Hi all, I am a scared new member of limbo land.
I am 35 yr old female, was diagnosed with fibro about 6 years ago, with symptoms possibly years before that. Overall, fibro could be very rough for me at times, but manageable. I was physically active, worked full time or more, was busy.
About 9 months ago, I started what I thought was a bad fibro flare up, but it has gotten consistently worse and worse, with new symptoms that I have not had before.
I had an urgent care clinic doctor bring the thought of MS to my mind when I went in for a really bad respiratory infection around easter, and mentioned some of the other issues that I was starting to have.
At the time, I didn't pay it much mind. Months later, feeling progressively worse, I spoke about my issues with a friend, who told me he had a close family member with MS and had I seen a neurologist... Looked into lists of symptoms online and started getting nervous.
I was without insurance until about 3 months ago, went into a new internist to get a physical, and talk about what was going on, with the hope that he could start some blood tests and rule out some things that way. All the blood tests he originally drew came back "not only ok, but great" according to him at the followup. He told me to stop worrying: according to the blood tests, I definitely did not have MS, this was just a fibro flareup, and gave me some cymbalta samples.
I basically had to force him to give me a neurologist referral. Feeling very frustrated. I am not having any of the big, bold, obvious MS symptoms. But I AM having ongoing issues that are progressing, becoming debilitating, and unlike any fibro symptoms I have had in the past.
I am a completely different person than I was this time last year, in terms of how much pain and fatigue I am in, my ability to be active, etc. And a laundry list of strange little symptoms that are new, or have happened inconsistently in the past but are now frequent or stronger than ever before.
Thursday of this week, I had a scary, stress induced attack of some sort at work. My job is a very emotionally and physically demanding job, that I have been struggling to keep up with. I have had some emotional near-breakdowns due to being overworked and exhausted there recently, finally turned in my two week notice a week ago. But after talking to my boss, we decided to cut me back to part time and see if I was ok with that.
This last week, I ended up having to work MORE hours than I was prior, while already feeling at the very end of my rope. Thursday I was shaky, trembly, weak, having much leg pain and extreme fatigue. I was told I could NOT leave early, or come in late the next day to rest. I started to have a panic attack, and it induced this weird twitch/jerk reaction, started with my leg and going to my torso- an almost rocking movement. I ended up quitting, and my boyfriend came and got me and took me to an urgent care clinic.
The doctor there said she was unsure whether the jerking was from whatever is going on with me, or not, but she definitely recommended I think about stopping the cymbalta (I have) and she agreed with me that she didn't think my fibro diagnosis was correct or complete. She was thrilled I already have a neurologist's appt coming up.
I'm exhausted and worried and tend towards mild anxiety already which is not helping right now.
I don't want a diagnosis of MS necessarily, but I DO want a diagnosis that I can not feel is just thrown at me for lack of better options.
I am currently at a point where I just want to rest, take it easy, work at staying positive, and try to slowly work at feeling better (yoga, etc) while I continue on the roller coaster doctor ride.
In the meantime, I just had a fight with my boyfriend who wants me to think about changing my career. I am shocked and caught off guard that he is bringing this up now, barely 24 hours after I quit a very difficult job, AND have a scary physical episode that I don't understand. I can barely think straight right now. I am exhausted, in constant pain, and discomfort, a little depressed. I haven't even been able to walk my dogs around the block in ages. How am I supposed to make important decisions about my future when I am in such flux?
I am 35 yr old female, was diagnosed with fibro about 6 years ago, with symptoms possibly years before that. Overall, fibro could be very rough for me at times, but manageable. I was physically active, worked full time or more, was busy.
About 9 months ago, I started what I thought was a bad fibro flare up, but it has gotten consistently worse and worse, with new symptoms that I have not had before.
I had an urgent care clinic doctor bring the thought of MS to my mind when I went in for a really bad respiratory infection around easter, and mentioned some of the other issues that I was starting to have.
At the time, I didn't pay it much mind. Months later, feeling progressively worse, I spoke about my issues with a friend, who told me he had a close family member with MS and had I seen a neurologist... Looked into lists of symptoms online and started getting nervous.
I was without insurance until about 3 months ago, went into a new internist to get a physical, and talk about what was going on, with the hope that he could start some blood tests and rule out some things that way. All the blood tests he originally drew came back "not only ok, but great" according to him at the followup. He told me to stop worrying: according to the blood tests, I definitely did not have MS, this was just a fibro flareup, and gave me some cymbalta samples.
I basically had to force him to give me a neurologist referral. Feeling very frustrated. I am not having any of the big, bold, obvious MS symptoms. But I AM having ongoing issues that are progressing, becoming debilitating, and unlike any fibro symptoms I have had in the past.
I am a completely different person than I was this time last year, in terms of how much pain and fatigue I am in, my ability to be active, etc. And a laundry list of strange little symptoms that are new, or have happened inconsistently in the past but are now frequent or stronger than ever before.
Thursday of this week, I had a scary, stress induced attack of some sort at work. My job is a very emotionally and physically demanding job, that I have been struggling to keep up with. I have had some emotional near-breakdowns due to being overworked and exhausted there recently, finally turned in my two week notice a week ago. But after talking to my boss, we decided to cut me back to part time and see if I was ok with that.
This last week, I ended up having to work MORE hours than I was prior, while already feeling at the very end of my rope. Thursday I was shaky, trembly, weak, having much leg pain and extreme fatigue. I was told I could NOT leave early, or come in late the next day to rest. I started to have a panic attack, and it induced this weird twitch/jerk reaction, started with my leg and going to my torso- an almost rocking movement. I ended up quitting, and my boyfriend came and got me and took me to an urgent care clinic.
The doctor there said she was unsure whether the jerking was from whatever is going on with me, or not, but she definitely recommended I think about stopping the cymbalta (I have) and she agreed with me that she didn't think my fibro diagnosis was correct or complete. She was thrilled I already have a neurologist's appt coming up.
I'm exhausted and worried and tend towards mild anxiety already which is not helping right now.
I don't want a diagnosis of MS necessarily, but I DO want a diagnosis that I can not feel is just thrown at me for lack of better options. I am currently at a point where I just want to rest, take it easy, work at staying positive, and try to slowly work at feeling better (yoga, etc) while I continue on the roller coaster doctor ride.
In the meantime, I just had a fight with my boyfriend who wants me to think about changing my career. I am shocked and caught off guard that he is bringing this up now, barely 24 hours after I quit a very difficult job, AND have a scary physical episode that I don't understand. I can barely think straight right now. I am exhausted, in constant pain, and discomfort, a little depressed. I haven't even been able to walk my dogs around the block in ages. How am I supposed to make important decisions about my future when I am in such flux?
Sorry about the fight!
I actually tend to eat very well, lots of lean meat, tons of veggies and leafy greens, salads, smoothies, fruit, etc. My boyfriend and I cook most of our meals, we love to cook! I rarely drink soda, had to cut that out several years ago when my bladder started getting irritable. I have NOT cut our gluten, though I do limit it (my boyfriend is trying to lose weight, so no pasta at our house!) My celiac marker blood test was fine.....
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