Apparently.....

Hello Skye

Linda here, I have just the same problem with weight around my tummy, my GP has done some tests, cholesterol, blood sugar and so on, for something called metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes. They were all ok. He said that my weight would not help the pain as my legs have to carry the extra! Lol He didn`t mention anything about the blood travelling round the body though!! I am also a size 16 and its something worth looking into I guess. I wonder if the the same reason can be given for the fatigue, sleepless nights and pains in my shoulders and wrist??? Fibro causes so many wierd things, I`m not sure they could all be put down to circulation? I guess the only way to find out for sure would be to lose weight and see if we are symtom free!!

It will be interesting to see what some of the others have to say.

Love Linda

Hi Lindy & Linda

Lindy I can't believe that all the symptoms you list that are for fibro are due to your weight gain. Probably the weight gain will make it worse but I still think it sounds like you have fibro. I am not a doctor but some doctors if can't work out what is wrong will blame it on something else. :cry:

Has he done any blood tests and have you seen a rheumatologist to check for the pressure points. How long has it been going on for you! If I were you I would get a second opinion from a different doctor. It took me nine years before I was listened to. That was after i saw a new doctor at the surgery. I was seeing a doctor at my surgery who had been there for years. It pays to go see one he is new and with new ideas. I am not overweight as I am size 12 so couldn't use that one on me! :cry: Tried to fob me off with just being OA though!

Hi Linda you are right there are so many strange things with this Fibro.

Losing weight probably would help of course but I still feel I wouldn't leave it a that. I think Lindy should get second opinion. We are too easy fobbed off and don't like to make a fuss! Unfortuanately now we need to more than ever. I have been there and labelled obssessed with my joints and had it written in my notes. That made me more determined to proove them wrong.

Hope you both are not in too much pain today. Fight for what you believe in!

Love Tess

\"[b:b6136dd074]I wonder if the the same reason can be given for the fatigue, sleepless nights and pains in my shoulders and wrist???\"[/b:b6136dd074]

Exactly what I was wondering Linda. The pain in my knees, hands and elbows is awful at times. Im 42 and feel 92 on occasion.

Tess, all my bloods came back normal. The GP did say she was THINKING fibromyalgia....but my CRP was normal, so, she then suggested that my symptoms were due to my weight gain. Ive been feeling this way on and off for about a year now. Last 4 months being particularly bad.

I wonder if everyone with excess fat on their tummy feels this way? I certainly didnt when I was pregnant... :lol: and there was one wholeeeeeeee loadddddddd of fat there!

Anyhoo! I hope u are both well. Catch up soon.

Take Care

Lindy..x

Hi Lindy

You must be so frustrated with it all. I know it is difficult but I really think you should find a doctor who will take this seriously! Don't let it go on like for nine years as for me. If I hadn't changed to a different doctor could have still been going back all the time. Some doctors just won't accept that it is a real illness. It is on the NHS direct website! What is it doing on there if it isn't a real condition. :lol:

You are right I don't believe it is because of your weight. When I was 32 I had twins and had lots of extra weight on my tummy lol. Especailly as my twins weighed 7lb 10oz and 8lb 11oz. I never experienced any pain like I get now. :cry: What you need to do is print out a copy of Fibromyalgia of this site and tick the symptoms you have and take it and show your doctor. The pains you describe are exactly the same as Fibromyaglia. I also have Oa in some joints before I knew I had this Fibro thingy so I just put it all down to the OA. Mine was picked up after my doctor did all the bloods and sent me to see Rheumatologist. He felt for pressure points all over my body. There are 18 and you need 11 for them to diagnose Fibro.

I did have eleven. He gave me a booklet and was going through the symptoms for Fibro and I said yes I have that one and he said it could have been written for me. I must have been very lucky to get a Rheumatologist also who takes Fibromyaglia seriously. Go to see him again on Thursday this week after three months.

