I've had Fibromyalgia since age 40 and now I'm age 69, still dealing with this debilitating syndrome. When the pain began in my legs and low back I started seeing doctors to get help. The orthopedic told me I had a garden variety of back pain and most people my age would have something like this. He offered no help. I feel sure he thought I was there for pain management. Slow but sure, over a two year period FM took over my body and mind. I began seeing a Rheumatologist (Dr. Harper) and I was in such bad shape I showed up at the ER begging for help. I was admitted. We know there is no test that can diagnose FM. After days of tests Dr. Harper came to me and said "I know what's wrong with you." I thought yippee -- a diagnosis. He asked if I wanted the good news first or the bad news first. The bad news was I had FM for which there is no cure and the good news was "it wouldn't kill me."
Getting up in the morning takes me an hour or two. Every muscle in my body hurts, it's like a terrible soreness. I deal with the nausea, extreme fatigue, brain fog and depression. I was hospitalized 6 times in an 8 year period for "intractable pain." Every 4 hours I'd get a pain shot and I did physical therapy once a day. After 4 days of hospital care when I went home I was no better. I was on so much medication, mostly narcotics for pain. I began seeing a psychiatrist for some unresolved issues from childhood, and the consensus was I had anger issues at my molester. My stepfather!!
By the time I'd get home from work, the pain was so bad I was in tears. Dr. Harper had his staff get the paperwork going for me to apply for social security. I was eligible for Disability and I never worked again.
As I got older I started fighting back. I learned laying in bed is not the answer. Getting up and doing chores made me feel better. The soreness was almost nil. I still have brain fog and nausea and depression but I work through this each and every day. After years of narcotics I quit. I was on Lortab for years. I haven't had any Lortab in approximately 10 years.
There is hope, but there is no doubt about it, FM is debilitating. I got so sick of people saying "but you look great."
More later.
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