I am in total agony

[TheOriginalFAB]

Yesterday I woke up with pain in my right arm at the top. Saw a pharmacist to ask about pain relief and she felt I had pulled a muscle. Went to bed last night with it covered in deep heat and still in pain and I couldn't lie on it. This morning it is fine but the whole of my left arm round to my breast and back is absolute agony and there is no way I can lift anything with it. Could it be my FM or something else? I am hoping to see an osteopath on Tuesday but I feel like crying it hurts so much. I have so much to do today, I can't be out of action.

< Vows never to start threads on health ishoos >
< Adds to 'list of threads never to start'>

Whatever your problem boils down to, it sounds like you were in genuine pain, which is why I posted earlier about postural improvement helping with back pain. The book I mentioned, by Esther Gokhale, is really helping me (after 17 years of aches and pains). Not there yet, but I genuinely feel it's making a difference. I'd recommend at least looking at tutorials on YouTube. Even if the pain is due to an accident, your posture could be inhibiting healing -has to be worth at least a look.

I didn't go to A & E for reasons I stated. I have been before when I needed to go.

Don't you think I would admit it if I had it? I admit lots of other things.

I know why I am getting the pains and it isn't HA. I think we should leave this now as you are being very patronising and unfair presuming you know what is wrong with me better than a doctor and myself.

Maybe. But enough okay? I know what is wrong with me and it isn't HA. I just don't wish to share as I don't see why I should justify myself when you won't accept that you might be wrong. I accept you think you are helping but let me tell you, you are not.

Anyway, I am off to bed.

If, and it is a bit if, I am ever diagnosed with HA I will be straight on here to tell you you were right. But you aren't.

Night.

Just realised how unfortunate my name is on this thread .
sorry Fab.

I don't mean to be rude but if you know what IS wrong then why keep posting and seeking sympathy?

I must say I agree with the HA thing, HA pain IS real and can be scary. Some doctors are better than others at putting up with frequent attenders. I hope you sort out your pain, whatever the cause.

I'd never heard of Health Anxiety but, now I have, I see it's "not the new name for hypochondria" I also see the definitive symptom is constantly scanning one's body for things going wrong. Where has FAB shown she is doing this? I'd say a crippling pain means something's wrong and calling for attention. That's the exact opposite of scrutinising yourself, looking for something to pay attention to!

Maybe FAB's fibromyalgia has misled some posters. I also have an "imaginary disease" (CFS) and some of the staff at my medical centre clearly think there is nothing physically wrong. I wish there weren't, but there is. These diagnoses, frustratingly, mean "There's summat wrong but we don't know why or how to fix it." They're a sharp reminder that medical knowledge is still imperfect.

FAB: glad your pain subsided, and very sorry you've got FM. Being constantly exhausted and flu-like is bad enough; chronic pain must be horrible. I've just had a new thyroid test, too, but am not holding out much hope ... There's a thing, when you're hoping to have a thyroid disorder!!

Watch it with the Tramadol. The withdrawals are awful, and it doesn't take much to get hooked. Hope you're feeling OK :)

Garlicbutter - how long have you been around MN? FAB has been posting similar posts for years and years, to the extent that some posters just refuse to engage anymore.
I am not doubting that she has illness, pain and anxiety. I am suggesting that some of her symptoms may be anxiety-related rather than physiological. Just because she has some real physical issues doesn't mean that all the things she feels have a physical cause.
FAB has long-standing issues that really would be best dealt with in rl, not exascerbated by ruminatory posts on here. However, she deflects all attempts to persuade her that she owes it to herself and her family to get some proper therapeutic intervention.
FAB if you are still here, sorry for talking about you like this. It does make me feel uneasy. I wish you had the strength to seek appropriate help in real life, rather than perpetuate your difficulties by repeated posting on MN.

I thought FAB had done and/or was doing therapy. Sorry if I've misunderstood.
All the "imaginary diseases" are triggered by extreme stress, so clearly emotional-psychological therapies are helpful - but don't appear to remove the physical problems. The illnesses are probably auto-immune malfunctions.

FAB, I had counselling and physiotherapy with the CFS team here - they also treat my neighbour with FM. Were you not offered any of that?

FAB has said that therapy 'has not worked' in the past. She alternates between asking for help about what to do next, and assuring everyone that she is in control and all is fine. Most people swing somewhere between these two stances in their normal lives, but not as wildly and frequently as FAB does.

