General Chat

Sorry - I know there is a thread running that you all contribute to, but it IS huge and I thought this would be easier than trying to sift thru the posts for my answers ............ cont'd below

Can I please ask - what were your initial symptoms before you were diagnosed?? I ask because - I have just been to the GP yesterday, having been suffering near constant pain in both arms for about the last 2 or 3 months - can't pinpoint when it started as it has gotten worse over time. I feel like all of my joints are aching - and sometimes the muscles in my upper arms. It kicks in at no particular time - I generally wake with it tho. I'll admit that I have glanced at your threads in passing - but not read in detail - as one does if not necessarily affected by the subject matter. However - I have started to look into it further due to curiosity/worry that this might be my problem. Having read the symptoms on NHS Direct - I can now see other things I have suffered but not associated, such as ...... numbness - tingling - prickling - burning sensations in hands or feet restless legs more painful periods disturbed sleep and I have to say - extreme tiredness upon waking - weekends can take me 2 hours to feel human even after 8 or more hours sleep........... I am back on Friday to have some bloods taken - he's checking initially for Inflammatory Arthropathy. (sorry have to post and run - back about 7,30) Thanks xx

Ann it doesnt show on blood tests. Taken me what seems like ages to get a diagnosis and after a month of knowing am now it the piecing it all together stage. I even asked if it could be FM and they said maybe but will do all other tests first. Keep going on at them. My symptons so far are (and without realising it have had them years) chronic fatigue legs like concrete and no energy pains in arms, shoulders, hips, spine, ankles, wrists knees what they call brain fog, poor concentration know whaty I want to say but doesnt come out right and this is taking ages to type cos I know where the keys are but brain isnt telling my finger the right places to go so looks like gobbled ee gook. numb hands and feet headaches and tunnel vision stomasch aches poor sleep and very vivid dreams shall I go on lol d xx

Hi Anne, I have FM and have had for many years, far longer than I've had the actual diagnosis, check this site out, it gives you the pressure points checked to see if you do suffer or not, you have to have at least 11 of the 18 specifide tender points for a proper diagnosis. I hope it helps, maybe print it off and take it to your GP to show where your having pain and that it coincisdes with the diagram. ( http://www.*fibromyalgia-symptoms.*org/fibromyalgia_diagnosis.*html ) removing * and ( ) first What Goes with Fibromyalgia? Commonly associated symptoms of fibromyalgia include: Fatigue Irritable bowel syndrome Sleep disorders Chronic headaches Jaw pain Cognitive or memory impairment Muscle pain or morning stiffness Painful menstruation Numbness and tingling in the extremities Dizziness or light headedness Skin and chemical sensitivities Gillie xx

hi anne certainly have some of the same , the worst bits are the pain and tiredness for me, and like dawn the legs, im having to use a chair at mo, if walking or a stick on short the pain is worse in bed too, hope you havent got it but hope they find the cause take care and good luck xxxx love puss xx

Thanks ladies for your input ............... interesting reading. I can't honestly say I have 100% of the symptoms and/or associated symptoms - and I know that it's not necessary to 'tick all the boxes' ......... but there are things that I am now NOT going to dismiss !! I know my GP is working on a process of elimination - and given the symptoms I described to him - it's understandable that he's going down the arthritis route initially .......... but then I didn't associate other things I have been experiencing. Many thanks again xx

Anne, hope you feel better soon, do mention fm to your doctor and ask to see a rheumatologist. Take some time to look through the thread when you can, and I am sure you will relate to some of the comments.

Ann for 10 years I was treated for Arthritis, last year they decided that although I do suffer with Arthritis, I also suffer from FM, it does tend to mimic Arthritis, and that is why it goes un-noticed for so long. Bev

Linda, I think it's a good site to look at if you aren't sure of the symptoms and want to know the basics, Bev I too was treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis for 8 years, taking methotrexate for all that time in a high dose, I am now off that and have now been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis and FM. Just shows that they all have very similar symptoms. Gillie xx

Good luck McAnne. Over the last three years I have seen a massage therapist, three physios, two rheumatologists and 3 GPs. I have had seven diagnoses, six of which are proven not correct, and have finally been told that my muscle and joint pain is a symptom of the menopause and I should take paracetamol if it gets too bad! Somehow I'm not convinced, but at the moment I can't face doing battle with my doctor again. Sheila

Thanks for the further input......... Sheila - I did question my GP whether it could be menopausal as I am showing other symptoms - my blood tests tomorrow also include checking whether I am Peri-Menopausal.

