Just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia

11nrodri11

Hello Everyone, I'm 26 and just got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia two days ago. I'm looking for people who would like to become friends to fight through this together. I'm starting Cymbalta this coming Friday and currently waiting for lupus and RA results.

Also diagnosed with:
- pcos
- 3 herniated discs (protrution & extrution)
- disc fissure
- disc degeneration
- scoliosis
- arthritis

SteelySunshine

I'm a couple decades older, but I was recently diagnosed as well. I have had it for a long time though, probably started when I was in my 30's that is when I remember being stiff all the time. But, it started to get really bad in my early 40's, to the point where I was bed ridden for about 3 months. It's really horrible, but I am hoping that with changing my diet and exercising I can get it to a point where it's manageable.

phyllisbobbitt

:flowerforyou: hello' i have fibromyalgia also for many years! i take lyrica for mine! i took cymbalta for a year but it did not do much for me. my husband has this too & his doctor put him on cymbalta & it seems to be working for him! i have spinal stenosis & advanced degenerative disc disease. i used to be 5'6" & now 5'2" due to this condition! i used to take steroid injections in my spine for 12 years every 2 months. that threw me into diabetes. which the steroids caused me to be insulin resistant so i have to take 2 type of needles in my stomach & pills every time i put anything in my mouth & all of this due to a car accident in 1998! i used to have to get around in a electric wheelchair but now i use a walker! i was able to do this due to loss of weight & exercising on a regular basis! due to this injury i also have arthritis very badly!

i am sending a friend request your way because i would love to be friends & give support & encouragement too! together we can get as healthy as we can get!

idealisticdiva

HI I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia last year. They put me on a muscle relaxer and Amitryptaline. I personally do not like prescriptions so I joined melaleuca and found a regiment that helped me get off those meds. I am actually feeling better and and I am able to move around more. It took me several months to get off of the meds but I did do it successfully.

KetoTeacher

I'm 44 and was diagnosed a few months back. I'm currently seeking a 2nd opinion and she suggested MyFitnessPal (MFP) & The Plan Diet which is an Anti-diet that allows you to figure out if it is a food that is causing your symptoms. I have been doing it for 10 days and feel better than I have felt in years.

Feel free to add me to you list of friends

mank32

any fibromites feel free to add me! i was dx'd 10 yrs ago and i am now:flowerforyou: kicking @ss (drug free) with exercise! i m a fibromite friend collector!!!

germLA47

Whoever you went to for your second opinion gave you great advice. When I was first diagnosed, the doctor asked which bothered me more, the pain or lack of sleep. For me, I could deal with the pain if only I could get a good night's sleep. I took Prozac for one year and after a 12 pound weight gain that was enough for me. I have many food allergies/sensitivities along with not being able to tolerate any grains except brown rice on occasions. Once I got really serious and eliminated all offending foods, plus sugar, I saw amazing results. Yes, it's so easy to say "don't eat this", but it is hard because we are human and constantly surrounded by food. If you give yourself a month of eating grain free, dairy free and sugar free, I think you will see great results. If you continue to have symptoms, you can then readjust your diet. There are so many food substitutions that after a while you will no longer feel deprived because you will feel so good. Good luck.

kg2run

I was diagnosed 18 years ago and have had good periods where I have been able to manage it without meds, and not so good periods where I've needed the meds.

The thing that helps the most is getting sleep regularly, eating well, and moving. It takes a while to learn to listen to your body and I've learned when to dial it back for a day or two when I need to. It's when I stop paying attention that things tend to spiral out of control. I have no insight into meds specific to fibro since I've never taken one as I've only taken what was needed to address the symptoms I was experiencing at the time.

HardcoreP0rk

Hello Everyone, I'm 26 and just got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia two days ago. I'm looking for people who would like to become friends to fight through this together. I'm starting Cymbalta this coming Friday and currently waiting for lupus and RA results.

Also diagnosed with:
- pcos
- 3 herniated discs (protrution & extrution)
- disc fissure
- disc degeneration
- scoliosis
- arthritis

How could they possibly get a differential dx on you for fibro when you have verifiable medical conditions with such similar symptoms?

