From the article: The Fibromyalgia Diagnosis
Getting a fibromyalgia diagnosis is often the first step toward getting better treatment. All of us have different stories of what lead to our diagnosis, and these stories can help us see the similarities between us, and also help people who are seeking a diagnosis. Share yours here! Share your experience!
Another one bites the dust
- As a teenager I would have canker sores, gastro problems, sinusitis (every 4 weeks) and had not much energy. Although I was very active in sports- always was told show some 'enthusiasm'. I would ache and hardly be able to move on most days. Most of my life every little thing has been an effort. But you have to do what you have to do... Until I was hit with a virus that knocked me out for 2 weeks. Never have I missed life that long. I was always able to push and get through. Since that time felt like I had the flu- hit by a steam roller and could not recover. Primary Care did bloodwork, mri, cat scans, and everything came back great. Great! Went to a neurologist and everything came back great. Great! But why can't I function? Depression? Poor eating habits? Until a rhuem. told me how I was feeling, did the pressure point test. It was a very long road and looking back- My body has running on empty for quite a while. Learned to pace, eat right, walk, accept and be aware of body.
- —clamshack
bean60
- When my gyn kept telling me I had protein in my urine and finally sent me to a nephrologist, who sent me for extensive tests on my kidneys, and finally told me I could no longer take ibuprophen, I realized I had to find the cause of my debilitating pain. Much research later, and a referral to a teaching hospital, my local rheumatologist was informed that I did, indeed, have fibromyalgia. He prescribes medications, but doesn't truly believe in fibro. I love his PA, but wish I had more choices in which doctor to see for the fibromyalgia. All in all, it took over 15 years for me to get a definitive diagnosis - from first tests to diagnosis.
- —Guest barbara
My Story
- While receiving the Depo-Provera injection, I started developing MANY strange symptoms ! I was feeling terrible~ question Drs. they said that the medication couldn't be making me feel SO bad. Well, I learned how to use a computer, and started researching ! I was finally diagnosed in Mar. 06, My GP at the time made the DX. Soon afterwards he left the practice, So~ there I was looking for another Dr. to help me out with the new diagnosis !! After SEVERAL drs. treating me like I was crazy, I finally broke down & went to the Fibro & Fatigue Ctrs. That was both a good & bad experience. Good because of the blood work they do~bad because of the $$$ it cost. ( They don't take Insurance ! In 2007 (Nov.) I was then DX'd with Vulvar Cancer ! Now I have 2 BIG headaches to deal with !! After my 1st gyn. surgery......I was lucky enough to find a good Dr. for my Fibro/CFS. I've had her since Mar. '08. She BELIEVES me 100% ( something I'd NEVER felt with the other Drs. that I'd seen.
- —andreanixon1
My fibro story
- I worked at Barnes and Noble as a supervisor back in 2000. In November 2000, a day came along that I just couldn't force myself to get out of bed and face all of those hours on my feet. I had widespread and harrowing pain. I had a friend who had fibro, so I knew what I might be in for. I went to my PP and asked if he knew how to diagnose fibromyalgia. He told me to come back in two days and he would know how. Two days later, he was applying pressure, and I was flinching away from all 18 points. He immediately started me on Neurontin, but being on my feet constantly for 7.5 hours a day was debilitating. My calves would set up like concrete, and I would have to stump along for the last two or three hours of my shift. My husband would have to chop at my calves with the edges of his hands when I got home to get them close to some semblance of looseness. Weather changes are pretty frequent here in Cincinnati, so I am constantly going from one surge of pain to another.
- —Guest Tursi
My fibro story
- In 2003, I lost 175lbs but felt awful. I complained of feeling "like I'd been hit by a truck" and too fatigued to continue exercising. My blood tests were fine, so my primary care doctor started discussing depression with me. I refused treatment for depression. In 2007, I was worried I was going to lose my job and feared I had early-onset Alzheimer's. After describing an episode where I was leisurely walking through the woods and taking pictures and suddenly felt like I'd drop from exhaustion, I was told it was "just depression." Another doctor said, "just depression." I saw a rheumatologist about the pain and he wrote in my notes he suspected fibromyalgia (and depression) but he let me believe I just had osteoarthritis. I had a car accident in another city and went to see my mother's doctor who started asking questions that were eerily true and unrelated to the accident. Do I wake up feeling like I hadn't slept? Do I ache? Finally, a diagnosis, after 4 years of asking for help.
- —greybeh