Hi Anne I was diagnosed some years ago with Fibromyalgia and had many of the symptoms listed in above replies. A few years later, I had a slightly painful and swollen stomach on one side, so had more tests. An x-ray revealed an enlarged spleen so I had blood tests which showed I'd had glandular fever. They then decided that I actually had M.E. but I think they're quite similar. Hope they get you sorted, a diagnosis at least is better than not knowing and wondering. Love Mandy xx

i have just read this thread and am in shock!! for the last 2 months my legs have felt like lead and the muscles are so painful i can hardly walk some days. my hips aches, as does my lower back. i am constantly tierd which i have put down to working and looking after mum,but now im not so sure. its my day off today and i didnt wake up untill 11am but i felt as though i hadnt been to sleep.just starting to feel awake now lol. my arms also ache most days and the pains seem to jolt me. as im sat here writing this i can feel the pressure in my hips and the muscles in my thighs have gone numb. does this ring any bells with any of you? susie

Well I have been for my blood tests this morning - altho one of them was a fasting one and the GP didn't tell me this, so I have to go back again next Friday for that one - so this means initial results won't be fully analysed for probably 3 weeks now :O((( Susie - I think someone said before that no one person has identical symptoms with another, but yes yours do sound similar. I for one have not had any stomach problems other than period pains, but that could be for any number of reasons. However - I have been suffering terribly with my lower back for about 3 years now - simple tasks like............ - changing the bed - hanging out washing - washing up - walking amlessly/wandering about rather than with purpose anything that involves standing and/or bending or leaning forward, can trigger the most nagging of pain that then requires painkillers and resting !!!!!

I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was 43 had to finish work Im 59 now But last Nov was really off colour been to the docs I have the symptoms of fibromyalgia. the prickly skin ....headache ....jaw terribly painful....arms elbow wrists feet knees .........not sleeping up between 12 30am and 2 30am every night...I have diabetis and diverticular disease. my doc is messing about but I have to go 26th Jan and will ask if she thinks this is what I have got the pain is terrible today Linda

anne thankyou for replying.and im glad youve had your bloodtests.i hope everything proves ok. sorry i have only just answered but im so exhausted i went and laid on the bed lol. ive decided to make an appointment to see the dr next week. hes been my family dr for 30yrs and knows me inside out so hopefully he can tell me what the problem is without having all the blood tests lol. at the moment im shuffling from side to side writing this as my hips are so painful. like you anne,my back hurts even by doing the most smallest of tasks.ive now had enough and need some answers lol susie

Susie I dont just get the pain I get burning in joints/muscles cant sit or lie down for long without some pain

Hi Susie You've done the best thing ............. that's the trouble see, we all just carry on and ignore things - blimey if I went to my GP for every pain or weird thing I have I'd need a season ticket LOL Unlike you and others, I don't have the 'exhaustion' to the extent that I have to rest - I just feel really lifeless at times and take ages to 'come round' once I get up at the weekends. Weekdays I know I can't afford to hang about cos I have work. But I spend a lot of time inbetween tasks etc just sitting on the sofa. My back is a killer when it starts - I always put it down to some kind of 'wear and tear' as it started during a time when I was also working a weekend job at Tesco and was on my legs constantly and doing heavy lifting ............. I would come home some times and spend the remainder of the day crashed on the sofa cos it was early hours too. Sometimes I would push thru it and go do the garden - I used to be able to garden all day long - now I only have to mow and clear my tiny lawn and I am done in!! So whether or not it is related to my current symptoms I don't know. Good luck with your appointment. I would just add also - as Dawn has mentioned the difficulties she has with trying to type correctly ........... I am a trained touch typist, and while no where near as bad as Dawn, I have noticed that I seem to either hit the wrong letters now or reverse the correct ones within a word ?!?!?!??

thanks anne right now i could quite easily go to bed lol. i feel tired all the time. dawn my left knee is painful so is my ankle.it actually feels as though it is on fire and feels twice the size,although it isnt lol. i get burning pain in my shoulders and neck. a couple of years ago i went to the dr with the knee problem and he put it down to water on the knee.so i accepted it and plodded on.but it has never been right. as i dont drive i have to walk from client to client in my job.i used to be able to get from one house to another in 5 minutes but recently i find its taking me abt 10 minutes as my legs feel like lead lol. my boss has noticed this aswell but she is lovely so im ok there lol. i will let you all know how i get on next week. susie

im so glad another threads been started i hope you get the diagnoseis soon mcanne its half the battle, i saw a rheumatologist 2 in fact and they said its not arthritis, and sent me packing , in the end after years of suffering my own gp said its fibromyalgia, i have had numerous anti inflamatorys to try, in fact ive tried the lot ibuprofen brufen celebrex, arcoxia meloxicam vioxx, week before it was withdrawn, it helps i work in pharmacy, all the above made me bad, arcoxia i ended up in hospital now i take tramacet, mix of tramadol and paracetamol, but the pain is awful if im honest, you just feel guilty at keeping on saying that, i get the burning in my collar bone neck, base of skull aches , headaches get severe when they are here, elbows wrists, shoulders, knees and ankles, fingers all hurt, and some areas are now swollen, most times when i sit now i have trouble straightening, and hobble till i get going, i layin the bath every morning to help me feel human before i go to work, and every night to help ease it, the trick is dont be fobbed off by doctors, keep on till the give you answers, as for periods i kept on till i got a hysterectomy, they said it was normal to have one for 32 days none stop heavy, with a day break and start again, only when i mentioned my health plan did the doctor say i can do it within a month, !!!!!!!!!! keep at um mcanne