My Journey

Lyme Disease

I just realized there is yet another possibility: Lyme Disease. Need to get that test done.

What is wrong with me?

I saw my GP two days ago for my regular monthly follow-up. As a bonus, the surgeon she sent me to in order to examine my hernia repair, had submitted his report.

My hernia repair is fine so that is good news. The surgeon took a real interest in me and my limited mobility and had me do range of motion tests and genuinely listened to my story. I feel he is the first MD to really take an interest in me. I wish he could treat me but he said I really should be seeing a rheumatologist.

It was my GP who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia last Fall after over two years of telling her something was wrong with me as she told me the blood tests showed there was nothing wrong with me. She said I refused to believe this because I was mentally ill.

I am on medication for anxiety (have been for 25 years), have been diagnosed with ADD and have had bouts of depression. Does this make me a hypochondriac too? I don’t like going to the doctor and never go for physicals etc. Like most guys I think. I only go when there is something really wrong with me. Needless to say, her mentally ill comment really hurt me as I only started seeing her when I really needed her.

I’m getting off-track. I think I’m venting but not very good at it.

The surgeon did not mention fibromyalgia in his report but recommended these be investigated: ~Myofascial Pain Syndrome ~Sacroiliitis ~Ankylosing Spondylitis

AS seems to fit my range of symptoms best and quite honestly it scares the hell out of me. I have been struggling to accept the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and now it looks like I may have something worse. As I understand AS anyway.

More testing to come to hopefully find out what is wrong with me.

I write hopefully because apart from the surgeon I will never see again, I have very little faith in the medical system right now.

Missing in Action

It seems like months since I have been on Twitter and I have missed all of you.

It has actually only been about two weeks but during those two weeks, I have had a few things happen that have kept me away.

I experienced two migraines in two weeks and they knocked the stuffing out of me. I already deal with light sensitivity on a daily basis but migraines take it to a whole different level. Each migraine lasted for my standard five days.

I met with my doctor and she feels I don’t need anything stronger than combining Tylenol and Advil when one strikes as she is afraid a prescription solution would give me too many side effects.

Lyrica. I am back on it during the day, as per her direction. She is convinced it is the right drug for me. It is causing nausea and GI problems, both of which will hopefully subside in time. Unfortunately, a little depression is creeping in but maybe that will disappear too. Lyrica does help my muscles relax a little, so I am willing to follow her advice, for now.

On the subject of depression, I think my mood is also taking a hit because I am so limited as to what I can do. I am writing this from my BlackBerry and my eyes are starting to bother me and my neck, shoulders and lower back are screaming as my body doesn’t like the position I am in as I write this.

I know I haven’t been around and I am sorry for that for many reasons. I love and need the support of this wonderful community and when circumstances prevent me from participating, I go downhill. But I am finding it increasingly difficult to follow you all on Twitter via my BlackBerry. I cannot keep up with everyone and I hate that.

I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. I am writing to let you know why I have not been writing. And to tell all of you, I miss you very much.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I am grateful for all of you.

Back from the chiropractor and feeling like new again. For now. ;)

I have fibromyalgia

Even though I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last September and I started this blog to write about it, I am only today fully acknowledging it’s impact on me and my life.

I pushed myself too hard yesterday, both physically and emotionally and am dearly paying the price for that today. I have finally realized that both lack of complete acceptance of my illness and not taking proper care of myself are a recipe for total disaster. I am not doing myself any favours by pretending I can still do things that I truly can no longer do.

It’s a shame it took today’s pain and discomfort for me to fully realize this as it’s not like this is the first time this has happened. I will close with a very simple yet very appropriate thought: It’s better late than never.

I thought I could end there but I can’t. I will end here: Damn you fibromyalgia.