Jump to content

Menu
Giving You and Your Child a Road Map to the Best Possible Education
The Well-Trained Mind Community

I am seeing a rheumatologist today for pain I've had for years but was chalked up to fibromyalgia.

Rose in BC

By Rose in BC,
in The Chat Board

 Share

Recommended Posts

Rose in BC

Rose in BC

Posted
Posted

My dh and I have to drive 2.5 hrs to town that this dr is visiting (the joys of living in rural BC). I am hoping for a definitive diagnosis. For about three years dr said I have fibromyalgia but earlier this year I complained about pain that seemed to point to another diagnosis. I hope this dr can figure things out.

 

Given the level of stress in my life I can see why dr defaulted to fibro but my last blood work definitely showed levels of inflammation.

 

So I'd appreciate prayer for a diagnosis to determine what I is plaguing me. I'm kind of hoping it's the alternate diagnosis..poly myalgia. There is potential for that to run its course. But I guess we'll see.

 

Oh and could you also pray for my two teens we're leaving home (won't be home until 9tonight). My boy has FASD. We usually don't leave him alone this long. He's completely capable of caring for himself, it's just the freedom may give him opportunity to get into mischief (like have all his friends over). But dd is home and she is very responsible.

 

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rose in BC

Rose in BC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Have you had thyroid levels checked? Estrogen? Both can affect chronic pain?

Yes to both...those tests also determined I am in menopause. I'm 48 but had a hysterectomy at 41. I guess early menopause isn't unusual after hysterectomy.

 

Anyway thyroid tests are normal and estrogen normal for menopausal woman.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tap

Tap

Posted
Posted

Dry mouth?

Dry eyes?

I have a friend who was mis-diagnosed for years with Fibro, and was just diagnosed with Sjogen's disease...it can often be overlooked as many meds cause dry mouth and eyes as well.

Good luck, and wishing you the best. Living with chronic pain is the absolute worst!

Me too.  I have 2 blown disks in my back and my other pains have always been attributed to that issue.  I was finally diagnosed with Sjogrens and after reading the other symptoms that are attributed to it, I can't believe how many I have.  

 

I have always had odd presentations of issues.  Like TMJ.  I was diagnosed with TMJ as a teen but even then the doctors and specialist have always said it was an odd presentation but it was the only diagnosis that made sense.  Now, I have finally figured out it wasn't TMJ at all, but a clogged salivary duct in my partotid gland.  

 

My exhaustion is attributed to raising a difficult child.  The stress definetly is a huge factor, but now I know it isn't just my mind that feels the pressure, my immune system is actively working against me as well!  A major complaint with Sjorgrens is fatigue.  

 

I was finally diagnosed by a salivary glad biopsy.  It is nice to finally have an answer and a direction to focus my efforts in healing. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tap

Tap

Posted
Posted

My dh and I have to drive 2.5 hrs to town that this dr is visiting (the joys of living in rural BC). I am hoping for a definitive diagnosis. For about three years dr said I have fibromyalgia but earlier this year I complained about pain that seemed to point to another diagnosis. I hope this dr can figure things out.

 

Given the level of stress in my life I can see why dr defaulted to fibro but my last blood work definitely showed levels of inflammation.

 

So I'd appreciate prayer for a diagnosis to determine what I is plaguing me. I'm kind of hoping it's the alternate diagnosis..poly myalgia. There is potential for that to run its course. But I guess we'll see.

 

Oh and could you also pray for my two teens we're leaving home (won't be home until 9tonight). My boy has FASD. We usually don't leave him alone this long. He's completely capable of caring for himself, it's just the freedom may give him opportunity to get into mischief (like have all his friends over). But dd is home and she is very responsible.

 

Thanks.

I hope you find out the true reason you are feeling down.  It stinks to be pushing through everyday, hurting and exhausted every day.

 

Prayers for answers for you and your family.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rose in BC

Rose in BC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well we just got home. What a day. We stopped to run some errands in the community between ours and the one my dr's appointment was in. When we got back in car we couldn't start it. It was DEAD. We couldn't believe it. Thankfully my dh gave it one more turn and we got it running. We drove straight to Toyota dealer because dh thought it was the battery. He told them we were on our way to a medical appointment so the guy took us in, hooked up van and sure enough dead battery. So that was easy, but unexpected $180 bill.

