On Fibromylagia Awareness Day I wanted to do something special at the college I attended, but I didn't have the energy. This quarter I have 2 online classes, I don't think the extra energy to attend the classroom is in me right now.

I called the local newspaper on Friday May 9th, The Post Bulletin, and asked if they were publishing anything for Fibromylagia AwarenessDay and the Gentlemen that answered said "yes he thought Jeff from the health dept was running something." I said thank you and hung up. I thought about this a bit more and decided it was a bit more personable to me and I wanted to say more.

I called back to the editorial dept. and started rambling on (like I have been known to do to who ever answer the phone-like they know who I am-), and this new gentlemen expalined to me he wasn't the first person.I felt so silly like always.

This second person ended up being Jeff from the health dept. There was going to be a small add in the paper on Fibromylagia and there was going to be speakers up at the Capital. However, he was going to interview a family that he was going to run an article on at a later date and asked me if I wanted to be interviewed as well, I accepted. Well we ended up talking the phone for over an hour.

Jeff asked some basic questions such as when you say you hurt all over, what do you mean? or Do you think some doctors don't believe that fibro even exist ?  I spoke of the emotional part of fibro with him, feeling alone and isolated most of the time. I declined the family photo unlike the other "family" he will be interviewing. I am alone in my struggle with no support and this is why I declined the family photo. My son reminded me not to long ago that it has been quite a few years now that I haven't felt good. He didn't remember when I last felt good. I about started to cry because he was half saying it as a smartass and half as concern so both ways I wanted to cry.

I got into more depth with this reporter and explained to him how chronic fatigue and fibro were connected to each other and he had to refrase me. "So you think Chrinic Fatigue and Fibromylagia are related", I said "very much so if not one in the same". I got into detail about how the medical community needs to recognize CFS just as much as fibro and if you go to the Center for Disease Control they actually launched a national campaign in 2006 for doctors to start recognizeing CFS and on their web site doctors can continue their education and receive college credits 

http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/

another site that is a basic site to explain your immune system is

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575681/Immune_System.html

I think if my immune system would have been better perpared and not so run down, I wouldn't be in the shape that I am in right now. I do want to thank God for the opportunity to try and understand my situation and ask him for his guidence because I use to, and still do, want the answers yesterday to what am I suspose to do. One day at a time is hard.

 Anyways I did my share of awareness and I have a feeling it isn't going to stop here for this town that I live in, at least not for me. Maybe it won't be an everyday thing, but before Jeff at the Post Bulletin, I was creating waves around this town with this clinic that so many look up to, and we should for many things. My mother had a massive stroke with her whole left side down. Now less than 1 year later she is back at home and is driving-how awsome is that! However, research money is not being spent in all the right directions.

I fly to Seattle to the www.fibroandfatigue.com  now with great hopes. My primary care is aware of this and is ok with this as well. The problem is I need to get organized as a person to get my supplements and other things together. Right now I can hardly organize myself with daily living let alone anything else. I just cannot understand what happened to me almost overnight....I was slipping for quite a while though but almost overnight I became so inmobile and out of sorts.

I have had Fibromylagia-FMS for 8  years (along with other things I hope to discuss at a later time), but only recently diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Immune Syndrome-CFIDS or CFS.

I hurtmy neck 8 years ago and went through all the standard testing. I(WE) know that the standard testing doctors perform with people with fibro are always ok. I would like to share my MRI from 8/18/2000

I have mild kyphosis of the cervical spine centered at C4-5 level with diffuse disk bulge at C4-5 which is slightly eccentric to the left. There is no significant central spinal or neural foraminal stenosis.

At C5-6 level, there is a more prominent diffuse disk bulge which is eccentric to the right with impression on the ventral aspect of the thecal sac and minimal distortion on the ventral aspect of the spinal cord. There is no intramedullary signal abnormality within the visualized cercical spinal cord. Bone marrow signal characteristics are normal for age. (* For Age* is a courious one to me, along with studies with people with fibro have more neuro endings or neuro transmitters in their spinal canal*)

My more recent MRI states about the same thing and the Spine Center tells me my disk are the same (I read the report and it does read about the same except noe C-3 is also involved). Doctors still won't do anything for my neck and I continue to have a headache with different severety daily. I recently seen a headach specialist and he put me on topamax with hopes to help my daily headaches. After being on 100mg for about 5 mon and no success, I will be going off soon. I think topamax may have helped to stabalize my weight, so I hope my weight will at least maintain. Topamax made 17 different meds I am on....to many!

