Hands

Hi Boyer How are you? How are you doing? hope fibro is being kind to you and not causeing you too much pain. take care hope you have a good weekend 

Hello Kaz

Im not doing so well sadly, the winter always seems to make everything worse, and this one is no exception. I've also been trying to change doctors but so far have not found any that are helpful. I wanted a referral to a rheumatologist and for a bone density scan, but was almost laughed at, I didn't even suggest acupuncture which I was also hoping for. So I managed to save up enough to go for a session of acupuncture by myself, which was last week, and she was such a helpful lady, she could see that I really needed help and has recommended a local doctor, which was really nice of her. But things take time and it's going to be a week before I can register with the new doctor, so I will be doing well to see her within a month, but at least it's on the horizon ☺️

How about you, how are you doing?

gentle hugs

Boqer

Hi Boqer I think its disgusting how youve been treated, problem we have is some drs dont believe in fibromyalgia thats where the problem lies. I have a dr at my surjury who doesnt believe in depression or fibro. Hope when you do see your new dr they are understanding and helpful. we need a good gp and one thats helpful supportive understanding but they are far few between. Hope all goes well for you with your accupuncture. I havnt been great I had a min stroke nov 5th and a fibro flare up along with a very bad sickness bug. Im waiting to go for an mri then see stroke dr to see what caused the stroke. My mobility has got worse I now use a wheelchair I plod on as best I can. take each day as it comes get through it as best I can.Hope you have a good weekend take care gentle hugs kaz

I'm so sorry to hear about your stroke, just be gentle and kind to yourself Kaz, you deserve it! 

What is an mri, and why are you having it?

Hi kaz I'm so sorry to hear about your stroke I do hope your ok and the dr are being kind to you and get back up and running soon sending warm hugs to you take care x

Hi Boqer - an MRI is a Magnetic Resonance Scan.  It's used to help detect all sorts of things that cant be found by normal x-ray, particularly for strokes, spinal conditions/injuries and a whole host of other things.  I had one recently which detected reducted in the discs in my neck (eg osteo arthritis) which my GP brushed off as 'insignificant' but I'm having serious issues with shoulder and neck pain, some days I cant move without screaming.

So sorry to hear about your TIA Kaz, here's hoping it's nothing serious.  Keep your spirits up.  I have a friend who had a whole series of them and they cant detect why but luckily it's never progressed to anything more serious and she doesn't have any lasting effects, I pray yours is the same.  Hopefully the MRI will give an indication of what the problem is.  

Like many of you on here, I'm at my wit's end with all this.  I'm sick to death of being in constant pain.  I wasn't depressed at all before all this started, I'm definitely getting that way.  I find myself sitting and sobbing in tears just because I'm so exhausted by it and so worn down.  It's so defeating, never being able to rest properly, never being able to do the simplest thing without it hurting and worst of all, not getting any real acknowledgement from my doctor - just a shrug and another pain med prescription - none of which work and some of which just make me even more sick.  I've had two MRI's, appointments with neurologist and rheumatologist, x-rays, more blood tests than I care to count and the only thing it's shown is minor arthritis in the neck and a slightly elevated testosterone (DHT) level - neither of which seemed to merit treatment by the doctor.  I just feel like accepting pain meds prescriptions, saving them up and swallowing them all in one go - why is it that doctors just wont understand how this endless soul destroying condition is so devastating to people's lives?  The most I ever visited the doctor for before this hit was a sore throat.  I just get the impression they all think we're complaining for the sake of it.  I'm not a complainer by nature, but this is pure bloody hell on earth.

Thank you Toggers1 Im getting their slowly hope your having a good weekend, and fibro is being kind to you take care gentle hugs x

Hi Loxie The problem we have is many health proffessionals dont believe in fibro, those that do need better educating in it. Basically from my own experience Ive been hung out to dry and left to get on with it.. no one seems to give a damn, its a case of just get on with it and manage it yourself. Ive lost count of blood tests Ive had tests Ive had 3 mris ct scans bone scans heart lung tests. Ive seen every specialist you can think of. The only things to show up on tests were low in vitamin d and arthritus in neck and lower back. I cant take pain meds because of the severe reactions Ive had. Ive also got ME depression which my dr told me can go hand in hand with fibro. we have every reason to to complain and too cry its a horrid condition to cope and live with. fibro has changed our lives for ever.Are you able to change drs hopefully find a dr thats more understanding, they are far few between. Youve got us on the forum we will help each other to battle on. you take care here for you big hug coming to you xx 

