so tired of all this

[Sharkling]

I am brand new to this group.  I am also 40, a full time teacher and mom to a special needs child who is almost 5.  I was told in 1999 that I had CFS.  I was exhausted all the time and my body ached.  I ended up going on short term disability and quitting my job.  I gradually got better and my symptoms went into some kind of remission.  About 2 years ago, I started noticing things again that I remembered previously like loss of mental focus and tiredness.  I ignored it for a long time, but when the pain started again and I started having some tingling, I went to my regular doctor.  He sent me to a rheumatologist who did bloodwork and x-rays to rule out Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthiritis.  It turned out that I did have osteoarthiritis beginning in my neck, back and knees, but no lupus or RA.  She said I probably had fibromyalgia based on my symptoms, although she didn't do a tender points exam on me. I went back later becaue my hands started throbbing  all the time. She did nerve conduction tests to see if it was carpal tunnel or something similar.  The test really hurt me, but showed nothing.  She still said I probably had it.  I don't think so. I guess its fibro. My neck and sholdders hurt all the time.  My legs ache.  My hands throb and sometimes it feels like a wasp is stinging me on my back and my big toe.  I have terrible brain fog at times and now my right upper arm starts burning and tingling and it moves up to my neck and jaw area. Sometimes my scalp tingles and tightens like if I ahd my ahir in a ponytail, but I don't.  Then it goes away.  Sometimes my muscles in my legs start tightening into  a charlie horse for no reason while I am sitting or even just walking around.  I saw my rheumatologist again ans she kept me on the feldene she has me on and also put me on a low does of tramadol.  She also mentioned that I shold see a neuro for the brain fog, but otherwise, she seems really clueless about fibro and only seems to relate it to basic muscle pain and fatigue.  I mentioned that my muscles ahd started doing weird things(the buring, stinging) and she didn't even ask for elaboration.  I did ask her about acupuncture and chiropractors for the pain , and she sait that owuldn't be a bad idea.  Itfeels like I am doing most of the suggesting and all she is doing is pushing pain killers.  I am so frustrated with people who don;t understand and don't want to understand what this feels like. My husband is not very supportive.  He just thinks its no big deal and people at work jsut note that I seem to feel bad all the time.  It makes me feel like a hypochondriac. Than, when you start listing the symptoms you have, it seems even more so.  Sorry to ramble on so, but I am frustrated and I don't really have anyone to talk about this with right now. How do all of you handle all this?

Thanks for listening.

[lvfrogs]

Sharling,
I agree with the above post. You need a new doctor. When you have a doctor that only wants to push meds, sometimes, you need to re-think that doctor. I bought the same book that she mentioned - very helpful.  I am not saying that you don't needs meds, I am sure that you do, but you need a doctor that BELIEVES in Fibro and CFS and will support you.  See what you can find on the internet about it and print it out for your husband. I did that for mine because they can't SEE what you are feeling. If you had a broken leg, they can see that and so understand. But when it is not readibly noticeable for men, they can't relate as well. Also, the fatigue as we know it, is unlike any other kind of fatigue and people can't see that either. They think "well, I am tired too" but it isn't the same. We know that, but they don't.
Good luck and let us know, ok?

[travelingmom]

You have to think positive.  Get a new doctor that believes in fibromylagia!  You need sleep meds, antidepressents-Cymbalta REALLY helps the pain, and possibly a muscle relaxer.  None has to be done in excess but I promise you with the right meds, some exercise and positive support you'll start to feel better.  I've had this for 17 years and taught elementary school during some of it.  There will be triggers and ups and downs but getting on the right meds with the right doctors help.  Read from Fatigued to Fantastic by Dr. Jacob Teitlebaum.  It deals with Fibrolylagia and chronic fatigue.  Hang in there and make sure you find a new doctor asap

[tia77]

This sounds like me.  I am 40 and had on and off weird things but untill recently the pain wasn't horrible till a few months ago.  I had been to the rhemy a few times with joint pain but the primary wanted me to go because of a possitive ana.  I fell like no one knows and that it's just in my head so now i really don't say much to anyone.  You really feel alone.  I just joined this sight two weeks ago and have had some possitive responses.  I am just going to find a doctor that "belives" me and wants to try any new medicine out there.  I can't belive there is nothing out there that helps with the pain.  That is what the rhemy said 3 weeks ago when he diagnosed me with this.  He said this is a cronic pain condition.  There is no pain medicine that will help and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  I know he hasn't really reasherched because reading on this site there are things that can help.  I am going to keep fighting till I can get something under control.  If the pain was just less I feel I could keep going.  Right now because I still have little ones at home it actually helps.  They need so much right now it gets me to just get up and do it no matter how much it hurts.  It is just beoned my grasp that there isn't something that is causing this pain.  Find something that makes you get up.  I don't know what I will do when the kids are all out of the house.  Hoping grandkids will keep me going then.  I wish you luck.  

[catwoman64]

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW U FEEL.  IM SO TIRED , WELL IM BEYOND TIRED.  THERE ARE DAYS THAT I JUST WANT TO SIT AND CRY.  IM 44 YEARS OLD AND I DONT GET OUT WITH MY FRIENDS ANYMORE ... WELL ACTUALLY I DONT HAVE ANY FRIENDS CAUSE NONE OF THEM COME AROUND ME OR PHONE ME WHICH ALOT OF THAT IS MY FAULT CAUSE I CANT HARDLY TALK ON THE PHONE ANYMORE CAUSE IM SO TIRED ALL THE TIME.  I CANT HARDLY TYPE BECAUSE OF THE PAIN IN MY FINGERS AND HANDS AND ARMS.  I HURT FROM HEAD TO TOE CONSTANTLY.  I NEVER GET A BREAK FROM IT.  IT GETS VERY OLD.  I DONT ENJOY LIFE ANYMORE.  I USE TO GO SHOPPING ALL THE TIME AND LOVED IT BUT I DONT DO THAT ANYMORE ITS JUST TO MUCH FOR ME TO GO.  THE ONLY TIME I GET OUT IS TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND I HAVE A HARD TIME DOING THAT IN MOST CASES.  ONCE IN A BLUE MOON I'LL HAVE A SOME WHAT DECENT DAY BUT  STILL CANT DO ANYTHING REALLY.  THE PAIN IS EXCRUCIATING AND IM EVEN ON HIGH DOSES OF PAIN M,EDICATION.  I KNOW WHAT U MEAN ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING OR MAKING U FEEL LIKE U HAVE NOTHING WRONG WITH U ... I HAD A FEW EXPER. LIKE THAT TO.. AND IT WOULD MAKE ME MAD.   I KNOW ITS NOT IN MY HEAD.. IT IS REAL.  ONE OF MY FRIENDS USE TO SAY TO ME ..' I JUST DONT KNOW HOW U CAN HURT LIKE U DO ALL THE TIME' ... WELL GUESS WHAT ????  SHE HURTS ALL THE TIME NOW.  IT CAME BACK AND BIT HER ON THE ***.  NOT TO BE MEAN OR ANYTHING CAUSE I WOULDNT WISH THIS ON M,Y WORSE ENEMY BUT NOW SHE KNOWS HOW IT FEELS TO HURT EVERYDAY.  AND I ALSO REMINDED HER OF HER COMMENT SHE MADE TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO AND SHE ADMITTED THAT SHE WAS WRONBG FOR JUDGING ME THE WAY SHE DID.  ENOUGH FOR NOW.  GOOD LUCK AND HOPE U FEEL BETTER