New man on the forum
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hello all
Just thought I would introduce myself, I’m Richard aged 38 married with 3 kids and seem to be one of the few men on this forum, but I have yet to be diagnosed with Fibro or M.E.
It started in June this year after a RTA, I went to the docs after the terrible pains in my limbs wouldn’t go, feeling tired and achy, depressed. The doc ran loads of blood tests and I was diagnosed with Underactive thyroid and high cholesterol.
I was a bit shocked at this because I’d never had anything wrong with me before, but I looked it up and thought, oh well sounds like the pills will sort me out and I’ll go back to living a normal life. But I don’t seem to be getting any better, in fact I would say I’m now worse.
I’m currently on all sorts of meds which include the usual, Levothyroxine, Tramadol, Amitriptyline and Simvastatin for my cholesterol. It’s a wonder I don’t rattle when I walk! (That’s when I can walk).
My doctor now seems to think I have Fibromyalgia or M.E, but like many on this site I’m having to go through all the tests, which seems to take time. The docs been really good and does seem to have some knowledge and understanding of this condition, after all I’d never even heard of it until he said that he suspected that’s what was wrong with me.
Looking back before the RTA, I had been under a great deal of stress with work and personal life but being wrapped up in it all, I think the adrenalin must have kept me going. I can now see that I already had some of the symptoms, feeling low, tiredness all the time, lethargic, loss of memory, emotional (I hate to admit this but I could cry at the most stupid things)
I just feel rubbish all the time, my legs and arms are the worse, aching constantly and I’m unable to sleep properly due to the pain being so severe that I can’t get comfortable. I can’t walk for more than 20 metres without having to stop and rest.
To date I am now waiting for an appointment to see a rheumatologist after being discharged from Physiotherapy and seeing at Orthopaedic surgeon who both said that I needed to see a rheumatologist and that they suspect Fybro.
I can’t believe how my life has been turned upside down in such a short period of time, 12 months ago and had lots going for me and was really active with walking my 2 dogs and running a paranormal group had a great job and family life, now all my spare time is sat feeling sorry for myself in pain and tired.
Work has been really good with me and understand that I can’t get up sometimes in the morning so have allowed me to work flexi time to fit in when I feel well and have made loads of adjustments for me so I can carry on working.
My poor wife has been great and understands that I feel rubbish and knows when I’m having a really bad day. However the worse thing is that I feel such a fraud sometimes. I seem to have bad days, then I have what I call wave days, these are days when I’m up and down. One minute I feel fine and think thank god I’m cured, (you know like just after a cold) but then the next minute I’m in great pain again.
I seem to suffer from the pain in my legs constantly which effects my walking, but I feel worse when it’s in my arms too, I can’t even hold the phone to my head on my bad days, all I want to do is just lay down. I then get depressed which seems to make it worse, so I end up going to bed and writing the day off as a bad one.
Anyhow, I’ll sign off for now has I seemed to have gone on a bit, just glad to know that there are people who understand how I feel.
Richard
0 likes, 113 replies
paddy
Posted
Good to see another man on the site, you certainly seem to be suffering at the moment, how long have you been like this? I`m 57yr old female and have had a diagnosis for just over two years, but believe, like a lot of people, that I`ve had fibro for much longer.
How is everyone else this morning? You certainly had an early start Lizzy! Di I know just what you mean about friends
I have one true friend who has stuck by me ever since we met when our girls were in the same class at infant school! Everyone else just can`t be bothered with someone who can`t do all the `normal` things 
I`m soooo looking forward tomorrow as I will see her again, haven`t had the time or energy for the last month while i`ve been busy with mum.
Hope you a good time with sophie and molly, Tess, its days like that when everything seems worthwhile
Still suffering the after effects of supporting mum during the alterations, I expected to feel rough for a few days until I re-charged my batteries but just haven`t got an ounce of energy, can fall asleep even when eating a meal, typing on pc or in fact doing anything at all. Feel really down too, begining to think if things don`t start to improve soon, will have to see GP. Found an interesting article on `pacing` had started to think i was doing it all wrong because it wasn`t working but mostly was doing what was suggested, so I think the conclusion must be that I still try to do too much
Well need to start organising dinner now, take care all
Linda
Guest
Posted
Yes had a lovely day with Molly and Sophie but need a good rest after they have gone. It rewarding though because if you are feeling down they soon cheer you up. Like for instance Molly came round last Friday as well with Sophie think you already probably know that. Reason mentioning it though Molly told me her friends Charlie a girl by the way and Reece were coming back from Holiday. I asked her where they had been and bless her she said \"Chicken\". I said to her do you mean Turkey and she said yes. Its the little things like that they say and make you smile makes it all worth while. :lol: Still think about it every so often and have a chuckle to myself.
