Fibromyalgia and sleep disorders

[AdeliaGreen]

I was diagnosed earlier this year with Fibromyalgia. This year is also the year I was able to get 100% medical coverage through my place of work. I'm seeing a physiotherapist, massage therapist and a naturopathic doctor. I actually am going to see a chiropractor for the first time this afternoon. I have had symptoms for years that have just kept escalating. I know have daily chronic pain in my neck, back, arm and ankle/shin. All can be related to past minor injuries that my body just can't seem to get over. I have horrible sleep issues too. For a while the overactive bladder (often a symptom of fibro) was waking me about once an hour. Sometimes I just wake up for no reason repeatedly through the night. I have changed my diet a lot and many of my issues/pain/discomfort still exist and some seem to be getting worse. I don't mean to be a downer, but, I'm so young and I've tried everything that I should be doing and I rarely find relief. I'm still going though. Still working full time, still living my life. Don't get me wrong, I get good days, but, it seems the bad days happen more often and they can get pretty darn bad.

Anyone else have really sensitive tender points? There are some areas on my body (arms, thighs) that feel bruised with just a slight bit of pressure. Are there any "fibromyalgia specialists" out there??

 

[chris777]

I've suffered from Fibromyalgia for about 8 years now (at least since my diagnosis, I think it was about three years before that when the symptoms began) and it has taken over my life it feels like. I can no longer work, because the brief time I spend in front of a computer posting completely wears me out. I couldn't even handle a part time job, they expect people who don't need a break every hour.

There is hope in the form of more recognition for the condition and increased funding for research on a cure, or failing a cure, at least better maintenance medications. However, since they still don't even actually know what really causes it, curing it is not around the corner.

I have a horrible time sleeping. For a while amitryptilene helped but it quit helping, I've tried a variety of sleep aids and nothing really helps much. I'm currently on Klonopin for Anxiety and Panic attacks and that helps as much as anything else I guess. I just don't sleep well. I'm trying to get used to it but I haven't yet and it just hurts worse the less sleep I get.

I was actually fired early last year for the sections of your post i highlighted.
I have had Fibro since early 2000, and possibly leg pain related to it since 96.
I had been on pain medication to help me keep up at my office Job , but after trying a pain patch, I t actually made me drastically worse.
The fatigue element you mentiond was made drastically worse, as I didnt have it to this extreme before.
plus none of my doctors really gave weight to how badly I said I had gotten.

I recently got on medicaid, after exhausting my entire 401k on COBRA in an attempt to get better.
And my new doc suggested a sleep study, and I do have MILD apnea, The sleep doctor doubts it will cure me, and I am still trying to get used to the machine, but So far I cant see any major benefits, other than when I dont get enough sleep ,and its drastically worse as many others have mentioned.

 

[SquareC]

I was actually fired early last year for the sections of your post i highlighted.
I have had Fibro since early 2000, and possibly leg pain related to it since 96.
I had been on pain medication to help me keep up at my office Job , but after trying a pain patch, I t actually made me drastically worse.
The fatigue element you mentiond was made drastically worse, as I didnt have it to this extreme before.
plus none of my doctors really gave weight to how badly I said I had gotten.

I recently got on medicaid, after exhausting my entire 401k on COBRA in an attempt to get better.
And my new doc suggested a sleep study, and I do have MILD apnea, The sleep doctor doubts it will cure me, and I am still trying to get used to the machine, but So far I cant see any major benefits, other than when I dont get enough sleep ,and its drastically worse as many others have mentioned.

Getting medical care has become a major challenge for me. Don't qualify for medicaid, we have too much income. It's not enough to pay the bills, much less also go to the doctor, but it's too much to get help.

Sleep issues are one of the bigger problems with most fibro sufferers. It's a viscious circle situation, lack of sleep causing more pain, more pain causing less sleep, around and round we go..... I don't know any fibro sufferers to have found solutions by way of those machines, but then, I don't know everything....

Herbal remedies can be helpful, Celestial Seasonings makes some very good herbal teas, I would suggest a cup of Sleepytime Extra before bed and see if that helps. It might not, but it's helpful to many!

 

[david01]

Please see my reply to sleep disorders. As far as a sleep study, I faced the same problem of months and months to wait to have one done. I actually hired some fellows (I am an older man) to watch me sleep all night. I discovered that I do not have sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, which are the only things sleep studies check for. Your best bet may be to have someone watch you sleep all night and tell you what they see. It sure is a lot less expensive than a sleep study. As for Xyrem, I asked my sleep doctor about it last week after I heard about it. Apparently, it is the sleep medicine of last resort when all else fails. It is like a date rape drug in that it totally knocks you out and you have to set an alarm for the middle of the night and have the next dose of medicine at your bedside or you will be too out of it to find your way to the bathroom. Keep trying. I tried a lot of things before I found something that really worked for me. I will be praying for you.

 

[Talie]

ooooh, you'er so very wrong, apnea and RLS are NOT the only things a sleep study will show... and just how did your hirees manage to monitor your brainwaves?? and did they monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen levels? depth of breathing? Stages of sleep? You are of course entitled to do what you like with your own life but do NOT go giving such wrong and potentially dangerous medical advice to others