Living with Fibromyalgia

In November 2008, I was at work as a manager of a school cafeteria. As I was putting away stock in the freezer, one of the solid frozen cases of taco meat, that had not been properly secured on the shelf(14ft high), fell. My natural instinct was to try and catch it. It hit my right shoulder and arm like a ton of bricks. I went to the clinic that was provided by my work. They said it was badly bruised, but did no mri or x-ray. They gave me meds. for the pain and put me on restricted work duty for 3 weeks.(anyone who works were i work knows that doesn’t mean anything, especially if youre the manager) so I continued working.

In Jan/Feb. 2009 my husband and I had gotten pretty dedicated to a workout and had stuck to it everday.All of a sudden everything changed. Feb.25 I remember not even being able to walk. It hurt to walk up the six stairs to my living room. It hurt to bend my knees, move my arms to stir stuff for dinner. I couldn’t get to sleep. Night after night. I would lay their. Finally dozing aroung 3:00. At 4:30 I would have to be up for work. Then migraines started and that shoulder that I hadn’t noticed in awhile would start throbbing in pain. I went to my family Dr. who said I was tired from having all my kids and I hurt from tendonitis I went to Physical therapy like she wanted…1 TIME, that was it. I hurt so bad by the time she was through agrivating my muscles I wanted to scream. I layed in bed the whole weekend. I thought I can’t do this. I got online and tried to get informed. I got mixed messages but one thing I learned was find a Dr. that will listen to you. So I did. She tried a few anti-inflammatories, ran lots of blood test. She wasn’t sure all that was wrong but after a series of test that seemed to make her happy she decided I had fibromyalgia. She only wanted to treat it with Lyrica, and Cymbalta. I had a horrible reaction to Lyrica. I kept telling her that I have 5 kids and work a hard 40 job some days i could barely move. She told me that it was just my body overreacting to pain. Whatever! I’m in pain I have to function, let’s come up with a plan. After 5 months of the same, I found a Rhemetologists that would see me with no refferal. He agreed with the Fibro, but is now testing me for RHemetoid arthritis as well. He then sent me to a internal med. Dr. to find out abou the sleep. Come to find out my oxygen levels were dropping 40% at night, and I have Narcolepsy(like my granfather..it’s hereditary). Explains a lot. Now I have to go friday and have an echocardiogram on my heart with a bubble test(saline they put in through i.v.) to see if the heart has a hole, or whatever. It’s been a long process. I have now on Nuvigel(for the Narc), Cymbalta and tramadol for the fibro, Trazadone for sleep,oxygen at night well for the oxygen, a water pill because my legs and all. I am also on something for headaches(can’t remember)It’s expensive. I feel better though. Now I know i am not crazy, and that I had to fight to get myself better. I still work 40 , am on the local wrestling board, have my five kids, 5 dogs, 1 husband. I at least have some life back. Don’t get me wrong, i have days, like today I hurt so bad and know I overdid. I will be feeling it for the next couple days. Unlike before though, now it has a name. Now I can learn to fight it back.

Good luck to all of you. Stay strong, be strong. Keep fighting the good fight. The demon will not control your life. Get the right Dr., the right meds, the right help and support. Good luck!