I do hope you can get someone to listen to you. It is hard but fight for what you believe in :lol:

Well I hope we all get a good sleep tonight as this weather isn't helping at all. It is suppose to be a lot colder weather this week. :cry:

Love Tess x x

WELL WELL WELL

Hi skye Diane here...... Please please dont give up trying to find out what is wrong with u... gps are....... oh i cant swear on here..... I was ill with Depression for many many years and every time i had something else wrong with me--- backache they put it down to my depression....Then 18months ago i started having terrible pain all over my body with crippling effects and i still dont think they believed me.. i kept fighting...evenually after a year getting to see a rhymatoligist who.. said i def had fibro.. all my blood test always came back clear it wasnt untill i went to hospital that the rhymatoligist was so helpful and also told me i have oestoarthitis in my knees frozen shoulder and tennis elbow all on top of the fibro..

You know how u feel u know ur not right so please dont give up... come on here chat with us all, see if ur symtoms are the same as ours....

I am now going to see my gp to get me a xray on my back as i believe there is something over above the fibro that is wrong with it.

take care keep fighting.. xx di x

Hi Lindy and Di

Di is right Lindy you have got to keep fighting! Make them listen to you.

You know you don't feel well and need answers. When I saw my gp I kept saying to him I needed a new body lol :cry: He told me he would get to the bottom of it and he did! Suppose I am lucky after nine years found a gp who wanted to find out what was going on. :lol:

If I hadn't had changed doctors would still be going back now!

Well Di I hope you get some more answers about your back!

Take care both of you and talk soon.

Love Tess x x

HI there everyone,

Well it appears that Sky you may have one of those medical patronizers, as many of the medication helps with weight gain and Fibromyalgia often causes weight gain in individuals due to a number of factors that are both directly and indirectly related to the disease itself. Fibromyalgia leads to hormonal imbalances, affecting levels of cortisol, thyroid, serotonin and insulin, as well as the production of growth hormones. Because of this hormonal imbalance, metabolism slows down and weight gain often follows. It really annoys me when these so called medical professionals say things like this, as it reminds me of this Rhuematologist a Group member saw and myself and basically the Rhuemo said to my member \"Are you a lone parent\" and I needed to loose weight, it doesn't take a so called professional to tell me this, what on earth has a lone parent got to do with a diagnosis, I think many think we are just malingerers that imagine the pain and fatigue........ I think you probably have one of these doctors that do not believe in Fibromyalgia and so as Di says do not give up!!!!!!

As Tess says take a copy of the symptoms to your doctor, my pain started after I had my son and I believe it was due to an epidural I had for my c-section as I have Osteo in my back (not diagnosed until a year ago, my son is three in jan 09) and the Anesthetist couldn't get the incision due to this and as I had an accident on a bus previously it all esculated six months after the birth of my son, and now I have a Pain Specialist Consultant he has been very supportive he said he knows the pain is not in my head and I have 18 out 18 tender points so I have the maximum one can have.......from head to toe!!!!!! :oops: he touched my skin like a slight touch and my mum said I nearly jumped to the ceiling and it was ever so slightly!!! so not a nice illness.

Fatigue associated with fibromyalgia also leads to increased weight. Because fibromyalgia initiates an arousal disturbance in the brain wave pattern during sleep, the individual can’t get enough quality sleep; the individual can also suffer from sleep apnea (pauses during night time breathing and snoring) and restless legs (tingling in the legs), which increase tiredness.

A new study found that a lack of sleep also leads to higher hypocretin production, which is important in sleep and appetite levels. When hypocretin neuron levels are high (due to environmental and mental stressors), they lead to an increased state of arousal, leading not only to fatigue, but also to overeating.

In addition to fatigue, many fibromyalgia patients experience chronic pain, which can also inhibit their ability to exercise.

Drugs taken to treat fibromyalgia-related depression can also cause the individual to gain weight. Antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft increase appetite, fluid retention, and can affect hormone levels and therefore metabolism.