 My Chiropractor has looked at both my MRIs and has no doubt that my neck was due to an injury, and I now have bone spurs growing on each side of my neck which is the bodys natural way to protect itself. I have had a headache everyday for the last 8 years!I also have 3 other places in my back that has degenerative disk that gives me problems. I had a job at the time that was physically demanding (or was it the supervisor who didn't really like me). ( oh and by the way Workers comp took no responsibility-even in the payments of my medical tests)

At the time of my accident I didn't understand what was happening to me. I was active young mother who now hurt. Just to maintain getting to work and functioning there was challenging. I couldn't do/enjoy the things I once did. I did manage to get out of the machine operator occupation since this was going to kill me, and I went into retail. This helped some. Everything always helps at first.

 As time went on I seem to be in a Fibro flare up everyday. I hurt, my muscles had bubbles that could be rubbed out only to come back within hours. My head hurt on top of everything else and it was coming from my neck. My doctor would give me only a few pain pills or whatever at times, but we have all been looked at by some one or another for wanting to be a druggie. Pain pills, muscle relaxants, sleep aids whatever the case. I have disk that push into my spinal canal and fibro and degenerative disk and my doctor still wants to be scarce on things. My biggest complaint was I wanted something for my headaches and my neck/back aches without making me tired because I had to work.

  I was  tired all the time. I would get up in the morning thinking of looking forward to getting off of work to take a nap! My doctor just said it was the fibro. Flares I thought would come and go but not stay.  Co-workers thought I looked grumpy all the time when I was just concentrating so hard just to be able to accomplish my task at hand.I worked my way up into the company to a postion that was less physically demanding. I worked in Vault/Bookkeeping area of a major retail store. I managed between $120,000 to $200,000 a day for deposit. ( I told you this for later on) I complained to my doctor that my "wake" hours of a day was decreasing. All I could do is work. When I got home there was nothing left. He had no answers for me, just said it was the fibro.

I found myself this last year slipping backwards.  My memory, cognative skills, getting confused, sleeping more, hurting more, fecal incontanance getting worse. I cried for help to the medical community with no success. I live close to a well known clinic yet they are a bit conservative on most things. I went to these dept ( You may be able to see the humor)

• The Spine Center
• no change-I was told that "Some people have bulging disk and never even feel them"-I told that doctor he told me that same line 8 years previously and that "I wasn't other people" and "I did feel them" either pinching in my neck or constantly up my neck and causing me a headache on my left side.
• He did send me down to get cortisone in my faucet joints with no success.

• Neurology
• Had me do an MRI-was concerned for headaches and the fluid that would be in my ears when I would get up-all ok
• Wasn't worried about my fecal incontance-"well I sure was"
• I tried to discuss an issue but it was short lived:
• people with Fibromylagia have more neuro transmitters especially in their spinal colom and the Neurologist cut me right off and told me that this has never been proven. Yes it has, but he was the expert, not I. (I thought this was a bit vain for such an important position at such an important clinic)(I also thought that maybe this was the reason why I was feeling these disk bulging into my spinal canal so much compared to others)
• Did send me to get memory testing done-this was very different and I thought for sure I failed-all ok
• I was in school part time and my homework that would take me 4 hours was now taking me double the amount of time need .
• I was getting confused on elevators of where I needed to go.
• Driving  I would get confused where I was going, when I would figure it out I would make wrong turns to get out of the parking lot.
• Always late for work, I am always late for everything anymore.
• One morning I got up and was trying to get dressed and I didn't know what came first my pants or my shoes!

• Neorology Surgeon
• Couldn't tell where to operate? Muscle, tendon, nerve, ligament so to leave alone keep on meds ( I don't want to be on 17 meds, I am starting to get confused doing my weekly meds) I didn't have to do all these meds before I hurt my neck, before I got fibromylagia! Frustrating.

