Feeling frustrated

[Sweetiebabe]

Hello everyone. This is my first post so please be gentle :). I'm 47 yr old female. I had quite a big operation just over 12 months ago. Since the operation I have developed arthritis which was diagnosed on xrays, joint pains stiffness, fatigue, cramp like pain, pain that feels as though my body was hit by a car, depression, severe headaches, bowel issues, stomach pains and I literally feel like I've aged 15 years, and look it! I've also gained 2 stone Dr keeps doing blood tests that come back normal and sends me away with painkillers. I've been told by someone on an arthritis group this sounds like fibromyalgia, so here I am. What can I do to make someone help me for this? Do I get an mri to diagnose me or is there specialists in this I can be referred to. Feeling at the end of my tether oh I also can't sleep nowadays either

[Janet28]

Hi Sweetiebabe welcome to our wonderful forum ☺ I'm sure you will come to find the forum invaluable in chatting to others who are going through the same experience as you, talking to others at different stages of their lives with Fibro and learning from their experiences.

I'm sorry you have been struggling so much but I can tell you that diagnosing Fibro takes a long time. First you would have a number of blood tests done because Fibro symptoms mimic so many other conditions like, Lupus, Limes Disease, RA & they have to eliminate all these things first. Then if you are still having all these symptoms and your doctor doesn't know what is wrong, should really be referring you to a Rhuematologist, who will give you a physical examination and usually diagnose you and refer you back to your gp with advised treatment.

I have Polymyalgia and Fibromyalgia, a lot of people have Arthritis among other conditions with fibromyalgia. I'm not a doctor so can not say you have of have not got it but I would make another appointment and ask for a referal.

Please do go look at the mother site where you will find all the information you need and lots of useful links on Fibro and I look forward to chatting to you on the forum.

fmauk.org

Peace, luv n light

Jan xx

[TheAuthor]

Hi Sweetiebabe

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance.

I am so genuinely sorry to read of your suffering and struggling my friend, and I sincerely hope that you can find some answers. It may prove beneficial to ask your GP for a referral to a Rheumatologist as they tend to diagnose most cases of Fibro. However, as Janet28 says it can take some time as other medical conditions have to be ruled out of the equation first.

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[Newtali]

Also worth asking for referral to pain management. I didn't find rheumatologist very helpful.

What pain meds have been tried? Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Gabapentin, Pregablin are usually the first options.

Have you been referred to Physio? Hydrotherapy can be really helpful.

Self help tips:

Muscle stretching, massage, osteopath or chiropractic, High dose magnesium, heat pads, Linnex heat stick (available on the Internet, use small amount only. I have found this to be a life saver!)

Hope you get some relief!

[Sweetiebabe]

Hi, I am taking an assortment of meds, amytriptalyne tramadol codeine ibuprofen gel sumatriptan paracetomal

[Sweetiebabe in reply to Sweetiebabe]

I also gets physiotherapy every 4 weeks x

[Sweetiebabe]

Thanks everyone for your replies xxx

[TheAuthor in reply to Sweetiebabe]

Good luck my friend