I fear that physical symptoms aside, FAB gains from people caring from her on here, and that keeps her going. Really facing up to her demons by sorting things out in real life is too scary, so she keeps coming back here for quick fixes.

FWIW, I reckon FAB would benefit from both mindfulness cognitive therapy for dealing with the short-term issues, plus long-term psychotherapy to deal with her deep-seated issues around childhood/attachment issues. I fear though, after knowing her online persona for over 5 years now, that she won't go and get that help unless there is some real crisis.

I am relatively new and had not heard of OP. I was trying to be helpful, I was very worried about her.

I am sorry that some of you feel I am not listening and implimenting your advice. I clearly have misunderstood the point of mumsnet. Posts like yours just reemphasise how alone in the world I really am and don't help but that isn't your problem. How awful that people actively chose not to talk to someone who clearly needs a helping hand or a hug. I am extremely sorry that people have had enough and are annoyed with me. I am annoyed with me too and fed up of living as me.

Thank you to everyone who has posted on here. And I mean it. I am not being sarcastic.

And wrt knowing what is wrong, I don't know that there is anything that can be done. I have just got to get on with things.

That looks like a good, healthy diet, sm. Thanks.

Fab I'm so sorry you feel alone, i know what thats like. I was seriously ill after an operation that didn't go to plan and the after effects were like yours. The GP told me it was all in my head, that I was an anxious person (news to me) and I should sit down with the surgeon who fucked up and get 'closure' ! Wrong, what I was in fact was very ill, sinus tachycardia, blood pressure sky high, thryoid meds completely wrong dose and broken parathyroid glands that no one had picked up on. I know my own body better than anyone and was pleading for help so being told the 'bloods are normal' and 'it's anxiety' was terrifying. I had to fight for three years to get the correct treatment, it's an ongoing battle.

Medicine doesn't have all the answers, doctors don't know everything and are human and make mistakes. That I can live with. But a bit of fucking humiltiy when they get it wrong makes all the difference.

How did your health problems start? I don't think I know your story. Even if it was health anxiety, that still impacts on your life in a bad way and the uderlying reason for that dealt with.

You comment about medicine not having all the answers resonated as my GP has said that but tbh he has missed health things with me. I was never ill before I had children. I had 2 days off sick in 17 years of working. I wonder if my body reacts when I have emotional/mental strain. I am hyper today and getting lots done - but happy to be busy - yet I still have neck and shoulder pain. I am reading HA comments as I am bringing it on myself by looking for things to be wrong. I am not like that at all. I don't want to be unwell in any way. I have to be on antidepressants for life, why would I want more illnesses? I hate the fact I have depression and have to take tablets as I know they are not helping but I have got so used to them I can't manage without them. I will be seeing my AD GP next week and will be asking about a change in dose or maybe cutting down on how often I take them.

I have had counselling but the therapists have no been able to understand my iussues and therefore not help.

It hurts that people think so negatively about me on here, and I am ashamed that a total stranger can bring me to tears, as the old me used to be so different. I had loads of friends, had a great personaility and was very funny. Now I feel shattered, alone and resentful that I have to live.

Oh fab

It is very isolating. Very. The GP who I saw last week when I got my FM dx was just so....well....young, I guess! Not much life experience, no real idea of the pressures I (and other mothers) face every day...sigh. I do love it when GPs/HVs and other HCPs tell you that you need to rest. One day I am going to say;
"Ok, I'll go to bed, you come home with me now and clean the house, cook the meals, wash, iron, do the school run x 2 and look after my toddler!" Argh!!

They just seem to want to throw meds at me which I dont want, I am happy to try alternative therapies (and have done in the past) I do want to be pain free but I cant see that happening any time soon

IMO Pain is pain. It doesn't matter what causes it. It's real and it's tiring and it's horrible. If you want some handholding FAB then that's fine by me whatever has happened in the past.

Thank you to you both, it means a lot though please don't think you are giving me a "quick fix" as you are not.

I just had the most horrendous sharp pain in my head and no idea why. I need a break. I think a couple of days away aklone in a hotel would be brilliant.

It is because you are feeling so bad, that I and others are trying to get you to seek help FAB. No one wants to hurt you, no one is trying to be mean, it comes from a genuine wish to help. Go and get yourself on a waiting list for proper psychotherapy; it will be a long road, but so worth it.
You often say things that suggest you don't want to carry on feeling as you do, so get some help - not from us randoms on here but proper, qualified help. It will take more than a couple of days away to make the changes you need to to be happy again.

X posts there. Both saying the same thing though!