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Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed Wit...

Hello, I have been procrastinating joining a support community because I never knew what...

Posted by Albatross

Hello,

I have been procrastinating joining a support community because I never knew what was wrong with, but I just knew I didn't feel good...

Yesterday, after a few visits since retiring from active duty in October of 2010, my PCM at the VA Clinic did an exam, and diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. I am still not sure how to feel about that because I was always under the impression that a "syndrome" is not a real diagnosis and is not really recognized. It just means that you have a whole bunch of symptoms that can't be explained, so we need to call it something so you will go away... I question the credibility of the diagnosis, even though I do have the symptoms, and everything else that can be ruled out has been.

I had Mono in 1992, and was infected with a severe case of Epstein Barr Virus in 1998. I have been telling people and doctors for years since then that I have never felt right again after that, and that was when my symptoms started and just began getting worse.

I am a 23 year military veteran, now retired and 44 years old. My symptoms:

Severe fatigue not explained by other conditions.

Memory or concentration trouble

Muscle pain

Multi-joint pain/burning without swelling or redness

Unrefreshing sleep

Exhaustion after physical or mental activity

Mood changes/irritability

No one has been able to help me. I firmly believe that there has to be a link here between the Mono/EBV and FM, but I can't find any supporting documentation or studies to confirm this.

All I know is that my quality of life is degrading more and more every year, and I am so tired of being tired, and hurting with that feeling of intense sleepiness that makes it so hard to concentrate... I go to bed and wake up feeling like I haven't slept, I wake up often at night and if I sleep too long even though I feel like I could sleep for days sometimes, it makes the fatigue and pain worse.

I have had significant service related injury to both of my knees, and a have had a total of 3 surgeries on each knee (2 scopes with debridement, and patella re-alignment), but I am still left with moderate to severe patellofemoral pain due to both my kneecaps not having any natural padding left and causing pain when the patella rubs against the femur. This is not correctable with anymore surgery, and my knee joint is ok, so that along with my age rules out knee replacements. I am stuck with pain management to control the pain so I can continue to work full-time. This medication also helps with the FM pain, but the fatigue still makes me miserable.

I take Flexeril and bedtime that helps some with the pain and allows be to get a little more sleep. My pain medication that I have been on for quite sometime is Vicodin. I tried the longer lasting 12 hour pain meds, but I did not like the way they made me feel and the fatigue which is already bad, it made worse.

I take a multi-vitamin, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-50, Garlic, Flaxseed daily. I also take Panax Ginseng, but not everyday as it raises my blood pressure that I take meds for.

I see some other medications that are mentioned for helping with fatigue, but I am not keen on taking an anti-depressant when I am not depressed. My symptoms are physical, and the sleepiness is what I am having a really hard time with.

What meds that are discussed relating to FM can truly help with the fatigue part? If I could deal with this part a little better it would be easier to cope with everything else...

Thank you!View Thread

Posted byAlbatross

12 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia - Have Felt Horrible for 14 Years... Hello, I have been procrastinating joining a support community because I never knew what...

Reply: Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed Wit...

I appreciate the advice...Yes, I have plenty of stress in my life too, but don't we all??...

Posted by Albatross

12 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia - Have Felt Horrible for 14 Years... I appreciate the advice...Yes, I have plenty of stress in my life too, but don't we all??...

Reply: Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed Wit...

Thank you! I will ask my PCM about that!

Posted by Albatross

12 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia - Have Felt Horrible for 14 Years... Thank you! I will ask my PCM about that!

Reply: A Good Day

What pain management is effective for you? I have heard many people say different things....

Posted by Albatross

20 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:A Good Day What pain management is effective for you? I have heard many people say different things....

Reply: Monday, Monday ****10/8/2012 ****

MiMi, Hi. Yes, I have a note into my doctor about testing my Vit D. I am having a rough...

Posted by Albatross

7 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Monday, Monday ****10/8/2012 **** MiMi, Hi. Yes, I have a note into my doctor about testing my Vit D. I am having a rough...

Reply: Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed Wit...

Angelldakota, Thank you! That means a lot!

Posted by Albatross

12 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia - Have Felt Horrible for 14 Years... Angelldakota, Thank you! That means a lot!

Reply: TGIF*****10/5/2012 *****ROLL CALL ***NEW MEMBERS A...