Also, they tried Cymbalta for my back pain (mostly same disc issues as you), and it did nothing for me. The discontinuation syndrome is really awful though. It has a 12 hour half life, so if you forget to take it, you'll feel it soon afterwards. I strongly caution you against using Cymbalta if you don't need it for depression and anxiety. I've had a lot of luck with physical therapy and massage, though.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you on the RA and Lupus testing.

drvvork

I too am a Fibromyalgia sufferer - diagnosed about 10 years ago. It does help with the pain getting the diet in check. We will survive!!! :bigsmile:

sazzyp1973

Hello, I was diagnosed last year. You'll adapt and get used to it and modify things to make them work. Its up and down for me but now I know what I am dealing with it gets easier to manage.

All the best, feel free to add me should you wish. That goes for any fibros out there!

laele75

I have had FMS for 12 years. I also have high blood pressure and chronic migraines, I am waiting for an X-Ray to see if I get to add arthritis to my list. Medication hasn't worked for me, I have a special needs child that I have to be completely aware and functional to care for. The anti-inflammatory diet is helping some, you may want to look into that. I can tell you from years of experience there is no one size fits all treatment for fibro. You'll have to do a lot of experimentation with diet and exercise before you find what works for you. Listen to your body and take things slow, all I can suggest.


Add me if you like.

summersbest

Diagnosed with fibro in 2008 after years of severe pain and fatigue. Also suffer from depression and tourette's syndrome. I take lyrica to handle the pain but cannot take too high a dose due to the side effects. Tried to manage my symptoms through diet and exercise but it just wasn't providing any relief so for now medication is part of my regime.

Hope you get everything sorted out. Feel free to add me. ~

natashalh1998

Diagnosed 9 years ago. I also suffer severe migraines and have for as long as I can remember. The symptoms are manageable, I choose not to take meds specifically related to the fibro but do take 15 mg of Mobic and ibuprofen almost daily to help with the stiffness and pain. I have good days and bad days but refuse to let it change me or what I want to do with my life. I work full time and just deal when the symptoms arise. I am thankful I can get up and go to work, this is not a debilitating disease... you will always have it but it doesn't have to define you! Eating healthy and exercise do help.

michellechawner

Diagnosed just over a year ago, and I was 26 at the time.

I have more good days than bad days now with medication (Gabapentin 500 mg a day, and Nortryptlyne at night only). I wanted to lose weight to prove that not everyone with fibro has weight issues - i'm a healthy 131.8 and feel amazing. Yoga has been the best thing for me!

shygur

There is a successful treatment for Fibromyagia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Sceroderma, etc. However, it is not accepted by many doctors, I suspect because it doesn't make money for the pharmaceutical companies. It is a long term low dose of antibiotics. You can go to www.roadback.org for more information.

My mother has systemic Sceroderma, diagnosed in 1990 and given 5 years to live at that time. She is still with us thanks to this treatment.

Check it out!

Rebecca

natashalh1998

This is a good link in reference to the anti inflammatory diet. It has helped me to eat healthier and reduce the symptoms.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/anti-inflammatory-diet-road-to-good-health?page=2

BikerGirlElaine

bump

keets502

I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2010 - wishing you luck on your lupus and RA testing. Anyone feel free to add me, support is a good thing!

groundhawg

My mother has lived with Fibromyalgia for many years... she has found that losing weight, and cutting back on glucose and artificial sweeteners (for her this was just diet soda) really improved and helped to manage the amount of joint pain she was having. She still has to take medication sometimes, particularly in the winter when the arthritis compounds the issues.

Barbsunshine

Hello! I was diagnosed 14 years ago. I've had times when the symptoms have been in remission where I didn't need meds at all. I did go on Cymbalta about 4 or 5 years ago and it worked pretty well. Unfortunately, it's no longer covered completely by my insurance and I can't afford $85 month! With that and doctor that doesn't quite understand fibromyalgia, I've been struggling a bit. I'm 52 and I'm finding it's tougher to deal with as I get older and heavier. I think I'll feel much better if I can get some of this weight off me, but it's tough...that's why I'm here! I wish you the best!

Paganrosemama

I have fibro also- not on any meds though except the occasional alieve. I found that high soduim or processed foods intensify my fibro flare ups, and weather can also be a big factor for me. very light exercise often helps my pain from getting worse...

