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I have had most of the symptoms of FMS since I was a chi...

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Guest
Guest

I have had most of the symptoms of FMS since I was a child, but they increased in frequency and the all over body ache and fatigue became worse over the last several years. After visiting my GP on a regular basis and then having a complete hysterectomy about a year ago, for what I thought was endometriosis, my OB suggested that I see several specialists before being placed on hormone replacement therapy. Finally, a rheumatologist diagnosed me with FMS, and I have been taking Cymbalta, Lyrica, Trazadone and Protonix. The meds have taken the edge off, but I still suffer from spleepless nights, foggy, painful disfuntional days. I struggle daily to remind myself that this is a disease and not a choice. I get so tired of the looks and comments that, "you look fine", but I'm not. Everything you described in your comments are exactly what I've been going through. It is overwhelming at times, especially since I have three children I am trying desperately to raise, and money has become a major issue. My husband and boys have been wonderfully supportive, but I can tell it is taking a toll on them. I was recently forced out of a job I had for seven and a half years due to money problems. I am now forced to seek new employment and am terified. I truly do not believe I will be able to properly function at a regular five day a week job. I can barely get out of the bed every morning as it is. Some days after I get up I can be partially functionable, but most days I am useless. I am going to keep trying for the sake of my family, but I also feel like I am waiting for permission from them to not work, but simply focus on being a homemaker. I haven't even been very good at being a homemaker either. I used to be able to do it all, and suffer quietly in pain, now I just suffer. I hope things get better.

Jenny

[i:78e93875ad]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:78e93875ad]

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    you shouldnt put yourself down so much. my fms has prevented me from working, but thats not our fault, we didnt ask for this condition. im a single mum to a 2yr old aswell so you can imagine how hard that can be! i sometimes cant get out the bed to see to him, i feel so guilty and have to ring for my mum or someone to come and help, thats when i get suicidal, but then i just look at him, and my mum and think, dont let this horrible thing win, fight it! all the best to you and hope you can come to terms with your fms and not be embarressed to say you have it and that you cant go to work. B

    [i:db133e971d]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:db133e971d]

  • madamhelga
    madamhelga

    Posted

    hi guys

    ive have just joined this website in the hope that i can find people with whom i can relate to. i was diagnosed with FM a few weeks ago after years of symptoms that had everyone dumb founded. i swear people thought i was making it up to get out of work and assumed i was crazy. but, as you know from experience it is real and very frustrating. anyway, i am due back at work tomorrow (I am a nurse) and i am dreading it. some days i feel fine and get on with my daily business, although nothing seems to be as easy anymore. i work on a really busy ward and i am frightened to death that i will not be able to cope. my consultant has given me duloxetine to take, which i have been on for 7 weeks now, but i feel no different. although i am only going back part time, im hoping, and worrying myself stupid about it, that i will get through the shift.

    i hope we can stay in touch as it would be nice to be able to share my experience with you and hope that we can support each other.

    best wishes

    madamhelga x

  • SES
    SES

    Posted

    Hi there Madamhelga / ALL

    I know how you feel, I recently was kind of dismissed from my work at the building society due to this dreadful illness as I too got diagnosed last month (February) after suffering over a year with severe pain and fatigue. The point is I loved my job I was gutted when they said due to the long term sick they couldn't keep my job open any longer!!!! I have severe pain walking even short distances you see and with working in the financial industry I had to do courses every month to keep up with regulations.......... now I know why some days I struggled due to the \"fibrofog\". I am so gutted as this was so I thought a step in the right direction but unfortunately not for long as after I had my little boy whom is now two my health seemed to go down hill, an uphill struggle to function and focus on a simple homelife, and as I struggle with this, I am not sure weather I could work again neither, only time will tell? persevering with the medications is all I/we can do!!!!

    I hope you feel better soon x

    SES

  • madamhelga
    madamhelga

    Posted

    Hi SES

    just read your message and felt the need to reply. hope u are ok.

    i went back to work on monday and struggled through my shift, it was an awful experience, i had no support from colleagues, this is understandable because we are all under soooo much pressure. it was a case of get on with it, so that is what i had to do. luckily, im not in again until sunday, so im taking the liberty of doing nothing until i can muster some more energy to go back and do it all again!

    must be difficult for you with small children, my son is now 12 and hes at an age where he can take care of himself better than i can! have you had to quit your job permanently? surely they must be able to offer you 'lighter duties'? this illness is horrid but we mustn't give up.

    best wishes

    madamhelga

  • SES
    SES

    Posted

    Hi Madamhelga

    I had such a bad year last year I could hardly walk due to the pain in my hip, (still on going too) and as it took 11 months to get diagnosed I had no choice as my Employer was unable to keep my job open, I can't sit comfortably you see as I was told I have Arthritis in my hip too so no matter what there was, there was no lighter duties I could do being in Administration dept, you see there was screens and exams to do and to remember due to working in the Financial Industry and so that was that!!!!

    I am hoping to set a support group in my local area as my husband is working now so our roles have changed thats all, the Girls do help with my two year old boy when my hubby is at work when things are very bad!!!!! I am going back to the Pain Clinic in August, and as it is I went to my GP today as he said the anti-inflammatories may be giving me side effects (I have Asthma too) as I have felt like I couldn't catch my breath so he has told me to see how I go and just take the Gabapentine still, and two Amitryptiline along with my Tramadol?? So I will see how it goes and if the pain gets worse which already it has increased I will have to go back to see him? My headaches are still full on too?

    Anyway Madamhelga I do hope you and everyone else is having a better time of it than me?

    Kind Regards

    SES

    8)

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    hi there everyone... im sitting here on my couch with my iron board and a huge pile of ironing and now im crying as i am to sore to lift it up..my fingers and feet and back are really sore today... someone wrote about feeling suidal im suffering from depression to and i just want to drive in front of a bus. then i look at my 3 teenage kids and know how that would affect them( as i lost my mum to motor neuron disease when i was 15). i have asked the doc if i have that but he didnt seem interested... good news though yesterday i was awarded a disablility badge for parking... great if i can get out eh... i love reading all ur forums as it makes me feel im not alone in this...someone mentioned they are going to set up a support group now i would love that... i live in edinburgh...anyone else live near?.. im going to go now as my fingers are really sore... xxxx
  • SES
    SES

    Posted

    Hi Di

    So sorry to hear you are feeling like that, I must admit I have felt like you, this was before I was diagnosed, I literally thought I was going mad as it seemed no-one was listening to me!!!! and you feel that as you haven't been diagnosed you think what other people are thinking, but as we know with this illness we look ok on the outside its the inside that is painful, I explained to my children the difficulties, and my daughter (10yr old, bless her) went to the library and wrote some things out about Fibro and I thought her and her friend do listen (her mum, my neighbour has it too) and so they realize in their own way how things can effect us, luckily though she doesn't actually know how I feel as she would worry more, she only notices on my bad days when I cant pick things up etc etc. So my children support me in their own way, I think if you keep \"all\" of your difficulties bottled up that is when you get worse as it frustrates you more knowing you can or maybe can't do as easy as you used to........ I ask the children to do chores not everyday as they need their childhood, but on a bad day they help as best as they can!!!

    Its me that is going to set up a support group xx I have applied for the application and everything it is just that I have been feeling too awful to get my head around things!!! It is very interesting too the information you receive as it clearly goes through the illness and explains better!

    So glad to hear you got your badge too, well done smile

    Take care

    Kind Regards

    SES

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