The insulting and ignorant things people with Fibromyalgia hear...

Thanks, Holly. And I'm wishing you (and the rest of us) a less painful tomorrow...

Eyeing the Flexeril as I type...had my checkup today with the Rheumatologist. Now I know how the poor lab rats feel. Not good. :(

Good idea, Tim. They say to keep pain diaries, so a headache diary would be good too! Imagine if we did a diary on every symptom/condition?! There's not enough paper in the world for us! Lol. :)

Too funny, Neenie! Made me smile. :) I am fortunate I don't get them that often. Only once or twice a month (thankfully). I wish we all could figure out the connection, as to why/how we each got Fibro or what links Fibro to the other conditions (PTSD, CFS, migraines, IBS, Costochondritis, anxiety, and so on and so on). I hope one day someone figures it out for us. I have my ideas and thoughts, but that's what they are, since I'm no doctor. ;)

Cajunsnake: Sorry to hear about your wife. And yeah, the doctors can have you second guessing yourself. They tend to do that when they don't know what to do. :)

cajunsnake: Sometimes they don't like it when we learn and research. I think they get a little threatened that we may call B.S. when we hear it! :)

Neenie: I definitely think Rheumies (not real term, of course!) are great, instead of, or in addition to General Practitioners. I see both. I find that Rheumatologists understand each illness on a better level and seem to have more knowledge and understanding about things, overall. They also specialize in all things Rheumatology and Fibro, Lupus, Arthritis, etc. can fall under that category. If it is something you can do, I would recommend it. My Rheumie was the first one (after seeing numerous doctors) to help me and it's been over 4 years and I'm still with her. The other doctors just pushed antidepressants and other meds on me and none really helped. At one time, I was on 9 different medications and felt horrible. Now I'm on less and although I hurt all the time and have many, different other conditions and syndromes, it's better than when I was just seeing a doctor. Hope you can find one. :) By the way, they give me Flexeril (in combination with another medication) for the awful muscle spasms and to relax me and help me to sleep (a little). If I don't take it, I have spasms very badly that you can see and I don't sleep at all. I barely sleep as it is, but if I don't take it, I don't sleep at all.

Yes! I do fall, also. Just fell again recently on the tile floor. (Not the first time). I fall and get a little clumsy. I wonder what that means? As far as lifting and getting things with my arms? Fuhgeddaboudit! I don't have full range of motion and arms can't go all the way up and lifting flares me up somethin' fierce! If I do any kind of lifting, I get spasms and I pay for it for days!! Interesting, how some things are similar.

You know, people always mention to me like I sound as though I may have MS, but I can't get tested (no insurance or help of any kind). I do not think I have MS, though. Has anyone ever suggested MS to you, Neenie? Just curious. I was tested for RA about 5 years ago and it came back negative, but I do have Costochondritis, which is a form of Arthritis. I really need to get tested for a whole batch of things, but can't. I just did some quick research, though, and it seems as though other people with FMS fall quite a bit too. Interesting.

KGMO: Thanks for the link about MS. Have to say, though, it scared me a little because I have been diagnosed or suffer from all the symptoms, except visual disorder. I have numbness and RLS, fatigue and weakness, chronic pain, tremors, leg stiffness, a swallowing disorder, memory impairment and depression, although those can certainly be attributed to FMS, except the tremors and swallowing, as far as I know. My docs want me to get tested for so many things, but I can't because I don't have insurance or get disability or have help of any kind. My doctor said I have degenerative disk disease and I herniated 2 disks a few years ago and the docs said my back was having too many spasms when they took the MRI, so they couldn't get a good read on them and I lost my insurance shortly after that and I haven't been able to get another MRI but I need one desperately. My General Practitioner wants me to get new MRI's but I can't afford them, so I guess there's nothing I can do and we can't find out everything that's wrong with me. I still don't think I have MS, but everyone else seems to suggest it. It would be nice to get tested for it and get the MRI's that I need, but don't have the income to do it. I am sorry that your wife has MS. I hope she is doing well. :)

KGMO: Thank you very much for the information and wonderful contributions (examples: the MS link and sharing your touching stories about your wife). I cannot believe the MS association provides for free MRI's to those without insurance (me and many others!)and free medications, as well! I never heard that. Again, I do not think I have MS and can only imagine what your wife goes through. Although Fibro and MS have some similarities, each are very different, in their own rite. I would like to get tested, however, because other people (friends, doctors, etc.) always seem to mention it to me, but my symptoms may just be from having severe Fibromyalgia and neck/spine injuries. Either way, it would be good to know where I stand. I'm assuming I need to go back to the link that you suggested and look into that, which I will do Tuesday. Regardless of what the outcome may or may not be, I appreciate the information and my thoughts are with you and your wife. For her to care so much about others, while she has her own battle to fight, shows what type of woman she is. Tell her thank you. :)

