New

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've been reading your postings for a few weeks now so I thought I

would drop in. Netscape mail will not let me copy the questions for

newbys and paste here. I don't know why.

Anyway, I'm 50 and was diagnosed with FM about five years ago but

have been ill for 16 years. I had a C. Difficile, a bad intestinal

infection that went misdiagnosed for years. I know bad doctors, both

mainstream and natural. I believe this led to the FM. Now I'm in

Menopause and it's only worse because all the symptoms are similar. Are

there any others here in Menopause? I've been slowly going up on the

estrogen patch and a progesterone, it's a struggle to get a balance.

As to symptoms, in the past three years migraines got worse and worse

and it looks like they were attributed to low estrogen. Another nasty

problem is lack of restorative sleep. When I get that, most of my

symptoms go away but I have very low exercise intolerance. No cushion

for stress at all. Many symptoms but I'm too foggy to remember them

all. The brain fog is the worse.

I am on disability. It was started in Oregon but returned to Texas

and have again been sent the disability review form. Now I'm living in

fear that they will send me to doctors, etc. and might loose the money I

need. I hear that Texas is much worse than other states. Anyone here

have disability and in Texas?

As to what has helped. I know that getting restorative sleep

relieves many of the aches. The trick is to get it without too many

side effects from drugs. I was absolutely amazed when, on a few days,

the increase in estrogen helped me sleep and I felt, should I say it,

good! I go from hopeful to depressed. The endocrinologist who is

treating me says that if she had the lab numbers I did she couldn't get

out of bed so that is at least encouraging. There is something that is

low. Still, playing with hormones is not easy and not without risk.

I just have no choice. I tried the more natural way and it didn't work.

I have been so ill I couldn't make it to support groups so I'm glad I

found this group. I used to bike, hike and whitewater canoe. I miss it

and hunger to 'live' again. Are there any of you that have been able to

return to this type of life?

Cheers,

Amy

Austin, Texas