I legitimately believe that Fibromyalgia, for me, began around age six and progressively worsened in my late teens. I might never be able to prove it, but at least now, I know the signs so that future generations don’t have to suffer or be told they “just have growing pains”. I’ve been tested like a science experiment since I was eight and I do wonder at times if I’ve been misdiagnosed or if there’s more to Fibromyalgia than doctors will ever realize. It’s important to spread as much awareness as we can.
Articles
Do You Know Why Doctors Refuse To Prescribe Narcotics To Fibromyalgia Patients?
This happened to one of my doctors after he wrote a patient a prescription for about five pills to get her through a move so that she’d have medication until she was able to see a new doctor. The DEA showed up at his office and threw a fit over it, claiming that it was a bizarre amount of medication, demanding to see his files, etc. You would have thought he’d written her a prescription for 500 pills the way they behaved! He was told that he could no longer prescribe anything outside what is considered “normal” for his practice. Since that day, he has been scared to write prescriptions for certain things unless he’s working at the hospital where things are scrutinized a little less and even then, it’s got to be a big deal for him to break out the different prescription pad. I find it incredibly sad that doctors are being told how to treat their patients instead of doing what they feel is in a patient’s best interest. Unfortunately, there will always be people who will abuse the medications that chronic pain sufferers so desperately need.
This article isn’t well written, but I thought I’d share it regardless.
Are You Ready For Ragweed Season?
http://migraine.com/blog/ready-for-ragweed-season/
Apparently, I am NOT. I came home late the other night and my eyes were nearly swollen shut from all the crap in the air. Also, someone had either hit or spooked a skunk, which could be smelled for a good three miles. The fact that I had to take my contacts out three times and clean them like a mad woman before putting them back in didn’t help. I don’t normally use drops every few minutes, but it was maddening and the lenses are new, so I knew that wasn’t the issue. And yes, I had a migraine that made me want to die the entire time. The weather going back and forth between Spring temperatures and Fall temperatures isn’t helping either. I’m hesitant to put my contacts in today, but it’s not really an option to go without them. I’m just worried about how warm it’s supposed to be and how the thunderstorms may or may not affect the migraine I currently have.
Here’s hoping it’s quick and painless. I’m in too much pain for anything else.
The Effects Of Anxiety On The Body
http://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/effects-on-body
I think this is a helpful article for anyone who struggles with any form of anxiety. I’ve noticed that the strongest people are the ones who are taking medication for it and/or trying to cope in the best way possible. I’m not ashamed to talk about it myself.
Chronic Pain Linked To Attention-Deficit Disorder
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/850899?src=confwrap
Anyone who suffers from any form of chronic pain can lose their ability to focus. It doesn’t mean they had ADD to begin with or that ADD caused their pain. I can concentrate on a lot of different things when I’m well-rested and not in a terrible amount of pain, but when I’m in a full-on flare up, my attention span is close to that of a house fly. So, read this and think about it, talk to your doctor, but don’t make assumptions about yourself. Also, if you suffer from chronic pain and you’re 100% calm all the time, I’d like to know precisely what your doctors are offering you and where I can get it.
Wearable Nerve Stimulator Improves Chronic Pain
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/851131?src=confwrap
I know people who’ve had temporary success with TENS units and similar devices. I wonder how well this will work for the long haul, which is where the issue resides. Temporary relief isn’t improving quality of life.
Actress Claire Coffee Opens Up About Her Migraine Symptoms
I glanced at this last night when I saw it on my phone for about 30 seconds. Reading through it this morning and seeing how many migraines she gets per month, which pale in comparison to mine, just goes to show you how different migraines are for everyone.
They do run in my family, but to my knowledge, everyone else eventually found the right medication that works with their body. My brother gets them, but not as frequently as I do. I suspect a lot of his headaches are caffeine related, only because he used to damn near have an IV drip of caffeine in his system 24/7 and once he cut back, his headaches and migraines became much more frequent. We all know someone who starts their day with the biggest cup of coffee known to man and doesn’t stop drinking coffee, Coke, Dr. Pepper, or Mountain Dew until they go to sleep. If I did that, they’d have to flush it out of my bloodstream. It takes me days to finish 32 ounces of coffee, on the off-chance I was actually craving one. Outside of green tea, there is almost no caffeine in my system at all. Eliminating it and then slowly reintroducing it with Excedrin Tension Headache is all I can do, otherwise the medication won’t work. Not all triptan medications work for everyone, so talk to your doctor and see if you can find one that helps you.
Written by LISA MARINO-Molchanova 