Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi Everyone,
I have been attending my GP for the following...symptoms...
Pain in my joints (shoulders, elbows, hands, knees and hips). This is absolutely awful and at times I find it quite debilitating. Ive found that I can`t grasp things, lift things properly etc. I feel that my arms are weak and no power in my hands. If I go done onto the floor, I need a crane to get me back up. The tiredness is unreal. I feel as if I have been drugged most of the time. Im sleeping, but find that at times my sleep pattern is disturbed. Although I find it no problem to get back to sleep.
My memory is ridiculous!! As I teach.... so, this is not helpful...lol. I have noticed that my speech has become stammered at times. I know what I want to say, its just a bugger trying to get it out!!!
This has been going on for about a year. The GP originally took bloods to check for the menopause....coz alot of the symptoms were suggestive of that. But nope. That came back ok. GP must think Im a hypochondriac!! Anyhoo, Im back today actually, for bloods to check for anaemia, B12 deficiency, and CRP test (to check for inflammation which is indicative of arthritis).
The GP has given me Diclofenac meantime to combat the pain.
I just wanted to put a little post on here and get everyone`s opinions and ask what your symptoms were prior to your diagnosis. I have read up on ME, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia....so I know what the literature says, but feel that people`s experiences can count for a helluva lot more!
Thanx so much in advance.
0 likes, 9 replies
Squires
Posted
I am Tess you may have seen my postings on the site. I have only been diagnosed with Fibromyaglia since June this year but believe it has been going on for about eight or nine years. It was only with changing to see a different doctor at my practice that it finally got pick up. Like you was was getting pains in my joints and other pains elsewhere.
My doctor did all the tests like you are having to rule out other conditions.
Before the fibro started I had been diganosed with having OA in my big toes. So after this when I had pain in a different part of my body thought it was possibly arthritis. I do have Oa in other joints now but it wasn't until my doctor referred me to see a rheumatologist it was picked up.
He checked for my arthritis and then did a check for fibromyaglia I didnt no this at the time. He was pressing on certain parts of my body looking for pressure points. With fibro there are 18 of these all over the body. I had 12 and he said I had fibro.
I hadn't been sleeping very well for a long time. Waking up feeling I hadn't slept at all. Feeling really tired but put this down to being anaemic as I was on iron tablets for anaemia. Lots of aches and pains all over the body. Clumsy because of lack of sleep and like you thinking one thing and saying it wrong.
It all your bloods come back ok I should ask your doctor it you can be referred to see a rheumatolgist. I was lucky and got in to see mine after three months but a lot of people have waited a lot longer. Depends where you live and what the waiting time is at your nearest hospital.
I feel a lot better than I did as I have been taking ampytripline an antidepressant that is taken to try and help you regulate your sleep. It has also made me feel much better in myself. Only been taking it for about two and half months and have no problems with it. I take 10mg early evening before bed. You can't suddenly stop antidepressants as I am sure your doctor will tell you. You need to reduce them very slowly or you will get very unpleasant side effects. I only take mostly paracetomol for pain or coproxomol.
I had been referred to a physiotherapist to give me exercises for fibro and OA that I try and do three times a day. Still get pain from the fibro and Oa but feel that at least I am doing something positive to help.
Hope I have been of some help to you.
Love Tess x x
Skye
Posted
Thank u so much for ur reply.
Got bloods taken yesterday as I mentioned, and I think the only test that isn`t being requested is DNA!!
Return appt for 24th, so I`ll just need to wait til then. Hopefully, the results will show something. If not, then back to the drawing board.
Hope u are well.
Squires
Posted
Yes not too bad we have got damp wet weather here today and that gives me more aches and pains especially with the OA :cry: Just have to keep going. :lol:
Try and remain positive and keep going until you get your answers :cry: Not easy I know as I kept doing that and I found out one doctor had put quote \"she is obssessed with her joints and don't know what she wants us to do\" :cry: Only found this out as I complained about how this particular doctor had spoken to me. I was able to request a look at my notes and then read that! :cry:Still get angry now when I think of it. Would like to go see that doctor again and say look I wasn't obssessed I have OA and now Fibro. He didn't pick up on any of this lol!
Sorry about the moan it was about two years ago now but still gets my blood boiling. Don't let that put you off keep going. :lol:
Hope you are not too bad today.
Talk soon.
Love Tess x x
Skye
Posted
Im not too bad thanx.
What a rotten experience to have with ur dr....and how unprofessional of him/her! Unfortunately, they don`t seem to take the time to actually listen to people these days. And they make u feel like a hypochondriac. Not nice at all.
I had the privilage to be in the \"caring profession\" (nurse) for bout 20 years prior to going into the teaching side almost 5 years ago. Sadly, many...not all, don`t care at all. Or at least it can be perceived that way sometimes. I know most professions have a \"burn out \" time....and I think once u stop caring....when ur in the caring game.....its time to pack ur bags! Coz at the end of the day, people who have a need......need that person to care.
