Dr unsure

[Slimjohn]

Been suffering since january with joint and muscle stiffness/ pain everywhere. Confussion at times depression and anxiety. Dr first thought it was polymyalgia but rheumatology blaming low vitimin d and both rotor cuffs wear and tear. Still suffering daily so dr now thinks i may have fibroyalgia and has started lowering my prednisone onputting me on amitripyline. Reading other members post i can see i have long road ahead. But it does help knowing I'm not alone.

[Blearyeyed]

Are you a member of PMR/ GCA UK?If not , the best advice I can give you is to join that group.

They have some amazing and very experienced Patient members whom do research for and work in the Charity itself , especially an amazing person called , PMRPro.

They will be able to give you advice to help you get through this, as many people do have PMR , Fibro and injuries at the same time and get problems when trying to get the right treatment for all things at once.

Please post to them , they will guide you to professional research that you can print out to show your Doctor to help keep you on the right treatment. And you can get great advice here for the Fibro side.

If you have PMR and Fibro , or Fibro and an injury , you need to get treatment for both conditions at once or each condition flares each other up in a horrible vicious pain circle.

It is good thing to point out to your doctors too , as rather than helping you reduce your medication ( like steroids) you end up having to yoyo on and off it and you take the drug longer if all your problems occur at the same time.

You may need to continue to use your steriods and taper off it slower until you have found treatment for your Fibro that works , or until you have treatment for your rotator cuff injuries.

You need to get back to the Rheumatologist , or ask to see another one with PMR and Fibro as a speciality for a second opinion , and get help for the rotator issue as well if they had not organised a referral for you to treat that. Rheumatology should also confirm your Fibro and advice your GP about how to treat you.

It helps if you write down all of your medical history and current symptoms in a list , with a list of current medication and treatments , and a list of questions you want answered to take to each appointment.

It is an aid that helps you so you don't forget something in a clinic situation when you can feel more anxious or confused.

If you write things down before you can remember everything you want sorted out in comfort at home.

You can tick off each question as it's answered , and if you feel like they are ready to push you out of the door before you have your answers use the , ' Columbo Strategy '.

Remember the old TV Detective , he'd politely say , " Oh, sorry, just one more thing....' or with more than one question, " I've just got another couple of things I need to ask .....".

I hope you get the right help soon , it can be so hard getting a full diagnosis when you have more than one thing going on at once but I am sure you will get there , Bee.

[Slimjohn in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thanks for your suggestions and your help.When dr suggested it might be fibromyalgia when i looked it up seems I do have the symptoms only thing I dont suffer with is the tenderness.

Some of the symptoms when I think about it ive had for a while

Thanks again

[Elaine200756]

Hi slim John and welcome to this lovely group. You will get lots of support and information here to help you along your way 💙

[Slimjohn in reply to Elaine200756]

Thank you

[Elaine200756 in reply to Slimjohn]

Sorry for the blue heart, it was accidental 😂 brain fog strikes again 😜

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Hi and a warm welcome to the forums. You can find general information on fibromyalgia at our website fmauk.org and our patient information booklets at fmauk.org/publications

[Slimjohn in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you