It really must have taken it out of you Linda if you are still feeling low of energy. It is good for you to see your friend soon and that brightens you up as well. Saw one of my good friends last week at her house for dinner and came away feeling much better. She is coming to have dinner with me next week.
Just waiting for my son to ring the one that lived in Cherry Hinton. He moved to Nottingha to start a new job and was told last week could be made redundant today. Luckily still got his job but got to drop £200 a month in wages.
Well hope everyone else is ok and our new friends Richard and Brian.
Tess
Lizy
Posted
Just want to celebrate my good news :lol:
After 2 years of shear hell with my daughter at school they tried to exspell her 3 times etc, she has achieved in her GCSEs 2 A*, 5A, 4B, 1C and a D I am the proudest Mum ever :lol:
:D :wink:
She has also agreed to go to college :wink: :lol:
:D
Hope everyone is well and having a good day.
Lizzy
paddy
Posted
Wow, Lizzy, its things like that that make everything seem worthwhile, not wonder you are the proudest mum ever, congratulations to daughter too :lol:
Tess I know just what you mean about the things children say, that`s what I miss most now i`m not working in school, they just seem to have the knack to say just the right thing and make everything else not seem so bad after all :!:
Really enjoyed my morning with my friend, I always come away feeling better for it. She has been put on amitriptyline following her recent breakdown and we got round to discussing side effects of the different meds we take. I`m now checking through all mine cause I`m wondering if why I`m feeling so rough at the moment could be down to something I`m taking! clutching at straws I guess, but it`s worth a try.
Hope everyone else is ok
Linda
Squires
Posted
Lizy that is really good news. You must be so proud of her and congratulations to her on her results. It is good news she has agreed to go to college. What does she want to do?
Linda so pleased you had a lovely day with your friend. You could be right about how you feel being down to some of the side effects of the
tablets you are taking. Worth looking into. :lol:
Hope everyone is doing ok today and keeping well. :lol:
Tess
Squires
Posted
How are we all today! We have the sun here at the moment so that makes me feel better already. Stu was on nights last night and I didn't sleep to bad. Took an extra ampytripline tab as can take up to 20mg but normally only take 10g. Help me stay to sleep longer!
Not looking forward to the winter months coming! Always feel worse, more stiff and achy.
Got quiet weekend as Chis my son as gone to see friends in Manchester this weekend. Got some jobs to do but going to try and pace myself.
Did have a footspa last night and that was nice and relaxing. Have a lot of trouble with dry skin and hard skin on my feet so feel a lot smoother now and easy to walk on lol.
Well take care everyone and try and have a not so painful weekend.
Tess
Lizy
Posted
I've not got such a quiet weekend, my kids want to go out for the day on monday, as money is tight it will be a walk allthough its bound to turn out to be at least 5 miles if not more. Think we may go to Dovedale? So today I am resting ready for Monday I'm going to call it paceing myself. :lol:
The sun is out here too. :lol:
:D had a really heavy downpour yesterday.
The fridge packed up yesterday :x it must have known I had some money put aside towards seeing the specialist at the end of Sept. He deals with all my problems so hoping to get some answers. :lol:
Vicky wants to be a physio therapist, but if that doesn't work out she plays her oboe and flute to a very high level so she could do something with that or her sciences.
Tess glad to hear you had a good time with your friend. Sorry to hear about your son having to take a pay cut. I hope it doesn't cause hime too much of a problem.
Sometimes I wonder if the side effects are worth taking the medication.
Linda I hope you and your friend had a good day too. Linda I hope you are feeling much better after all that runing around. Its amazing how long it takes us to recover.
Di I hope life is treating you well.
Lindy and Ses hope all is well with you too.
Brain and Richard enjoy your weekend.
Lizzy
Squires
Posted
Its good you are pacing yourself Lizy for your walk around dovedale.
Have you been before. I have walked it twice and it does take a good while to do it. Each time we have done it not stopped to long at the other end as didn't want my joints to seize up. So had a quick icecream and went back again. I don't like waking over the stepping stones to the other side. Always worry as I can't swim lol.
I hope your daughter Vicky gets to become a physiotherapist. It is good when they can achieve their goal.
We had some heavy rain yesterday as well. Much better today and cleaned my windows inside and out, apart from top bedroom ones on the outside. Stewart have to do those. Also did some gardening and got rid of all those horrid weeds lol. Having a rest tonight as on my own again stu on nights. Think might pamper myself and have another foot spa soothe my feet after the gardening.
Linda, Di, Richard & Brian hope you are having a good weekend.
Lindy & Ses where are you miss seeing you on here. :cry:
Tess
richard1971
Posted
In fact I was begining to think that I was cured yesterday until I've got up this morning and feel as though I've been hit by a train again.
