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Joining the ranks

I've had some ongoing pain problems for a few years now. So far this year I've had to endure a battery of tests. My blood sugar was slightly elevated as was rheumatoid factor. So I got to go to an arthritis clinic and have even more tests. All of them came back negative for the really bad stuff. So the verdict is I have fibromyalgia. I guess that is much better than the rheumatoid arthritis or lupus that my family feared, but I still would prefer to have something that can be cured. Oh well, at least it is an answer to something that has plagued me for over half a decade.

The doctor was quite matter-of-fact about it. He did put me on a low dose antidepressant but explained the connection between lack of sleep (which is certainly a big problem for me!), stress, and increased pain and said the medicine is to help me sleep better and is taken only at bedtime. If it doesn't help, the dose can be increased or different medicines can be given. He acknowledged the pain is real and not in my head and I'll most likely be stuck with it for life although it can come and go. While losing weight could help, only gentle water exercise or tai chi is recommended at this point since anything more harsh would increase the pain.

I know there are others here who deal with this demon so if you can point me to the online resources that have helped you most, I'd appreciate it.

Reply to
Brenda Lewis
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Absolutely!

Your first step should be to join my YahooGroup (sign up via

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where we have a fibro patient who is a top-notch online researcher. Any question you have, he can find an answer to.

You'll find several webrings on my site, so click through those and see what information you can find on participating sites.

Co-Cure.org has an excellent archive, and you should probably also join their e-list for the most current info as it hits the newswires.

And you'll want to join FibroStitchers @YahooGroups, which is low-traffic but supportive.

Get hold of Devin Starlanyl's books ASAP. Add Katrina Berne's if you want another.

Google up Dr. St. Amand and his guaifenesin therapy. I combined it with my grandfather's old-fashioned sweat therapy, and the stench on my sleep shirts every morning had me convinced that toxins were coming out in droves.

Fibro-like symptoms have been created in healthy volunteers simply by depriving them of sleep, and "cured" by allowing them to catch up on sleep, so improving the quality of your sleep should be your first goal. For pure fibro (though not pure CFS), anti-depressants seem to help, but work your way through *all* the A-Ds and sleeping pills till you find the one that works best for you. And it may well be that *only* one works for you. I've been through plenty, with some making me sicker, and some being of no use at all -- only one put me to sleep every night. Keep searching for that Holy Grail; your body chemistry is unique, so what works for someone else may not work for you.

Fibro responds well to heat, so stock up on heating pads, heat rubs (I'm currently using Capzacin), ThermaCare, and bath salts. I can recommend FibroSoak (and FibroRub) and Lullaby from MtShastaNaturals.com. Let me know if you want me to scamper over to their store and get trial sizes for you. Personally, I buy FibroSoak by the 4-lb bucket. You do need to stay in the tub for 1/2 hour to get the full benefits; I bought a $29 mini TV for the bathroom counter ... if I don't stay in for the full 1/2 hour, I don't get to find out who won on Jeopardy. (You can pick your favorite show to use as a "timer".)

And as much as I hate to have to welcome anyone else to the "fibro family", welcome to the club. We'll take good care of you.

Feel free to landline me if you need to talk.

Reply to
Karen C - California

There is no debate that it is NOT in your head. The pain is very real. However, people with fibromyalgia, self included, EXPERIENCE pain differently than people without FMS.

We feel it as being much worse than it is, like it is magnified ten times. It does come and go. When I am in a full flare up every tender point on my body is literally untouchable. If I touch my shoulder point I can jump out of my skin. My husband rubbing my leg will be like a knife cutting me. Clearly, that is not something which causes pain, but my brain perceives it that way.

Most of the studies show there is a sleep deprivati>I've had some ongoing pain problems for a few years now. So far this

Reply to
Jangchub

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