Second, I was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia on Tuesday (10-9-07). I've been going to doctors for years now and not really getting anywhere. For a long time I thought it was all in my head. And then I would stop and think, if it's all in my head why do I hurt so much?

I went to my regular doctor telling him of my pain, which has worsened since August, and he just dismissed it as being all in my head. I got a copy of his report and he suggested that my pain was due to the fact that I was "obese" which I am not. By all means I am overweight, but I'm not obese. I guess the one good thing he did do for me was to send me to a rhuematologist.

I went to the rhuematologist and he asked me many questions and did an exam of my body. He about jumped off the table when he pushed on my back and I gasped for air. Within 20 to 30 minutes he told me that I had Fidromyalgia. He also explained to me that with the right diet, exercise and plenty of sleep (done with muscle relaxers) I should be able to control my pain.

I'm so glad that I've found a place where people understand what I'm going through. Thanks for letting me share my story with you.

The people are wonderful and the information is really useful.

The people are wonderful and the information is really useful.

please take a look in the Medicine & Treatment section for the posting entitled Important Links

This is a good place to start learning about the condition.

#1 is to read the national guidline for diagnosis & treatment of Fibro contained in the posting.

just like your dr. was off base on the overweight bit I doubt that you will be able to see any beneifit from diet & exercise alone (losing weight never hurts unless uour underweight as insulin resistance - the precurser to Type II diabetes is a perpetuating factor for FIbromyalgia Flare) .

You need to understand what meds work & what don't and how much to take & when.

you also need to understand just what "excercise" means in this context - it's all in the guidline.

To much of the wrong kind of exercise or physical therapy can make it worse not better. I reccommend you print it out & bring it to your provider (doctors are human & they don't keep up on everthing).

I would tell him/her that this is the national standard & treatment protocol & that you want to follow the recommendations for treatment & medication contained within the document.

except for lyrica which isn't on the guideline (too new) I would take only the meds that have been tested and proven effective (aka in the guidelines). If you are offerd Lyrica I'd say try it & see if it helps

a very important fact to note is that anticonvulsants (ie Nurontien/gabapenetin was not even surveyed because it is not effective (regardless of what the drug salesprson told your Doctor).

Feel free to ask questions either in a new posting or via a private message to me if you're shy or embarrased to ask the forum in general

Post edited by: bshapiro, at: 10/17/2007 23:10