Ive been using this site for a couple of months now. I have found myself writing similar things to many new people. So i thought id post my story, hoping it might help with some new peoples questions.
I have had multiple symptoms for 50+ years. Mum said it was growing pains. Every 1 has periods stop making a fuss etc. I was brought up in a strict mosoginistic home. I have gad some extremely traumatic events in adult life. Which tbh could be classed as being bad enough to cause ptsd.
Stress , anxiety and depression have been a constant. Gynae issues which led to me fighting for a hysterectomy. Ibs , bladder issues, foggy head, blurred vidion, breathing problems/asthma. Headaches numbness, pins and needles, shooting pains, throbbing pains. Bad back.Clumsy prone to cysts. The list goes on.
Got sent for an mri. Nothing. Made to feel like a time waster.Had private physios, chiropractors. Would ease for a while but soon came back.
3 years ago i had to research sulphites for a catering job, and realised a similarity in the symptoms. Breathing, psoriasis and hives.
Now they say its mainly asthmatics tgat suffer from this intolerance, but I am becoming more and more convinced that it is responsible for allot of fibro symptoms. Was "seen" (mainly spoken over phone) to an allergy condultant who put me on a massive antihistamine dose which ive reduced to 2 tabs a day. This allows me to have some sulphites and i refuce their intake if symptoms get worse. Body shop aloe range helps if the hives develop and the ginger hair range helps if the scalp flares up.
Caring for both my parents in an anex for a decade pushed me over the edge, and was put on antidepressants. This did help with some of the symptoms. After they died i tried to come off them, but the reduction in seratonin exacerbated the pain and bladder issues.
Over the years ive resorted to alternstive remefies. Relaxation tracks, hypnotherapy,meditation aromatherapy. To help ease my multiple problems.
We put our house on the market the day we went in to the 1st lockdown and sold it november. Moved into new house in decrmber. Symptoms were through the roof.
My daughter showed me an article on fibro with the message this is you mum.so the 6 weeks i was in rented accomodation i researched it like mad. When i applied to the new gp practice i accompanied it with my thoughts and findings.. a phone call with one of the gp's was basically "more than likely".
Thats as far as my diagnosis has got. But my solution to coping is try to keep stress and anxiety to a minimum. Listen to my body and stop. Baths in epsom salt for the magnesium. Turmeric tablets. Low sulphite intake. Exercise when ican. Sleep if I' m tired. Use a weighted blanket at night and in the day if im in pain or stressed. Paracetamol when pain gets bad. Pads for bladder isdues so i font get stressed. Relaxation methods..
Ive had to cope for over 50 years. Now hubby knows there sre reasons for my issues hes much more understanding, and nagging about exercise and weight has stopped. Hes retiring (again) to help. We have moved to a quieter place with a slower pace of life. We put ourselves 1st. ( not posdible for most I know). And take each day as it comes.
So thats my story. If 1 thing can help 1 person from all this then my job is done.. good luck to you all.
Love Bruton.xxx