Fibromyalgia Support Group

I have not been feeling well for a very long time - I a so tired of feeling sick. Yes I have body aches and often feel like I have the flu but the part that affects me the most is the severe fatigue - I am always so tired actually exhausted to the point of being weak. I can sleep for days and still have a hard time getting up to take a shower. Is this normal for Fibromyalgia? Yes I do have body aches even my hands and feet hurt but I can the lack of energy is what is making this disabiling for me.

Welcome Atabrat, I'm glad you found our wonderful fibro family! I am so sorry that you have this dreaded illness but you made a great move by joining this clan.

Yes fatigue does accompany FM but I am wondering is you might not also have CFS along with it. Has your doctor said anything about that? If not maybe you should bring it up.

I may be misstating but what I understand is that studies are showing that people with FM tend to not enter the deepest stage of sleep where the body gains energy and healing. This could be a key factor in figuring out this thing.

I hope you enjoy your time here.

Hello Atabrat,

Welcome to our group ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your symptoms could very well be Fibro but also I want to ask, have you had your thyroid checked ?

The body aches and flu like symptoms could very well be Fibro.

Always being tired and wanting to sleep a lot could definitely be your thyroid.

Please see your PCP for tests to determine what might be going on with your body.

Thyroid testing is as simple as a blood draw and then getting the correct dosage of medication.

Fibromyalgia isn t quite so simple but your PCP should be able to enlighten you on the symptoms and what to expect.

I have both Fibro and Hypothyroidism and trust me, they do NOT agree with each other most of the time. I never know from one morning to the next which one is going to act out on that particular day !!!

Take care and stop by to chat with us often ....

Marilyn

Before making his diagnois my doctor ruled out everything he could with blood work including RA. All blood work incuding thyroid turned out great - I have taken Prozac for panic disorder for 15 years and been panic free but now my doctor has switched me to Cymbalta and I am hoping that it helps. My symptoms have been going on for a long time and my doctor has ruled out just about everything and has told me he has suspected this for sometime but wanted to make sure. He is a good doctor. I just don't know much about this and am feeling overwhelmed.

It sounds like you are fortunate to have a good doctor. Many here don t and are constantly in search of one !!

It s good to hear that RA and thyroid has been ruled out. I m beginning to think that our thyroid is one of the most misunderstood organs in our bodies.

There is a wealth of information here in the Fibro Forum and you will meet many caring friends that are going thru much the same that you are.

I remember it took me quite awhile to even accept that I really had Fibro. Then, I had to learn to cope with it and accept my limitations ... That was nearly a year ago and I m doing much better.

Please feel free to post any questions or concerns you may have OR you may PM me (or any of the group leaders) at any time .

Marilyn

Hi Atabrat and welcome to our fibro family.

Glad you found us.

Hugs

Jan

Atabrat,

Here are a couple of links that might help you to better understand Fibro and what to expect :

http://www.fibrocenter.com/content/home.jsp

http://www.fibrohope.org/fibromyalgia_understanding.asp

However, I feel that belonging to this group here at MDJ is the best information and friends any of us could suffer thru Fibro with.

Welcome Atabrat. I agree with what has been said here. Fibro can be very overwhelming and just when you think you have learned everything there is to learn you come across something else. It is really good that you have a thourough doctor who knows about Fibro. That is a huge blessing. It is also a blessing that you only have fibro. I have fibro, CFS, hypothyroidism and a whole list of other things. It is common for fibro to coincide with other disorders. So even though you have to deal with this and I am sorry for that you really are very blessed. I am so glad you found our fibro family. This is a very good group and I am sure you will learn alot here. Feel free to read our profiles and get to know us and keep posting so we can get to know you. Feel free to pm me anytime if you think I can help you. That is what we are all here for. To help and support one another.

Hi Atabrat,

Welcome to the group...as you might have noticed, we're a very supportive group!

I think the fatigue is the worst part of the fibromylagia...and it all comes down to lousy sleep or no sleep for me.

If you aren't taking sleep meds, you might want to discuss it with your doctor. Some medical thought is that fibro is actually caused by lack of quality sleep.

I go from sleeping for days to only getting 3-6 hours a night and I'm always tired. It gets old.

I take Cymbalta too and I love it. It's the best anti-depressant I've used and it also seems to control my pain so it's bearable--I don't take anything else for pain and for me right now, it works.

I'm glad you found our group but sorry you had to go looking.

I never expected such a fast and warm welcome! I suffered with panic disorder for many years before being put on Prozac and was symptom free for 15 years - I also get severe migraines and have dealt with all of that. I am a little nervous leaving the Prozac because I can't go back to having daily panic attacks but I am very hopeful that Cymbalta will be the answer to both and help as much as the Prozac helped the anxiety/panic attacks. I do think my doctor thinks that CFS is part of it also. I think the Cymbalta is his first choice and I believe he thinks it will help with the fatigue and the pain. I am the type of person who wants to know what is going on with my body and even though I will take the medication I am much more into knowing what I can do for myself to help me feel better, diet, exercise, meditation, whatever - I do not believe in just relying completely on pills. I am a very determined person and have been able to stay off cholesterol and high blood pressure medication by making lifestyle changes to get them under control. I am 46 and if anyone has suggestions on what help - how much daily exercise? Foods to avoid or foods to make sure you eat daily I am very interested.

I am thankful it is not RA because I am sure that would be worse. I really am looking forward to friends who understand and maybe I will be able to help as I learn more.