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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
NYT Article
ETA: I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2004. It made a LOT make sense. I had been previously tested for so many different diseases. I'm posting the article FYI. It actually really bothers me when people say it's a fake disease, or it's just stress..tell them to try living with it!
Message edited 1/15/2008 12:33:43 PM.
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Posted 1/15/08 12:22 PM  |
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MrsPJB2007
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Member since 7/06 12020 total posts
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MJ
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
well my mom has been diagnosed with this---and she fits into the category of the type of women that are usually diagnosed...as she does have many stomach/intestine issues and has been hospitalized for diverticulitis.
i know that my mom gets pains a lot---and she's not someone who is making a big deal out of it rather than "tolerating" it like the article says. i've seen her have these pains--and the docs can't figure it out--and diagnosed her with it.
so i'm not sure if its real or not--but i know that my mom suffers a lot.
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| Posted 1/15/08 12:29 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
I deal with people who have Fibromyalgia all the time. It's hard for them to be treated as "they are making it up". Some people have real disabilities from it depending on the severity.
There is an actual diagnostic for it. You must have at least 11 of the 18 pain pattern points to be considered with it.
It has come a long way but more Dr. realize this is a real "thing". Not "just stress" like they have claimed so many other syndromes before and were unable to explain it.
ETA: the origin is still unknown. Either neurological or muscular is still unknown.
I have IBS so does my dad, my sister and brother. I have heard the word "stressed" all my life. It's not about stress. I have learned what triggers it after suffering for years. It's the type of food for me.
Message edited 1/15/2008 12:32:30 PM.
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| Posted 1/15/08 12:29 PM |
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Ambersmom
Straight up nasty
Member since 5/05 7740 total posts
Name:
Sharon
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
One of John's friends wives allegedly has it. I don't know if it's real or not in her situation because her "condition" facilitates her to do absolutely nothing at this point. She doesn't cook, she doesn't clean. She doesn't shop, work, do laundry, attend anything remotely social, etc. I honestly don't know how her husband puts up with her. If he goes anywhere, she doesn't go with him and he has to rush home early to "care" for her. He works long hours and essentially has to wipe her butt when he gets home. His life is like a prison and he's too nice a guy to think about walking away. The guilt would consume him.
I get the whole "til death do us part" but there has to be SOMETHING she CAN do physically or at least seek out some sort of medical intervention. I'm not downing anyone who has it; but then again you ladies work, care for your homes, etc. I'm talking she does NOTHING but play games online and sleep...and wait to be waited on. It's soo sad.
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| Posted 1/15/08 12:52 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
Posted by Ambersmom
One of John's friends wives allegedly has it. I don't know if it's real or not in her situation because her "condition" facilitates her to do absolutely nothing at this point. She doesn't cook, she doesn't clean. She doesn't shop, work, do laundry, attend anything remotely social, etc. I honestly don't know how her husband puts up with her. If he goes anywhere, she doesn't go with him and he has to rush home early to "care" for her. He works long hours and essentially has to wipe her butt when he gets home. His life is like a prison and he's too nice a guy to think about walking away. The guilt would consume him.
I get the whole "til death do us part" but there has to be SOMETHING she CAN do physically or at least seek out some sort of medical intervention. I'm not downing anyone who has it; but then again you ladies work, care for your homes, etc. I'm talking she does NOTHING but play games online and sleep...and wait to be waited on. It's soo sad.
It depends on the severity. I have seen people completelly affected by it, being so in pain that they are totally disable. Some just have mild cases with some "attack" once in a while. Those are "wiped out" for a few days after the attack and go back to normal.
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| Posted 1/15/08 1:03 PM |
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
my mom has it, she is currently on disability. Many days she cannot get out of a chair.
years ago it was considered a diagnosis of exclusion, if they couldn't tell you why you were in pain, well you had Fibromyalgia, now its getting more recognized.
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| Posted 1/15/08 1:14 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
Posted by Ambersmom
One of John's friends wives allegedly has it. I don't know if it's real or not in her situation because her "condition" facilitates her to do absolutely nothing at this point. She doesn't cook, she doesn't clean. She doesn't shop, work, do laundry, attend anything remotely social, etc. I honestly don't know how her husband puts up with her. If he goes anywhere, she doesn't go with him and he has to rush home early to "care" for her. He works long hours and essentially has to wipe her butt when he gets home. His life is like a prison and he's too nice a guy to think about walking away. The guilt would consume him.
