polymialgia and fibromialgia

HI there, Debbe

Polymyalgia is diagnosed through mainly blood work showing high readings of ESR if this is elevated then this is a usually diagnosis. This test measures how quickly red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube of unclotted blood. Rapidly descending cells (an elevated sed rate) indicate inflammation in the body. While the sed rate measurement is a helpful diagnostic tool, it alone does not confirm polymyalgia rheumatica. An abnormal result indicates only that tissue is inflamed, which also is a symptom of many forms of arthritis and/ or other rheumatic diseases. Before making a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica, the doctor may perform additional tests to rule out other conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, because symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica and rheumatoid arthritis can be similar.

Fibromyalgia on the other hand has no blood work abnormalities and so therefore is difficult to diagnose, generally it is due to having widespread pain more than three months and you have more than 11 out of 18 tender points.

I would go back to the doctors if I was you and insist in blood work being done tell him/her your difficulties and then the investigations can take place. I have seen many Specialist's and it takes some time to get to the bottom of things so the sooner you go and see the doctor then the sooner you will get the appropriate medication....... I am on Pregablin (lyrica) which is only prescribed through a pain Specialist for Fibromyalgia, once again your doctor will have to refer you, it can be a long process to get to the bottom of your pain. At the beginning of my rollercoaster I had anti inflammatories with Tramadol which seem to work, but again your GP will have to assess the situation.

Kind Regards

SES

Hi Ses

I hope life is a bit better for you and that you had a good xmas.

It sounds like you might be getting some answers to your health.

Wishing you all the best for this year.

Lizzy

Hi Lizzy,

The weight I have gain since the beginning of this is stressing me out, and cause I am less mobile on my feel like I used to be this hasnt done me good neither, I weighed this when I was pregnant with my first lol so not really happy!!!!! PBC makes you struggle processing fat intake, and as I have to be careful with certain toxins like even too much Caffeen this all contributes to me feeling like cr*p too, I even have to be careful regarding paracetamol only allowed upto 4 a day, not allowed asprin so getting to know more now what I can and can't have no Alcohol ..... makes me sick tho as I was ignored for years and it could have been fatal!!!!! I am so annoyed tho that DLA commissioner after fighting my claim for help relating to mobility he apparently has refused submission for my calim to be looked at again, even though it went to supersession what ever that is.... still fighting that one!!!!

Anyway my dear friends I do hope you all are keeping your chin up..... I hope this cold weather isnt make you all to miserable xxx love to you all and lets hope that 2010 is a better one xxxx

Regards

SES x

Hi Ses,

Glad you are getting some answers at last! As far as I know supersession is like Ray has middle rate care and GP said he could ask for supersession to see if he now qualified for high rate care? Don`t know if that`s what happened to you. Hope things get really sorted out for you in 2010 we all deserve some good luck for a change.

Linda

Hi ses,

I am glad to hear that you now know what is wrong and that you can look after yourself better.

I am still getting more conditions added to my list. It would seem once you have one autoimmue problem you can collect a load more. The names are really hard to say. :roll:

Take care and wishing you all the best for the future.

Lizzy

Hi Ses

Like Lizzy and Linda said it is good that you are getting somewhere with your pain etc. I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year. I do hope 2010 is a better year for you and things work out for yourself and family.

I am off to see my cancer consultant for a routine check tomorrow. Although saw doctor today and said my levels were a bit high and making them overactive. Going to see what Consultant says tomorrow about whether to change level or not.

Take care

Tess

HI Tess, I hope all goes well with seeing your Consultant xxxx and yeah I do feel relieved in some respect, but now and again I am tearful, I went to see the Pain specilist and he said how was the pain killers tramdol and I said they dont work, he was going to give me something for my joint pain but after I explained I have PBC he said he couldn't give me them, he expressed that I should keep off as many tablets as I can, in order not to further harm my liver :roll:

Lizzy yeah auto-immune disorders seem to link somehow with each other, hope you are feeling ok too x

Hi Paddy how is Ray? how are you too, yeah I phoned the appeals office up and they said I hadn't been successful and should have heard from Commisioners office around the 15th Dec 09 but that was around the time my hubby sent them a letter with my new diagnosis, so I am wondering whether this has made a difference why I haven't actually heard anything from them? I hope you are coping ok too xxxx

My lack of concentration is getting worse though and I get so edgy now as I am getting frustrated with not being able to do things like a normal 37 year old should be able to do..... Xmas was ok, cause I can't drink and so new year was kind of boring, but on a good note my daughter moved back new years day so that was a good start to 2010.

