Fibromyalgia Case Studies: August 22, 2006
Posted on 8/22/2006: |
donna |
| Male or Female? | female |
| Single or Married? | married |
| If married, how many years? | 29 |
| Where were you born? | alabama |
| Where do you live now? | alabama |
| How long have you lived there? | a total of 20 years |
| Your Age? | 45 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | at least 5or more years |
| What line of work? Still working? | receptionist |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | several years ago i remember hitting my head on the roof of a mini van getting out. i thought i heard my scalp crack i never went for a x-ray.also used to have bad panic attacks in which every muscle in my body tighten up as tight as they could. |
| Does exercise help? What type? | sometimes walking and slow movement |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | my thyroid got under active, no energy. then test came back normal but it has its low and high levels. of course those symptoms are so close to fibromyalgia symptoms. i had test ran and i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. i also remember having a reaction to two different antidepressants and also having a reaction to a steroid not cortizone but one of the newer steroids which all made me feel like my blood was boiling. i thought this might have did some damage to my body. whatever it was gave a mile long list of things it could do to you. but alot of the problems were all due to an overload of stress. |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | soreness,fatigue, sugar running low sometimes, weight gain,oh yes stress,tmj,nerve problems circulation problems,sensitive to sound and chemicals |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | not that i can remember |
| Military Service? What years served? | no |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | not that i no of |
| How has fibro affected your life? | it has slowed me down, but by the grace of God, i am still going and pray that myself and everyone who has got any kind of disease will be abel to overcome with victory! |
| What makes symptoms worse? | weather, stressful situations,not getting enough sleep,over work, some foods. |
| What makes you feel better? | rest , drinking enough water, eating a well balanced diet |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | no |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | i have used muscle relaxers in the past, but i am not using anything now |
| Theories or Comments? | i think it has alot to do with our immune system not being able to fight off infections which we know is caused from not having enough sleep and sometimes not eating enough of the right kind of food |
| Are we missing an important question? | not that i can think of |
Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
Diane |
| Male or Female? | Female |
| Single or Married? | Single |
| Where were you born? | 1954 |
| Where do you live now? | Columbia, Sc |
| How long have you lived there? | 2 |
| Your Age? | 51 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | 6-7 years that I know of |
| What line of work? Still working? | restaurant owner |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | car wreck 24 years ago, physical/mental abuse for 13 years with previous husband. |
| Does exercise help? What type? | Walking feels great. |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | fatigue, back pain, shoulder pain, couldn't sit for long periods, severe headaches |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | constant body/muscle aches, similar to the flu. Fatigue, mornings are very painful. |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | not to my knowledge |
| Military Service? What years served? | 0 |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | not to my knowledge |
| How has fibro affected your life? | it has slowed me down, i feel very grumpy, im in constant pain, i am less motivated. |
| What makes symptoms worse? | my symptoms are 24/7. Exhaustion might add to this. |
| What makes you feel better? | pain medicine. it doesn't work like it used to. |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | no |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | i am currently researching homeopathic/holistic remedies. I have tried flexaril. |
| Theories or Comments? | |
| Are we missing an important question? | I think questions about substance intake should be noted, such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, etc. |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
Natalie |
| Male or Female? | female |
| Single or Married? | single |
| Where were you born? | new york state |
| Where do you live now? | upstate new york |
| How long have you lived there? | 52 years |
| Your Age? | 52 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | since early 30's |
| What line of work? Still working? | photolab tech and manager |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | no |
| Does exercise help? What type? | usually exercise and the more strenuous it is will make the flare up worse. |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | I had step throat. Took antibiotics. The symptoms remained and I felt sicker. After two months and many tests I was diagnosed with CFS. Now the doctor says it is Fibromyalgia. |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | Muscle pain... brain fog... memory trouble.... fatigue...depression. Flare ups will give me a mild sore throat and mild swollen glands in my neck. An over all flu feeling that you just know is not the flu. I can always tell when I have "the thing" as I call it... or when it is the flu. Though sometimes a real bout of the flu will bring it on. |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | I had mono in my late teens |
| Military Service? What years served? | no |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | I have been exposed to years of photographic chemicals. |
| How has fibro affected your life? | Muscle pain when I have flare ups makes life miserable. I wake up at night with aching..pinching.. jabing pains in my legs and arms. Foggy brain fatigue is frustrating and sometimes out and out scary. |
| What makes symptoms worse? | exertion...and the more strenuous the more I pay the price later. Also... certain stresses make it flare up rather quickly. Sometimes I will have a flare up that will last a month or longer over something that occurred a week or more before the flare up. Yet other times I will over-do in the yard and will be sick the next day when I wake up and the aching will last for days and days. |
