Fibromyalgia and PAIN!!!

You need to see your doctor and ask him to test you for ebstien barr. It's a rare form of mono that only shows up in this blood test and there is a 20 point system that shows how bad you have the illness. It never really leaves your system and you are eather active or non-active. Your story sounds like mine and I was also 19 years old when it all started and the ebstien barr had brought on the fibromyalgia. What you need to do is up your vitamin intake and I suggest this herbal supplement called Activive that you can find on the net, it really helped me. Drink tons of water and each a lot of fruits and vegitables. Stay away from stress as much as possible. Remember that with pain killers you do not want to use them any more than you much because you may end up where they will soon do nothing at all for you. I have an aunt going through that. I have been successful with getting myself completely off pain medications where I use to just sit and cry due to the pain that i was in. Really it gets better, you really just need to get use to managing pain and know your limits. I had a problem with not accepting that i had limitations to what I could do anymore. I use to work three jobs and I did a lot of lifting and really I worked myself into the sickness. Don't over do anything but keep flexible.

I completely understand your suffering with fibromyalgia --I suffer from it too. I have been dealing with this for about 5 years (since I was 31), but was only diagnosed this past year. It seems that doctors (at least where I live) seem to think that there is no way we could have so much pain. I even had one doctor to tell me that I didn't hurt, but that I was depressed. He went on to tell me that if I would take anti-depressants to aid my depression, I wouldn't hurt any more. I do know that some anti-depressants are used to help ease the pain of fibro, but this man wasn't going there. HE was basically telling me that my symptoms were all in my head. A second medical professional told me the symptoms were 100% weight related. She said that if I would lose weight I would be cured. Her words...exactly. I finally found a doctor who did listen and did believe me. I have never tried the Guai protocal. I have read about it and have considered asking about it, but I am letting my current doctor do the suggesting for now. I do take Ultram for pain (extended release), topamax to help prevent migraines, phenergen (for when the Topamax makes me sick), and Maxalt as needed for migraines. So far, this works fairly well. I also try to schedule a massage at least every other week. I see a chiropracter regularly (that has really helped). I see one of two medical professionals (one is an MD, the other a FNP) about once a month. It takes that frequency to keep things level. When things are really bad, I add in a weekly visit to a mental health professional...just to "sound off." Sometimes, being validated does help me to feel better. Last year, we tired physical therapy. It really did nothing. I have joined what I call the "water gym." It is an exercise facility that only provides water exercise. I do water aerobics as often as my schedule permits. I also joined a regular gym. I try to walk once or twice a week (as my body will allow) on the rubber padded track. I want to add some weight training to my schedule. While the non-water exercise does cause a lot of pain, everything I have read seems to indicate that it will eventually help me.