I get the whole "til death do us part" but there has to be SOMETHING she CAN do physically or at least seek out some sort of medical intervention. I'm not downing anyone who has it; but then again you ladies work, care for your homes, etc. I'm talking she does NOTHING but play games online and sleep...and wait to be waited on. It's soo sad.
I spent 5 months like this. My back was crooked, I couldn't really walk, I only left the house for physical therapy (which i thought was helping and was actually hurting) and I have a friend who missed 6 months of HS with it.
It's possible she's legtiimately that bad. It can be extremely debilitating. Now that I understand the illness better I am pretty good at keeping it controlled, so I get occasional flare ups where I'll be carying levels of messed up for days or weeks, but not that severe. There are simple lifestyle changes that can help along with treatments such as vitamins, sleep aids, accupunture, etc.
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| Posted 1/15/08 1:30 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
It is a real disease. My uncle has it and practically lives on morphin patches b/c it is the only thing that can get him through the day sometimes.
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| Posted 1/15/08 6:34 PM |
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
I'm still on the fence about this......I believe people have real pain and there is something wrong, but here, in MI, SO MANY people are being diagnoised that it's almost like the doctors are saying...we don't know but this sounds good. I'm all for figuring out what's wrong, but some doctors are not looking deeper and are stopping at fibromyalgia because it fits something. I wish they would do more research and try different tx plans. My concerns are that a lot of people, here, are given narcotics to control the pain. I just feel like maybe there is a different way. The number of drug dependency has rose so much here. MANY are on Vicodin, Morphine, and Oxycotin. JMHO and I am open to all comments. I want to learn more about this seeing as how I work in the medical field
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| Posted 1/15/08 9:02 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
Posted by medic6809
I'm still on the fence about this......I believe people have real pain and there is something wrong, but here, in MI, SO MANY people are being diagnoised that it's almost like the doctors are saying...we don't know but this sounds good. I'm all for figuring out what's wrong, but some doctors are not looking deeper and are stopping at fibromyalgia because it fits something. I wish they would do more research and try different tx plans. My concerns are that a lot of people, here, are given narcotics to control the pain. I just feel like maybe there is a different way. The number of drug dependency has rose so much here. MANY are on Vicodin, Morphine, and Oxycotin. JMHO and I am open to all comments. I want to learn more about this seeing as how I work in the medical field
I've never taken morphine or vicodin..correction..I think I did try vicodin once in the immediate aftermath of a car accident or surgery, but it made me sick.
I very occasionally take narcotics (mostly darvocet, tylenol with codeine in extreme cases) and muscle relaxers to deal with pain when NSAIDS don't help. But this is no more than I was taking when we thought much of pain was just due to my disc injuries.
I think doctors are irresponsible if they prescribe heavy duty pain killers and let the patient go on her merry way. For me dealing tih fibromyalgia is about eating right, exercising when I can, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and knowing when taking a muscle relaxer will nip something in the bud, and overall knowing my limits. Doctors need to work with patients to find an overall pain management plan whether the condition is fibromyalgia or disc herniation, or a combination (like I have) Pain meds are sometimes all that helps, and can be a viable option, but I firmly believe they need to be part of a greater disease management/treatment plan.
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| Posted 1/15/08 9:24 PM |
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pmpkn087
Life is good...
Member since 9/05 18504 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
I was diagnosed with this about two or three years ago.
ETS: I do have to say that my symptoms decrease as I loose weight and increase when I gain. So, I believe that has a lot to do with how one feels and how achey they are.
Message edited 1/15/2008 9:59:58 PM.
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| Posted 1/15/08 9:58 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
Posted by pmpkn087
I was diagnosed with this about two or three years ago.
ETS: I do have to say that my symptoms decrease as I loose weight and increase when I gain. So, I believe that has a lot to do with how one feels and how achey they are.
For me I have the opposite coreelation..when my symptoms are bad I gain weight because I can't exercise and don't have the energy to shop for and cook healthy food. 
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| Posted 1/16/08 9:06 AM |
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Re: Fibromyalgia - a real disease?
For anyone interested...
I just saw that tomorrow night Thurs, 1/17 Channel 2 is doing a segment on Fibromyalgia on the 11pm news.
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| Posted 1/17/08 12:51 AM |
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