Does this sound like fibromyalgia?
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Hello my names Jessica I am 27 years old. I started noticing In 2016 that I had some unusual pain it started with bad headaches that felt like it was aching into my jaw and neck.. it went away after a couple of weeks I then started noticing other symptoms the following summer when I worked as a waitress I was getting these terrible pains in my elbows at night to the point I could cry, that also went a way within a month. I then developed a pain in my chest I at first thought I was having a heart attack! But my doctor did a ekg on me, and said there was no signs of heart problems and I was probably experiencing a panic attack which she then prescribed me to zoloft which I have been taking. My whole chest just aches! When I tense up I can feel every bone in my chest cavity ache! Sometimes it’s manageable but then I have days where I just want to cry because the pain just shoots through my left side up into my shoulder, sometimes it feels like my face hurts too.The past week I’ve also been experiencing headaches, and leg pain with the chest pains. I also have been having a upset stomach for the last few months I never throw up but I do have nausea, and my bowel movements are painful. I wake up every morning with that burning aching pain to use the bathroom. This just sucks! I can’t workout like I used too! If I do any workouts that have to do with lifting my arms like pushups I have terrible consequences of chest pains!. When I lay on my stomach then get up my whole sternum feels like it’s bruised. I have bad anxiety with worrying about what’s wrong with me! If someone could see my search history on my phone they would think i was nuts I even look up symptoms of bone cancer cause I’m so afraid of what this could be.. does this sound like fibromyalgia?
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jessica69494
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donna76140 jessica69494
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jessica69494 donna76140
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glenn06752 jessica69494
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Hello Jessica - yes it certainliy does sound like fibromyalgia. Sounds like I what I went through 30 years ago. Mine started with a very stiff neck and then widespread pain ensued. It took me many years to instill in my mind I wasn't dying of a heart attack, cancer or any type of disease. I call fibromyalgia, the great pretender because it mocks and mimics just about everything. Like you, I had panic attacks galore and couldn't tolerate any of the meds I was prescribed. You didn't mention IBS but that also came along with the nightmare. Anxiety plays a big role because you're so wound up with what's going on with your body that you cannot control.
I agree with Donna. Start with a rheumatologist and get tested. Generally there are 18 trigger points that fibromyalgia festers itself it any muscle connected to bone, anywhere actually. You can also feel knots or pebble types of tightness in the areas you feel pain, especially the shoulder blades the top of the shoulders, neck and hips. Fibromyalgia has come a long way since I was first diagnosed and I was reading there's even a blood test not to confirm that it is fibromyalgia. It's been a long time since I visiting a Rheumy and I learned to just live with it, manage my pain, the best I can and take xanax at bedtime. Believe it or not, exercise is the best remedy for all of that I know how painful it is for you but if you can start a walking program or if you like to swim, those are good treatments. You can even walk in the water which helps just as much as swimming. The truth is, the more you sit and think about it and stagnate, the worst the symptoms become. Diet also plays a big role. The old saying, you are what you eat, holds true with fibromyalgia. Try to eat healthy (easier said than done) and alcohol is a demon to fibromyalgia. You'll find your sleep is affected as well. Try to get a good night's sleep (again, easier said than done) but sleep is so important in managing fibromyalgia. I can't tell you anything about the new drug, Lyrica, that I see advertised on TV.. I heard it works wonders for some and others can't tolerate it at all. Although we are all wired the same, we suffer differently and there's no one size fits all in prescribing medications.
Make sure your doctor does a CBC and you get to a Rheumy for an exam. You'll find also that fibromyalgia affects your cognitive skills and what we call, "fibro fog" may some days make you forgetful and loopy. This all goes with the baggage.
I wish you good luck and I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. The fact is, don't let it control you. Stay strong and control it. I've been dealing with it since I was 37 and I am now 69 years old. The change of seasons seem to bring out the worst. Sitting in drafts is another aggravating factor. Seems I'm always over dressed but the trigger points ache in the cold and damp.
My best,
Glenn
jessica69494 glenn06752
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Panacea77 jessica69494
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The chest pain could be Costcocondritis. An inflammation of the chest wall. Very painful. It sounds like you need a work up by a rheumatologist Good luck!
glenn06752 jessica69494
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Hi Jessica - yes that is definitely true. Women experience more pain, sometimes severe from fibromyalgia during ovulation. I believe it has to do with hormones and estrogen levels. Cramping, back pain, burning type of pain and heavier cycles are all very common. Fibromyalgia can certainly be a demon and take control over our bodies.
So far, all your symptoms sound like classic fibromyalgia and a good Rheumy should be able to put you on track. A lot of these symptoms will come and go. Sometimes they disappear for a while and then they return months later. We have a habit of forgetting pain that we've already experienced, thus, we look at it as something new.
I hope things get better for you. Keep us posted.
My Best,
Glenn