What do you think was the trigger for your FM or CFS dx ?

[PlateletGal]

So what do you believe was the trigger that set-off your fibromyalgia or CFS diagnosis ?

[kmil1999]

I went from working Cardiac Care/ Open heart to working in the ER.  All the new "bugs" I was exposed to overwhelmed my immune system.  After multiple infections, I ended up with CFS/Fibro.

[Caroline565]

Why don't you start a thread anyway? Not everyone reads all the responses, I think it is worthwhile mentioning something like this. I don't think it's the cause of fibro, but misdiagnosis could be the culprit for some people. Of course the McGraws can afford the best of care. Finding a doctor to diagnose and then a pharmacist to do the compound is probably not easy. I really did not know a whole lot about these bio-identical hormones although I wish I had a few years ago. I was on HRT for a number of years (patch) and discontinued about a year ago. I was unable to take the oral meds due to side effects.

One thing we have to keep in mind is that FMS can help to cause hormone imbalances so this probably won't affect a lot of people. However, if I had been one of the ones to be rescued with the hormone therapy, I'd have been forever grateful!

[PlateletGal]

= )))))   I was just getting ready to start a thread on this. I watched the same program !

I was on HRT, but then had to stop because it was contraindicated because of the pathogen killing treatment that I was on. Of course I switched treatments, so now I'm reconsidering getting back on it. I will NOT, however, be on the synthetic hormones. I totally agree with Robin... bio-identical hormones are the way to go. For one reason, I think it is safer than taking synthetic hormones.

"A new study strengthens the link between hormone replacement therapy and a higher risk of heart attacks and breast cancer in women."

link to entire article:

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/health/2008/December/Link-Between-Postmenopausal-Hormones-Cancer-Risk-Strengthened.html

[Caroline565]

Ladies, I just watched a very interesting segment of the Dr. Phil Show today. It had to do with menopause and some of the effects. An imbalance of hormones and lack of sleep (we all know what that's like) can produce similar symptoms as in FMS. Now, I always knew that if a healthy person was deprived of sleep for a substantial time period, they would end up with similar symptoms. What they said was many people are misdiagnosed with things like fibro. They said these imbalances can happen pre-peri-menopausal (like in your twenties!) I just wonder if in some cases, this could be a factor. I'm not saying it is, but what I'm wondering is why no one even looks? I have often heard of links to hormones/fibro but I guess I never understood the possible connection. Anyway, they can treat this and improvement is dramatic. Take it for what it's worth, it's just a show, but for some that can't link and event maybe it's worth a discussion with your doctor or an endincrinologist.

[PlateletGal]

"i'm still not sure if the hormonal imbalance thing is a factor.  Does anyone else have flares around this time?"

After having mono, I have always had severe headaches before my cycle. My energy is also down at that time. Yes... this, IMO, a very important aspect of our condition and I know physicians are questioning why more women, than men, are getting autoimmune diseases and these "syndromes".  

[DaniWants1More]

I was told that it could have come from pregnancy or the car accident i had shortly after giving birth in 1995.  I was told it could be brought on by a hormonal imbalace or trauma.  Initially i was told MS and was told to terminate a pg, b/c i was so sick and had had all this testing done and had no knowledge of the PG (got PG again 8 months after having my son)  6 months after that diagnosis I was told Lupus and put on predisone after a year on that and not getting better I was sent to a lupus specialist at Johns Hopkins who diagnosed me with Fibro.  I have noticed that I do have flares around a week before my cycle is due although i'm still not sure if the hormonal imbalance thing is a factor.  Does anyone else have flares around this time?  TIA  ~d