Devin Starlanyl & Ellen Copeland...My Heros

[Guest guest]

I'm new to this group and have been sort of just hanging out reading

other's experiences. Please forgive this extra, extra long post but

if there is anyone out there who is doubting your gut instinct, you

need my story. (More about instincts later) After 8 years of being

sent to Mental Health by the military medical system and being

treated for depression I was finally diagnosed with FMS. Forgive me

if I've already told you guys this; I sometimes get a bit fuzzy and

don't remember things! (Smile)

The fact that the diagnosis for FMS was achieved for me was because

I had a great therapist who knew and did his job well and because of

groups like this.

After years of saying to medical doctors, I'M NOT DEPRESSED! I DO

HAVE ANXIETY PROBLEMS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY BODY!, I

finally felt that maybe they were right and all of the pain was

because of my mental health. I went to a depression support group

just like this Fibromyalgia Group. Upon describing my symptoms a

group moderater told me " Your not depressed, you have Chronic

Fatigue Syndrome! " . I didn't know what that was and she directed me

to info...I searched, printed and took the info to my therapist who

then referred me back to medical clinic saying that he believed that

there was a medical problem. Yea! Finally validation. After seeing

the doctor in medical health I received a dianosis of Fibro instead

of CFS. That was 2001. Due to my husband's retirement and family

situations we moved again, back home.

Now I have a great medical doctor but have a therapist who is

talking about " secondary gain " and somatomazation disorder!

Translation -It's all in your head and you are getting something out

of being sick but you don't realize your doing it " . God save us all!

I was about at the end of my rope but since my medical doctor

understands and has treated FMS before I have the pain relief I need

to be abe to think clearly. One out of two ain't bad!

In my research of FMS now (When I am able! We all know how that

is!) the best thing I've EVER done is to order the book Fibromyalgia

and Chronic Myofascial Pain, A Survival Manual by the authors

mentioned in my subject line. Devin Starlanyl & Ellen Copeland.

I have't read the entire book yet because I just got it and " fibro

fog " renders my brain to mush after about 2 hours on a good day!

I've learned a great deal about Fibro and it has also made me feel

much better about myself! I admit, I am one of those that beat

myself up thinking that I had become lazy, feeling sorry for myself

or whatever. <The normal lab tests and doctor referrals to mental

health didn't help my self-confidence!> But, this book is so based

on fact and legitimate research that you cannot deny even in the

smallest part of yourself that what you have is an illness. I did

not even realize that I had that part of me that was doubting until

I got this book! I may be the odd one out because you all seem so

confident about yourselves but if there is just one person who reads

this who is fighting that inner battle...do I believe my instinct or

do I believe the doctors...- Trust your instincts!

[Guest guest]

Hi and Welcome. The Survival Manual I called my big blud FMS 'bible'

and devoured it an hour a day if I could. It is such an excellent

source and proves we are not crazy!!!! I couldn't agree more with

you. I'd loaned my book out during better days, and just bot the 2nd

edtiion and it's green, hey my fav color, now. Love having it again.

Want to share some info with my now husband who didn't get the

benefit of knowing me pre-fms and who didn't get the benefit of

reading the parts of the book for family friends & others. The one

thank I took to heart was 'space & pace'. Space your activities apart

and pace yourself. Words to life through this by. Look forward to

chatting more. Blessings, and Hugs, Judy IN AZ

> I'm new to this group and have been sort of just hanging out

reading

> other's experiences. Please forgive this extra, extra long post but

> if there is anyone out there who is doubting your gut instinct, you

> need my story. (More about instincts later) After 8 years of being

> sent to Mental Health by the military medical system and being

> treated for depression I was finally diagnosed with FMS. Forgive me

> if I've already told you guys this; I sometimes get a bit fuzzy and

> don't remember things! (Smile)

> The fact that the diagnosis for FMS was achieved for me was because

> I had a great therapist who knew and did his job well and because

of

> groups like this.

> After years of saying to medical doctors, I'M NOT DEPRESSED! I DO

> HAVE ANXIETY PROBLEMS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY BODY!, I

> finally felt that maybe they were right and all of the pain was

> because of my mental health. I went to a depression support group

> just like this Fibromyalgia Group. Upon describing my symptoms a

> group moderater told me " Your not depressed, you have Chronic

> Fatigue Syndrome! " . I didn't know what that was and she directed

me

> to info...I searched, printed and took the info to my therapist who

> then referred me back to medical clinic saying that he believed

that

> there was a medical problem. Yea! Finally validation. After seeing

> the doctor in medical health I received a dianosis of Fibro instead

> of CFS. That was 2001. Due to my husband's retirement and family

> situations we moved again, back home.

>

> Now I have a great medical doctor but have a therapist who is

> talking about " secondary gain " and somatomazation disorder!

> Translation -It's all in your head and you are getting something

out

> of being sick but you don't realize your doing it " . God save us

all!

> I was about at the end of my rope but since my medical doctor

> understands and has treated FMS before I have the pain relief I

need

> to be abe to think clearly. One out of two ain't bad!

