does anyone else have fibromyalgia?

Question

fibromyalgia is a pain disorder that i was diagnosed with and i was wondering if anyone here has it?

Answer 1

Please see the webpages for more details on Fibromyalgia.

Answer 2

I was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia about a year ago. It would be great to talk to someone else who understands what I am going through. If you want to find out more information about the condition you can find a lot of stuff on the internet. But you will see that some of the information does vary and is not consistent. For some people they feel pain all over and others may feel their pain in a localized area. For example, my pain is throughout my back and neck which can cause me to have headaches. As far as treatment goes..... I have tried Accupuncture, Chiropractic, Accupressure, Massage Thereapy, Cupping, Physical Therapy, Stretching. I am currently on a list of medications and am not able to work b/c of my level of pain. Let me know if you would like to talk some more about Fibromyalgia?

Answer 3

I don't suffer from fibromyalgia--fibromyalgia suffers from me. :-)

Seriously, despite what some people say that "It's all in your head," FMS is real even though it's poorly understood. I started having symptoms back in 1998, didn't get a definitive diagnosis until around early 2004 and I've just found real pain relief the past year or so. I take 800 mg. of Aleve and a 1000-mg. flaxseed oil capsule every night at bedtime, and take Arnica tablets (a homeopathic herb) for relief when I have flareups. Check out the links below for what I hope will be really helpful information.


By the way, Just Ducky, you're not the only guy around with FMS. Welcome to the club. :-)

Answer 4

You know, if you are actually a doctor, I hope that I never end up being seen by you. I actually am a doctor, and though fibromyalgia is almost certainly not a single disease process, and it's difficult to define or diagnose, the pain the many sufferers feel is real. Of course there are drug seekers who come in and use it because they know they can't be found out and the want the narcotics, but that doesn't mean that there are not people who are suffering from a chronic, ill-defined and poorly understood pain syndrome who really need help. Just because they can be difficult to treat doesn't mean that it's their fault, don't blame your patients for your own failings.

Answer 5

Laura, it's not that common but more common than we think. You would benefit from a support group and the understanding and help you'd get from others with fibro. It affects women more often than men. Run a search for fibromyalgia support groups. I believe there is also a Fibromyalgia Foundation that can provide all kinds of cool information and treatment updates.

Answer 6

A surprising number of people have fibro. My good friend, and another friend's mother, both have it. My father's cousin does. My doctors thought I had it, until I was diagnosed with a Chiari Malformation. (That's a birth defect that can produce fibro-like symptoms, and can also be similar in severity even though there is a treatment for Chiari.)

It's scary to be diagnosed with something like this, isn't it? But I think the best way to deal with it is to get with a group of people who aren't so afraid of it, because they'll talk in a more real, less scary-clinical way than most websites. My friend is a member of an online group for those with autoimmune disorders like fibro. I'll come back and edit this tomorrow with the information. She says there's a lot of good information and support to be had there.

There's no real treatment for fibro other than to try whatever medications you and your doctor want, to ease the symptoms. It gets less scary over time, as you get used to it all. Many fibro patients cope with it mostly through their religious beliefs, so if you have any particular beliefs, that might help you. It seems to lessen stress and anxiety, and therefore pain.

Answer 7

Hi Laura, I'm another lucky Fibromyalgia sufferer & as with a previous answer I am one of the few males who have this shocking illness. I am also blessed to have MS also. Good luck with it.

Answer 8

Yes I do have fibromyalgia, I have been diagnoised in the last 5 years.

Answer 9

yes I was told I have fibromyalgia at the same time I was told I had lupus SLE that was about 13 years ago now.

Answer 10

laura...firbro is a symptom of something, they just don't know what yet, however, there are diseases where fibro is a symptom such as:

hepatitis b, hepatitis c, mono (epstein barr - it can be chronic)
thyroid disease, lupus, ms ect...many more.

i would have them test you for antibodies if they haven't done so already and i would start with hepatitis c. 4 million in the united states alone have it, and most don't know it because the doctors dont routenely test for it because in a normal blood lab, the alt and ast levels aren't always elevated (natural occurence of hepatitis c).

get tested and good luck!

Answer 11

my sister in law has it ( she says she has it ) & she use it as an excuse not to work at home & to ignore her 3 kids,she is also taking loratab for that.
But honestly the disease can affect young woman with kids & to be diagnosed you have to have 11 specific tender points in the body.
Psychological factors plays a great role in this half disease half psychological derangement.
best treatment is 10 mg Amitreptyline at night.