Dollbug, Yes, thank you for the suggestion on the Vitamin D. I have another apt with my...

Posted by Albatross

10 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:TGIF*****10/5/2012 *****ROLL CALL ***NEW MEMBERS ALSO.... Dollbug, Yes, thank you for the suggestion on the Vitamin D. I have another apt with my...

Reply: TGIF*****10/5/2012 *****ROLL CALL ***NEW MEMBERS A...

Hello, I took most of this from my post the other day to Dr. Pellegrino... I have been...

Posted by Albatross

Hello,

I took most of this from my post the other day to Dr. Pellegrino...

I have been procrastinating joining a support community because I never knew what was wrong with, but I just knew I didn't feel good...

Wednesday, after a few visits since retiring from active duty in October of 2010, my PCM at the VA Clinic did an exam, and diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. I am still not sure how to feel about that because I was always under the impression that a "syndrome" is not a real diagnosis and is not really recognized. It just means that you have a whole bunch of symptoms that can't be explained, so we need to call it something so you will go away... I question the credibility of the diagnosis, even though I do have the symptoms, and everything else that can be ruled out has been.

I had Mono in 1992, and was infected with a severe case of Epstein Barr Virus in 1998. I have been telling people and doctors for years since then that I have never felt right again after that, and that was when my symptoms started and just began getting worse.

I am a 23 year military veteran, now retired and 44 years old. My symptoms:

Severe fatigue not explained by other conditions.

Memory or concentration trouble

Muscle pain

Multi-joint pain/burning without swelling or redness

Unrefreshing sleep

Exhaustion after physical or mental activity

Mood changes/irritability

No one has been able to help me. I firmly believe that there has to be a link here between the Mono/EBV and FM, but I can't find any supporting documentation or studies to confirm this.

All I know is that my quality of life is degrading more and more every year, and I am so tired of being tired, and hurting with that feeling of intense sleepiness that makes it so hard to concentrate... I go to bed and wake up feeling like I haven't slept, I wake up often at night and if I sleep too long even though I feel like I could sleep for days sometimes, it makes the fatigue and pain worse.

I have had significant service related injury to both of my knees, and a have had a total of 3 surgeries on each knee (2 scopes with debridement, and patella re-alignment), but I am still left with moderate to severe patellofemoral pain due to both my kneecaps not having any natural padding left and causing pain when the patella rubs against the femur. This is not correctable with any more surgery, and my knee joint is ok, so that along with my age rules out knee replacements. I am stuck with pain management to control the pain so I can continue to work full-time. This medication also helps with the FM pain, but the fatigue still makes me miserable.

I take Flexeril and bedtime that helps some with the pain and allows be to get a little more sleep. Otherwise, I can go to sleep ok because I am exhausted, but I wake frequently with pain. My pain medication that I have been on for quite sometime is Vicodin. I tried the longer lasting 12 hour pain meds, but I did not like the way they made me feel and the fatigue which is already bad, it made worse. I also like knowing from my body when I "need" to take it rather than just taking something every 12 hours that is designed to never wear off... When the pain returns then I take the med... That is about every 6 hours...

I take a multi-vitamin, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-50, Garlic, Flaxseed daily. I also take Panax Ginseng, which will give me more energy, but I can't take it everyday as it raises my blood pressure that I take meds for.

I see some other medications that are mentioned for helping with fatigue, but I am not keen on taking an anti-depressant when I am not depressed. My symptoms are physical, and the sleepiness is what I am having a really hard time with.

What meds that are discussed relating to FM can truly help with the fatigue part? If I could deal with this part a little better it would be easier to cope with everything else...

Thank you!View Thread

Posted byAlbatross

10 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:TGIF*****10/5/2012 *****ROLL CALL ***NEW MEMBERS ALSO.... Hello, I took most of this from my post the other day to Dr. Pellegrino... I have been...

Reply: Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed Wit...

Hi! Thank you for your positive comments! I have been confirmed with Chronic Fatigue as a...

Posted by Albatross

12 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed With Fibromyalgia - Have Felt Horrible for 14 Years... Hi! Thank you for your positive comments! I have been confirmed with Chronic Fatigue as a...

Reply: Questions for Dr. Pellegrino - Newly Diagnosed Wit...

Thank you! I don't believe I have ever had my Vit D checked. I will ask about that too. I...

Posted by Albatross

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