Like Tess and myself an under active thyroid does not help too!!! and if you have Osteo? and as with Di I do hope your pain is not too severe as Osteo in my back is painful, along with the hips, I do hope you get answers soon xxxx

Linda I have problems in my shoulders and wrists and I have cervical rib which can again cause numbness etc I can't lift my hands/arms above my head without the weakness and pain is too much, possibly carpal tunnel syndrome. People who suffer from fibromyalgia are also at increased risk for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. In fact, recent studies performed on fibromyalgia patients show that women with fibromyalgia are much more likely to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome than those women who do not have fibromyalgia. Up to 55% of all fibromyalgia patients have carpal tunnel syndrome. This percentage is more than 5 times greater than the risk for the general population. Hopefully this is not associated with you Linda, I am only speculating with myself as I am no doctor but again it is worth looking in

Hi there SES :D

Your last post makes really interesting reading. I'll make sure that my pals on the CFS forum have a read, as most of us suffer from fibromyalgia too.

Thanks for that :ok:

Take care

Katie xx

Well I came over to read it only to find it had been removed

Someone was messing about and it has been returned xxxx

Hugs to you all xxx

Hi Ses,

That post was very, very interesting :!: We have a very good GP, I`ve had no problems with a diagnosis for the fibro, and my husband always gets good care..... except for one thing. Weight gain :!: My weight has gone up alarmingly (if thats a word) since the fibro, and I`ve put off asking for help and advice because of GP`s atitude to Ray`s weight gain :!: He maintains you only gain weight for one reason and that is over eating, even if you only eat 900 cals a day he says that is too much for you if you continue to gain weight and therefore must eat even less :!:

I am seriously thinking of printing out your post and take it to him. Is that allowed Ses :?: Not sure whether it breaches any conditions of the forum or anything :?: I also have an underactive thyroid and OA in my knees, and I take anti depressants :!: I`ve been worrying about my weight for some time and have never eaten the amount I do now. Never was able to eat a big meal and still can`t but eat small amounts all day. Thought it was because I am at home all day now and sort of comfort eating. I think now I must pluck up courage and go and see GP.

Thanks for your support on this site Ses, you really do have lots of information to share.

Hope things are not too bad for you at the moment.

Love Linda

Hi there SES and Gang

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and CFS/ME at the beginning of last month (nov) and have struggled with many of the problems that you have discussed. Re: the weight - Poppycock - I lost almost 3 stone and have still had the problems you mentioned! It has been a real struggle trying to keep it off due to not being able to exercise because of the pain but also through having a back problem (had L5/S1 disc prolapse and discectomy in June 07) and have put just over a stone back on :cry:

After the discectomy I was still getting pain in my back, hips and knees and was referred to Rhuematologist to rule out RA and I was told in Dec 07 that it was 'thought' i had Fibro but was then sent away with no info at all on this so had no idea what to do about it :?

My problems escalated after the op and have had numerous problems, backwards and forwards for MRI scans, blood tests, x-rays, hospital appointments, epidural injections into my back, etc, etc and finally given diagnosis of Fibromyalgia AND CFS/ME last month :roll: The Rhuematologist that I saw also said that they think i've had this/these intermittently since I was 17ish (i'm now 39) but the op i had last year caused major relapse and have had continued pain and fatigue with various other problems ever since :cry:

I have just been referred to the ME clinic in my area (60 miles away) but have had NO advice regarding the Fibromyalgia at all :x Its a constant battle to get ANYWHERE with this and i just don't have the energy or the mental ability to take on the medical profession at the moment, which in my opinion is WHY many of us get 'fobbed off'.

Thankfully, for ME i met Katie and the Gang on the CFS/ME forum and they have given me lots of support and advice which has helped me through a very confusing time and I would love to come chat with you lot too if that ok with you all :D

Hi Julia

It is so confusing when they don't tell you for sure what is going on.

You can come on here anytime and talk to us all. :lol: We all support each other and not only talk about fibro but other things as well.

A Happy New Year to you and everyone else.

Love Tess x x

Hi there everyone.....

So glad I helped everyone with my post xxxx and everyone is welcome on our forums xxxx I cannot see it being a problem Linda printing the age off as it is not doing any harm xxxxx

All the best to everyone and [size=24:2ac3e326db][color=violet:2ac3e326db]HAPPY NEW YEAR xxxx[/color:2ac3e326db][/size:2ac3e326db]