Does it go away? Then come back? (New here)

Hi, I've been posting all over the place because I have so many issues.

For about 2 years I had pain in my arms that caused them to be real weak. I kept going to the doctor and he kept telling me it's just wear and tear. I would go back again and he'd say the same thing and suggested I not carry my baby, which was impossible. I got fed up and went to a chiropractor thinking it might have been my scoliosis. He did X-rays on my low spine and said everything looks ok I just have a deep curve back there, and he pretty much told me the same thing as the doctor. After wasting so much money I switched doctors. I ended up going to urgent care one night because I couldn't do anything and I was having a headache that lasted for days despite Tylenol and Advil. They gave me a toradol shot and the pain was gone. They took X-rays of my neck because I could hardly turn it. They found arthritis so they said that might have been causing my pain, and told me to keep taking Advil for it. Shortly after I was back in with pain. I did the nerve tests in my arms and neck and it all checked out fine. I gave up and went back to the chiro. Eventually I went back to the doctor and told her all that I've been through and she ran a bunch of blood tests and it all came back normal just anemic. She then referred me to the rheumatologist. I went to see him and within a few minutes after listening to me he said I had fybromyalgia. He gave me flexeril and nortriptalyne for it. I didn't feel any better and I think it was counteracting with my other medications so I quit taking it because I was still in pain but I also couldn't mentally function properly. I starated taking all kinds of different herbal supplements and vitamins and started to workout at the gym. I was doing great for about a month and a half. But now I'm back to square one. I'm in pain and it's difficult for me to do anything at the gym. I may go 2 days a week and I literally can't do anything else for days when I was going 5-6 days a week.

I've been in so much pain lately. I was just wondering if anyone else has gone through this. Does it go away and come back? Or is it something that is constant?

Bakomom, I added the fact that you're new to your title, so your post won't slip through the cracks.

Debbie

Post Edited By Moderator (Acheybody) : 6/3/2013 4:28:04 PM (GMT-6)

I wish I knew what triggers it. Everyday I wake up in pain and sometimes I force myself to clean through the pain because it seems like if I keep moving I can't tell how bad I hurt, at least until I sit down. Then there's days where no matter what I can't get up. I'll stay in bed knowing what kind of day it's going to be and sometimes it helps and other times it makes the pain worse. Right now I can't sleep because its my legs that are really affected today. I hurt from my hips to my toes.

As far as exercise goes I stretch before my workout and I stretch between each set of weight lifting. If I have time I do when I get home. I always have to stop and stretch during cardio. For some reason my ankle has been hurting and locking up on me and my legs get terrible cramps. I'm a mess. I see older people doing way more than me and I'm only 31. It's so frustrating. It's even more frustrating thinking back to the days when I could run for hours and not be bothered. Now I'm counting down the minutes.

I just wish the doctors could actually help me. I skipped my rheumetologist appointment because during that time I was having other issues and appointments and seeing him was last on my list because I didnt feel too bad. Now I regret it.

Hi, Bakomom! Are you new to the fibro forum or is my fibro fog kicking in? I don't recall seeing your name. Anyway, to answer your question, I've never had the pain leave me. I will have good days and bad days and some flares thrown in. We sometimes can tell why we are feeling worse....being too stressed, overdoing, etc.....and sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to it. It's just best to take one day at a time and live it to the best of your ability.

I use ibuprofen, Tylenol. Malic acid/magnesium supplements, vitamin D3 supplements, and a muscle relaxer that has made a significant difference for me. I also do gentle stretching exercises. I walk daily as a form of gentle exercise, and I pace myself. All of this has helped me live a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness. You just need to try things to see what helps you get in control of your pain. It's trial and error because what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

If you haven't already, read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links about fibro and you will learn a lot there that can help you.

By the way, have you tried massaging your neck? I do this and it really helps. I also do neck exercises and have gotten much more range of motion, too. This is part of stretching. I also have a book called The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook that I use to find the trigger points that are causing me my worst pain. I hope, tomorrow, to do a post on this. I've been saying that for about a week but time gets away from me. I'll really try and you can check that out, too.

Sherrine

Hi, Miss Lynn! I'm glad you found use too! We have wonderful members who live to help one another and we do care about each other too. I think you will like it here.

Now, I have a favor to ask. Could you post an introductory thread so all our members will see you and greet you? I'm on my iPad and can't help that way. You can get lost in this thread. Thanks!

I'm looking forward to hearing about you and we will see how we can help you. You know, I've lived a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness. Hopefully we will get you back into living life again. You've come to the right place.

Sherrine

Hi Bakomom,

So sorry you're hurting. My pain and tightness from fibro has never left me but different days for me bring on different levels of pain.

If I don't get enough sleep I'm in more pain. The weather can cause me more pain. If I overdo for example lift too much or do too much I increase my pain, eating something that doesn't agree with me increases my pain.