Jaqua2

Hi ya, I am 29 and I have Fibromyalgia along with other illnesses:-

- Fibromyalgia (diagnosed 18 months)
- Depression
- Personality Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Anxiety & Stress
- IBS
- Tennis Elbow
- Arthritis
- Migraines
- Acid Reflux
- Texidor Twinge
- Folliculitis
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Other conditions I don’t want to disclose

I am on 20-25 tablets a day, but never heard of Cymbalta and to be honest I am 100% sure I am not on the best medication as I suffer 24/7 and life seems unbearable. I have decided to try and loose weight. (used to be 30 stone) about 8 years ago. I never done any exercise to loose weight, only diet. With my health conditions I am in agony and I pull muscles easily. I have suffered from Tennis elbow in both arms for over a year (nothing extreme only carrying a bag and stretching!!!) I have had a number of Corticosteroid injections in my arms, luckily my left arm seems to be fine now but my right is terrible and I am waiting to see a surgeon as I cannot use this arm at all. I have tried exercises like Zumba and now I cannot even get into the pool to start swimming. The only thing I seem to be able to do is brisk walking but then again I am still in pain all over even doing that. I try and exercise but my body is really restricting me and I don't want to be a cripple! I push myself to work full time and commute and I really wish I was rich enough to just stop working. I currently pay private Osteopath to give me massage, acupuncture and really is helping me. I hope once my right arm is kinda fixed I can start low impact exercise like swimming... I definitely need to do exercise as well as diet or I’ll be a slim unfit person instead of a fat unfit person. Would be nice to make some new friends on here as I am new to the condition and I haven’t ‘learnt to live with it’ yet :’( xoxoxo

BikerGirlElaine

I waas diagnosed with FM about 8 years ago, after a motorcycle crash that happened 9 years ago.

At first I was bad off, took a couple of drugs that were prescribed. Over time I just kept trying different things and keeping what worked and scrapping what didn't. Today I take no meds and feel almost normal -- I just have a slight 'something' feeling in my neck & shoulder trigger points. If I am not careful I get a flare but it has been over a year now.

For me it is important not to eat MSG (which increases sensations of pain) or added sugars. I even watch which fruits I eat. Too much sugar makes me hurt again. I don't take any drugs if I can avoid it, because usually I will start to flare no matter what the drug is -- weird but true.

Good sleep habits are critical for me, too. I spent a lot of time and effort on getting my sleep worked out.

Heat helps me tremendously. Hot shower or hot bath, heated blanket or heated mattress pad (the latter is better for me because my major pain was in my neck/shoulders and hips), hot tubs, warm pools (the ones that they recommend for arthritis patients), heating pads -- all of them are good for specific pain points and for generally keeping my body mobile.

I do some other things, too, that are probably outside the scope of this conversation, so I'll just mention them briefly: I do things that raise my serotonin naturally, I do the highest level of exercise that I am able to do, and I keep my attitude positive. I'm as close to cured today as I probably ever will be, and I'm grateful. But even when I felt very bad, I never gave up looking for possible solutions.

You can friend me if you'd like!

cmfay131

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about the new FM diagnosis. I've been battling FM for many years along with Lupus/RA and a host of other autoimmune issues. They generally go together, there is never just one. Unfortunately. Having chronic pain conditions makes it hard to get motivated to eat right and exercise. I'm just now starting to get back into exercise. It takes roughly 2-3 weeks for your body (people with FM) to adjust to working out, even slightly. It's a pain condition and everything makes it worse. Just keep trying, baby steps at first, even the smallest step is better than no step at all. I take an 7 pill cocktail for breakfast and the same for dinner but it allows me to have a full time job that is very high paced and also to participate in my life. Yes, there are some things I just can't do anymore but there are others that I still try and quickly realize it's not worth it. Everyone is different. Keep in mind, people don't understand what they can't see. Best of luck. Email me anytime if you think I can help with anything or answer questions. Cymbalta is a good drug for FM and it will work two fold for you as it will help with the depression too!

DeinaOKC

Hi - I haven't been diagnosed with FM but I'm waiting on results from blood work from a dr appt last week. FM was mentioned, along with RA and a slew of other things. After taking 7 vials of blood I hope they discover something. The last 8 months or so I'm constantly achy & my energy level has plummeted. I'm skipping belly dance class tonight (and our showcase is in 4 weeks!) because I did some gardening last night it's wiped me out today

I went to a variety of doctors within the last 15 years for stomach issues I've had for the last 25 yrs (I think it's IBS) I was told it's all in my head, there's nothing medically wrong with me and to talked to a psychiatrist. So I did that, diagnosed with depression and GAD. I still have stomach problems, but not nearly as bad.

I'd like to keep moving & exercising but I don't know how much to do before I'm spending days recovering.