It has been a long time since I wrote here. Part of that is that last November I was one of the lucky few to get a full time job with benefits. Very very lucky in this economy. The other part was that at the same time I was starting a new job I developed pain. It started in my hands and spread. I spent a lot of time in this last year seeing doctors, specialists, having tests and hearing the same results over and over again, "Everything looks fine."
How can everything look fine when I hurt so much? By the end of June I hurt everywhere. By July I couldn't even walk normally. Finally my doctor says "There is nothing left to test for, It looks like you have Fibromyalgia."
I hate that Fibromyalgia doesn't have a specific test for it. It is a diagnosis of elimination...everything tests out fine, but the patient still hurts? Must be Fibromyalgia. There is a pressure point test, but unfortunately unscrupulous people can fake that, doctor pushed there, you say "Ow." Researchers are working on a way to test and they have some leads. I pray they find it soon so I can then say "Yes, I've tested positive for Fibromyalgia."
Why would I want that, you might ask? There are the people who don't "believe in fibromyalgia." Believe? It isn't a religion. I'm not asking you to put money in my collection plate. I'm not asking you to believe in anything. I'm telling you, I'm in pain. You can't see my pain, but you can see how hard it is for me to get out of a chair. You can't see my pain, but you can see how I walk. You can't see my pain, but you can still believe me when I tell you that it is there.
I'm not faking. I'm not trying to get disability. I want to keep my job. I want to keep my house clean. I want to go shopping with my teenage daughter. I want to be able to sleep the entire night through and wake up rested. I want a clear course of action on my doctor's and my part. What do I do to feel better? What can he prescribe to me to make me feel better?
Right now I'm taking a pharmacy of pills, working on improving my diet and adding exercises and stretching to my day. The doctor has given me Elavil for sleep, Savella for fibromyalgia, Vicoden for pain and a muscle relaxant. I'm also taking Malic Acid because studies have show that helps. I'm seeing a physical therapist to help with my range of motion and my muscle weakness. I'm going to the gym at work nearly every weekday. I'm cutting out junk food, soda, and food with additives as much as possible.
I feel a little better, not normal yet, but I'm still working at it.