>

> In my research of FMS now (When I am able! We all know how that

> is!) the best thing I've EVER done is to order the book

Fibromyalgia

> and Chronic Myofascial Pain, A Survival Manual by the authors

> mentioned in my subject line. Devin Starlanyl & Ellen

Copeland.

> I have't read the entire book yet because I just got it and " fibro

> fog " renders my brain to mush after about 2 hours on a good day!

> I've learned a great deal about Fibro and it has also made me feel

> much better about myself! I admit, I am one of those that beat

> myself up thinking that I had become lazy, feeling sorry for myself

> or whatever. <The normal lab tests and doctor referrals to mental

> health didn't help my self-confidence!> But, this book is so based

> on fact and legitimate research that you cannot deny even in the

> smallest part of yourself that what you have is an illness. I did

> not even realize that I had that part of me that was doubting until

> I got this book! I may be the odd one out because you all seem so

> confident about yourselves but if there is just one person who

reads

> this who is fighting that inner battle...do I believe my instinct

or

> do I believe the doctors...- Trust your instincts!

[Guest guest]

Hi.

So sorry for all you have been through. I’m Jan and have been diagnosed

for approx. four years. Here’s

my take on your delima: you spent 8

years being sent to therapists none of whom pinpointed the real cause of being

depressed and having body pain, memory problems, etc., you find it hard to let

yourself believe that this is the actual cause – you are not “mental”;

yes, you do suffer just like all of us do, with short term memory problems,

depressed days, pain so bad it’s difficult if not impossible to get out

of bed, and yet you look perfectly healthy. Now, however, you have a real,

explainable cause of all of your problems.

Now, give yourself a break – accept that you own this sick body then go to work on making the very best of

it. I know my limitations; I plan

for the days I feel great then get all my errands done, I plan to have something

to watch/read for the next several days I may be in bed and I no longer

question or fight the idea that this is an actual, verifiable cause. I guess I’m saying let yourself

feel that it’s ok to understand you are different from many of the people

around you. But that is only your

body. They know and love you for

you. When you feel good, let your

spirit shine and enjoy the moment.

I hope this helps. Have a

good day, Jan

Devin Starlanyl & Ellen Copeland...My

Heros

I'm new to this group and have been sort of just

hanging out reading

other's experiences. Please forgive this extra,

extra long post but

if there is anyone out there who is doubting your

gut instinct, you

need my story. (More about instincts later) After

8 years of being

sent to Mental Health by the military medical

system and being

treated for depression I was finally diagnosed

with FMS. Forgive me

if I've already told you guys this; I sometimes

get a bit fuzzy and

don't remember things! (Smile)

The fact that the diagnosis for FMS was achieved

for me was because

I had a great therapist who knew and did his job

well and because of

groups like this.

After years of saying to medical doctors, I'M NOT

DEPRESSED! I DO

HAVE ANXIETY PROBLEMS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG

WITH MY BODY!, I

finally felt that maybe they were right and all of

the pain was

because of my mental health. I went to a

depression support group

just like this Fibromyalgia Group. Upon describing

my symptoms a

group moderater told me " Your not depressed,

you have Chronic

Fatigue Syndrome! " . I didn't know what

that was and she directed me

to info...I searched, printed and took the info to

my therapist who

then referred me back to medical clinic saying

that he believed that

there was a medical problem. Yea! Finally

validation. After seeing

the doctor in medical health I received a dianosis

of Fibro instead

of CFS. That was 2001. Due to my husband's

retirement and family

situations we moved again, back home.

Now I have a great medical doctor but have a

therapist who is

talking about " secondary gain " and

somatomazation disorder!

Translation -It's all in your head and you are

getting something out

of being sick but you don't realize your doing

it " . God save us all!

I was about at the end of my rope but since my

medical doctor

understands and has treated FMS before I have the

pain relief I need

to be abe to think clearly. One out of two ain't

bad!

In my research of FMS now (When I am able!

We all know how that

is!) the best thing I've EVER done is to order the

book Fibromyalgia

and Chronic Myofascial Pain, A Survival Manual by

the authors

mentioned in my subject line. Devin Starlanyl

& Ellen Copeland.

I have't read the entire book yet because I just

got it and " fibro

fog " renders my brain to mush after about 2

hours on a good day!

I've learned a great deal about Fibro and it

has also made me feel

much better about myself! I admit, I am one

of those that beat

myself up thinking that I had become lazy, feeling

sorry for myself

or whatever. <The normal lab tests and doctor

referrals to mental

health didn't help my self-confidence!>

But, this book is so based

on fact and legitimate research that you cannot

deny even in the

smallest part of yourself that what you have is an

illness. I did

not even realize that I had that part of me that

was doubting until

I got this book! I may be the odd one out

because you all seem so

confident about yourselves but if there is just

one person who reads

this who is fighting that inner battle...do I

believe my instinct or

do I believe the doctors...- Trust your instincts!

Yahoo!

Groups Links

·

To visit your group on the

web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fibromyalgia_Support_Group/

·

[Guest guest]

Definitely my heroes, too. I wasn't even diagnosed yet when I started reading this because someone had mentioned to me they thought I had fibro - bingo! What a great help. Now if someone could just tell me where the 6 prescriptions I got from the doctor on Monday are, and my garage door opener.....

Mindi