Anyhoo....better get back to my paperwork....boohoo!
Take Care
Squires
Posted
Your exactly right what your say about being a nurse and caring :lol: My daughter has just this year qualified as a ambulance technician and is doing her degree to go further and be a paramedic. She goes out on the ambulances and works with a lot of different paramedics. She gets to see the ones he really care and the ones who have lost the caring side of the job.
I should say now though I do have a good doctor at the same practice and won't see the other one again. If it wasn't for my present doctor I would still be struggling on and not being diagnosed with Fibro. He is really good and takes lots of time to listen and is understanding. You never feel rushed on an appointment. :lol:
Just been waiting to find out if I need to up my thyroxine level as I had thyroid cancer eleven years ago and they have to keep a close eye on mh levels to stop any chance of cancer cells coming back. My consultant just rang a while ago and told me to up it from 125mg to 150mg daily as my Tsh levels were high. Got to do this for six to eight weeks then have another test to see if needs to stay the same or change again lol :cry:
My body some days doesn't no what it happening to it. I just get it all settled then another change comes along :cry:
One day I shall get there :cry:
Well don't work too hard.
Love Tess x x
Skye
Posted
That must be an emotionally draining job for your daughter. Where would be be right enough without people like her and the paramedics? Many a life has been saved in the intial stages of a crisis by their skills. So good on her and I wish her well for her future studies.
There are 2 good doctors at the practice Im registered with. As u said, they take the time to listen to you and actually want to help get to the bottom of your problems. Which is refreshing! Especially when you know, \"something isnt right\"...if you know what I mean.
I hope your TSH comes back down. Im sure it will with the increase in meds.
And I hear what your saying about your body not knowing whats going on! Its like being on a merry go round ain`t it... :lol:
My body seems to have fallen apart since I stopped smoking in January. The do say that the immune system goes into overload when u stop smoking...as it concentrates on the nicotine in your system when u smoke....so when u stop....all hell breaks loose!! :D
Anyway, u take care.
Catch up soon.
Guest
Posted
Hope you had a good nights sleep! :lol: I had a better night last night than i did before and kept waking up every hour. My husband was on nights though and I was on my own as all my children five of them have left home now. Keep waking up at 3 in the morning with pain then find it difficult to get back to sleep. Its not helping at the moment with changing the thyroid meds but keep fingers crossed they go down.
Yes it can be emotionally drianing for my daughter but she has only been a qualified technician and on the ambulances since March this year. She does seem to be able to switch off when she gets home. She has done well as she was diganosed with Crohn's Disease when she was 13 and never thought she would be able to do the job. She got her meds sorted out and started going to the gym. She built up her fitness as she knew you had to be fit and have fitness tests to get into the service. With having Crohn's she has on several occasions had to go in an ambulance to hospital and can fully understand how scary it is for a patient. So she is very sympathetic with the patient and though when she needs to be dealing with drunks etc but still understanding they have feelings as well.
I am pleased you have some doctors that listen to you as it does make all the difference. Just been told you have a condition after years of feeling ill gives your confidence a boost. That is a medicine in itself! :lol:
Well done with stopping smoking! :lol: Not a very easy thing to do. I have never smoked but family members have and I have seen how difficult it is for them. I can't really understand how hard it must have been for you.
Well I have done one lot of exercises today although I have pain in my knees and toes. :lol:
Had breakfast and need a shower now so talk again soon.
Take care
Love Tess x x
Skye
Posted
I had the most sh*tiest nights sleep ever. Couldn`t get comfortable at all. Could only lie for a few minutes and kept having to change position. Aching all over! The diclofenac doesn`t seem to be doing much at all. I can usually fall back over to sleep...but not last nite. I kept my OH up to..... :oops: Both of us were like half shut knives this morning.. :lol:
I have 1 son, Connor who is 14. But I am step mum (or will be when we tie the knot) to 5 girls!! :shock: Anddddd Im step granny to 2 girls :shock: :shock: :shock: Took me a while to get my head round that 1... :lol:
I hope ur having a good day so far.
Take Care-
Squires
Posted
Not very nice when you don't get your sleep! Diclofenac never was any good for me. You will be busy when you tie the knot and have a big extended family.
I have five children. Two of which are twins a boy and girl the youngest at 20. A daughter who is 27 with two girls aged 4 and nearly three weeks old my two lovely granddaughters called Molly and Sophie. I have a son who is 26 and a daughter who is 23 Claire and is training to be paramedic.
But now I have an empty house and more time to do what I want!
It is so quiet at times though especially when my husband is on his four night shift!
Will catch up again soon.
Love Tess x x
Join this discussion or start a new one?
New discussion Reply