Familiarity

As I go through the Fibromyalgia forums I am finding across the web, I begin to see many of the same things I have always suffered with, but never made any connection about. I am amazed at how familiar everyone else's story is to mine.

I am beginning to think that I have had this for a very long time, but only got diagnosed with it now, as I never thought to speak to a doctor about any of my pain before this other stuff with my hands and feet happened.

For the past week or so I have been racked with upper back pain that reached a crescendo yesterday. I wanted nothing more than to not be here any longer. Sleep was difficult last night as I am not taking the narcotics any longer. I woke up with horrible scalp pain, the kind you get from wearing a pony tail too tight. Apparently that is a common complaint among Fibro suffers. I never knew that.

I started the Cymbalta yesterday. I was fine for the first 5 hours, and then Bam! I was hit with the worst panic attack. I went to bed and stayed there for two hours. I have read that it may take a few days to stabilize in my system, but if anything like that happens again today, I will call the doctors office and let them know that I can't take the medication. I've taken Lexapro in the past and had a similar reaction.

Today I will take a shower, get comfy on the couch with pillows and heating pad and just try to stay there. I told Aaron to keep an eye on me in case anything happens.

Fibromyalgia

So the verdict of the moment is Fibromyalgia. The doc also thinks possibly palindrome rheumatoid, but isn't sure. There is definitely more going on, and it could be triggering the Fibro. So, I'm on Cymbalta for the next few weeks, and then we will see.

Doctor Visit Tomorrow

So, my follow up visit with the Rheumatologist is tomorrow. I'll be getting, I hope, the results of more blood tests, and going over how the Prednisone worked for me. I also will need to go over things I missed at the first visit and things that have changed since the last visit. I got some advice to type up a list to give to the doctor, so I don't forget.

This is my one page list:

To Discuss with Doctor

·        New or Worsening Symptoms

o   Back pain. Bruised, swollen feeling in mid spine, lower back burning and soreness, upper back burning and soreness.

o   Neck pain and left shoulder pain worsening, lots of cracking

o   Left hand redness on joints worsening, especially middle finger

o   Fingertips burning and tingling in middle of night

o   More migraines. Migraines are lasting 2 days or more a week, where I used to only get them once a month or less.

o   Trouble sleeping, waking at night and not able to fall back to sleep, getting worse.

o   Right knee – more episodes of soreness

o   More pain in my toes (proximal phalanx), especially right foot.

o   Primary care visit, noticed more weakness on right side of body

·        Prednisone

o   Mood swings

o   All day agitation

o   Brain fog worsening

o   Major depression at night

o   Burning left ear

o   May have kicked in around Day 5, less fatigue and pain while working, though pain would hit later in the night or next day.

·        Disability

o   Need substantial and objective information about my symptoms and diagnosis to appeal my denial of short term disability. Need to pick up office visit notes and copies of blood work to send with my appeal.

·        All Current Symptoms

o   Bi-lateral hand pain

§  Middle fingers feel bruised at mid joint

§  Multiple joints turn red and burn with use

o   Bi-lateral toe pain

§  Aching in proximal phalanx

§  Toes burn and turn red with use

o   Pain in multiple areas of body, back, neck, shoulders, knees

o   Fatigue

o   Depression/ Anxiety

o   Stiff and sore in the morning for up to 2 hours

o   Symptoms subside, unless over use, until evening and then return.

o   Worsening migraines

So, I guess I'll have more information tomorrow morning. Hope I can sleep tonight.