| What makes you feel better? | Low stress... like being at a camp ground and sitting by the water just reading and doing nothing. |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | no...but there is times while laying on the couch going thru a few weeks of a flare up I would wish I could see a doctor that minute and have him give me a magic pill. |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | Doctor says to take Aleve (antiinflamitory) |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | It may be in my head... but a low carb diet seemed to improve it. Also vitamins and DHEA supplements. |
| Theories or Comments? | I feel there may be a hereditary factor. My son has Fibro... my cousin has Lupus and so did my aunt. I also feel that it effects those with a more sensitive disposition. Those that can't let issues/stress related problems roll off their back. For example... those that carry quilt...those that are co-dependant enabling unacceptable behavior from others to keep the peace. Those that feel they need to earn love from others and are always striving to be accepted as they are. Those that worry about others and take on responsiblity to make them happy. |
| Are we missing an important question? | I didn't see anything about weather. Sometimes I think the weather effects it..... and then other times I am sure it does not. I would be curious if others feel the same. |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
Cinda |
| Male or Female? | female |
| Single or Married? | Married |
| If married, how many years? | 14 |
| Where were you born? | Spirit Lake Idaho |
| Where do you live now? | Helena Montana |
| How long have you lived there? | 2 years |
| Your Age? | 55 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | 1.5 years |
| What line of work? Still working? | Professor/Realtor |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | Yes, sustained from horse "wrecks". Had a horse accident where the horse and I fell, the horse rolled on my left side crushing me resulting in 6 broken ribs, cracked scapula, puntured lung, broken lower leg. |
| Does exercise help? What type? | No |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | hip pain, generalized all over joint pain, muscle pain, sleep disturbances. |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | same as above only now I have sciatic nerve pain radiating down my left leg, and my thumb joints are inflamed. I can't go up and down stairs w/o stepping one at a time w/ both feet, and can barely get up from a chair. |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | no |
| Military Service? What years served? | na |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | not that I know of |
| How has fibro affected your life? | horribly, I "was" an extremely active woman for my age. I rode horses daily, traveled extensively. Now I can barely get out of bed. I am devastated by this disease!!! |
| What makes symptoms worse? | seems that sugar and stress intensify the pain |
| What makes you feel better? | Not much at this point. |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | no |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | Kava, Aleve, hot tub, massage, hot/cold baths/ acupuncture, chirocpractersoy - no dairy, detox regimes, nothing has help for very long, Maybe I haven't stuck with one thing long enough, but I don't really know what to take. |
| Theories or Comments? | |
| Are we missing an important question? | Not that I can think of! |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
darline |
| Male or Female? | female |
| Single or Married? | married |
| If married, how many years? | 25 |
| Where were you born? | del rio, tx |
| Where do you live now? | west texas |
| How long have you lived there? | 3 years |
| Your Age? | 51 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | as long as I have had lyme disease; diagnosed with Lyme in 1999 |
| What line of work? Still working? | teacher - retired on disability |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | none |
| Does exercise help? What type? | No. Causes more pain. Walking slowly may help at certain times. |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | headaches, neck and shoulder pain, knees, tingling in extremities, panic attacks, depression, CFS, Fibromyalgia, mental fog, IBS, poor balance,intermittent sore throat |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | all of the above; some improvement since treatment for Lyme |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | yes. assumed it was the flu |
| Military Service? What years served? | no |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | no |
| How has fibro affected your life? | pain, depression and anxiety, loss of a profession I loved; finding out that Lyme brought on all these symptoms including fibro was a relief and a reason for hope |
| What makes symptoms worse? | stress is a sure way to bring on the worst; lack of sleep; lack of support from family and friends; docs that refuse to take you seriously |
| What makes you feel better? | finding a doc that is willing and knowledgeable about diseases that are often dismissed |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | yes |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | demerol IM, toradol IM plus take home meds -- Darvocet and Soma; Fiorinal sometimes for less intense pain; panic attacks -Xanax or Tranxene; depression -Lexapro or Cymbalta |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | see above; these have been the most effective for me |
| Theories or Comments? | Lyme is often misdiagnosed as fibro, CFS, MS; Please consider that you might be one of the many people with undiagnosed Lyme disease. Many web sites with more info on Lyme are available if you are still questioning your diagnosis. Fibro is very real but in cases it could be a symptom of Lyme. Positive diagnosis of Lyme saved my life and sanity. |
| Are we missing an important question? | Have you ever questioned your diagnosis or the lack of improvement for treatment of your condition? |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
connie |
| Male or Female? | female |
| Single or Married? | married |
| If married, how many years? | 15 |
| Where were you born? | baltimore |
| Where do you live now? | nc |
| How long have you lived there? | 40 |
| Your Age? | 46 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | 4 years |
