My Fibromyalgia Experience
After 2 years of tests and prescriptions I had given up. I stopped all treatment and thought I would never find out what caused all the pain. Finally after doing some research on my own I had a diagnosis.
Between my physician, the rheumatologist I was referred to and the lab for tests I was at a medical office every week for about a year. During this time I was placed on about 12 different prescriptions most of which were just to offset the side effects of each other. Every test I had came back normal. Upwards of around 30 blood tests, 20 x-rays, a CT Scan and an MRI. Then there were the Cortisone shots I had in my tail bone and other joints in my lower back, each of which only caused more pain. I also tried a chiropractor, physiotherapist and acupuncture.
I took a leave of absence from work for 4 months during the time when I decided to finally get to the bottom of my pain and stomach troubles. I was taking around 15 pills a day and could barely move due to some of the side effects and therapies. After this leave of absence the number of pills only seemed to be increasing and I felt worse than I ever had. I cancelled my last appointment with the rheumatologist and stopped taking my prescriptions gradually and I just went back to work and continued as if the whole experience never happened. I know it was risky to stop the medication myself and I shouldn't have just stopped the treatments abruptly, but looking back on it now I am glad I did.
At one point I was only allowed to eat bananas, rice, applesauce and toast with nothing on it to try to control my stomach but I was still sick the moment I ate anything. After 2 weeks of this diet I was reduced down to only chicken broth for 2 weeks which still made me sick. I remember just being in tears some days as my roommates ate dinner and I sat there drinking broth which made me just as sick as a real meal would have.
I took pills that made my skin sensitive to the sun and I was covered in blisters, some made me feel paralyzed when I woke up in the morning, one even made me feel intoxicated and I walked around in the snow for 3 hours in the middle of the night.
So I gave up on everything. I started eating normal food again, pizza, burgers, whatever I wanted. If chicken broth was just going to make me sick anyways then why not eat something that tastes good at least. I would take aspirin if I had a headache but that's about it. I still hurt and I still had stomach trouble but I felt better in general and carried on with my life.
After about a year I was just reading a few websites and looking up the symptoms I was experiencing and they were quite common to many illnesses. I started to narrow down specifically which conditions included all of the symptoms I was experiencing and everything pointed to fibromyalgia. I took the information to my doctor and he applied pressure to the tender points of which 11 out of 18 are required to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Every single one of the tender points hurt when it was touched and the pain continued for about 20 minutes after the pressure was applied. The doctor agreed with my self diagnosis.
I have since begun massage therapy which has helped tremendously. I have a 30 minute massage every two weeks. I have found relief from my headaches and I have much less pain in my back and shoulders. I also am extremely relaxed when I have a massage which helps me relieve some stress.
I was taking anti-depressants before I started all of the treatments and I am still taking them today. The dosages have varied throughout the years and today the dosage is quite small but comfortable. I tried going off them completely because I wanted to be pill free but it was not a pleasant experience for anyone. I'm not ashamed of taking anti-depressants at all. I think it is a choice I make to help me cope with my fibromyalgia and to treat the people in my life with the respect they deserve.
By paying attention to the foods I eat I have learned which foods upset my stomach more than others. There are certain foods I eat only when at home and I know which items are "safe" when eating at a restaurant. I also take time for relaxation every day. Whether I am watching TV or having a nap, I find this unwind time very useful in managing my stress level. I work full time still for one of the largest insurance companies in Canada.
My family and friends are a great support to me and they understand what I go through every day. By educating them on my condition and explaining how I am feeling each day they are able to help me if I need heavy lifting done or just need someone to talk to.
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