I may be tested for fibromyalgia

[sorrento56]

Can anyone tell me anything about it please or should I google?

I saw my osteopath today and he touched my pressure points, all that hurt so it is looking more likely I have it. He also seemed surprised how much medication I was on and I don't like taking them all as it it.

I have FM also. Diagnosed in April 2009 in a very off-hand manner by consultant and handed a leaflet. That was it! I asked my GP for amitryptlin (can't spell :)). Started at 25mg, reduced to 10mg and then to 5mg but all too much for me and made me even more sleepy than ususal. Tried to control pain with neurofen which did help but don't like taking any medication so instead have long showers when can. Found that regular excercise helps but most important thing found out was that people with FM often have an underactive thyroid/hyprothyroidism (try googleing FM & Thyroid). Asked my GP to test me for that in April 2010 and found out my thyroid was completely out of whack (probably has been for last 20yrs an had sypmtoms of FM/Hypothyroidism since mid-teens). Am being treated for thyroid since June and despite being 27wks pregnant feeling much better and sleeping at night. Pain in joints better too but not sure if because pregnant or treatment. Still suffer brain fog, breathlessness when walking and climbing stairs and odd sleepness nights but at least feeling better in myself knowing that I'm not mad and making it all up - previously felt that GP not taking me serious.
Might be worthwhile asking GP for referal to physiotherapist as he/she will devise low impact excercise programme which can help reduce pain in joints. Sorry for ramble and hope you get some relief from symptoms soon.

That should be long "hot" showers - I have found that heat really helps the pain in my joints.

Also have blurry vision at times, also headaches, sore throats and dizzy spells that can last for weeks - symptoms of both FM and hypothryoidism.

ifitsnotanarse did you have the same Rhuemtoligist as me! Told me to go away and educate myself about it!

I have had it for years and after a lot of change of meds (cant take amitriptyline) I now take

Etodolac 600mg once a day

Lansoprazole 15mg once a day (stops me being sick from the above)

Hydroxchloroquine Sulphate 200mg (this is for Lupus)

Codeine Phospate 30mg up to 8 a day (very rarely need that many unless in the middle of a flare.

It is manageable, although when it is bad, it can be very bad, and I suffer from insomnia with it, only get about 6 hours sleep a night, but after 4 years of it, I dont think I would sleep anymore now if I could, my body clock is tuned to that much sleep.

Found this website and seems pretty good:

www.fibromyalgiasyndrome.co.uk/

I have been having vision problems... my gran had thyroid problems, I have put weight on in the last 2-3 years and no matter what I do I can't lose it. I have a lot of other pressures at the moment and right now I am feeling overwhelmed.

Thank you for answering and for the links.

I don't want to add to yr confusion Sorrento but a lot of people have been helped by going on the Blood type by Dr Peter D'Adamo. if you know yr. blood type you can make changes to yr. diet and maybe get cured and loose weight!

Hey Shoshe, Lupus and FM!! Didn't realise you could have both til now. My sister has Lupus too (took long time to diagnose), also underactive thyroid and fortunately Lupus under control at present. How are you doing with it?
BTW I was diagnosed with FM at the Royal Hopsital, Belfast so probably not same consultant but obviously both have same flippant mannerisms :) Told me he had already diagnosed about 12 other patients that morning with same condidtion in tone that said "stop bothering me with your lame excuse for an illness". Very caring - not!

Hey Sorrento, I had the same problem with gaining weight, no matter what I did it just kept creeping up on me. Also stress (hated stressful job but then made redundant, trouble getting pregnant then miscarrying twice). Felt same as you, overwhelmed by everything and teary all the time. My husband didn't know what to make of me and at times was annoyed/fustrated by my irrational behaviour. Fortunately things somewhat better now with diagnosis of FM and Hypothyroidism but really had to push GP to get tested/refered. In the end I wrote all my symptoms down on paper so I wouldn't forget (brain fog constantly at work:))and wouldn't take no for an answer.
Hope this is of some use to you and that you are able to de-stress. Talking to someone who will just listen is a good starting point I found.
Take care.

Thank you all. I am going to ask for a thyroid test again as I had one a while ago and can't remember the number I got. I posted it on here as well.

Arse (may I call you that )

Yep the Lupus caused the FM, been a bad year this year, but that is because I got Swine flu which turned into pneumonia in November last year, it has taken some getting over, although it is slowly getting more manageable again.

Was dx'd ten years ago, and have learned to live with it to be honest, Specialist says I am to bloody minded to let it take over my life, might be something in that

Shoshe my sister is the same - bloody minded and refuses to give in. Course her DH is rather rubbish most of times and she has two children to take care of.

And believe me I've been called worse

Must add has anyone been feeling worse since Thursday/Friday when rain came on? Was feeling great/smug - no pain in ages but now feeling like been hit with train. Also found one of the mothers in DS class has FM. Yipee (not at the fact that she feels crap all the time but someone else that I can bitch with ).