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Looking back I started getting symptoms in grade 8. But they were so minor they would go away as fast as they would show up. So nothing was really said about it or would be forgotten about by the time I could tell someone. I was about 17 when my symptoms started to take over. Starting with my ribs constantly getting inflammed and injuries taking longer than usual to heal. My doctor at the time didn't believe in Fibromyalgia and focused her attention on my ribs. She gave me anti-inflammatories one after another. At first it would seem like they were working, but it never took long for my body to start rejecting them and the inflammation to come back. And the doctor would just change the brand or type. Since that was clearly NOT what my body needed my stomach began suffering needlessly. Before I knew it I was having stomach problems on top of my ribs and the other growing fibromyalgia symptoms. Finally my doctor sent me to a specialist because of the issues I was now having with my stomach, who wrongfully diagnosed me with Crohn's Disease. Half my in-laws-to-be had Crohn's and we knew without a doubt because of them that I did not have that. I.B.S. symptoms continued to grow because of my stomach being uncared for and the anti-inflammatories still being thrown at me for my ribs. At this point I had a grinding sensation in my rib cage from the pressure of the inflammation. It hurt to even breathe, and I was literally bedded because of it. Talking, moving around, doing anything that would increase my breathing pace was a chore. I couldn't even pick up my cat any more. When I wanted to spend time with my cat I had to have someone pick him up and place him on my lap just so I could pet him. It had been close to 4 years since it all started and I still didn't have any answers as to why I kept getting so sick. So taking a chance I handed my doctor the phone number of my in-laws' specialist for a referral playing on her being convinced it was Crohn's or IBS doing it to me (inspite of nothing working to help with those symptoms). It was our last hope of getting answers. We knew he was the best, and that if any one could help us, he could. It was a 6 month waiting period before I could get in to see him, but it was so worth the wait. He did a test or two and there it was ... the answers we had be waiting to hear. I did not have Crohn's ... not even IBS really. The anti-inflammatories had destroyed my stomach and that's why I was having so much problems with that. He pressed on 4 out of the 18 tenderpoints (man did that hurt) then started to explain to us what fibromyalgia is. I wish that was where it all ended and I could say that I just got better from there, but I can't. My doctor still didn't believe in fibromyalgia. So she wouldn't treat me properly for it. She went through the motions of refilling the medication the specialist had prescribed at the dose he prescribed it at. I had to learn all about it in detail on my own. From my research I was able to learn some things that taught me how to cope with the symptoms, and I had the relief of finally knowing what was going on with me. Believe me, it is a very scary thing not knowing why you keep getting sick! With the medication from the specialist and the knowledge I was putting to use I started to get a little better. Even tried to go back to work. But it didn't last. I lost my job for the 3rd or 4th time because of missing too much work from getting sick again and my ribs inflamming again. A few months later, my doctor went on medical leave. Her replacement was a dick and didn't pay attention to why he was giving me medication, often forgetting why he gave me pain killers by the next visit. So I took advantage of the opportunity and started looking for a new doctor. One that not only believed in fibromyalgia but knew all about it ... and how to treat it. This is where I get to tell you I started to get better. Within 2-3 months with the new doctor she had me well enough to really go back to work. She kept me on the same medication that the specialist had put me on, but she started slowly raising the dose significantly. She taught me how to cope with the pain as well as things I could do to help with the pain without pain killers. A year later I wasn't relying on pain killers at all. I still need them from time to time, but they were no longer what kept me going. 2 years later she had me having days and sometimes even weeks at a time that I got to feel 'normal'. There is no cure for Fibromyalgia. It is something I will have for the rest of my life. The work I can do is limited; I can't do any physical work. But now I can have a life with the help of medication, keeping my stress level down, and making sure I get proper sleep. The hardest part is making sure I don't over do it when I am feeling good. 'Flare ups' can happen on a regular basis, and I am often a human barometer so I do still have to be careful. Choose my battles and activities carefully. I still occasionally get inflammation in my ribs when I've gotten carried away, but it's far more common for my entire body to get really achy from it. The inflammation in my ribs is my trigger, acting as a bit of a warning. It's basically my warning that my body is about to 'shut down'; which means it's time to slow down or prepare to not be able to do a thing for a week or two. |
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