Hello, My name is Christine. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia for almost two years now. I really don't know how long I've had it but it all started back in May of 2001.
I was working as a Housekeeper in a Geriatric Center in Syracuse, New York. I had just completed my 10th year. I ended up going out of work with what I thought was Bursitis in June of 2001. After they did X-Rays and an MRI on my neck I found out differently. It turned out to be Arthritis and Degenerative Disc Disease.
I was out of work almost 5 months and after many doctor visits everything turned to having surgery. On Nov 6, 2001 I had a Lamenectomy done. The doctor cleaned out the 4th, 5th, and 6th discs in my neck. After the surgery, I had weakness on my left side and pain that would not go away.
I went to Therapy for 6 months which helped the weakness as much as possible on my left side. I ended up having permanent work restrictions-no pushing, pulling, lifting, or carrying more then 10 to 15 pounds. and no repetitous movement of my head. I still had the pain.
I also have Sleep Apenea so i was sent to Pulmonary Department. The Doctor I talked to didn't think it was the Sleep Apenea causing the pain so I was set up to go to the Pain Clinic. It didn't take the Nurse, PA at that Clinic long to come to the conclusion that I had Fibromyalgia. She asked me a few questions and she started touching certain spots and I felt pain from just the littlest amount of pressure This was later confirmed by a Rhuemotologist.
After getting the diagnosis, I felt a sense of relief. Finally, what I was feeling was real, it had a name and the pain was real it wasn't all in my head. I didn't have to think what pain am I going to tell the doctor about today. Also, the list of other ailments that go along with Fibromyalgia-irratibility, IBS, forgetfulness, anxiety, sleeplessness-being tired all the time and not sleeping all night, plus all the aching tender points throughout the body that hurt by just being touched, helped to me to know that these ailments were also real and they were a part of what was wrong with me.
Now I needed to find out more about this illness. I joined a Support Group where I was being treated. After I finally got my own computer I looked up all kinds of information on there and joined a few Support Groups. They have helped tremendously. Getting to know people who are going through the same things I was going through. It really helped a lot.
I'm on different medications to help me sleep and to relax me. I can't be too sedated because my husband is also disabled and I need to be able to function if he needs me. The medication that I can take that doesn't sedate me, like Motrin, Ibuprophen, and a few other medications I can't take because I'm allergic to them. So I do whatever I can to try and ease the pain. Sometimes the heating pad or hot showers help and sometimes nothing helps. I take Tylenol for pain. There are a lot of things that aggravate it-cold damp weather, humid weather, snow, rain and sometimes certain activities can bring on a flare. It's really a day to day struggle just to get through the day as best possible in as little pain as possible.
This is why Fibromyalgia Awareness Day is so important to us. We're trying to make the public as well as other Doctors and Nurses aware that this is a real Illness and it can cause a lot of havoc in a person's personal life, as well as professional life. Finally, in September of 2003, I was awarded my Social Security Disability. This does help but I'd still rather be employed by the work force instead of laid up by this illness. 
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
Prev Message