Hi Neenie! How are you feeling today? Good, I hope. Yes, KGMO is a star for taking the time to provide some very insightful information. I will be looking into it Tuesday. I did apply for disability (it's a very, very long story) but the shorter version is my lawyer retired, didn't notify me, passed on my case to an incompetant jerk right before my hearing and when we arrived at my hearing (which I waited 3 years for!!!) the Administrative Law Judge did not have my information, was missing over half of my files/medical evidence/documents, etc. and we had to stop 3 times during the actual hearing, while my lawyer had to fax over some of my information to the judge, all the while, they had over 2 and a half years to do it. Needless to say, the judge was not happy, didn't have all my information, the lawyer botched everything up and I got a letter saying I was denied. It was one of the most draining, sad things I've had to deal with. The lawyer I initially contracted with, was the owner of his law firm, but then retired and his cases got divied up and I got pushed to someone else right before my case and everything was a mess. The initial lawyer told me I was a slam dunk for getting granted, because of all my medical problems/documentation and told me I would get disability. Then he retires and no one notifies me and all of a sudden, I have a different lawyer, who knew nothing about me or my conditions, didn't have files, charts, etc. He said he would have it for the hearing, and he didn't. I wrote a letter to the judge explaining everything and appologized for my lawyer's mistakes, but they kept the denial in place and told me to refile again. I have yet to do it. It was such a disaster, you have no idea. This is the short version. I was sent other people's files/medical documents, my information was going to an address I never lived at, I sent them money for making copies and getting my records from doctors and they said they never got the money, although the check was cashed by them, I was hung up on numerous times.... I can go on and on and on... Anyway, I have to reapply and start all over and just don't feel good enough or have the energy. But, I need to do it, because things are getting worse and I don't have any help and I desperately need it. Wow. Sorry for going on and on. I try to avoid talking about this topic, because when I do, you see what happens?!

Neenie: Thanks! I will refile, it just took such a toll on me, I needed a break from paperwork, interviews, incompetent lawyers, etc. etc. But, I have been searching around for a new lawyer. Just a scary concept for me (after the last time). *Do you know if it matters if you file your case with a non-lawyer (such as a group that only handles disability cases, but are not actual attorneys)? I found a group that I thought was a law firm and I was almost ready to sign all the papers, but they are not attorneys. Does it matter? Is it better to have an attorney rep you? Just curious. After seeing how lousy the first lawyer was, maybe I should go to a non-lawyer, but I was skeptical. Also, Neenie, glad to hear you (and your friend) got the disability granted. :) I have heard they normally deny the first time, but again, my lawyer said it was a slam dunk, so when he retired and the new lawyer screwed everything up and I got denied, it was a big shock. But I will not give up...the quality of my life depends on it. :)

Neenie: Good point! That's part of what made me hesitate to sign the papers with the non-attorney group. There weren't any caps on anything (such as how much they could charge for copies, paperwork, obtaining records, etc.) so I couldn't commit to filing with them. I have to say, for some reason, they were nicer than the lawyers I've spoken with are and they had been calling to check in with me and always returned my calls, unlike the first situation with the law firm. But maybe it was just to get me to file with them? Anyway, I need to refile asap! ;)

Backroads: Thank you. I think I will take your advice on that. :)

G.H.: Chronic pain of any kind is such a sad thing. I hate that some of us have to live with it. It breaks my heart. Have you ever been tested (pressure point test) for Fibro?? Just curious, since you stated you have had chronic pain for 8 years and some is RA, but the docs can't figure out the rest...If they do a pressure point test on you, you will know if you have Fibro. I hope not, though, but if you did, it may explain a few things. :)

G.H. and Holly: I clipped a great article I found about Fibro, to our Fibro friends group called "How to Identify Fibromyalgia" and it shows an image of the locations where the pressure points are (and even lets you print it out to take to your doctor!). Hope that helps!! :)

Very welcome! :)

My friend has MS and my ex's uncle has MS. The two of them had such a difference in their experiences. One is doing as well as can be expected (which is still not good) and the other, had very significant lows... ending up in a wheelchair, very, very sick and not being able to move, etc. Then he bounced back and went through highs and real lows again. Last I knew, he wasn't doing that good. MS is another one of the complicated and vicious diseases that can wreak havoc on someone and I wish there was more to help anyone afflicted with it. Even though they are each very different, the same can be said with Lupus, Lyme, Fibro, etc. I feel for anyone who has an illness to contend with. It's so hard on the person, but just as hard on the loved ones.

KGMO: Exactly! I know people who think if you're not in a wheelchair, you're not that sick. What kind of thinking is that? It's sad the way some people look down on the sick. I can't stand people like that and have zero tolerance for it.

It's both. Sad that they live life that way (not compassionate or caring) and ignorant (unaware and not educated in what they speak of).

Hi Gaynel. Thanks for sharing. Hope you're doing well. :)

I appreciate your kind words, US Citizen. As far as sleep, I have insomnia due to the Fibro, so I never get a good night's rest and wake up dozens and dozens of time throughout the course and can hear everything. Plus, people with Fibro do not reach stage 4 REM sleep, which is where the body and the muscles repair themselves, so our muscles never heal and the cycle continues and goes on and on and......you get the idea. Regardless, thank you for stopping by and commenting. It does mean a lot. :)

Thank you, Tedd. For more info on my story and how it all came to be, it is under the June or July archives in Fibro friends and in my article archives (probably in June or early July) and explains things more in detail. It's called Fibromyalgia: The Invisible Illness. If you ever get the chance, check it out. It's been good getting to know you as well. You are a great person. :)

I am sorry to hear about you and your mother, tesla. My thoughts are with you both. And you hit the nail on the head.....since you're not in a wheelchair or hysterically crying and "look okay" on the outside, people dismiss it. But they don't realize you are dying, on the inside. Fibro doesn't kill you, it just seems like it does and makes you feel dead. Thank you for stopping by and I'll be in touch very soon.

Based on your comment, you know exactly what it's like. I ask for stronger medicine, better medicine and the doctors treat me like I'm a criminal, which I'm not and never been. I'm not asking for oxycontins or hard core drugs, just something to relieve my pain and allow me to function. Sadly, my doctor doesn't believe in prescribing strong medicine and I am suffering in pain and barely function more than a zombie, because I'm always in horrible pain and the doctors don't understand what it's like because they are lucky and don't have it. If they did, they'd be handing over the pills and working on a cure fast. Again, you can't die from Fibromyalgia, but you sure feel like it's killing you and it is. You're dying a slow, painful death and deteriorating while everyone else is moving on with their lives and you're just another patient to the doctor on a busy day.