Hi Boyer Im having an mri on the brain thats if they can find my brain1st lol to see what damage has been done and what caused the stroke. also my dr said it would show if I have early signs of vascular dementia. mri can show things up in more detail and depth that a normal exray wouldnt show. mri is on the 13th feb then Ive got to wait for appointmen t to see stroke dr.My left arm leg that was affected has returned back to normal thankfully. take care gentle hugs x

Thank you Kaz.  You're right, too few really understand the true horror of living with this.  It's not like a toothache or a sprain or strain. Its constant all consuming and life restricting.  My doctor is one in a group practice and she does seem to understand, she just doesn't have anything to offer except pain meds and like you, there's a lot I cant take - tramadol, morphine, codeine, etc., all make me very very ill, just not worth it.  Anti inflamms dont really do much, they sometimes take the acute throbbing pain down to a lower level but never take it away.  Paracetamol is a waste of space, nil effect.  I've tried amitryptaline which if taken late at night helped me at least to not wake up in pain during the night but every morning afterwards I was dizzy and queasy, hard to go to work like that.  Sorry for my previous rant, I have tooth issues, plus the last couple of weeks the fibro has been at war with me and now I've got an ulcerated ear which is killer painful and is stopping me from sleeping as it hurts if I lie on it.  I guess it all just gets too much sometimes.  Going to try to go out for a short stroll in the park today which hopefully will take my mind off it all.  Big hugs to you too hon. xx

Hi Loxie, Kaz 

thanks for your replies, and I'm so glad Kaz that your arm and leg has returned to normal, hopefully your scan will be clear too, and any stroke symptoms left  will gradually go.

I know that some doctors don't believe in fibro, one told me this recently when I went to see him, but this shouldn't be an issue because he is still supposed to have a duty of care for any patient, and fact is whether you call it fibro or any other name you please it doesn't change the symptoms we have, and that is what he is supposed to be concerned with. Trouble is it seems that once you've been labled with this no one wants to help!

I think it's up to us really to just adjust to this "new way of living", and make the most of what we have, but it really gets you down, and you just can't be positive all the time.

Has anyone tried cur cumin (turmeric) as an anti-inflamitory? I read up on it as I can't take ibuprofen anymore and paracetamol does nothing, and it's supposed to be quite good for things like fibro.

Dont applologise hun for having a rant its underatandable, with what we have to endure with fibro let alone anything else thats going on with us. drs whether they believe in fibro or not they have a duty of care to us. Trouble is we arnt getting that duty of care because they are being dissmissive towards us. my gp said Ive tried you on everything pain wise thats going I cant do anything else for you that was it. Shes left me to get on with it and deal with it myself. Ive no faith in drs health proffessionals at all. They dont want to know where fibro is concerned we have a lable thats it. when anything else is wrong with us fibro seems to get the blame we are in no win situation. Hope your tooth ache soon eases hope your walk helped take care big hug coming to you xx

Hi Boqer I agree it doesnt matter whether drs believe in fibro or not, they do have a duty of care towards us. trouble is some of us arnt getting it. My gp has just left me to get on with it. I agree we have a lable no one wants to know nor do they care. My gp tried me on everything you can think I reacted badly to all meds. she said Ive nothing more to offer you that was it, left to get on with it. fibro does get me down you cant be cheerful bouncy all the time. Ive not tried turmeric but anything is worth a try. take care

Hi Boqer.  My local health store/naturopath recommended curcumin to me.  He sells a newer version which apparently is meant to be more effective.  I've been taking it for about 2 months and I've noticed a real difference in my arthritis pain - it definitely doesn't flare up anymore and before taking it I was having trouble walking because of the OA in my ankle, now although it still aches if I walk too far, I can at least get about better.  I find however that it doesn't do much for the fibro pain, guess that's because curcumin is anti-inflammatory and my muscle aches aren't really an inflammation.  Oh, and it's also really good for toothache