I don't know if you've tried this, but you should ask your primary doctor or clinic at school to give you a test for Mono AND Lyme.  I asked for a test for Mono after years of confusion on why I felt so bad and had such fatigue.  The doctor automatically tested for 5 or 6 things including Lyme, based on my symptoms and fatigue.  I think he had tried to test for this 2 years earlier but it seems that the blood lab altered the doctor's orders.  I couldn't believe what the girl said - I just had another western blot test and asked where they send the test for the results.  She said, oh we get so many of those that we just test for the Elisa or Lyme Reflex.  I was shocked!  I might have known what I had much earlier had they sent the test in as it had been written. 

Anyway, it's essential to get tested because Lyme and Fibro are treated entirely different.  One tends to use antibiotics and the other tends to use steroids.  The problem is, if you have Lyme and you go the route of Fibro, the steroids will totally kill your immune system and allow the Lyme to take over.  With Lyme, you can never take any steroids for any reason.  It's worth checking out.  No matter how strong you are, these illnesses will take anyone down.  Big strong baseball players are not able to keep going until they get treatment.   It's not a matter of being strong and getting through it.  It needs treatment. 

I hear how important school is to you and you are in the last 6 weeks.  I think you might need a doctor to check this out so you can complete school and get the grades you deserve since you have worked so hard to do this.

 

Hi and I'd also like to Welcome you to the Fibro Family. This truly is a family who takes care of each other. We also are careful and vigilant about keeping people from being led down bogus trails and getting taken by hoaxes. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that is very clearly defined, even by the National Institute of Health and many university research departments. I'm just sharing this because there are always folks out there who are willing to take your hard earned money, your insurance companies money and most of all your time...which in my opinion is not only more valuable than money but basically is all we have...time.

OK, I've pontificated enough so let's get on with trying to put you on track to a better life if we can. I do agree with Robin that reading the Fibro 101 post is great. Learn all you can about fibro and what it is and what it is NOT. I will disagree with the one comment above that most people who have fibro don't use or get steroid treatments. There are a few basics with fibro...keep those muscles warm, keep them stretched, and don't sit still for long periods of time. That's one of the worst things we can do. Mornings are miserable for us since we mostly were laying still during the night.

Some folks do use pain medication and others are able to get by without or use only OTC meds. But this brings me to your rheumytologist and him not wanting to diagnose you with fibro because you were too young??? True, most people with fibro are not in their teens. But we have members who have had fibro since they were born. This doc is afraid to treat your fibro is what's going on. He's afraid to start you will want pain medication and what the prospects are over time. That's still no reason to not give you an honest diagnosis.

Getting your 'normal' self back probably isn't going to happen. Wait! Before you panic...you can have a very wonderful and exciting life but it won't be exactly like you had it before. As you learn more and more about fibro you will figure out how to work with your own body and what it takes to keep going. This place is full of people who are living their lives just that way. Sure you hear us complain, but it would be abnormal if all we did was talk about how wonderful our lives were. Here is where we can voice our frustrations and know that someone really does understand.

So grab hold and walk this road with us. We'll be happy to take you along...
Chutz

Hi alrsmith and welcome. Hang in there you are so close to the end of school. I have a grandson that is a senior but he has to do his student teaching next semester.

 

I didn't have symptoms of fibro til my late forties and dxd in early 50s so no, I don't know what it must be like to be so young and to have to deal with fibro, if that is what you get a dx on. Has any doc did the tender point test on you??? You can read about that in the fibro 101 thread too.

As you already know, knowledge is power so learn all you can about fibro and this is a good place to learn and find a doc that believes fibro is a real disorder. You can't work on what works for you and what doesn't if you don't have a doc that understands that all fibromites are not created equal and what may work for one isn't going to work for everyone. It is all trial and error til we find the right meds that work for us and we find balance in our lives. What I mean by balance is what we can do on normal pain days for us without pushing ourselves to the point of exhaustion and causing more pain. A lot of us tend to push too hard on good days and end up making ourselves feel worse for it or on bad days sit and lay too much which only causes more pain. Like right now my body is telling me I have sit long enough this morning and I need to get up and do somethings and stretch even though I have a cold and sore throat and got up way too early this morning. I have learned to listen to my body and not do what that evil side of my brain wants to do.

 

Good luck and I hope you have anwers soon.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

I had symptoms young too (though not as young as you) but a 15-year-old girl in my church was recently diagnosed with Fibro and I feel so bad for her. I try to explain to people sometimes that it's like you're living "life lite": you just can't jump in with both feet and let yourself do what comes naturally, you always have to weigh the pros and cons of doing something. That alone can wear you down!

I've just joined this forum myself, and the people here, along with my VERY good doctor, have convinced me that I need to push myself more physically. In my case, unfortunately, it means more pain meds - more than I've dared take before - but hopefully that will be temporary. I haven't been particularly sedentary, but I am very cautious about lifting or carrying anything....I mean anything!

So, I wish you all the best. You really aren't alone!

That's a tough one!  For me, it's just one day at a time.  Trying to see some humor, trying to count my blessings in spite of it, (which isn't easy when you're in agony!) trying to find a balance between listening to my body and telling it to shut up.  Relaxing, watching movies to forget about it. 

I'm sure others said this (don't remember) but varying my position, often, helps.  Sit for a few minutes, stand, drive, lie down, stretch, walk.... you probably know all this already, but it's really important.  Good luck with finishing college!!