I'm back, with fibromyalgia

maud48 · 9. May 2010, 07:46

I've been having a dredaful time recently and haven't posted for a while. Bad pains all over my body and extreme exhaustion, feeling like I have the worst flu.
Doctor sent me for some scans and X rays and they said I have osteoarthritis but not so severe that it should be causing me so much pain and exhaustion.
I convinced myself I was a hypochondriac and it was all in my head and have been feeling so bad. My husband has been having to do nearly everything with our grandson and I've been dragging myself around trying to do anything I could manage, which isn't much.
Anyway I saw a rheumatologist at a different hospital on Thursday and he has diagnosed me with fibromylagia as well as OA. I don't know much about it yet but hopefully having a diagnosis means I can do something to feel better. He did say he would ask my GP to prescribe amitryptiline at night as laack of sleep makes the condition worse. Hope it works as it will be like a miracle to get a good night's sleep,
maudxx

theresa4 · 9. May 2010, 07:54

HI Maud
I too was told at my last appointment that they think I also have fibromyalgia with my RA. I also feel exhausted and the pain has been terrible. I am now taking pregablin which have helped with some of the nerve sensations in my hands and feet and reduced some of the pain.

HOpe things improve for you soon

Theresa

dreamdaisy · 9. May 2010, 08:18

Poor you, what a double whammy. I have neither of those conditions but I can empathise with the pain and lack of energy etc. Get genned up and start some treatment: fingers crossed for an improvement. Dreamdaisy

speedalong · 9. May 2010, 09:26

Hi Maud, sounds like you are having a really tough time. Lack of sleep will being making things seem a 100% times worse. They use slepe deprivation as a form of torture with prisoners of war!!! Lots of folks on here take the med you mention and it really works for them.

When you have caught up on your sleep I recommend you get the book The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment for Pain Relief by Clair Davies and Amber Davies (Paperback - Oct 2004)
As I have found is really useful for treating aches and pains - I borrowed it off a friend and ended up buying my own copy!!

Speedalong

minky67 · 9. May 2010, 09:54

Hi Maud,Im sorry that your suffering so much.
I too have Fibro & OA, so when the bones aint aching (which isnt very often) My muscles are.I also have other conditions all related to Fibro.
I take Pregabalin for the nerve pain ( i was on Gabapentins but im trying these for a while) I have dreadful nerve pain in my neck & back.
I also take Amptripyline at night & they do help you relax to get off to sleep.
Tramadol as a pain killer,Oramorph for the break through pain I also take paracetamol & diclofenecs, so i rattle well.
I have also had a lot of help from social services & OT at the hospital. I have a bed lever to help me turn at night,a bathlift, various hand rails, a perching stool in the kitchen. Im now waiting for a stairlift as i find the stairs murder on my Knees,feet & back. I have a second stair rail & various kitchen gadgets to help me Plus lever taps.
So you see there is a lot of help out there for you. Its a long hail to get meds right & stuff in place to help you around the house.But the help is there,please dont struggle & ask for some help. Your GP can refer you to an OT at the hospital & they can start getting you some help.
I hope you can take something from what ive said to help you.
Good luck
If you need any advice about how to get stuff just PM me & i'll try to help you.
debs

dorcas · 9. May 2010, 12:06

maud48 wrote:

I don't know much about it yet but hopefully having a diagnosis means I can do something to feel better. maudxx

Hi maud ,
nice to see you back on the forum; but So sorry to hear that you now have fibromyalgia as well as OA.
I've posted a link to factsheets on this site which might be helpful for you to read.....you'll see immediately that your symptoms do match!
at least now you can get treatment and support and not feel you are imagining your pain...that must have been very frustrating for you.

http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Search/search_results_page_view?SearchableText=fibromyalgia

good luck with this and keep posting!

Irisx

ps. I take amitriptyline to help with sleep....I have to take it early evening..8pm..otherwise I'm zonked all next morning.

annie_mial · 9. May 2010, 15:36

Poor you, Maud. Along with everything else, now fibro to add to the mix.

I do find it easier to deal with a 'known' so hoping that you can now get some help. Fibro is not one that's been added to my assortment, so can't give any practical help, but have lots of hugs and love from me to help you along. (((((((((((((())))))))))))))

Annie

elnafinn · 9. May 2010, 16:00

Hi Maud

I am sorry to hear that you have another diagnosis to add to the OA. That would explain many of the symptoms that you were experiencing.

Hopefully with the new med, you will be able to get a good few hours sleep and that certainly can help.

Hugs
Elna x

frogmorton · 10. May 2010, 04:31

Hi Maud!!

Glad to see you

Not glad to hear about the fibro though...A/C have a good leaflet you can download I got it for my MIL and she found it really useful.

At least you fel like you have a reason for feeling quite so bad now.
and once you've read all you can and listened to the guys on here with it you will feel much better mentally - it's better to be informed.

The amitrip WIll give you a good nights sleep

Love

Toni xx

woodbon · 10. May 2010, 05:33

Hello,
Nice to have you back, but a shame you'r feeling so rough. Its unfair, isn't it, to have two conditions at the same time.

You'll need to take lots of rest and learn the things you can do and those that you can't. I used to work with a girl who had that and she kept trying to push herself, but had to give in and do less, which helped her. I must admit I didn't know anything about it until then and was quite shocked when she explained, but glad that I learnt about it.

I hope you don't feel too bad at the moment, love Sue xxx

tkachev · 10. May 2010, 06:04

Hello Maud,

I have missed you! Sorry to read about your recent problems as if life isnt hard enough as it is.We have gained a few more forum users with children with special needs in the past few months.

I dont feel quite so alone now.

I do hope you are okay and can overcome these recent issues.

Best wishes
Elizabeth

springs65 · 10. May 2010, 06:15

Have a look on here, lots of help and advice

http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/community/

skezier · 10. May 2010, 06:51

Hi Maud,

I am sorry about the fibro diagnosis as well but as some others have said it does explain your symptoms and hopefully they will add in some help for it in your tablets now so you will begin to feel better. ((())) Cris x

maud48 · 10. May 2010, 11:20

Thank you everyone for your lovely and thoughtful replies which have made me feel much more positive. Now all I have to do is beat this thing.
Still feeling absolutely flaked out, exhausted which I find harder to deal with than the pain. OH is picking up a prescription for amitriptyline today which I'm really hoping will help.
It really needs to as however much I think about accepting this horrible illness it's so difficult to see my OH, at the age of 61, doing a demanding fulltime job, looking after a 4 year old with special needs, doing all the shopping, cooking, housework and running round after me.
Another thing that I think about is all the people who don't even get to this point where I have. It's been hard to keep visiting doctors when they've made me feel like I'm making a fuss about nothing and I'm sure a lot of people must give up and never get a proper diagnosis.
Will keep you posted about progress. Anyone got any advice about how soon I should hopefully start to feel better with the
amitriptyline ?
maudxx

I'm back, with fibromyalgia

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