuncture, chiropractor.  

The sudden noise....., even my hubby's sneeze frazzles me..  Flashing lights can freeze me in my tracks, like a petite mal seizure.  I never before was so sensitive to the touch as I am now. Migraines from my face to my shoulder blades.  On top of all this the stress has magnified my bi polar condition which has been at bay for years.  

So, my insides are fluctuating emotionally, I'm trying not to let them ruin my outward presentation of myself and to make that harder, I am in total body pain from head to calves, my feet are fine, thank God.  Lately my hands swell, thats new to me.  

What I am doing, like you said is stay positive.  How I do that is make a gratitude list, and plan somethings to look forward to for after the wedding which is Oct. 18th.  The Bridal shower is 9/13.  A part of me is sad I have to participate in these affairs with pain throughout my body.  My daughters wedding day. A child I shared my 2/3rds of my  healthy very active life with, I have to be at her wedding, virtually disabled. Forget dancing like I use to.
They all new me 25 years ago, the old relatives at the wedding, as a wild fun person, now I am a shell of that woman and three times the size I was. Its not what they think, I don't care believe me, they are a reminder of who I was.  My daughter has put added pressure on me by denying my illnesses and expecting me to be a Barbi Mom. She even warned me not to cry at the wedding!  

Boy am I on the pity pot. I'm gonna shut up now. Thanks for being here, everyone.
I think I am where I'm understood.

[Monkey1mill]

Hope this helps. I have fibro 20 yrs. Drs say not progressive but my rhuemotoligst said mine is severe level (must be levels). I have not had a remission in 20 yrs. Days when pain is not as bad but bad enough every day that my physical abilities are limited and need meds or ointments. Some days barely able to walk without cane. Eyes are affected Blurring, trouble focusing and light hurts them. Sudden noises or movements make me worse. Weather also factor. Sleep problems, depression & anxiety & panic attacks. Stress level higher (think cause of constant pain). Severe skin sensitivity (just being touched can be painful. Also have RLS, PAD & severe OA which I am sure does not help. Sounds terrible but still here & trying to live as normal as possible. Stay positive as possible. They may come up with something to help us. God Bless.

[PlateletGal]

That's a common dilemma with having a CFS and / or fibromyalgia diagnosis. Many patients (at least in the past with CFS) have gone many years without a diagnosis. They are often shuffled around from specialist to specialist and leave without any answers. Sometimes they are accused of faking their illness and often hear comments, "well you look fine".... and those comments are discouraging. Without a lab test that can make the diagnosis... what can you do ? And without a physician who doesn't believe in CFS or even know about CFS.. what can you do ? So sometimes the stress will cause a CFS patient to see a counselor. CFS patients often don't have vacations at work because they have too many sick days. They often can't have children, because of hormone issues. And then if their illness progresses and these people need disability, insurance companies will often say that "there is no cause for CFS and it could be a mental condition".

There are physicians now, CFS experts, who have tests that are helping to prove disability. But if you file a claim for disability, you need to have these tests done before you file the claim.

[itsallinmyhead1969]

well, ive been under a phychiatrists care for awhile.  as i said. in that department, i am better than ever. i have an incredible job and an incredible boss. happy home and my relationship is stable.  my family is well and my surrounding life is great.  the only problems i am having right now have to do with my physical symptoms.  its just that, since the VA have access to the entire PICTURE on their computer screen, they can see my phsyciatric diagnosis on there, so they can just automatically say "its your mental illness that is the cause of your symptoms....ie/ its all in your head"  bs....I know that the illness that i had is cureable.  they, if you check out the military issues forum haven't done it only to me...i thought i was special...lol they stuck me with ptsd and claimed it was pre existing then stuck a personallity disorder with it...i didnt know what to think about it all, till i got to this place, now I understand...it is their way of getting out of their responsilbilties to servicemembers that served our country....anyway, they are using it to screw me out of treatment for anything now.
the tests that the new doctor ordered....another ANA and a sed rate for inflammation and stuff, well, he ordered em for 2 weeks ahead...dont go in still for just over a week.  what he did do was put me on some new medication to start before i went for the testing.  a steroid, a new musle relaxer with a anti inflam in it and an aditional anti inflam....while looking at info about the testing i saw plainer than day that those medications will affect the validity of the tests.  the steroid will keep the ANA from being positive and the anti inflams will bring down the inflamation in my body, therefore changing the sed rate.  he should've ran those tests that day before giving me those medications.  why on earth would a doctor do something like that?

[Phtartist]

Yup, insurance can really put us in a pickle.  

If you do have anxiety, did he treat it?  If he did that and your symptoms went away, then it was anxiety.  Propose that to him !!!

If it is Lupus, that would explain some of your problems.  The tests are inconclusive.  Is he treating you for Lupus??

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115   Lupus info....There are several forms of Lupus.  Be informed, we have to be our own medical advocates.  

Copy and paste the link to your browser.  Good luck

[itsallinmyhead1969]

Hi. Thank you for your help.  I will indeed continue to check further into fibro.  Already am finding it to be the cause of many of my symptoms I was told were in my head.  I did request a new new doctor, but he is, also pretty much the same.  I am at the mercy of the veterans administration, as it is my only medical insurance.  A couple of years ago they said that I tested positive for Lupus, but then said that a second test turned up negative.  Upon questioning the doctor of this he said it was an ANA test.  He is supposed to run some more tests next week.  I don't know what will happen.  He also tried to blame some of my complaints on "anxiety". (although aspects of my life are the best ever right now, except physical problems)  It really angers me to not get treated better medically.  His exam consisted of listening to my lungs. (and that was all!)  When I began to tell him all symptoms he kept cutting me off.  I explained that I thought that the BIG picture was best known in order to diagnose something.  I guess the good ole days and the good doctors and just pretty much gone.  I will definately check into the book and check into a local support group.  I know I am out of luck in getting a good doctor though because of insurance.  I can't get any other insurance because I already have the diagnosis, as well as some others and have too many things wrong to be able to get one I could afford or that would cover my conditions right now.  Thanks again and the best of luck.  Oh, and I am from Arkansas.