• Gastroenterology
• Had me do balloon holding to test my strength of my abdominal floor muscles-are ok
•  my fecal incontinence-to quit drinking pop..why didn't I think of this..I did for over a month all caffeine and all artificial sweetners....no luck

• ENT
• Chronic sinus infections and problems with my and teeth with my ears feeling like they were going to blow out- mostly my left side as if it was swimmers ear with headaches and I have had this for 8 years since the accident! The only thing new is the severity of the pressure in my ears and now the wetness in my ears
• Ordered a CAT scan since I haden't had one  in 3-4 years-all ok
•   The fluid drainage from my ears is probably caused     from my headaches. This one sounded to crazy to me!  The Pressure who the """ knows.

• Vascular Lab
• I thought I was going to have my upper extremeties done and when I got there my lower extremeties got hooked up. The tech even called my doctor to make sure he didn't want the upper half done as well since I was there and my primary said no.
• This wouldn't be the first time showing p for test where they only "half' tested an area that could have been tested the full area so I didn't have to come back another time a couple months down the road.
• I remember being with my primary care and asking to have my neck be checked out. My chiropractor thought I could have (therosaic outlet-sorry about the spelling) and my mother had had a stroke. (My chiropractor had even sent a letter to the Spine Center in regards to this and asked Dr " "' to get back with me, but he never did) My primary care said there was steps and channels to take first. If he just sent me there for my neck and he quit speaking. He set up the appointment for the vascular study-my lower half only come to find out!
• Memory Testing
• My cognative skills were declining and it was more than just for getting where you parked your car. I was actually getting confussed doing things, understanding things. This test was very different. I thought for sure I wasn't doing very well and was getting nervous since I couldn't get the lady to smile at all. This test came back as I am ok too-good thing to know, but I am not ok and something is going on in me and I need help and no one seems to be able to help me....
• Womens HealthEarly Menoupause done at 42, started at 32
• They suggested to go on the HRT patch instead of a pill. Talked with me about several issues and sent me to do a breast exam on my left side only-everything ok.
• Cancer Genetics-since it ran in the family but my chances are not that high of a percentage.

• Physical Therapy
• Iwas late and he was arrogant and actually told me there was nothing more he could do for me. If Doctor (the referring doctor) would have looked at doctors (the spine center doctor) notes. I felt this was a arrogant comment since I haven't been to a physical therapist since my accident 7-8 years previously. I had been followed up in the Spine Center all this time and I do wonder what the Spine Center notes say and should obtain them.  After talking with this therapist for a while he and I did decide he could show me some new exercises to do.  I was using my neck muscles incorrectly. He told me that it wasn't uncommon after an injury to learn to use your muscles differently/incorrectly to compensate for an injury.

• Others As well

I am sure many of you with any "invisible disease" can appreciate the above doctor vistis that got me no where after spending thousands of dollars. I know I wasn't ok so I made a decesion to go out of state for help to the Fibromylagia  and Fatigue Centers http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/ I am not working and my funds are running low so I hope to continue with this. I did my research and this is where I want to be.

I have frustration at the doctors that I have seen for 22 years yet I can see humor in it as well. I got scared not knowing where to turn to and made the decesion to go to the Fibro and Fatigue Center FFC myself with the suport of my doctor as well. As he said, I have had not much help with the medical community-it is a "treatment center" for FMS/CFIDS. HE said the success rate at a cancer center is greater so maybe this center will be greater for fibro.

I

 I know I said this but I wanted to say it again. When I was falling a sleep waiting for the doctor to come in to see me and complaining about this makes me know now about CFIDS.

This is what has my interest and passion for learning. CFS is another chronnic illness doctors have a hard time diagnosing. The Center for Disease Control has several interesting topics and doctors can go there and obtain college credits for learning about CFS and how to diagnose. Left untreated CFS can cause other medical problems.

 I was diagnosed with CFIDS by the FFC center. Through my blood work at the center, this is my weakest point.

My passion is to learn about Autoimmune diseaese as well

American Autoimmune is something I recently I stumbled across. My mothers sister has MS and Lupas which are autoimmune diseases. I have Fibromylagia, Chronic Fatigue, Raynauds, Allergis Rhinitis which are autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune  Thyroid Disease is interesting since the FFC center just put me on thyroid medicine and Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease is also interesting since I have such problems with my ears and mostly my left one.

http://www.aarda.org/

Hi everyone. I am just checking in.

