Monday, September 21, 2009

Diagnosed Fianally

Fibromyalgia with Seizures, it's not common for these two to go together but if Fibro is left untreated over the years you can start to have seizures because of the stress it puts on your body, or so my doctor tells me. I'm still researching.

Fibromyalgia (pronounced fy-bro-my-AL-ja) is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease, which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.

Fibromyalgia, which has also been referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome, fibromyositis and fibrositis, is characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue.. For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating and interfere with basic daily activities

Fibromyalgia causes you to ache all over. You may have symptoms of crippling fatigue -- even on arising. Specific trigger points or tender points on the body may be painful to touch.

Some patients with FMS have pain and achiness around the joints in the neck, shoulder, back, and hips, mine occur in the neck, shoulder, arms and shins accompanied by a burning pain almost as if my skin is on fire. Other fibromyalgia symptoms include:

abdominal pain
anxiety and depression
chronic headaches
difficulty maintaining sleep or light sleep
dryness in mouth, nose, and eyes
fatigue upon arising
hypersensitivity to cold and/or heat
inability to concentrate (called "fibro fog")
Memory difficulties and cognitive difficulties
numbness or tingling in the fingers and feet
painful menstrual cramps
poor circulation in hands and feet (called Raynaud's phenomenon)
restless legs syndrome
stiffness
Multiple tender areas (muscle and joint pain) on the back of the neck, shoulders, sternum, lower back, hips, shins, elbows, knees

For some patients, pain improves during the day and increases again during the evening, though many patients with fibromyalgia have day-long, unrelenting pain. Pain can increase with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress. For me My pain is not so bad in the mornings but does increase throughout the day and depending on what activities I do.

It can be severely crippling if left untreated for years which is exactly what happened to me in April. In the past I have been diagnosed with RLS, restless leg syndrome, chronic migraine headaches and have has on going periods of numbness in my hands and feet and had a really bad seizure in 2001.

FINALLY, it all makes senses to me. I've had Fibromyalgia for a really long time but just ignored it until all the stress we went through in Jan with the ice storm where my mom lives and having to get her out of there and then deciding they would live here. My husband and I had to pack up their very big house by ourselves, the house was big and stuff with as much stuff at is possible could be some rooms were floor to ceiling. Hubby and I went through, boxed packed and moved it all except for help wit the major appliances. Then the stress of caring for my mom, using the Hoyer lift to get her up each day my body could not handle it and the Fribo symptoms came on full force, crippling even until the pain brought on my tremors and seizures.

I was relieved to get a diagnosis finally, but there is no cure, well man made cure, that is. I just have to take my meds, which seems to be increasing by the month, and watch how hard I push myself.
I had come across this in my research but didn't think I was right about it because I didn't think Fibro could be so very painful. Doc said it can be one of the most painful things out there.

Unfortunately , because there is no specific tests some doctors don't even believe it exists. I think this is becoming less of the case, with more education and more medications coming out that have been shown to help people control the symptoms of Fibrymyalgia.

Would love to hear from you if you have dealt with this or know someone that has.
Thank you to all those who have followed me on this journey, it's only just beginning and I know you guys will be there to hear my praise reports, rants, and whatever else God has in store for my family.




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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am here sweet friend and will be sending you loving-kindness daily.

Sheryl said...

well i don't if i should be happy for you that you have a diagnosis??? i know it's a relief to be able to know what's going on and at the same time, it stinks that there isn't a cure. so now it's time to de-stress?? oh boy that doesn't come easily. praying that God pours out His miracles on your life.

He & Me + 3 said...

My aunt has FM. She is in pain often. I am glad that they know what you have...& hopefully will be able to keep it under control for you know.
Hugs,
Mimi

nancygrayce said...

I know someone who has it really bad, but not with seizures. She's coped with a lot of those symptoms. For a long time, nobody believed anything was wrong with her which led to depression. She's much better now. I pray you will be too!

Unknown said...

In a recent book, The Truth About Fibromyalgia, it was pointed out that fibro is a neurological condition in which the pain volume is turned too high. Disrupted deep sleep patterns cause chemical depletion in the limbic system which no longer adequately regulates pain and sympathetic nervous activity. Therapy has to be directed at this dysfunction...a must read in order to understand fibro.