Costochondritis Support Group

Hi everyone,

My Name is Damien I am 28 years old with two wonderful children and a supportive wife who are my world. I suffer from Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Costochondritis, ADHD, Bipolar and Generalized Anxiety Disorder with Panic Disorder.

When I was 13 years old my parents went through a nasty divorce that would forever change my life. I began having severe depression episodes, acting out in school, and went from an A student to failing. I was held back in 7th grade and acted out even more. I eventually lost all will to live and began attempting suicide.

My mother who was scared immediately put me into a mental hospital where I was observed. They determined that I was not ready to be back into society and sent me to a Boot camp called Ascent in the NW. After that camp I was still not doing very well. My mom then through a financial benefactor sent me to a boarding school for mentally ill and socially challenged kids. I spent 3 years there.

My life would never be the same, being unable to mingle back into society my depression and my anxiety became severe. I could never keep a job and could never figure out why. This happened for nearly 6 years until I met my wife. I wanted to provide for her, so I worked as well and as long as I could but never really held a job for more than a few months.

We eventually had my son who is now 5 years old, so I felt like I had to really hold it together for my family. Due to personal decisions at this time I was not on medicine or seeing anyone for my illness so things were not easy. We went homeless 3 times family did not help we had no where to turn.

When we moved up here to the Washington area on promises of a long time friend helping us out we hit yet another snag, this friend wasn't who we thought he was, after packing up our life with my wife being pregnant we went homeless again. Thankfully we were able to get into housing. However I noticed that I began to have weird pain, and my anxiety was the worse it was in years. The pain was everywhere and my hands began to numb. I asked my primary care, and he referred me to a Rhumetalogist where I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and CFS. My world yet again flipped upside down.

I began having severe chest pain and tightness, my PCP thought it was just anxiety and brushed it off. I demanded a Cardiologist to rule out heart disease, they did EKG, and stress test and told me I had costochondritis from my fibro. I thought great yet something else wrong with me.

I live day to day with pain, trying to manage it the best I can, but not giving up hope. I take the medicine given to me and listen to those wiser than me who have been through it. I found MD junction a few weeks ago and found a family, a group of people that I can talk to and know what I am going through, as well as my wife found a place she can talk to people about coping with my illness.

Though I have not had a few of these illness for long, I am knowledgeable and study everything I can, I like to help those come to grips with their illness and give them an outlet to discuss things. Should you have any questions and I am able to help I will. Thank you and good luck.