I just heard on the Dr. Oz show today that gluten increases inflammation. There are so many things to learn. I am medication sensitive and I'm on several nutritional supplements that help my immune system to stay strong so I don't get sick on top of dealing with the fibro.

Good luck to you.

Thanks for the posts. I actually found this site after I was diagnosed because it left me confused. I really like it because I have multiple problems like anxiety, phobia, IBS, fybro, and chronic migranes. So it's nice to have a place for all. I've read all I could and when I found this site Fybro 101 was the first thing I read. I was down literally for months at a time when it would trigger and it was so frustrating going to the doctors. The medication they gave me didn't help that much. Really the only help I ever got was that Toradol shot and the doctor told me its not for fybro which confused me more because it really did take the pain away. They also gave me Tramadol which does nothing I might as well take a children's chewable Tylenol. I have no idea what triggered this attack. I was doing so good. And it seemed like the more weights I was lifting the better I felt. But now my days are decreasing and so is my weight amount. Which is why I haven't posted in so long because exercise was easing my pain but now I think it's doing the opposite. I've tried multiple supplements but a lot if them mess my stomach up. I also have trouble with a lot of perscription medications too.

So I don't know what to do. I can't say I was 100% pain free but it was definately better than I was. It's nice to know that I'm not alone in this roller coaster. It's just really hard being a stay at home mom of 3 boys and I constantly have things to do around the house because no one helps. And by the time I'm done doing what I have to do I have to hear how miserable everyone's life is because I don't feel well. Not to mention insomnia has been really bad lately and I'm sleeping in too late yet I'm not getting much sleep because I don't fall asleep till 4-7am.

Zwhen I was first diagnosed my daughter Heidi was just turning 5 and my daughter Erica was not even 2 yet. A truly believe there are parts of their young ones that I don't remember because I was in such a horrible state of mind with this awful disease. In 2000 and 2 I'll believe I went into remission I have no idea what I did to make it go away but I was glad that it had stopped. In 2004 I gave birth to my third daughter Audrey who is no nine and a half. Shortly after giving birth to her all of my symptoms came back and they have never actually fully left me.

I have had many other stressors in my life including a divorce and then re marriage into a man that I thoroughly love with all my heart. I took on a stubborn stepson and a step daughter who lives on her own however stuff still gets to me quite often. I do know what it's like to raise young children with this disease. Many others on here have done the same thing. And like you I have learned that there are just days that I have to push through for the sake of my kids and to make them understand what it is that I feel on a daily basis. My oldest is no 18 and she fully understands this disease. I have a 15 year old who understands it but understandably lives in her own world lol. My 9 year old doesn't always get it but she does know that there are times that mami just does not feel well. Its hard but we get through it

I apologize if some of my words are not coming out right on here. I am using a talk to text option on my phone since typing is very hard in my arms right now. I hope you find relief soon

Great advice Namian

I struggle with my boys a lot. They are 13, 8 and 2. My 2 yr old is a nightmare the other two are just lazy. I've tried to tell them I need help because I have multiple conditions. Their whining and fighting for sure makes my anxiety high. I also homeschool them so I literally never get a break. It's like they just don't care. Some things I can get them to do but the majority of the stuff I have to because I know it won't get done right and it'll just make it harder on me. I just spent 2 days cleaning my house because when other people clean things just get shoved in corners so when it comes time for me to step in its craziness. My baby refuses for people to feed him but he doesn't have spoon/fork to mouth concept too well so most of his food gets spreaded. If he has jello or yogurt it ends up on my couch and floor. He also likes to smash his food into the carpet so I have to steam clean s lot. He's managed to figure out how to spill a sippy cup. It's literally a nightmare in my house. I wish I could get a motel room for myself for a couple of days just to relax because I can't at home.

I sure hope I can continue the gym and get back to where I was. With all my medical conditions I've been laying down a lot for the past couple of years and gained more weight than I'd like to have.

Bakomom,

For sleeping I wouldn't be able to fall asleep without my sleep supplements l-theanine and melatonin. I have no side effects with them. They don't always work well for me, I have to not overdo during the day or I can't eat something that doesn't agree with me.

I was married for many years to a man who raised our kids to not help me around the house. Unfortunately he wasn't helpful either. What I found I had to do to try to survive the marriage with my limitations was go on strike when it came to a certain chore. I just sat down and informed the family I couldn't do anymore.

Luckily even though therapy didn't help this situation, my therapist helped me to become strong enough and brave enough to leave the marriage. Not that I'm encouraging you to do anything drastic, just wanted to share with you how you might be able to take a stand.

