Does anyone on here suffer from Fibromyalgia?

Lapidarius said:

I am 54 and effectively have the functioning body of an eighty year old!

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this is the tough part, the toll it takes on our body

and mind, also......

bbbbbbb said:

Amplifying our problem is that fact that we appear and give every evidence to those we interact with as if we are perfectly healthy.

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This is very true! I have also found another particular complication is that when I see a doctor, I almost invariably have to educate them (respectfully of course ) on what fibromyalgia actually is. Unless you find a particularly well educated GP you tend to have to overcome a lot of misconceptions. Knowledge is power for us fibros! I have always done my own research and If I want to try something in particular, I come to the doctor armed with information. It is a strategy that has worked well so far. When talking to secular friends I refer to fibromyalgia as medically incurable (because people always ask that) but open to Devine intervention! Started a few interesting conversations that way.

christine40 said:

this is the tough part, the toll it takes on our body

and mind, also......

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If I have learned one thing in all of this medical mess, it is the need to very much think as the apostle Paul did. He extolls us in 1 Thess 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus”....and in Phil 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice!”
It sounds very corny I know! But it has been my experience when my body has been totally out of control, the only area where I get to choose....is in my mind. I make the decision whether to be happy or sad, I choose whether or not I will overcome my circumstances (at least mentally ), I decide whether I trust God in this or not, whether I lean in or not. So I choose to rejoice!....and some days I can do it better than others

Lapidarius said:

If I have learned one thing in all of this medical mess, it is the need to very much think as the apostle Paul did. He extolls us in 1 Thess 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus”....and in Phil 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice!”
It sounds very corny I know! But it has been my experience when my body has been totally out of control, the only area where I get to choose....is in my mind. I make the decision whether to be happy or sad, I choose whether or not I will overcome my circumstances (at least mentally ), I decide whether I trust God in this or not, whether I lean in or not. So I choose to rejoice!....and some days I can do it better than others

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fibro fog strikes again?
talking with husband & referred to former neighbors
Brenda & Ed

what came out of my mouth was "Bread & Edna"

how does my brain do that, lol

christine40 said:

fibro fog strikes again?
talking with husband & referred to former neighbors
Brenda & Ed

what came out of my mouth was "Bread & Edna"

how does my brain do that, lol

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Yah---some of the things that have come out of my mouth should be illegal! I have to read the titles of these threads very carefully---they range from the sublimely ridiculous to the downright inappropriate contentographic and I'm like---they couldn't have said that it wouldn't have gotten past the mods and quickly do a reread! Anymore, I feel like this most of the time , my forhead is getting sore!

christine40 said:

fibro fog strikes again?
talking with husband & referred to former neighbors
Brenda & Ed

what came out of my mouth was "Bread & Edna"

how does my brain do that, lol

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Yep, that is par for the course for me, as well.

how are people with fibro doing?

christine40 said:

how are people with fibro doing?

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I continue to function at full levels and am grateful to have found the meds that work best for me.

christine40 said:

how are people with fibro doing?

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I am currently on Morphine, 15 mg, every 12 hours, with Lorazepam, 0.5mg, every 6 hours--and an occasional Tramadol. I have not been this pain free in years. I weaned myself off Tramadol over a year because my primary was refusing to order any more for me. I knew this was coming and had been hoarding it to make it through. All this opioid crisis scared these doctors. What ended up happening was as I backed off the Tramadol, my pain levels increased which made my blood pressures climb. I was put on b/p meds, but, it kept happening and kept getting worse and worse. He still refused. I had been on it for over 20 years as it was the only thing that helped my pain. Finally I ended up with my B/P's spiking so high and my heartrate going so high that I ended up in the hospital for 3 days. I explained to the cardiologist what happened. First thing they did was put me on Tramadol. The cardiologist said my b/ps and heartrates had been so high for so long that I had heart damage---I now have an MI. I am a no code for other reasons and I can not tolerate the surgery required to fix this so they send me home under Hospice. They have switched me to the Morphine, Lorazepam and have Nitro if needed. My B/P's and heart rates have been fairly stable for several weeks now and they may switch me to home health instead of Hospice. If I had not gone under Hospice, I would not have had the pain relief I finally got. It was a terribly cruel ordeal to go through, but nothing I could do. I have to take things very slow and easy so my heart rate does not go up, but I feel OK. God has taken care of all my needs so far. No complaints.

mmksparbud said:

I am currently on Morphine, 15 mg, every 12 hours, with Lorazepam, 0.5mg, every 6 hours--and an occasional Tramadol. I have not been this pain free in years. I weaned myself off Tramadol over a year because my primary was refusing to order any more for me. I knew this was coming and had been hoarding it to make it through. All this opioid crisis scared these doctors. What ended up happening was as I backed off the Tramadol, my pain levels increased which made my blood pressures climb. I was put on b/p meds, but, it kept happening and kept getting worse and worse. He still refused. I had been on it for over 20 years as it was the only thing that helped my pain. Finally I ended up with my B/P's spiking so high and my heartrate going so high that I ended up in the hospital for 3 days. I explained to the cardiologist what happened. First thing they did was put me on Tramadol. The cardiologist said my b/ps and heartrates had been so high for so long that I had heart damage---I now have an MI. I am a no code for other reasons and I can not tolerate the surgery required to fix this so they send me home under Hospice. They have switched me to the Morphine, Lorazepam and have Nitro if needed. My B/P's and heart rates have been fairly stable for several weeks now and they may switch me to home health instead of Hospice. If I had not gone under Hospice, I would not have had the pain relief I finally got. It was a terribly cruel ordeal to go through, but nothing I could do. I have to take things very slow and easy so my heart rate does not go up, but I feel OK. God has taken care of all my needs so far. No complaints.