I see the Liver Specialist in March so hoping these meds are working, as all this is a bit scary, anyway my dear friends so sorry I haven't been in touch for sometime xx love to you all xxx and keep smiling xx 2010 will be a better one, I hope you are all coping too xxx

SES xxx

Hi Ses

That is good news about your daughter I hope it all works out well for you both.

I hope your health improves for you. Its really hard living with a chronic illness knowing that you are always going to have to live with it. I am now coming to terms with all my problems and I am slowly begining to get things under controll so that I can have a better quality of life.

Tale care.

Lizzy

Hi Ses,

I`m glad your daughter has moved back, and I wish both all the best for the future Well, we should now be able to cope with the physical side of our conditions better as the lift and the wet room are now complete, its lovely to be able to have a shower whenever I want without having to worry about getting into the bath or loosing my balance when showering.

Hope you get more answers from your app in March and they can work out how best to treat the different conditions.

Linda

Hi Ses

Like Linda says it is good your daughter has moved back home. Must be nice for you to have her there. I hope they can sort things out for you when you see them in March. Do they think it was any of your tablets that has caused your cirrohsis? It is such as worry taking lots of different tablets. :cry: I can't take any anti inflamatory tabs as they give me acid reflux.

I know they can cause stomach bleeding if you take to many.

Its not very nice when we can't have some form of medication to help with our aches and pains. We all have to try and go from day to day and do what we can. I keep getting sinus headaches at the moment on waking and then coming on suddenly sometime during the day. I would rather have pains in my legs than in my head. :cry:

Well all the best for 2010 and talk again soon.

Tess

Hi Tess,

PBC isnt caused through Alcohol or medication, its just something there in the genes, usually after a pregnancy around mid thirties..... My doctor whom said i had autoimmune hepatitis so predicted in these lines what was wrong, it was him that got the ball rolling as my SED RATE has always showed inflammation since I had my little boy, and as my GP took a look at the time this had gone on as he took my file home to read, he recognized there was something wrong, I asked my old surgery over and over again why I had raised SED RATE and they just said was the medication I was on!!!!! Anyway, when I was referred to the Rheumo he did the AMA test Mitrochondrial anti-body, which is a marker for PBC, this test isnt widely done I dont think but due to my history it was only done because of this?? Anyway I am waffling now and not sure if what I have said makes sense lol......

As with the Acid reflux that has been a nightmare, the lansoprazol I take twice a day doesn't seem to be working and so I am off to see the doctor tomorrow as the acid build up is kind of coming up through my nose and my eyes are stinging.... I have dry eyes anyway.... so do not think it is linked..... the acid reflux though does seem to effect my breathing and again is a bit of a concern so I hope the doctor can help me for that too???? So sick of moaning :oops:

Yes My daughter is home and is a relieve she is very hormonal though bless her!!!! Anyway my dear friends thanks so much for your replies and hope this cold weather isnt getting you too down!!!!!

Take care everyone and hugs sent to you all xxx

:wink:

SES x

Ses

I'm so pleased that things are begining to unravel for you,so that things can be treated properly. I think doctors really have no idea how we feel and what its like to deal with an autimmune condition 24 hours a day with no relief.

How is your daughter? It must be a relief to have her home again.

Take care. Sending you a gentle hug.

Lizzy

Aww thanks everyone xxx

I went to the doctor and he said he thinks I have a stomach infection as the acid is coming up through to my nose and my breathing is effected. Gotta to do a stool sample too.... but suppose they have to .... give me meds to relive it for the time being????

Anyway my dear friends thanks for your replies once again xxx hugs to you alll xxx

Hi Ses

I hope they can soon sort out your stomach infection and the meds will help until they know for sure. Poor you getting one thing after another. It must be good for you have your daughter home. Just had my daughter, her partner and the two grand daughters Molly and Sophie to dinner today. Molly is now 6 and Sophie is 17 months old now. Time goes so quick.

Take care

Tess

Aww bless Tess, how nice, yeah time goes by so quickly xxxxx i bet it cheers you up xxxx love to you all and I hope you all are coping ok with this dreadful cold weather xxxxx