I'm afraid to ask my doctor if I have fibro or cfs

[Mustangsally82]

I have been tired for years. But I've dealt with it, and it hasn't been too debilitating.

For the past six months, it's been bad. I spend a lot of the afternoon and evening trying to stay awake. I think I've been up past 10:30 p.m. maybe five times since September. The rest of the time I'm in bed between 8 and 10 p.m.

I'm going in for my yearly physical on the 15th and I'm afraid to ask if I have one of these chronic problems. I'm afraid the answer will be yes. Sometimes it's a relief to get a diagnosis, even though it may not be a great one, but I don't think I want to be labelled with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue.

For the past five or six years I've limited my social activites to once or twice a month, or no more than once a week, because I have to. I can't function normally without a certain amount of rest, and sometimes even when I rest I'm still tired or sleepy. I know that my tiredness isn't normal, and that it does interfere with my life, but I keep thinking maybe it's just the PCOS and hormone ups and downs.

Has anyone else been in similar situation? I'm not eager to be diagnosed with some other syndrome but I'd really like to know what's going on.

[laz2]

My dh has been suffering the same problem for years with pain and depression and so forth he finally went to the doc and asked about fibro and they did blood work and sleep study so far now he has to see cardio pulmonary specialist. Talk to your doc if you want to know what is going on and good luck

[Eva37]

i get really tired, and have to to in bed before 10 nearly every night. I used to be worse before i had the met. All the best for your appointment
eva

[sakurachan]

I have been tired for years. But I've dealt with it, and it hasn't been too debilitating.

...I'm afraid to ask if I have one of these chronic problems. I'm afraid the answer will be yes. Sometimes it's a relief to get a diagnosis, even though it may not be a great one, but I don't think I want to be labelled with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue.

For the past five or six years I've limited my social activites to once or twice a month, or no more than once a week, because I have to. I can't function normally without a certain amount of rest, and sometimes even when I rest I'm still tired or sleepy. I know that my tiredness isn't normal, and that it does interfere with my life, but I keep thinking maybe it's just the PCOS and hormone ups and downs.

Has anyone else been in similar situation?...

Sally,

Well, I was diagnosed with CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune & Dysfunction Syndrome) before I found out I had PCOS. I had to fight to get a diagnosis. It had disrupted my life to the point that I needed an explanation for my limitations. I struggle sometime whether it was better to get the diagnosis or not. Because there's a tendancy to attribute any & all symptoms to CFIDS once you've been diagnosed. But I think, even though there's no known cause, cure or universally accepted treatment for CFIDS, it's has been better that I got diagnosed. The more you know, the less you'll fall into the un-needed, false guilt that comes with non-diagnosis.

The CFIDS Association of America has a lot of good archived articles online you can search. They're at: www.cfids.org if you want to check it out.

Blessings,
Alisa

[~copacabana~]

Hi there. I am 18 and was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2004, when I was just 15. Even though it was considered quite "rare" at that age. It was such a relief to get a diagnosis, and it helped bring closure, however it still didn't explain most of my problems. I recently found out I have Cushing's Disease, and this is what causes my symptoms, and not fibro. I know it can be very hard, but getting a diagnosis and treatment is the start of feeling better again. I hope this helps in some way, and good luck to you~

[Mustangsally82]

Thanks for the support. I'm having my physical on Monday and I'm going to ask my doctor. I was afriad it would make me look like I was eager for a diagnosis, but I just want to know. I have read about the tender points and I haven't tried many of them but the ones I have like by my elbows and the back of my head are pretty sore when I press on them. It scares me, but I think I'd be relieved to know that I'm not just weak.

yesterday I went outside to pick up trash around my house. We have acquired a stray puppy who finds things around the neighborhood and destroys them and then drags the pieces around. All I did was walk around and fill up a trash bag, but today my hamstrings are sore. I often get unnecessarily sore after little exertion. I wonder if that's a symptom too?

[Eva37]

all the best for your dr appointment
eva

[sakurachan]

All I did was walk around and fill up a trash bag, but today my hamstrings are sore. I often get unnecessarily sore after little exertion. I wonder if that's a symptom too?

Yes, this is one of the telling symptoms of CFIDS (as opposed to just 'Chronic Fatigue'). I get this all the time after seemingly minor activities. Sometimes it develops into whole body aches & extra fatigue although not all the time. Whether this symptom is unique to only CFIDS, I'm not completely sure, but I've talked to people who have a lot of symptoms like mine, but not this one. I'm always jealous of their ability to feel better by exercising.

Now with PCOS I'm supposed to exercise regularly, but I'm stuck b/c of this symptom, so I'm not sure what to do. I do know that those symptoms seem not to appear as bad when I do exercise in a warm pool (i.e. indoor heated hotel pools), but it takes a lot of energy & sometimes money to get to a place to go swimming regularly.

I also have figured out that the only thing that helps that pain once it's started is two Tylenol & two Aleve, but b/c of my history w/ stomach ulcers, I have to take Nexium w/ Aleve (NSAID) to prevent damage to my stomach. I'm currently looking into the possibility of topical Aleve b/c I know Nexium must have side effects that aren't good for my already toxified body.

If you also have Fibromyalgia that complicates things even further as it IS good for people with FM to exercise. I fortunately haven't been diagnosed with FM yet. So it is an important thing that you get diagnosed properly.

Best wishes on your doctor's visit.

Alisa

[Mustangsally82]

I was kind of afraid of that. I remember back in the spring of 1997 I had P.E. class and we had to run a mile every day. I spent the entire semester with sore legs, both upper and lower legs. It never got better until I finished the semester.

I have an elliptical machine and if I only walk for five or ten minutes I'm usually okay if I take it slowly. I used to walk on my mom's treadmill, and that left me so sore.

I guess I'll find out more on Monday. Interestingly, I read an article online talking about how people with fibromyalgia often have pain while having their blood pressure taken. I hate having my bp done because it's really uncomfortable, but I don't know if I'd call it pain. I read that here: http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/r...ptestforfm.htm