 

So the synopsis of my appointment. Not autoimmune. Definitely fibro. However she did say some of the pains I had in my shoulders and elbow was rotator cuff injury and tendinitis. So we talked about all these things. She boiled it down to the stress in my life is going to kill me...not that there's one thing I can do for being the parent of two special needs kids. But she did have some good suggestions/ideas.

 

I cried when she confirmed my gp's fibro diagnosis...which is maybe why she gently suggested I might want to consider an anti depressant. I don't think I'm depressed, just overwhelmed.

 

She did send me for some more blood work to compare with results taken a few months ago.

 

And our house was still standing when we got home. :). Son did pretty good.

 

So the age old dilemma of how to decrease stress in life....

 

I connected well with this dr. Oh, and she's sending me to physio.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TeacherZee

TeacherZee

Posted
Posted

Well we just got home. What a day. We stopped to run some errands in the community between ours and the one my dr's appointment was in. When we got back in car we couldn't start it. It was DEAD. We couldn't believe it. Thankfully my dh gave it one more turn and we got it running. We drove straight to Toyota dealer because dh thought it was the battery. He told them we were on our way to a medical appointment so the guy took us in, hooked up van and sure enough dead battery. So that was easy, but unexpected $180 bill.

 

So the synopsis of my appointment. Not autoimmune. Definitely fibro. However she did say some of the pains I had in my shoulders and elbow was rotator cuff injury and tendinitis. So we talked about all these things. She boiled it down to the stress in my life is going to kill me...not that there's one thing I can do for being the parent of two special needs kids. But she did have some good suggestions/ideas.

 

I cried when she confirmed my gp's fibro diagnosis...which is maybe why she gently suggested I might want to consider an anti depressant. I don't think I'm depressed, just overwhelmed.

 

She did send me for some more blood work to compare with results taken a few months ago.

 

And our house was still standing when we got home. :). Son did pretty good.

 

So the age old dilemma of how to decrease stress in life....

 

I connected well with this dr. Oh, and she's sending me to physio.

 

I take effexor for my fibro and it has helped immensely so don't discount it just because you don't think you are depressed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tiramisu

Tiramisu

Posted
Posted

I'm glad you found a doctor you can connect with. I hope the physio helps.

 

AD are supposed to be helpful for fibro, and I don't think it could hurt if you were to try one, starting at the lowest dose and increasing gradually. You could always stop if it doesn't agree with you. 

 

I met with a nurse practitioner this summer who thought I could have fibro, as I had been having increasing episodes of muscle and bone pain for over a year. She thought I had signs of allergies, despite being tested and only having a dust mite issue, so she suggested I take Claritin everyday. Since I started, I haven't had one episode of pain. I wouldn't want to make light of anyone's fibro or suggest there's such a simple explanation, but since it helped me, maybe others might be helped, too. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rose in BC

Rose in BC

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I know antidepressants help for pain. I take elavil in a very low dose to help. I've been taking it for a couple of years. It primarily helps me get some sleep which is a problem for me. She was referring to antidepressants for depression...her words "and you may want to consider a little help for the depression".

 

Maybe crying in her office made her think I was depressed :).

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tap

Tap

Posted
Posted

I know antidepressants help for pain. I take elavil in a very low dose to help. I've been taking it for a couple of years. It primarily helps me get some sleep which is a problem for me. She was referring to antidepressants for depression...her words "and you may want to consider a little help for the depression".

 

Maybe crying in her office made her think I was depressed :).

Yep, that might have done it.  LOL

 

I have taken a med called Savella in the past for nerve pain (in my back and legs).  It is FDA approved for Fibro, but my pain doctor wanted me to try it for neuropathy.  It worked great for the pain!  I struggle with taking pills, and I had some side effects but when I need some relief it is my go to med.  It takes a couple of weeks to start working because you have to taper up on it, but for me, it was the only thing that really worked to kick thee nerve pain.  It is name brand and maybe expensive depending on the insurance so I want to warn you to find out pricing (call your insurance co) if you are interested in the med. 

 

 

Chronic pain and depression go hand in hand.  I have seen studies about the high correlation between the two, so even if you hadn't cried, she may have still wanted to talk about the option anyways. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Orthodox6

Orthodox6

Posted
Posted

I tried Savella, but abandoned it because I was losing my eyesight because of that medication.  I don't take anything anymore.  When they work, medications are incalculably helpful.  When the side effects are intolerable, however, one often does not dare continue. 

 

Depression certainly is a possible condition given the overwhelming elements of OP's life, best as I have understood her life to be, from her posts.

 

:grouphug:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...