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Could I have Fibromyalgia?

Posted , 4 users are following.

nicky483
nicky483

I don't know where to start really but I'll give it a go. This may end up all over the place so I’ll apologise now.

6 years ago I was diagnosed with Ceoliac Disease. 3 years ago I had a fall trying to take my jeans off and had pains in my left wrist. I never had a diagnosis for the pains. I was given a few steroid injections and splint treatment and eventually the pains stopped.

Whilst I was pregnant with my daughter last year, I developed SPD (where the pelvis loosens too much during pregnancy) and ended up being on crutches for the last month of my pregnancy. I had a traumatic delivery with my little monster and ended up with an emergency c section. I was still on crutches for about 2 weeks after her birth and then seemed to end up using her pram as a support whilst we were out and about. If I take her out and about on my own I have to take her buggy as I can't lift her pram in and out of the boot (it's only double the weight of the buggy!) The longest I can stand holding her is 10 minutes before I'm in agony with my back, pelvis, ankles and feet.

Continuing from her arrival I have been getting the pains in my left wrist again and I'm now randomly getting them in my right wrist and the insides of my elbows too. I have even had to remove my wedding ring on the odd day because that causes pains in my finger. My daughter is now 10 months old and I am still getting the pains around my pelvis and back. I struggle to get comfortable at night laying on both sides and wake in agony with my neck and shoulders. I'm also waking during the night with the loss of sensation in my hands and/or pins and needles feeling. During pregnancy and now I get pains in my ankles and feet (I was in and out of hospital at the end of pregnancy over pre-eclampsia fears) to the point where I can only walk around for a maximum of an hour before I'm in agony. Fairly recently I've been getting pains in my jaw where no matter how I try to "rest" it, it hurts. I was given a mouth guard a few years ago as my dentist felt I was grinding my teeth during my sleep.

I should probably also mention that I have been diagnosed with Post Natal Depression (PND) and have been put on a low dose of Fluoxetine. I recently went to see one of our GPs as my hubby was quite worried about the fatigue I have been struggling with. I can't get through the day without feeling tired. Come an hour or so after lunch I have to summon up all the energy I've got to continue with my day, I just don't seem to have the energy to do much at all anymore. The GP just said it's probably a side effect of the anti-depressants and wasn't worried about it. I haven't mentioned anything else as I just feel like I'm over reacting. Just typing this out I've got aches and pains going through my fingers and wrists.

I had been receiving physio on my back from a fantastic therapist, but at the end of my maternity leave we were moved to a new unit. I went to see the physio at my new unit and had an awful session. She basically turned round and told me the only way my back was going to get fixed is loose weight, get back in the gym and get on with things. Not really what someone with PND needs to hear on top of everything else that they're dealing with. I didn't go into any further details about all the other problems I've been having as I just wanted to get out of there as quick as possible. This was 3 months ago and I haven't been back since.

My other concern is that I’m in the RAF. I still have just under 7 years left to serve until I reach my 22 year exit point. I just can't help think that if I do have this condition then I could end up being medically discharged. I wouldn't know what to do if I was. The RAF is all I've ever known, I joined when I was 16.

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure nicky483

    Posted

    Hi Nicky..

    many symptoms r different for FM for different people . Mainly there r tender points on the body that generally identifies . It takes time to identify and is generally a catch all after other diagnosis for UR symptoms r rules out.

  • lorraine_26642
    lorraine_26642 nicky483

    Posted

    my daughter has just been told has spd  and not due for couple of weeks  they say all she can have is parcetmol and she allergic  pain is very bad  do you have anytips to help her get more comfortable and i hope that you recover very soon i am concerned that my daughter will go on to suffer  any advice would be great i just wish i could advise  comfort you in some way 
  • ellieP123
    ellieP123 nicky483

    Posted

    Hi Nicky,

    Gentle hugs to you. I can only comment from my own experience and current diagnosis status, but some of your symptoms are very familiar to me. After undiagnosed illnesses and pain for a long time, a GP has finally given me hope and understanding. I have had many issues especially with my right hand and wrist, swelling, numbness and pain, and then subsquent other pain, stiffness and severe fatigue. My blood tests showed low folates and other slight abnormalities. i was sent for an xray on my right hip, which came back clear in the hip, but did show signficant issues with my lower spine. Following this i was seen by a Rhuematology Nurse specialist, who diagnosed me with Sero-Negative Psoriatic Arthritis in my knees, wrists, hands, neck, spine and elbows, as well as fibromyalgia (tender spots positive) I'm currently waiting for an appointment on 12th May at rhuematology at Hospital to get appropriate treatment plan. I have seen some very unsympathetic GP's during the time i've been suffering, and am very grateful i finally got seen by one who wanted to find out exactly what was going on with me. It is worth persisting, try seeing a different doc if you can and do not be afraid of telling them absolutely everything you are struggling with, when they hear it all together, sometimes things might click in their head. I am still working, i'm self employed, but am struggling if i'm honest, but determined to maintain what i can, so can imagine your fears of the unkown must be quite overwhelming. I wish you the best, and hope you can get some answers soon. 

    ellie x

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