Introducing myself

[Guest guest]

Hello,

My name is and I just joined the group. I am 34, happily married

to a wonderful man for almost 4 years and I have a 7 year old son (from a

first abusive marriage). I was just diagnosed this week with fibromyalgia

after being bounced around from doctor to doctor.

I have had chronic pain in my shoulder, neck, back and knees for a while and

had been to a neurologist (for migraines and neck), a chiropractor (for the

back and shoulder), an orthopaedic surgeon (for the knees) and finally to a

rheumatologist this past Monday who nailed it - fibromyalgia.

By looking over the list briefly I saw that some of you are from the Memphis

area. I live in Cordova, so we are neighbors. It is good to know there are

fols nearby who understand.

The doctor I was referred to was Dr. Arkin (??). I was referred to

him by the Clinic (orthopaedics). He gave me Bextra 20 mg for day

and Flexeril 10 mg for night. I told him I was already taking both of these

drug because they had been prescribed by my chiropractor's nurse practioner

for my shoulder pain and had done nothing to help my knee pain (what I was

mainly in for). I got very little response.

I think most doctors are afraid to prescribe me anything more because of

what I already take. You see I have bipolar disorder and post-traumatic

disorder along with severe anxiety (the latter two stemming from my first

marriage and childhood s*xual abuse). Currently I take 600mg of Topamax,

450 mg Wellbutrin, 2mg Klonopin, 30 mg Abilify and Sonata - all that along

with my regular meds for physical health problems - Allegra (allergies),

Nexium (acid reflux and hiatal hernia), Atenolol (mitral valve prolape and

irregular heartbeat), Cenestin, (hormone supplement due to hysterectomy),

Zelnorm (IBS)and Bidex (chronic sinus problems). Then I have the Bextra and

Flexeril. But I am in constant pain during the day. I can barely get

around due to the pain in my knees and back. Getting in and out of a car is

excruciating. Sitting down on a potty is the most painful! I think doctors

back off of my as soon as they find out that I have bipolar. It is medical

prejudice and it is not fair.

I am supposed to go back to Dr. Arkin is 2 months, but I don't know if I can

take the pain that long. He also didn't seem that sympathetic about the

disorder. He is an older man and I could be wrong, but I just didn't get a

great feeling about him. I have a friend that goes to him for rheumatoid

arthritis and says he is great and I can see that. But I am not sure he is

great with fibromyalgia.

Anyway, my life is stressful. My son is challenged. He, too, has bipolar

and has atypical autism/PDD and mild cerebral palsy. My husband is

wonderful with us both. He is very caring, compassionate and helpful to

take care of us. We are blessed.

I guess I have blatthered on enough.

It will be nice to get to know you all. It seems like a nice group. I need

all the help, info and support I can get right now.

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Hi, and welcome! My name is Jen, I'm 33, happily married for almost

13 years to my best friend, and we have 2 daughters, ages 13 and 11.

The time after diagnosis is really hard. You're left with the

feeling of " now what? " Take a little time to let it sink in, do a

litle research, then develop your plan of attack. Some doctors take

offense to a well-informed patient, but my doctor really appreciated

it. It saved him the time of having to explain everyting to me, and

I was able to ask direct, detailed questions, and his answers

weren't " above my head " . He liked that he could talk to me on an

intelligent level...we aren't wasting a lot of eachother's precious

time.

I have bipolar disorder as well, so don't let the doctor's

stigmatize you for that. Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance,

a real psysiolocial illness that requires treatment just like high

blood pressure or diabetes. I'm actually surprised that the 600mg

of Topamax isn't helping your pain any. My psych upped my dosage

from 200 to 300mg last summer and that helped a lot with my day to

day pain. I'm up to 400mg now though. Prejudice against a mental

health disorder is illegal. Perhaps it's time for you to find a new

rheumatologist, one who is younger, and maybe more up to date in the

treatment of Fibromyalgia. While Flexeril and Bextra are good

drugs, you need more agressive treatment than that! You deserve the

best quality health care, so fight for it!

It must be hard for you with your young son already dealign with BPD

as well as autism and cerebral palsy. I'm so glad you have a

wonderful husband by your side to help you through. A good support

system is critical! Just remember that you have to take time to

care for yourself as well! Stress plays a big role in flares, so

you need to find ways to relax if you can, even if it's for a little

bit a day, perhaps a half hour or so by yourself to meditate, or

just unwind in peace. Also, if you're able to, enlist the help of a

good massage therapist. It would do wonders for you!

Well, I have to get going, but take good care of yourself, and keep

us posted on how things are going. We're so glad to have you here!

All my best,

Jen

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Hi... welcome to the list, neighbor!! I am one of the Memphians on the

list. I am also happily married to a wonderful man for the last 9 years

who is VERY supportive of my condition with the exception of the fibro

fog, which he cannot seem to understand. But he understands enough that

he has learned to check behind me on things, like making sure the

burners on the stove are turned off, the doors are locked, etc. I live

in the Berclair area of Memphis... on McCrory, to be exact, right off

Covington Pike. My phone number is 683-1253, and you may feel free to

call me day or night, if you can catch me off the computer, LOL. Maybe

we could get together some day for lunch or just a person to person

chat. I have never actually talked in person with another person with

FM. I have to try to remember to call Dr. Chapman today to see if

there is an FM support group in Memphis. I had promised Lee Anne that I

would check. I am not personally interested in such a support group

because I would have to ask Elwyn to take me and pick me up, as I drive

only in emergency situations because of all the medication that I take.

You might want to consider going to one of several good pain clinics we

have in the Memphis area. I just posted some of them a few days ago,

but if you are interested, I will look up their names and phone numbers

again. I take Oxycontin, Lortab, Neurontin and Celebrex for the pain.

In addition, for other medical problems, I take Tricor (for elevated

triglyceride level), potassium, Celexa, Zyprexa, Imipramine, Estrace

(for hormone replacement), and Tranxene. I am fortunate that my three

sons were already grown by the time my fibromyalgia manifested itself.

I know it must be hard to keep up with an active 7 year old and fight

fibro at the same time. But looking back, even when my kids were young,

I had symptoms of fibro... just not the excruciating pain that I am in

now.

I used to work for the Univ. of Tenn., Memphis as a secretary in the

Ophthalmology Dept. However, due to the fibro, I had to go on

disability in Dec. 97 and have not been able to return to work since.

My husband, Elwyn, was diagnosed with lung cancer in Feb. 97, and is

also on disability, so we have plenty of time to spend with one another.

He is still cancer free, PTL.

My internal medicine doc is who rx's my pain meds. He placed me on the

Oxy in early 1998, and though I still have significant pain, it has made

a tremendous difference in the level. Without the Oxy, my pain is about

a constant 10, but with the Oxy, it is reduced to about a 7 or 8. Still

high, but at least I can live with it. My internist is who dx'd my

fibro and rx's my pain meds. However, he has recently started cutting

me off the Lortab because he says he is scared he may lose his medical

license for over-prescribing. That is the case with many doctors in

this day and age. As long as he doesn't mess with the Oxy, though,

I'll be okay.

Take care, and keep in touch. It is good to meet people close to home.

hugs and prayers,

Sharon - Memphis, TN

Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!

[Guest guest]

Dear Sharon,

Very nice to meet you. I would enjoy meeting you in person. We will have

to get together one day for lunch. I haven't met anyone either with FMS yet

face to face, so it would be nice.

I saw the post about the pain clinics in Memphis. Can you just call up and

make an appointment with them or do you have to be reffered? What could

they do for me?

Also (see I am full of questions), my regular doctor is an internist. Do

you think he might be able to help manage my case more so than this

rheumatologist? I guess it never hurts to ask, huh? He probably won't

though. I really think I need to find another rheumatologist or something.

Maybe after my second visit with him I will get more of a feel for him. But

that is 2 months away.

Yes, caring for a challenged 7 yr. old is taxing and my husband takes as

much of the burden off of me as he can. But I still have to drive him to

and from school. therapy, counseling, doctors, specialists, etc. And then

there is the dealings with the ex that triggor my PTSD and almost always

cause a flare up I can see now.

But most of my days are free while he is in school. I am on disability due

to my bipolar, so I mainly just help my husband with his internet business

to keep busy. That is when I am not at the psychiatrist, psychologist,

neurologist, rheumatologist, internist or one of those for my son :-). The

insurance companies hate us...haha. I am sure glad my hubby works at

ALSAC/St.Jude because he has wonderful insurance. That sure helps.

Anyway, I hope we can get together soon. I took note of your number and one

day after spring break, I will give you a call.

Thanks and safe hugs,

> Re: Introducing myself

>

>

> Dear ,

>

> Hi... welcome to the list, neighbor!! I am one of the Memphians on the

> list. I am also happily married to a wonderful man for the last 9 years

> who is VERY supportive of my condition with the exception of the fibro

> fog, which he cannot seem to understand. But he understands enough that

> he has learned to check behind me on things, like making sure the

> burners on the stove are turned off, the doors are locked, etc. I live

> in the Berclair area of Memphis... on McCrory, to be exact, right off

> Covington Pike. My phone number is 683-1253, and you may feel free to

> call me day or night, if you can catch me off the computer, LOL. Maybe

> we could get together some day for lunch or just a person to person

> chat. I have never actually talked in person with another person with

> FM. I have to try to remember to call Dr. Chapman today to see if

> there is an FM support group in Memphis. I had promised Lee Anne that I

> would check. I am not personally interested in such a support group

> because I would have to ask Elwyn to take me and pick me up, as I drive

> only in emergency situations because of all the medication that I take.

> You might want to consider going to one of several good pain clinics we

> have in the Memphis area. I just posted some of them a few days ago,

> but if you are interested, I will look up their names and phone numbers

> again. I take Oxycontin, Lortab, Neurontin and Celebrex for the pain.

> In addition, for other medical problems, I take Tricor (for elevated

> triglyceride level), potassium, Celexa, Zyprexa, Imipramine, Estrace

> (for hormone replacement), and Tranxene. I am fortunate that my three

> sons were already grown by the time my fibromyalgia manifested itself.

> I know it must be hard to keep up with an active 7 year old and fight

> fibro at the same time. But looking back, even when my kids were young,

> I had symptoms of fibro... just not the excruciating pain that I am in

> now.

>

> I used to work for the Univ. of Tenn., Memphis as a secretary in the

> Ophthalmology Dept. However, due to the fibro, I had to go on

> disability in Dec. 97 and have not been able to return to work since.

> My husband, Elwyn, was diagnosed with lung cancer in Feb. 97, and is

> also on disability, so we have plenty of time to spend with one another.

> He is still cancer free, PTL.

>

> My internal medicine doc is who rx's my pain meds. He placed me on the

> Oxy in early 1998, and though I still have significant pain, it has made

> a tremendous difference in the level. Without the Oxy, my pain is about

> a constant 10, but with the Oxy, it is reduced to about a 7 or 8. Still

> high, but at least I can live with it. My internist is who dx'd my

> fibro and rx's my pain meds. However, he has recently started cutting

> me off the Lortab because he says he is scared he may lose his medical

> license for over-prescribing. That is the case with many doctors in

> this day and age. As long as he doesn't mess with the Oxy, though,

> I'll be okay.

>

> Take care, and keep in touch. It is good to meet people close to home.

>

> hugs and prayers,

> Sharon - Memphis, TN

>

> Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

wrote:

>My name is and I just joined the group. I am 34, happily married

>to a wonderful man for almost 4 years and I have a 7 year old son (from a

>first abusive marriage). I was just diagnosed this week with fibromyalgia

>after being bounced around from doctor to doctor.

Hi - Good to meet you. Welcome.

>I think most doctors are afraid to prescribe me anything more because of

>what I already take. You see I have bipolar disorder and post-traumatic

>disorder along with severe anxiety (the latter two stemming from my first

>marriage and childhood s*xual abuse). .... I think doctors

>back off of my as soon as they find out that I have bipolar. It is medical

>prejudice and it is not fair.

Don't ya just hate that! A doctor should come in the room, get to know the

patient, talk to them, and then look at the chart.

>I am supposed to go back to Dr. Arkin is 2 months, but I don't know if I can

>take the pain that long. He also didn't seem that sympathetic about the

>disorder. He is an older man and I could be wrong, but I just didn't get a

>great feeling about him. I have a friend that goes to him for rheumatoid

>arthritis and says he is great and I can see that. But I am not sure he is

>great with fibromyalgia.

I have an appt. with a specialist on May 3 and from what I have read am not

too enthused about docs being very sympathetic. When I look back on what

I complained to my internist about, she should have diagnosed this years ago.

>Anyway, my life is stressful. My son is challenged. He, too, has bipolar

>and has atypical autism/PDD and mild cerebral palsy.

That sounds like a handful.

>My husband is wonderful with us both. He is very caring, compassionate and

helpful to

>take care of us. We are blessed.

That is most helpful. I don't know what I would do without my husband.

>I guess I have blatthered on enough.

>

>It will be nice to get to know you all. It seems like a nice group. I need

>all the help, info and support I can get right now.

Yes indeed, I am new too, but am very thankful to have found this group!

cheers, Cat

^. .^ ~