I could cope with this dam ilness if it would do one thing or the other, it's the messing with your mind I canlt cope with.
I just ache all over today, this it's going to be one of those days I right off again. I'm even having difficulty typing today.
Thanks again for the welcome off everyone and I'm so pleased that Lizzy's daughter has done well, I know what it's like with kids when they get to that age, they always seem to go off the rails a bit, but they do seem to come round and make you proud.
Good to see another Man on the forum (hello Brian) sorry to hear you're suffering mate, hope you get diagnosed soon. But then again, you ladies are great ;-)
Hope everyone has a good weekend, well what's left of it.
Richard
Squires
Posted
Don't apologise for not replying! Its good to see you have had some good days although you have been really busy. This illness always takes you by surprise. You have some good days and then pay for it later. Not two days are the same. :cry: Thats why it is good to take one day at a time. We all do too much when we have more energy and suffer later.
I have spent most of my weekend in the garden! Weeding etc and sitting down having a rest and a read. Do try to take some time out. Trouble with me is once I start and get going with the garden don't want to stop.
Well hope you have a good week!
Hope everyone else is doing ok today.
Tess
paddy
Posted
Yes Richard that sounds so familiar, the times I`ve felt a fraud and thought there was really nothing wrong with me and it must have been all my mind, only to get up the next day feeling just as bad as ever :!: We all do it time and time again and never learn, my GP is always telling me I must learn to pace myself :!: I`ve never managed to get it right yet.
Tess, glad you enjoyed your gardening and a good read, I`m just begining to feel I`m getting over the travelling etc to Mum`s......in time to go again on Wednesday to take her to the memory clinic :!:
Planning a trip to a garden centre tomorrow, near Wisbech, that has a craft shop as well, going with my daughter so no doubt we`ll enjoy it as we are both crafty when we have time.
Well hope everyone else is enjoying the weekend, it`s very dull here now.
Linda
Squires
Posted
Its good to hear you are getting your energy back after looking after your mum for the two weeks with all the travelling. It does take time to get back after such a busy time. :lol:
Hope you managed to get your mum to the memory clinic on Wednesday and all goes well.
Enjoy your day out with your daughter tomorrow and hope you find lots of craft bits and pieces and you get chance to do some craft work. :lol:
Lizy I hope you have a lovely day at Dovedale tomorrow if you are still going. Don't overdo it too much though and enjoy the walk. :lol:
Keep fingers crossed the weather is good for you.
Tess
Lizy
Posted
I shall never get the hang of computers. I have just lost everything I have just typed. :x
Hi Linda I am pleased you are begining to recover after all the runing about you have done. I hope it all goes Ok for you and your mum on wednesday. I wish you and your daughter a good day out at the garden centre today.
Last night I found all my knitting things not had them out for at least 11 years, I found a cardigan I had started for my youngest, shes now 12 and taller than me. I thought I would give knitting a try see if my stiff hands can cope. I want to knit something really colourful. Need a pattern and some wool. Tess I also found my foot spa while looking for my knitting and I thought of you. I may even use it tonight after my walk.
Tess that sounds like a good way to pace yourself reading and gardening it rained here yesterday and it is today as well. The walk will be at a local nature reserve.
Richard I'm glad you have had some good days. My rheumatologist is always telling me that on good days you should do no more than on a bad day. On bad days I should just push myself a little more. Perhaps all doctors should try living with what we live with for a month to see how they get on.
Take care everyone and have a good bank holiday monday.
Lizzy
Squires
Posted
Hope you get to knit something nice and colourful. I can knit as well but haven't done any for a while. Don't know if my fingers will let me with the arthritis. I an also crochet and not so hard on the fingers doing that.
I have crocheted lots of blankets and did a pink and white one for Molly for her bed when she was about three.
Hope you have a lovely day out at the nature reserve. Not really worth going all the way to dovedale if it is a wet day. Too far to walk in the rain lol.
I have another quiet day Stu has done his last night and will be in bed until the afternoon. He is going to visit his mum and I probably go visit my dad and do it all in one afternoon. They both are in Peterborough.
Stewart's mum in a nursing home and my dad is in a warden controlled flat and looks after himself. Not bad for 86! Stewart's mum is ten years younger and gave up when his dad died 5 years ago.
Hope everyone has a good bank holiday Monday. Its dry here at the moment and had a brief bit of sun. Weather looks very changeable. Typical bank holiday weather.
Tess x x
Guest
Posted
had a good couple of days then yesterday i slept for scotland lol.... today i was really sore but that has easied a bit... but dont know if u all feel like this... im bored but want to do things.. so i get a idea into my head start it and then think why did i do this lol its so frustrating... anyway hope ur all doing well and hope this horrible weather isnt affecting u all..
keep smiling.. luv di xx