new member intro

[Guest guest]

Age range: 42

Male/female: female

What are the symptoms? Fatigue is a problem for me. I tolerated pain

for

many years and it wasn't until I became so tired I can barely think that

the

FMS got rough for me. I have pain in my feet and hands (tenosynovitus)

as

well as neck, shoulders and lower back. I also experience nausea and

other

stomach related stuff (IBS)

Has you illness been diagnosed? Yes, about 2 years ago

How long did you suffer before you got help? I've had symptoms for

about

20

years

Is there a time that you can remember when it started? Not really, it

all

just gradually happened

Some of us have found lack of exercise we are overweight. Have you found

this to be a problem also? I'm not so much overweight as I am out of

shape.

As we all know, it is just so hard to get up and GO

Are you on disability? Yes

If you are any pointers for others trying to get on disability? When

filling out your applications and talking to doctors focus on what you

are

no longer able to do and how your life has changed since the FMS. Also,

you

must have a doctor who supports you in getting on, I think that their

comments are key.

What have you found that helps ease the pain, warm baths, medications

etc.?

Warm baths. I live in CA. and use cannibis with my doc's approval. It

helps with relaxation, pain, anxiety, and my stomach stuff. It is the

only

pain medication I use as all the others make the stomach worse.

Do you have sleep problems? How do you deal with it? Yes, I take a

small

dose of trazedone and also melatonin

Do you have family that understands your illness? I think that they

have

compassion for me, I don't know about understanding. My husband has the

most difficult time, though. He so much wants to have an able-bodied

wife

that he overestimates my capacities. He gets quite upset over my

limitations and is barely supportive.

Some have found certain foods causes problems with CFS or Fibro, have

you?

Too much caffeine makes it worse. I try to eat pretty clean organic

food

and I'm a vegetarian. If I stray to far from this diet I flair.

What type of Doctor have you found that has helped you the most? My doc

is

a P.A. and he is very supportive. I also had a doc who did his

residency

in

Rheumatology...he was quite good also.