Thanks. We do have our punishments around here. First they get a warning and if it continues then their possessions start to be taken away and depending on the offense is what determines how long. If that doesn't help then its their privileges. I don't allow anyone to eat or drink in their room but the little one selectively remembers that one. I remember a couple of weeks ago he went to sleep really early and I thought he was going to sleep through the night, but he woke up around 1am ready to party. It was only me and him up. He got out of bed and I figured he went to lay down with his brother like usual. I started to watch something on Netfix on the iPad and had earbuds in. When I got up I didn't see him. I walked toward the kitchen, the door was wide open and something on the floor. I went to walk in the kitchen and slipped, fell and busted my knee pretty bad. He decided to throw every egg we had all over the kitchen. That was extremely fun to clean up 40 eggs on linoleum. So it's hard to keep things from him when he can figure out locks and doors. He also can climb up on the counter so things up there aren't safe either. He's a handful and a half.

As far as homeschool.... I don't know where everyone is from. I live in California and all our schools are horrible. I just started a year and a half ago. I was tired of my 8 yr old being bullied by his teacher and he wasn't understanding and getting help. I went to the teacher myself to ask for help because she sent him home with a bunch of stuff and I had trouble understanding. She refused to talk to me without a conference. I waited over a month for her to call me back and never did. She wasn't allowing him to have any recesses because he couldn't finish his work and I was just tired of it. My 13 yr old was way behind and I didnt even know it. I figured out where his problem was though he couldn't multiply/divide and he struggled to read. So I pulled them out and they are doing better now. They are my kids and not the states, I'm not going to have the state raise my kids. But beside that the no child left behind act has really messed things up. My son is a prime example. He couldn't do a lot of things but they couldn't hold him back. My stepson is another example. He just failed 8th grade, what did they do to him? Absolutely nothing. He gets to go to high school even though he failed. The only thing he couldn't do was participate in the ceremony. Plus me and my husband don't agree and don't find it necessary for our children to learn about homosexuals. And I could care less who was an important person and gay. So that's where we stand on that.

Hello Bako :) Welcome. I'm sorry, I thought I had already replied...

But anyway, I'm sure you have seen many different responses, since Fibro can be different for everybody.... though you can mention any crazy symptom under the sun, and I bet their will be people here who have had that... or at least something close.

For myself, I always had so many different things going on, that even when one thing got better, something else often got worse ! I've had Fibro for 26 years, but during my last few years of full blown fibro (up to 42 mo ago), I don't think I had "any" days where I felt completely normal {no pain or discomfort}

Skip forward to now, I'm a health and fitness freak :) Fibro 95% remission, IBS 100% remission :) Ta Da ! NEVER give up hope !

Best wishes,
Fish

Hi Bakomom,

I don't know if you've tried any of these diets for your IBS or not, but I thought I'd share my story with IBS. I worked with a dietician for 9 months to figure out my food intolerances (i.e. which foods trigger my IBS symptoms), and following that diet helps to control the symptoms, although even if I'm following the diet stress can still trigger symptoms. If you can't afford to see a dietician, then you can just buy the "Food intolerance management plan" low-FODMAP diet book by Dr. Sue Shepherd and Dr. Peter Gibson (which I have found helpful over the years). I think there are other books on the low-FODMAP diet out there now - just google "low-FODMAP IBS". You can do an elimination diet (preferably with the guidance of a dietician, but you can do it by yourself if you're careful to watch out for malnutrition) to figure out your food intolerances. Or, if you're rich, you can just have breath tests to find out (to be tested for all the FODMAPs plus get the standard compulsory test, this would cost you about $650 if you live in Australia).

But do you know what really helped my IBS? The leaky gut cure diet by Karen Brimeyer. Since following that diet in conjunction with low-FODMAP diet, my IBS is almost entirely gone! I have only had the syptoms of it TWICE in the last 5 weeks (I used to have symptoms 24/7) - once was because I broke my low-FODMAP diet in a big way by having mango juice (too much unbalanced fructose at once), and once was because something VERY stressful happened. But I find that now I can break my low-FODMAP diet in small ways - e.g. I can daily have a bit of fruit and honey that contains fructose - as long as I strictly stick to the leaky gut diet.

P.S. No, I'm not advertising for any of these authors. I'm simply sharing who has helped me because I know it's hard to navigate the world wide web of scams out there... In fact, just in case you can't afford the $40 to download Karen's e-book, if you like, I can post a quick summary of the leaky gut diet... just ask if you'd like me to do so.

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Diagnosed: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, IBS, dermatitis, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, lactose intolerance/malabsorption, etc.

Inconclusive: panic attacks or hypoglycaemia?

Suspected: leaky gut syndrome, mild depression, mild OCD, gluten intolerance

Sherrine, I have to respectfully disagree with you.

Many people in this fibromyalgia forum have digestive issues. I appreciate the information Jasmine Grace shared with us in this thread. Jasmine, I was told years ago that I have leaky gut. I've heard that many people do. One of the causes of leaky gut is antibiotics interestingly enough.

Here's a website that talks about digestive issues like leaky gut contributing to some fibromyalgia symptoms:

http://generalhealthtopics.com/fibromyalgia-leaky-gut-syndrome-1098.html