Why the pain never went away...
By gmakesmoney
@gmakesmoney (2923)
United States
August 15, 2007 1:27am CST
So I stumbled upon another discussion that touched on something I'd been thinking about for a while, Fibromyalgia. My mother had urged me to research it but I had no clue what it was so I didn't pay attention. Tonight I researched it and reading the signs and symptoms and effects truly made me cry. Half because naming an problem means that there is a problem and half because it was like finally having an explenation for a life of pain, sleep issues, extreme fatigue and so much more. I have no doubts in my mind, I feel like I had written all these sites myself and the very things that I felt but never knew a cause or explanation for where all there in words finally. I have lived all my life with people thinking that I fake my pain to get out of things or that I sleep so much because I'm lazy or that I'm overweight because I over eat (I eat like an effin bird for crying out loud!). And no wonder, all the sick days in school (which were very exessive) and at work (also exessive) due to pain or chronic headaches, all the time people thought I was full of crap and I lost jobs because of it. I can remember laying in bed for days in pain and tears as a child and doctors often told my mom it was "growing pains" or that I was seeking attention. To this day I still get out of the blue deep pains, fatigue that my doctor has yet to explain other than telling me I had anemia (yet my iron was only slightly low), my sleeping is anything but normal and an hour or two after waking up I could so use a nap. Not to mention the skin issues and the period hells!
I'm without medical insurance right now and in my state if you don't have insurance even some hospitals wouldn't touch you with a 10 foot pole! So until I can get insurance either via a 9-5 or by making more online and geting private insurance, then I'm pretty much stuck. The good side of it is that it gives me time to research and find a good doctor, mine is doing good if she can remember to call in my prescriptions, lol. Of course I won't know for sure until I go see a doctor but I feel like I could've written the book on fibro myself.
Does anyone know of good sites for information on Fibromyalgia?
2 people like this
4 responses
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
15 Aug 07
I haven't research it myself, but I am sad to hear of all your pain, although my left hip and thigh do give me grief everyday. I am getting some pain meds tomorrow for it because I hurt so bad. I don't want to take meds, but what else am I going to do. I put the heating pad on it but that only lasts for a little while..I am very anemic also. I am not even sure what causes my anemia anymore but I think I am going to go to a specialist to find out. I still get dizzy spells and I feel weak, and I am tired alot of the time too. I had a hysterectomy and it hasn't changed anything. I will do a research on this because it is something I need to know about as well. Keep me posted.
1 person likes this
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
15 Aug 07
Thanks, I'm sorry to hear of your pain also. You know what? Hip and thigh pain is something I've had the past few years and it comes and goes. I was maybe 20 when I first started having it and I remember thinking, oh hell it's official... I'm 80. I think it is all a part of fibro and often times doctors don't diagnos it properly. Like with my anemia, I found out I had it because I was feeling so ill that I wasn't getting a period and with as sick as I was feeling... I thought for sure I was prego. Turns out my iron was a little low, well once it was under control I still felt the same exact way for months on end. My doctor tested me for a few things and everything came back clear and then she was convinced it was something terminal. I sh#t you not this woman made me think I was going to die! That was a fun couple of weeks and happened during a break up too. Well she never figured out what the problem was so she stuck with the anemia label. I think she's wrong and I plan to get a second opinion from a specialist.
Anyhow I came across this site that's great...
www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.com
1 person likes this
@bam001 (940)
• United States
1 Oct 07
I remember when I first researched my symptoms and found fibromyalgia. I was in tears when I finally realized that there was a name for my pain and tiredness and that I wasn't crazy. I had several doctors to immediately dismiss me as a case of depression and send me on my way. I even had one to tell me that there was nothing wrong with me.
Even after being diagnosed there are several people who still seem to think that I am just wanting attention and that I am faking it. They don't get how someone could always be tired and hurting.
I only hope that your doctor will be one who believes that this disease is real (I have found many that don't). And, I hope that you find someone who will truly try to help you.
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
2 Oct 07
Thanks! I'm in the process of looking for a new doctor, mine hasn't been right since she herself was in the hospital for a breakdown so I'm going elsewhere. A lot of people don't understand it and think I'm just looking for a way to get out of things. I think if you've never felt that kind of ongoing and intense pain then you don't know what it's like and it can be hard to imagine which is why some don't believe. A lot of people don't like to admit that there is a world outside of themselves.
