Is this really just Fibromyalgia?

Do you ever wonder if your symptoms are really all just tied to your fibromyalgia? Or is there something more serious going on that is going undiagnosed because everyone just tells you it's the fibro?

We just went swimming. I was doing good. In fact, the water was very warm & really loosened up my muscles.  I was feeling really good. The air in the pool area was cool as they have a window open to try & even out the humidity in the pool area. I got out & dried off. As I was standing & waiting on Hubby & kids to dry off, I got a sudden wave of tingling in my feet & lower legs. I had to sit down because it was so intense.

As I walked to the room, I felt like my legs & feet were asleep. 10 minutes has past & they are still tingling. Why? Is this just a fibromyalgia symptom? It is listed as one & I've experienced it before. But it also can be a sign of more serious problems like diabetes, stroke or MS. So do I just chalk it up as another fibromyalgia symptom or do I be more concerned? Do I need to call my doctor? Or do I just wait for it to pass & go on?

Fibromyalgia stinks because it can mimic other diseases & syndromes. It stinks because it can hid more serious health issues. It stinks because it plays with your mind. It makes you paranoid that something more serious is going on & at the same time makes you feel like it's all in your head...

Irritability Stinks!

Pain is the easiest part of my fibromyalgia to handle. The hardest part to handle is the irritability! I find I snap at the kids & my hubby. I catch myself being short with them. It comes on suddenly. I hate hate hate it! I don't want to be irritable. I'd much rather be hurting all over & barely able to move...

Confessions

I've crashed big time. I feel like I've got poison inside me. My muscles ache. My head aches. I feel pain everywhere. The pain makes me nauseous. My brain feels like it's on overload. All I want to do is cry.

I feel like the worst mom in the world as I can barely take care of my kids right now. I'm grumpy & short tempered. I'm an even worse wife. All I can do is cry & complain when my Hubby calls from out of town.

I can't think straight. When in a group, I feel like I'm in a fog and only hearing half of what is going on. I probably appear aloof & stuck up to others but it's just that I'm not processing half of what I see & hear unless it's a one on one conversation in a quiet room.

My muscles feel swollen to me although they don't look it. It feels as if they are swollen & seeping poison into my body. The only relief I get right now is the hot showers I take. The hot water seems to drive the poison out of my body & allows the muscles to relax.

I haven't felt this way in years. And because of that, I haven't dealt with it very well. I'm struggling. I've handled it all wrong. I've pushed way too hard when I shouldn't have. I've been way too lax when I should have been pushing myself. I've been eating all wrong & giving in to junk because it was comforting & easy. And the worst thing I've done is stopped my meds because I freaked out when I realized I've gained back ALL the weight I've worked hard over the last 5 years to lose (over 40 pounds!)!!

So, I've crashed. Now it's time to stop punishing myself. It's time to relax and stop fighting my body. So my goal for next 48 hours is to rest when I need to, sleep when I need to, take as many hot showers as I need to & just let Hubby worry about the kids & house.

I also plan to dig into God's Word. That always seems to help. It amazes me that I always seem to turn to God last. He must sit up there & laugh over me. I'm so stubborn & pigheaded. I'm so like the Israelites in the Wilderness. I KNOW what God has brought me through yet I still turn from Him & grumble all the way.

After I rest & detox, the hard work begins again. Eating healthy, drinking lots of water, handling stress better & exercising/stretching begins. It will be hard, but it's got to be better than this crash...

New Year

So 2012 is here. I'm praying this is a better year for me with my fibromyalgia.

It's been a rough year. I've lost weight only to gain it all back when I went on Lyrica. Then I went on Cymbalta. I had improvement for about a month & now I seem to be doing worse.

This year, I'm getting ready to start researching diet, exercise & nutrition in regards to fibromyalgia. I may even look into Chiropractic care for fibromyalgia.

Look for me to share what I learn with you all here on my blog. I am going to try what I can to get better & back away from Sanity's edge. I have a feeling it is going to involve a radical dietary change. Not sure how well I will handle that, but I'm willing to try if it will make me feel better.

I need to get better so I can really take care of my family and my home.  Please pray for me as I begin the research & start on this journey to get better. Looking forward to a new year!