Hello

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Just wanted to introduce myself to the group. Though I haven't been

officially diagnosed yet, I recently read an article about fibromyalgia and

cried for an hour to know I wasn't nuts or alone. I was finally able to

tie together all the weird symptoms after so many tests and doctors

told me nothing. It started about 6 years ago after a bout with the

flu. Weeks and then months went by and I still felt terrible, I was told

to be patient, but it just got worse. Getting out of bed was a major

chore, and I hurt all the time. I didn't have the energy to sit up

sometimes, it got to be pretty depressing. There were others symptoms too,

but i never connected them...palpitations, dizziness, IBS, memory problems

and difficulty concentrating, fitful sleep, headaches, chest pains, dry

eyes and mouth, tingling in my hands, shooting pains, sensitivity to noise

, etc. I had a whole cardiac workup, stress test, echo cardiogram, holter

monitor, and the GI stuff, and blood tests and on and on, and the verdict

was always the same... nada. Add to this a full blown depression and

needless to say, I was not a happy camper. I thought I was officially

nuts, how could I hurt so much and be " fine " ? Finally, in desperation, I

went to a psychiatrist who put me on antidepressants, and that did help

some, but not a lot. He assures me my pain is real, but that's as far as

it goes, and that is where I am now. I also have arthritis so I know that

most of the drugs I've tried offer little or no relief, and I am at a loss

what to do next. I just can't believe after all this time, not one doctor

even mentioned the possibility. I have put on a lot of weight because

exercise is near impossible, and that is what they focus on... lose weight

and exercise! Yeah, right thanks. Fat female and 40's...a chronic pain...

but not the kind they peg me for. Think I am a little hostile toward the

medical profession? Anyway, I live in Connecticut, does anyone know if

there is any doctor around that has a handle on this, because I don't think

I can handle another useless visit. The only real relief I've had in years

is via a trip to the dentist to have a tooth pulled...2 days of pain

medicine. I've often half jokingly considered having a tooth pulled now

and then! LOL Any info would be appreciated. I have searched the

internet and read all I could find, all the controversies, etc., but it

will be good to hear from real people who have experienced this first hand

and really KNOW. Thanks for " listening "

Char