| What line of work? Still working? | cna |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | car accident in 78 minor injuries a abusive 1st marriage |
| Does exercise help? What type? | some but pay the next day |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | backaches and headaches |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | severe muscles spasms headaches bad pains like a bad toothache all over |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | pneumonia |
| Military Service? What years served? | |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | |
| How has fibro affected your life? | not being able to do things i used to energy level down |
| What makes symptoms worse? | lifting heavy objects stressful situations people don't understand what you are going through |
| What makes you feel better? | when people i love are happy |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | urgent care so far |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | steroids |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | noni juice b12 |
| Theories or Comments? | i have had a few bad spells where i just think i amm going to die. it depresses me and i cry and wonder why me |
| Are we missing an important question? | is there a cure |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
|
| Male or Female? | Female |
| Single or Married? | Married |
| If married, how many years? | 11 years |
| Where were you born? | Atlanta, GA |
| Where do you live now? | Covington, GA |
| How long have you lived there? | 17 years |
| Your Age? | 42 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | almost 10 years |
| What line of work? Still working? | I was a firefighter. Had to quit. Only work P/T now at my church. |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | I had a head on collision when I was 15, had a concussion. As a child, very rough/tomboy. Fell alot, off bikes, skateboards, ropes, trees. |
| Does exercise help? What type? | Yes, when I do circuit training, I feel better. I also love to swim. |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | chest cavity hurt, felt like pleurisy. I had stiff ankles, felt achy all over. |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | Stiffness in feet, hands, knees. Pain in hips Fatigue and achiness memory loss |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | not that I recall |
| Military Service? What years served? | none |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | I was a firefighter. It's possible. |
| How has fibro affected your life? | I had to give up my career as a firefighter. This was something I lived and breathed. I was a rock climber, loved to rappel, lifted weights, etc. I had to go from wide open to ground zero! It sucks. My family suffers. I have three children and I am not able to participate with them like I'd like to. I can't keep my house clean. |
| What makes symptoms worse? | Not getting enough rest and STRESS! Overdoing it...trying to do too much. |
| What makes you feel better? | A relaxing swim. My Ultram. Being at the beach. |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | no |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | n/a |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | I can't even remember them all. I've been on Ultram and Lodine for years now and the Ultram works wonders for me. I was taking Deseryl before I got pregnant but came off that and haven't gone back. My child doesn't sleep well and I need to hear her when she wakes up. I've tried Chiropractic and it seems to help. Massage is awesome but who can afford it? |
| Theories or Comments? | When my son was 3, the doctor's mentioned Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But then back then (1988/9) they kinda thought it was just something in people's heads. So it went untreated. It seemed to go into remission over the years. I remarried years later, and had a child in 1997. Immediately after, I started feeling bad, tired, achy etc. It took several months for me to go to doctor, but meanwhile, I had to give up being the Fire Chief. I think the childbirth process was the trigger for me. |
| Are we missing an important question? |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
Joyce |
| Male or Female? | F |
| Single or Married? | Married |
| If married, how many years? | 41 |
| Where were you born? | Carmichaels, Pa. |
| Where do you live now? | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| How long have you lived there? | 30 years |
| Your Age? | 62 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | 5 years diagnosed 7 guessing |
| What line of work? Still working? | No |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | I feel it started with the very sudden death of my mother (she was healthy and still very young) 12 years ago. |
| Does exercise help? What type? | A very little. I do Curves exercises 2-3 times a week if I can. |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | So tired, depressed, also shortness of breath |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | Pain, Pain, Pain and still tired |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | Yes, about 8 years ago. So sick I would not get out of bed. Nothing like me. Daughter has to come take me to Dr. |
| Military Service? What years served? | No |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | Many household chemicals. |
| How has fibro affected your life? | Have lost the will to do things I loved doing. Lost Friends who can not understand what I am going through. My own family can no totally understand the pain and fatigue I go through. |
| What makes symptoms worse? | If I over do or continue to push myself to do something to get it done. I will be in for so much more pain and exhaustion for the next day or two. |
| What makes you feel better? | Not much. Some resting with a heating pad or some pain meds work a little. I listen to soothing music or just take myself to a better place in my mind. |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | No |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | I could write a book. Herbal...Natural foods, less sugar and white flour....Celebrix,Vioxx, Pain patches, Cymbalta, Darvoset,Zanaflex and others. |
| Theories or Comments? | This has been such a debilitating condition to me, I also have a balance, walking problem. It has created numbness in my hands and feet. I have been in constant pain for so many years I cant remember what it feels like to feel good. I do hope something can be done to help the so many people who have this condition. I have also been on a CPAP for the last 5 years |
