Fibromyalgia..or what?

Question

Okay my doctor told me I have fibromyalgia a pretty good chance.. but seriously i can't take it and not sure if its something else.. i'm always tired i know fibromyalgia is a tiring syndmore but i'm always tired im always so tight and even when i exercise i feel even more tight.. and i do the exerices my doctor told me {running,jump roping and other aerobics} always stressed out and i just feel my head rushing sometimes.. could this be something else? I mean i try to always think postive for a long time.. hang out.. but it never goes away all the muscle twitching,stress feeling etc..feelings i'm getting are not going away..Could this be something else or is this how bad fibromyalgia is? :S And it's weird when i laugh my body gets this tight feeling istead of feeling loose..just everything postive i try to do makes me feel even more worse..

Answer 1

Fibro is NOT a wastecan diagnosis. Nor does everyone with Fibro have pain response in the famous 'pressure points' all the time.

Stretching, range of motion exercises are essential to loosen your muscles and relax them. Soaking in a warm bath or a jacuzzi can give you relief from the pain and help you relax so you can sleep.

If you want to try medications there are quite a few options. It's often a matter of trial and error to find something that works so you need to have some patience and a cooperative Doctor.

If you want to talk to some people who have Fibro and know a lot of the ways to deal with it drop in to:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fibromyalgia-CFS/

We are the largest Support Group for Fibro on Yahoo with over 2800 members.

Answer 2

Fibromyalgia is real, but diagnosis is quite specific.

Unfortunately, it is now a catch-all for many doctors who cannot identify what is really wrong.

People with fibromyalgia have the classic pressure points. (There are eighteen - nine symetrically on each side of the body). Eleven tender of the 18 or 7 with other symptoms (fatigue, IBS, etc) equals a diagnosis. But many doctors are not trained in this test or familiar with it.

Rheumatologists are far better (from my experience). I think a second opinion is in order.

The doctor is pushing exercise because FM sufferers often have sleep disturbances. Disrupted sleep is a hallmark of FM. If you are exercising regularly, it should help your sleep. If the exercises the doctor recommended aren't helping, try walking. Just walking. Eventually you can add stretching and strength training. A physiotherapist can be helpful, but there are some who don't believe in FM and won't accomodate for it.

Checking your diet is a good idea as well. Sounds simplistic, but less processed foods and more fruits and vegetables will help. If you have IBS (irritable bowel), that also tends to go hand in hand with FM. By improving your diet, you can get control of the IBS as well.

Finally, good sleep hygiene. No sleeping in on weekends. No caffeine in the afternoon or evening. Bedrooms are for sleeping. Calm and relax before bedtime. Pick a time everyday to plan the next day and deal with any worries. For me, that means I won't wake up in the middle of the night worried I've forgotten something.

I have found that meds don't work. FM is more complicated than some illnesses whose organic cause is known. Diabetes involved the liver and insulin. You cannot make the same statement about FM. Tricyclic antidepressants have been know to help, but I think this is as much because they help you get better sleep. I've never met a painkiller that works either, but that's not to say there isn't one. FM is your mind telling you that there is pain in your body disproportionate to the actual pain. THIS IS NOT SAYING THAT THE ILLNESS IS NOT THERE, OR THAT IT IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD. It is in your head in that your preception of pain is differernt than other people's, but more research is needed. Just don't expect a pill to solve the problem - FM sufferers find the most improvement from exercise, diet and sleep hygiene. But that means work. Many people would prefer a pill to actually doing the hard work.

If you have a family, you may feel guilty about taking better care of yourself, but it pays off. A healthier you will help your family.

So, confirm the diagnosis, and then try to exercise, sleep better and eat healthy. Sounds simple? Yep. But in the world we live in, I know that it isn't.

Good luck.

Answer 3

fibromyalgia can be severe or docile depending on the case in the person. It is very possible you have it but there is absolutely no harm in getting a second opinion. The diagnosis is not far-fetched as the symptoms are very likely a sign of the condition but to answer the question, there are other things that could cause it. I wouldn't be too concerned but if you are curious and want a second opinion, I would say there is no reason not to.

Answer 4

You might want to stop giving your body such a pounding with all those stress exercises & try just using some simple stretching & yoga type things. Rushing & pounding causes stress & stress causes tightness & then you end up with PAIN. Next time you feel a tighening, start to BREATHE & raise your arms above your head, then as you lower them, let your air out through your mouth. Then in through your nose as you raise your arms up & repeat until you feel better. Tightness usually comes from a lack of oxygen to your organs, so getting in some air & circulating it will never hurt you like running could. Your body must be prepared BEFORE you use it...just like an engine needs to warm up for the oil to flow. Our bodies are similar to our cars! These days, Doctors are no longer healers...they don't seem to have all the answers, so you have to experiment on yourself to see what works for you!

Answer 5

If your Doc diagnosed you with Fibromyalgia then you should be on some drugs! If you are not taking any drugs than this explains why you feel the way you do and wonder if you have 'another' health problem. Their is good treatment for Fibromyalgia and I am shocked you do not seem to be on it. Good Luck

Answer 6

Check out http://www.fibromyalgiasource.com for some great articles and information about Fibromyalgia.

Answer 7

Check out this article. It has the tender points illustrated so you can see if they match yours. Also some great fibromyalgia information and suggestions you may not get elsewhere. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

hey, do not buy into this fibromyalgia diagnosis. it is nothing short of a waste can diagnoses. most mds will not even use it. keep up the positive steps anyhow, and start really looking at dietary issues. you may really have a food allergy of some sort.