 I go to the doctor Monday. Maybe he will tell me I am OK and / or I really do hurt all over. I did here back about the sleep test and I do havesleep apnea to a small degree. I am affraid that if I would have really got to go into a deeper sleep it may have been to a bigger degree. I'm not sure about the accuracy of those test. Have a great weekend!

Well since yesterday I have been reading a book called "He came to Set the Captives Free".  In this book, it takes you in a journey through the spiritual warfare with satan and how to pray hedges of protection and HOW Christians are bound with generational demons and curses. I am about 60% though  the book and I am telling you it has CHANGED ME! It has taught me to have authority over the devil and WHY it is so important to know the word of God and to read it! If any of you have theopprotunity to get this book and read it, DO SO! Oh my gosh it will bring you to a higher level and totally flip your view on life as a Christian.

Me, mom , and dad went to Life Church in Mobile today for Sunday school and for worship services. MAN that church ROCKED! Funnies tthing I could not put that book down and I read it the whole trip over to Mobile and on the trip home. I of course did not take it inside. Dad was very resilient, so mom told me. He ws very standoffish in the new church  and it was so unlike him! I am not trying to confess he is bound but it seems as such! Mom had a BALL in praise and worship and man the Holy Spirit was so strong there -- not like the other church that dad still attends. GROWN MEN at this church were jumping and dancing in the spirit and it was so AWESOME! I had not felt that and been around people who love God and do not care what other think. I fit in I felt. I told my mom about it and RIGHT AWAY satan tried to use my mother  and said "Don't form an opinion and trust them " and I told her "Jesus is there and they are free in the spirit just as God wants us!"  She then hushed up and satan knew I was not going to let him win!

That "new" med is really an "old" med called Gabapentin which I think is really Naurotin, or something and I'm not quite sure if it's going to work or not. All it seems to do is make me even more tired than I already am.

Nothing will ever be perfect because that's just the way it is and... I wouldn't want perfect anyway.

I'm really trying here to get over this depression. Maybe the Lexapro just isn't working right.  Maybe this is why I'm so tired. Maybe the doctor has me on too many different meds.

I shouldn't be depressed. I shouldn't be tired. I shouldn't be sick. I'm tired of feeling like this. My plan is to live to 104. I have so many things that I want to do, things that I still want to learn, new things to try. How am I going to do this? My mind just races thinking of all of the things I used to take for granted and now want back.

Well..today is going to be a beautiful day. I think I'll go take a walk out to the back pasture and see some of the calves. They always cheer me up and I hear them "mooing" right now. Think positive and just be thankful! :)

Well it's tax day here and I'm glad my stimulus return is submitted.  So many don't know about submitting them! 

It's been exactly 10 days since dad's stroke.  It has been quite the week.  Hospital visits, coming home, alot of chores to do, dad care, mom care, my own care!

People somehow are under the impression if you are disabled, you are lazy and sit on your butt all day doing nothing except watching tv!  It's disgusting how they stereotype the disabled.  Not to mention lymphedema patients being called "fat".  I get so mad at that.

Some days I feel I do more here at home than I ever did at work.  It takes twice as long when you don't feel good to start.  I started my day today with a touch of bad food bug and vomiting.  I had a terrible toothache, not sure which tooth it is, DDS xrayed both of them can't tell.  So here I sit in pain with the tooth, the jaw the usual, killing me, headache up the wazoo, swollen up the wazoo with a household of elderly parents, dad with the stroke and deaf (98% deaf) and he can't talk properly he slurs and gibberish, then mom is blind, diabetic.  I had to get groceries today, pay bills, transport a friends kid to and from work, take back a few things to Walmart for mom, get gas, get to the bank to order new checks, then I had my chiropractor.  I came home beat to find them arguing about some petty thing, had to get dinner going, feed the cats, do litter duty and put house trash out, then it was dishes, laundry, and here I am and it's 10:07.   I cannot imagine doing this and working too.  Working 2 jobs was alot easier!  My problem with working is I am not reliable I'm semi-ok one day and flat the next.  I have to put so much care into the lymphedema all the time to stay mobile.  I work 5 times a day on myself.  That's at least 5 hours there.

I also helped a friend with her bookwork on her bills in the morning too.   I was so tempted to go back to bed today and forget all of it.  I'm going to bed very shortly after a fast bath.  The car was so hot today but didn't have much gas to turn on AC.  I got gas last on the way home.