Just diagnozed with Fibromyalgia (already have PA)

butterfly1
butterfly1 Member Posts: 35
edited 16. Sep 2009, 21:33 in Living with Arthritis archive
Yesterday I was diagnozed with Fibromyalgia. Now I understand why I'm in so much pain and so exchausted all the time. It also explains why my flare up has not shown up on any xrays, MRI or bloods. At long last after a long battle finally the Rheumy can explain all this. I have to see my GP to get some different medication but it sounds like Fibro is chronic and not so easily treated with meds as PA. My PA is there but stable so all I need is anti-inflams and painkillers. There's no swelling or severe damage. I do have a gutate flare up on my legs but I think that's because of all the stress of not feeling well. This also means no DMARDS or Anti-TNF for now (already had MTX and Sulpha in the past) as they wouldn't really make much difference and the side effects out-weigh the benefits to me at this time.

The Rheumy said there's no connection between PA and Fibromyalgia but I'm not sure and would be interested to hear if anyone else has both and feels there is a connection.

I'm feeling a mixture of relief, sadness and worry - pretty much the same as when I was diagnozed with PA a few years ago so just need to find out as much info as possible and come to terms with the situation.

Best wishes

tracyx

Comments

  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Sorry I can't help you but this will put you message back to the top. Someone who has the same as you is bound to be along soon! Love Sue :)
  • kathbee
    kathbee Member Posts: 934
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Tracy

    Bumping this up for you.

    Hope you get some answers soon,

    I have RA and was told by the rheumy
    you 'probably' have Fibro as well, but
    wondered how your Fibro
    was diagnosed, as I didnt have any
    tests etc. so feel slightly in limbo with that one.

    Kath
  • butterfly1
    butterfly1 Member Posts: 35
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Kathbee, I got my diagnosis after months of sheer agony and frustration. I've been in awful pain which was first thought to be a PA flare up but the pain is also in my muscles and tendons and with chronic fatigue. All my blood tests kept coming up normal and steriod injections just triggered a flare and did not improve things. It was a process of elimination and the rheumy came to the conclusion it's fibromyalgia due to the widespread pain, fatigue, normal ESR/CRP and no swelling in my joints which I should get if it was a PA flare. He's also testing me for Lupus & MS to rule that out but is sure it's fibromyalgia. There's no real test for this condition as it doesn't show up in bloods or xrays.

    I've found a couple of fibro forums and getting lots of information from them but it's not looking very positive so far. This sounds like it doesn't do any damage but doesn't go away and there's not much medication out there to treat it.
  • kathbee
    kathbee Member Posts: 934
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Butterfly

    Thanks for your reply. I was curious of how
    Fibro was diagnosed.

    Like you say with your bloods not showing up
    anything, its similar to the diagnosis of ME I suppose,
    process of elimination.

    Hope you can get sorted with some meds that help
    with the pain and exhaustion, and hopefully you will feel much
    better soon.

    Love Kath
  • springs65
    springs65 Member Posts: 22
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Tracy
    I have had fibro and OA for the last 5 years or so and I found lots of useful info from this forum. Hope it helps

    Cindy X

    http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/community/
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Tracy

    I am sorry to hear your diagnosis. I met someone with Fibro and as I expressed an interest, she suggested that I googled UK-FMS-GUAI. This is a discussion group for UK based FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) sufferers who are on the Guaifenesin Protocol or who are considering it.

    I do not suffer from fibro but I thought you may be interested to have a look and see if it is for you or not.

    Look after yourself,

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • butterfly1
    butterfly1 Member Posts: 35
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Thanks Elna, I haven't heard of that so will google it. You've been so kind with your messages to some of my posts in the last few months.

    Tracy x
  • justinbarrow
    justinbarrow Member Posts: 338
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I got diagnosed with fybro after i was fed up with being exhausted all the time so very very tired, people think you are normal when they look at you but dont understand how tired it makes you feel.

    I was also told it was connected with RA conditions - hope you are feeling a bit better
  • dopeykit
    dopeykit Member Posts: 107
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hiya,

    I was told by my rheumy that I had secondary fibro (as in it came after/ is related to arthur)

    Hope you are feeling ok with it

    kit
    www.cookingwitharthur.com
    Healthy, tasty recipes for living well with arthritis
  • raven2008
    raven2008 Member Posts: 16
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    hi butterfly1

    i have a question for you.

    ive been suffering with join pains for a while now too my bloods came back negative but the doc says he dont understand because all the symtoms i tell him im having point to arthritis but blood dont pick it up.

    any ideas on what i should be looking for??

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