| Are we missing an important question? | How many of us have doctors who believe in us? |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
|
| Male or Female? | Female |
| Single or Married? | Long Term Relationship |
| If married, how many years? | 0 |
| Where were you born? | Charleston, WVa |
| Where do you live now? | St.Albans, WVa |
| How long have you lived there? | 25 1/2 yrs |
| Your Age? | 26 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | 3 years |
| What line of work? Still working? | Nursing/yes |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | was sexually abused between age 7 to 12 by family member. |
| Does exercise help? What type? | I don't really exercise since I work 10 hours 5 days a week in a Emergency Room, that's enough to drain me for three days. |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | I went into severe pain to the point I thought I was going to be paralyzed,I had to have help getting to the bathroom and everything I could not move at all with out severe pain, depression, memory loss, anxiety, trouble breathing, exhaustion |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | A lot of pain, exhaustion, soreness, restless legs, insomnia, nausea from the pain, headaches sometimes severe, numbness and tingling in hands and feet. |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | meningitis when I was 5, and Shingles when I was 15, also had the normal chickpox when I was around 7 |
| Military Service? What years served? | 0 |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | Not as far as I know but I do live in chemical valley |
| How has fibro affected your life? | Tremendously, from what I do, to what I eat to how long I can move around, set, stand, lay down there's not an aspect of my life that hasn't changed |
| What makes symptoms worse? | coldness, lack of sleep, certain foods, certain meds, any colds or allergies |
| What makes you feel better? | Honestly nothing, I try the normal take my meds, try to rest when possible and try to not get stressed which in my line of work and my b/f's line of work its hard not to stress |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | Sure have |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | narcotics, certain vitamins that I was so low on I actually scared the Dr, and fluids. |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | Lots and lots of meds I feel the Loratabs take the edge off as well as Klopin, I also take trazadone for the insomnia that came with the fibro, Phenegren for the nausea, Now to name all the ones that I have been on I would need a hour and a lot more space, it feels like 100's yet the above four is what I take. |
| Theories or Comments? | My theory would have to be deal with it cause its like having one of the many incurable diseases out there, there's never a cure just a lot of medicine, recommendations, and every doctor has their own way of doing things. So for all the people who suffer with Fibro good luck in dealing with it and god bless you for the pain I know you suffer I am in the same spot. |
| Are we missing an important question? | I don't think so at this time |
| Posted on 8/22/2006: First Name: |
Mary |
| Male or Female? | Female |
| Single or Married? | Married |
| If married, how many years? | under 1 year |
| Where were you born? | Minnesota |
| Where do you live now? | Georgia |
| How long have you lived there? | since 1985 |
| Your Age? | 42 |
| How long have you had fibromyalgia? | 1 year |
| What line of work? Still working? | have not worked since July 2005 just after diagnosis |
| Any prior injuries or trauma? | 2 auto accidents - being rear ended. TMJ arthroscopy, left partial acromioplasty, whiplash, have fallen a couple times, broke tailbone when a child, sprained wrist when teenager, hurt back and rt hand in falls |
| Does exercise help? What type? | I do not exercise much, walking long makes calves and feet and ankles extremely painful but usually delayed for 1 or 2 days. Wearing high heels causes muscle spasms in soles of feet. |
| What were your very FIRST symptoms? | muscle pain - tight shoulder muscles, muscle spasms |
| What are your CURRENT symptoms? | tired all the time, barometric pressure changes cause rt trapezius to cramp and tighten - cannot even stretch pain away. massage is useless. Trizanidine and Cymbalta assist with sleeplessness. Tingling in arms and legs. IBS. Food reactions changing all the time. Wheat and milk products cause worst. Vision problems, I got bifocals last year also very nearsighted. But since no longer working the bifocals don't work for me and I have to take the glasses off to see up close. |
| Did you ever have a long lasting virus? | a form of mono when I was a teenager |
| Military Service? What years served? | no |
| Exposure to chemicals or heavy metals? | no |
| How has fibro affected your life? | tired all the time, barometric pressure changes cause rt trapezius to cramp and tighten - cannot even stretch pain away. massage is useless. Trizanidine and Cymbalta assist with sleeplessness. Tingling in arms and legs. IBS. Food reactions changing all the time. Wheat and milk products cause worst. Vision problems, I got bifocals last year also very nearsighted. But since no longer working the bifocals don't work for me and I have to take the glasses off to see up close. People don't understand. Depression, sleeplessness, restless legs at night. Foggy brain. |
| What makes symptoms worse? | Barometric pressure changes are the worst. |
| What makes you feel better? | Trizanidine helps because I fall asleep and seem to sleep better when I take it and it does relax the muscles somewhat, I even noticed when I first took it that down my spinal column and in my chest it seemed more relaxed, not that I even was aware it was tight till then. When the barometric pressure changes back or gets higher when the muscles relax my head inside seems to feel cooler or different. |
| Been to a hospital for fibro pain? | Not yet but have woken up very tempted to a couple times over past year. |
| If yes, how did they treat your pain? | |
| What remedies or meds have you tried? | Trizanidine and Cymbalta presently. In the past Neurontin, Celebrex, Vioxin, Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Buspar |
| Theories or Comments? | |
| Are we missing an important question? |
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