| If you know something is wrong with your body, | | | | confirmation that I wasn't nuts after all. I printed the |
| here's how to face the medical community with all | | | | page and took it to my family doctor. |
| the ammunition you need to make them pay | | | | He read through the symptoms and perused my |
| attention. Never give up! | | | | giant chart. He confirmed it. Fibromyalgia. He wrote |
| You shouldn't wake up in the morning feeling like | | | | me a referral to a rheumatologist. I finally had a clue! |
| you've moved furniture all night. But that's how it is | | | | I was as excited as a woman could be, having had |
| for me. Every joint is stiff and sore. I lay in the bed | | | | no sleep in weeks. |
| and stretch repeatedly to loosen up before I dare to | | | | The rheumatologist couldn't see me for six weeks. I |
| try and walk. The path to the bathroom is lined with | | | | took that time to relish the thought that I wasn't |
| furniture and walls that I can use for stability and | | | | crazy after all, and to learn as much as I could about |
| support. | | | | Fibromyalgia. |
| I love petting my dog, but my arm gets tired after | | | | After weeks of great anticipation I finally got to see |
| just a few minutes. It feels like there's lead in my | | | | this new doctor. He had the personality of a rock, he |
| muscles. | | | | didn't say much at all, and when he did it patronizing. |
| I'm so tired all the time. But lying down is the most | | | | He ran a ton of tests on my blood, confirmed the |
| frustrating thing I can do during the day, because my | | | | Fibromyalgia diagnosis, and wrote a bunch of |
| legs think it's the perfect time to run the track. They | | | | prescriptions. "I'll see you in a month", he said as he |
| tighten and the only thing that relieves the tightening | | | | walked out the door. I sat there a moment alone in a |
| sensation is to move them. | | | | whirlwind of confusion, gathered up my prescriptions, |
| I have two gorgeous grand-daughters that I want to | | | | and left. |
| play with, but I can't hold them anymore, I'm not | | | | I honestly felt that I knew more about my condition |
| strong enough. All the things I loved doing, dancing, | | | | before I saw him then I did when I left. |
| crocheting, assisting the coach with my youngest | | | | Getting all those prescriptions filled put a huge dent in |
| daughter's softball team, everything is gone now. My | | | | my financial status, but I began taking them all |
| family gets irritated with me because I can't do | | | | religiously. I wanted them to 'fix' the problem. I did |
| things with them like I once did. | | | | sleep better for the first time in a very long time. |
| After years of doctor's appointments and being told, | | | | Even that was short lived. |
| "It's all in your head, probably stress related," I got | | | | I answered most of my questions through library and |
| angry. It's not 'all in my head' the pain is way too real. | | | | internet research. I did some research on each of the |
| How could swollen joints be 'all in my head'? | | | | nine different medications I was taking every day. |
| My oldest daughter is a medic for the army, she | | | | Over the counter Aleve, Zoloft, Zyrtec (allergies), |
| knows me. I don't complain much, and she knows I | | | | Carbidopa, and Lorezapam, to name a few. I was no |
| wouldn't take this to her unless it's real. I emailed her | | | | more impressed with the medications than I was |
| in Afghanistan. I told her the doctor's think I'm crazy. | | | | with the doctor. |
| She told me to list all the issues, whether I felt they | | | | I have had a name for my ailment for over a year |
| were related or not, and send them back to her. | | | | now. And I have a new doctor. He is able to answer |
| I began my list; tired, irritable, depressed, restless | | | | questions and discuss with me some of the things |
| legs, can't sleep, muscle aches everywhere, joint pain | | | | I've read about on the internet. He knows I'm not |
| and swelling, TMJ (jaw pain), headaches, changing | | | | crazy. It has been a long and difficult path to the |
| from constipation to diarrhea at the drop of a hat, | | | | knowledge I have now. The symptoms haven't |
| irritable bladder, and I feel like I could fall asleep at | | | | changed much, but it's certainly easier to deal with it |
| any given moment, if only my legs would just stop | | | | since I have the support of a decent doctor. I will |
| jumping. I'm so very tired all the time. And I'm not | | | | get through this. |
| crazy! | | | | If you know without a doubt that something is |
| My daughter took the emailed message to her | | | | wrong, don't give up. Research your condition on one |
| doctor friends on the base. They discussed it and | | | | of the websites like the one at Johns Hopkins, or |
| sent me back a link to a website. I immediately | | | | WebMD. They hold a wealth of information. Check |
| clicked the link and began reading. I'm sure that who | | | | out your suspicions and keep pushing. I know that |
| ever wrote this knew me. The page described me in | | | | Fibromyalgia dose not have a cure, but I also know |
| detail. The link was to the John's Hopkins Hospital, | | | | that I'm not the only one that has it, and I know |
| and the heading at the top of the page read; | | | | that there are people working diligently on a cure. |
| Fibromyalgia. I can't even explain how it felt to have | | | | Just don't give up. |