Does anyone have Fibromyalgia?

Options
2»

Comments

  • Kodapants
    Kodapants Member Posts: 139
    edited April 2010

    Hi Gals,

    I was wondering how Fibromyalgia was diagnosis made? I recently had breast reconstruction and have had a few bouts with severe muscle aches, joint pain, low grade temps and increased sed rate. The ER doc though I may have autoimmune disorder.  I am see my primary MD on Monday.

    Hugs Koda

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Irishsun
    Irishsun Member Posts: 53
    edited April 2010
    One of the ways it can be spotted is if you have pain in 11 of the 18 tenderpoints on your body for 3 months or longer>  the tenderpoints are: the back of your neck, both sides of your collar bone, elbows, both knewws, both sholders and your back underneath the sholders, right above your hips and your backside.  A rumatoyid specialist is probably the best Dr. to go for if you suspect Fibromyalgia.  In my case I had pain in most of these areas but the worst is in my backside.....try going to the dr and telling him your butt hurts!!!Embarassed
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • blondie45
    blondie45 Member Posts: 580
    edited April 2010

    This is how I was diagnosed, I waited probably 6 months to a year and the symptoms kept staying and seeming to get worse. Because my mom has fibro and got it about 10 years before me, I pretty much knew what was going on. I went to a rheumatologist who basically just did blood tests for Lyme, etc, and ruled out other things like possibly MS and that pretty much left fibromyalgia. My rheumatologist didn't even check for 11 of the 18 tender points. I take Lyrica for mine and don't think I would be functioning today if it wasn't for the Lyrica.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MAGOB
    MAGOB Member Posts: 299
    edited April 2010

    Really having a hard time with tamoxifen.  Was on a 10-day vacation from the drug, and started at a half dose yesterday, hoping to taper up slowly.  All of the SE's are in full swing.  Dry burning eyes, muscles jittery and rubbery, weakness in arms and legs, tired, out of breath.  Rashes.  And sleep is almost impossible.  Was able to sleep for about 15 minutes at a time last night, with lots of flopping around in between.  My doc says the tamoxifen will give me a 9% reduction in my recurrence rate.  I am really struggling with this med.  Is there anyone out there who feels it is worth a full-blown flare up, and possibly a lot of pharmaceuticals?  Is there hope that it can get better with time when the SEs are so bad right from the start?  Need help, ladies.  

    Mary 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bluegems
    bluegems Member Posts: 733
    edited April 2010

    Wow. I am so glad to have found this thread. I have not been diagnosed with fibro - just a feeling that it might be what I'm suffering from. I've been on tamox followed by an Effexor chaser for 1 1/2 yrs now. About 6 months ago, I started noticing some mornings I had such a deep ache especially in my limbs, it was all I could do to roll out of bed. After the last flare I decided not to teach next year, wondering if my body was trying to tell me to actually use this "opportunity" to slow down and take care of myself. (I went back to teach 1/2 time 8 weeks after the lump and during rads, back FT this year.)  I'm loathe to add another med to my regimen.

    I have found that it's worse when I lapse in my exercise regime (started only after I was dx'd). And I only lapse when the school work is piled up, leading to stress, blah blah.... Also, I recently started getting regular massages. I use the same gal at the gym and we have a treatment plan in place. 

    I'll mention it my onc next week and see what her views are. It's just wonderful to know I'm not the only one out there who developed these symptoms after the cancer.

    Hugs.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MAGOB
    MAGOB Member Posts: 299
    edited April 2010

    Hi, Blue.  Yes - it seems that tamoxifen can really magnify fibro symptoms.  I had the whole deal under control before taking tamoxifen.  By the way, the three keys to my overcoming fibro were:

    1) exercise,

    2) flexeril at night to sleep and calm the muscles down, and

    3) magnesium, and lots of it  (blood tests showed a large deficiency)

    A good rheumatologist is they way to go if you suspect fibromyalgia.  Sorry you are having a crummy time.  I continue to take tamoxifen, hoping to adjust.  However, the side effects are snowballing.  

    Hope you figure out a good solution - let us know if you do.

    Mary 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bluegems
    bluegems Member Posts: 733
    edited April 2010

    Thanks, Mary. I'll try adding magnesium.

    Judy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories