Re: Hi I'm new . . . Charisse

[Guest guest]

Hi Charisse:

I am sorry for the death of your mother. Was the

death related to her lupus? I have RA myself, and

know that the doctor was very glad that I did not test

positive for lupus. They are very similiar diseases,

and I can relate to what she must have gone through.

That is very sad, and I understand how you could worry

a bit more about your own health because of it.

Yes, fibromyalgia is widespread muscle pain, and for

me it does jump around from place to place. My skin

can get very tender, almost like I have a sunburn.

The fatigue is very common, and increased fatigue

after simple exertion or exercise. All of the other

symptoms you have mentioned are also very common to

those with fibromyalgia.

It sounds very like you probably have fibro, but this

has to be diagnosed by your doctor. Do you have a

rheumatologist? If not, I would suggest that you see

one as they specialize in such illnesses as fibro, and

are more apt to understand and diangosis you

correctly.

Your husband sounds very supportive, which is great.

I wish you the best of luck. I know that you will

benefit from being a member of this group - the people

here are wonderful, I have learned so much from just

being here, and the support I have gotten has been

invaluable.

Kathe

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[Guest guest]

Thank you Kathe. Yes my mom died from heart complications related

to the lupus. I think I'd have to see my primary dr first because

there is only one or two rheumatologists in my town and I think they

are so backed up that they require a referral from your primary dr.

Even though my insurance wouldn't require a referral I think the dr

would. I don't know what to think. I definitely don't have

widespread body pain. It's just my back and my joints don't hurt

either. Sometimes I think it sounds like depression but then it's

hard to tell because I cannot tolerate any of the antidepressants

and I feel like if I felt better I wouldn't be depressed in the

first place. Charisse

--- In , Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi Charisse:

>

> I am sorry for the death of your mother. Was the

> death related to her lupus? I have RA myself, and

> know that the doctor was very glad that I did not test

> positive for lupus. They are very similiar diseases,

> and I can relate to what she must have gone through.

> That is very sad, and I understand how you could worry

> a bit more about your own health because of it.

>

> Yes, fibromyalgia is widespread muscle pain, and for

> me it does jump around from place to place. My skin

> can get very tender, almost like I have a sunburn.

> The fatigue is very common, and increased fatigue

> after simple exertion or exercise. All of the other

> symptoms you have mentioned are also very common to

> those with fibromyalgia.

>

> It sounds very like you probably have fibro, but this

> has to be diagnosed by your doctor. Do you have a

> rheumatologist? If not, I would suggest that you see

> one as they specialize in such illnesses as fibro, and

> are more apt to understand and diangosis you

> correctly.

>

> Your husband sounds very supportive, which is great.

> I wish you the best of luck. I know that you will

> benefit from being a member of this group - the people

> here are wonderful, I have learned so much from just

> being here, and the support I have gotten has been

> invaluable.

>

> Kathe

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Charisse:

My best friend has a cousin with lupus and she is in

and out of the hospital with kidney problems. It's a

terrible disease. I surely hope that you do not

inherit that disease, or your kids if you have any. I

worry about passing on my RA/Fibro to my kids. My

grandma had RA, my grandfather had psoriasis and

probably also PA, my dad has raynaud's - so immune

system problems do run in the family.

That is a pain to have to get referrals. I was in an

HMO insurance once, and it drove me nuts trying to get

referrals - it was back when my son was always sick,

lots of very bad asthma attacks, and trying to get to

specialists was a battle. I don't think that the

doctors really require a referral if you are not HMO,

but it probably helps to have one anyway.

Yep, depression is very common with chronic pain - and

I have been on Effexor XR for about five years now -

it initially was only for my depression, but it is

also used in treatment of fibro, so I guess it does

double duty now. Probably if you could get some

control of your pain, you would feel better mood-wise.

Pain can sure suck the life out of us. There are so

many new anti-depressants now - have you tried a lot

of them? I was tried on Prozac and Elavil, but they

did nothing for me.

Although I am glad that the pain is not widespread,

because of your mom having lupus, a rheumatologist is

someone who could at least put your mind to rest about

having any autoimmune problems going on or starting

up.

If the cervical surgery did not help and the other

doctors don't know what to do, then try a rheumy.

Keep trying until you get some help for your pain.

I wish you better days - take care - Kathe in CA

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