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Wow! That proves my personal theory that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". You were functioning and stable with Tramadol and your doc decided to "fix" your problem which had disastrous results. I have found what works for me (gabapentin, temezapam, and duloxotene), none of which, gratefully, are opioids, and my doctor has been more than happy to keep me on this regimen. I hope and pray that things continue to improve for you.

Question:
has anyone with fibromyalgia had tingling/numbness in arms, legs, hands, or feet

I have started having this lately and wondering if it's a fibromyalgia thing or something new

thanking in advance for any responses

christine40 said:

Question:
has anyone with fibromyalgia had tingling/numbness in arms, legs, hands, or feet

I have started having this lately and wondering if it's a fibromyalgia thing or something new

thanking in advance for any responses

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Actually, I had peripheral neuropathy many years before I developed the full-blown symptoms of fibromyalgia. In particular, the ends of my feet, particularly my toes, are numb. They do not tingle and do not bother me. They have not gotten worse or better over time. For some people tingling can be an indication of diabetes. You might want to consult your doctor about it.

christine40 said:

Question:
has anyone with fibromyalgia had tingling/numbness in arms, legs, hands, or feet

I have started having this lately and wondering if it's a fibromyalgia thing or something new

thanking in advance for any responses

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I was having that before I was found to have diabetes. It is apparently not unusual to have the tingling, numbness/pain of diabetic neuropathy before having the blood sugars high. So it is really a difficult thing to say that it is fibro or the beginning of diabetes. Just be aware as diabetes has gone rampant. It may be safer to treat yourself as though you are diabetic with diet and exercise just to ward off that possibility.

mmksparbud said:

I was having that before I was found to have diabetes. It is apparently not unusual to have the tingling, numbness/pain of diabetic neuropathy before having the blood sugars high. So it is really a difficult thing to say that it is fibro or the beginning of diabetes. Just be aware as diabetes has gone rampant. It may be safer to treat yourself as though you are diabetic with diet and exercise just to ward off that possibility.

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I agree entirely and have been careful to lose weight, even though I was never overweight. It is much better to be safe than sorry.

christine40 said:

Question:
has anyone with fibromyalgia had tingling/numbness in arms, legs, hands, or feet

I have started having this lately and wondering if it's a fibromyalgia thing or something new

Click to expand...

The sciatic nerve can cause tingling and numbness in the legs and feet. If you suffer from back pain its a possibility.

~Bella

I agree with Bella. I have a case of Sciatica and it does cause numbness and weakness. But I would go to your MD just to make sure.
Feel Better Soon
Ronit

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I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about a year ago but I've had it for many years and really didn't never pursued the cause of the pain. I figured I'm just getting older and can't do as much. I work at the US Postal Service as a letter carrier. Before even the pandemic began, online order deliveries had almost tripled and then the pandemic came and then everything seemed to be ordered online. The amount of packages I delivered each day wore me down fast. My pain was unbearable. I had to find out what was wrong with me because it was affecting my job performance. That took a long, long time. Doctors didn't even believe me that I experienced pain everyday. They said it was just normal aches and pains from work along with me getting older.

So finally last year, a rheumatologist diagnosed me with fibromyalgia plus arthritis in my joints. I take Gabapentin but it doesn't seem to help too much. I've read some of the post here but I'm going to try and read all of them to possibly find more answers to my questions. I'm at a crossroads now. I'm 57 years old. I need two more years to get full retire meant; I'm not going to make it. Not only is this affecting me physically, it is affecting me mentally. My mind is numb and some days I can't even finish my route fully. I have FMLA but management is trying to get rid of older workers and those using too much sick leave. I've only used 4 days and I feel like I've committed some crime for using them. God bless and thank you for listening to my problem.

Please start from the beginning of this thread. We do know what you are going through, both physically and mentally and also the fear of not being able to work at all, which I had to go through and go on Disability. It was horrible and I used up all my savings, plus the people---even on here---who think we should be able to continue to work and not be a burden on the system. I was blessed in that I had years and years of doctors who had diagnosed me and they all had to turn in their notes. I went with an attorney right at the start as I had seen my husband go through years of being rejected until we got a lawyer, then he got it right away plus they had to start from several years before. I got mine right at the end of 6 months, which is the shortest time it takes. I thought I was going to work until at least 65--I was 55. The mental decline was the worst, and I had no choice, my decline was affecting my work---I was a Dialysis Tech.---I was putting my patients in danger--so I had no choice. I also had degenerative discs in my lower back and neck, it's hard to get it for Fibro only. The best thing I can say is document, document, DOCUMENT! Plus pray!! I prayed constantly that God would override all the negativity---He did. The disability ends at 65, then you go on your regular Social Security---God help you--I could not have survived all this without Him.
I am now 70, and in hospice at home---because a doctor would not continue with my pain meds! My blood pressure went sky high because of the pain, he still refused to help me, I had a heart attack from the high blood pressure that permanently damaged my heart! I came home under Hospice, which was a blessing, they were able to give me the pain meds other doctor's couldn't for fear of loosing their license! I came home to die in about 2 months---it has been 2 years!! Never let go of God. Even the doctors can fail you!