@AmbiePam (85487)
• United States
16 Aug 07
I'm so sorry to hear of your trauma. I too am a fibromylagia sufferer. Just this past year I had a new doctor tell me fibromyalgia didn't exist. I talked about this in another discussion. People do not understand. I know there is a local group that hold support groups for fibromyalgia sufferers, but I have never been. Perhaps there is one near you, if you feel you are comfortable with meetings. You may already know this site, but I'll post it just in case, www.fibrohope.org. I hope it helps!
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
16 Aug 07
Some doctors can be just plain old stupid, after working with them for years I finally had enough. I'd rather work for monkey, lol. My family doctor recently told my mother when she asked for something to help with her bad periods, that not to worry she's 50 and sooner or later they'll stop. And it was a woman doctor! Way of point, I know but I so feel your pain about bad doctors.
Thanks for the link, I'll check that out. I won't know anything of course until I can go see a specialist which isn't anytime soon but reading those sites I felt like I was reading chapters of my own life.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
16 Aug 07
I'm beginning to find it absolutely amazing just how many people I've come across just here in MyLot who have this exact same problem. And lets face it, a few years ago, who the heck even heard of this? No I don't have it myself, thank God, but I've had my share of joint pain that at times practically has made me a crippled as it seems to affect the joints in my ankles..there have been times I couldn't even walk around in my own friggin' apartment without pain. But I refuse to take any of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that are just chock full of delightful side effects such as blood clots, strokes and heart attacks...no thank you --rather have the pain than a potential heart attack in the making.
I have no idea if this will help you, but I started reading up on more natural cures for joint pain in general and it might help you too...I take a daily supplement of the omega fish oils, like Omega 3 plus take a combo of Glucosamine, Chrondroitin and MSM--it is all derived from fish substances...And ever since I've been taking it the difference has been amazing in my life...There are even herbals like nettle, which is supposed to be great as well.
Also, I've been boning up on my Law Of Attraction --everyday, I wake up and throughout the day, I say things like "Thank you for my healing" to reshift my thinking that my body can be healed...Now I'm not saying I'm ready to do cartwheels..uh, never could do them anyway...LOL...but there has been a definite change in my life. Oh, and as for the supplements..it does take about a good month or so for it to kind of kick in...so you do need a bit of patience.
Now I'm wondering..since so many people have this condition, I can't help but wonder if those childhood vaccines we had gotten have something to do with all this--I did a discussion here about the possible link between the childhood vaccines one gets and the fact that up until a few years ago..all of them contained mercury as a preservative..yup, mercury...It is now thought that this could be the explanation of why so many kids have ADHD or autism..but could it be linked to other things as well...by getting those vaccines, were we in effect walking time bombs for all our medical problems that we have now, like fibromyalgia?? Just wondering???
@gmakesmoney (2923)
• United States
16 Aug 07
I take nettle for my sinus, the pharmacist at the natural pharmacy where we get my cat's prozac, told my mom is was great for that. Then one day I read up on it and was amazing at all the things it does. The only thing I hate about it is that I can never be too far from the bathroom, I feel like a kid again running around crossing my legs, lol. I used to take actual fish oil as a child, I forgot what for though. Thanks for the info!
I totally feel you about not wanting the steroids, I have been on them on and off for very long periods of time since I was 3, for my asthma. I believe that is what led mostly to the pain I deal with now along with weight I can't take off despite eating less than a starving supermodel a day, lol. I also thing that instead of helping, they made my lungs weaker. I had them almost both collapse about two years ago and my doctor literally said to me "either one could go but both are so weak that if one goes the other won't be able to help you long enough to get you help"... yeah she's a real basket of joy that doctor. Then she goes "ohh.. but congratulations, your test came back posative and you're pregnant but you're lungs are not strong enough to support you both". She wanted me to terminate, I didn't but miscarried soon after naturally. Because nothing helps you breath like telling you you're going to die, lol. A crap load of steroids later, I was better but have always felt weaker since then lung-wise until I started to treat my asthma naturally. Now I can smile at the fact that I can breathe. As far as my pain management goes, I want to do it naturally.
