Is This Fibromyalgia?

by Pamela

Hello Anne,

Thank you very much for assisting me in finding out if I have fibromyalgia.

I have had mysterious health issues since 2008. Many tests later, no answers. I have spent more time in Walk In clinics for the last 2 1/2 years than I have in my whole life. The staff know me by name.

My pain seems to be constant in my lower back and my neck region no matter what the day. Sometimes it is just dull or just feels stiff and other times the aching starts. I have sore eyes most of the day. A dull headache most of the day.The other pain I highlighted is off and on. Travels. Everyday something different. Pelvic and bladder aches are usually there everyday but they are a mild. Sometimes I think I have a bladder infection and everytime I check, it is clear. The doctor has called it Interstatial Cystitis. The bottoms of my feet ache often. I have TMJ and my jaw has felt like their muscles are achy and tired. My ears feel plugged or pressured a good percentage of the time. My arms and hands tingle, feel numb, or ache off and on. My legs lately have felt the same off and on. The pain is better during the day but worsens at night. I wake up unrefreshed everyday now. Most nights I have to pee in the middle of the night at least 2-3 times which is more than usual. Most nights I have to get a neck massage from my husband to get back to sleep along with a Tylenol. Tinnitus has been with me for at least 2 years. It gets very loud at night especially when my neck and back are hurting and I can barely flip in bed without pain or discomfort. The dull headache seems to remain with me during the night and first thing in the morning. If I sneeze or laugh, I pee myself a little. Frequent urination especially at night. Peeing and bowel movements seem more urgent now as I feel if I don't go when the urge arises, I may lose control. Sometimes urination is a trickle with a number of trips required to get it all out and other times it is a normal void. Tinnitus is prominent most of the time though gets louder at night and when the pain is stronger.

I got my first prominent flare up after starting an exercise program again. After 3 days, I felt like my lymph nodes had gone crazy as my ears plugged up, the lymph nodes at the base of my skull ached and were stiff, my throat felt a little tight or constricted, my underarms and breasts ached, my shoulders ached, my lower back ached and felt alot of presssure which seemed to climb up my back, my pelvic area ached on either side and sometimes in the middle, I had little bits of pain on and off in my upper abdominal area, my arms got numb,tingly and tired feeling, I was cold one minute and then I was hot, fatigue set in, head ache, sore eyes, sometimes my ears ached, mild nausea, low energy. It took 10-12 days for it to start to feel a little better and then came the snow. I shovelled the driveway, felt fine until that night- in the middle of the night I was in agony. My lower back pain got intense and climbed up my spine to my neck. My neck hurt badly, I had a dull headache, nausea, my hips, butt, inner thighs were very sore, I could barely walk. I felt like I had done a thousand squats. My calves spasmed all night, the soles of my feet ached, and I was exhausted. The pain changes in intensity across the day. The pain also feels like my back is burning or hot.

Since August 2009, I have been gluten intolerant. Since September 2009, I have had spasms in my legs on and off. Tingling, numbness and tiredness in my arms which I have never experienced before. I have since discovered a Nightshade Veggie Allergy and an allergy to MSG. My dust allergy has gone from mild sneezing to now, plugged sinuses so I have to take an antihistamine every night before bed so I can sleep without sinus discomfort. I am also on Nasonex to help as well. I was experiencing shortness of breath and thought I had asthma but since I did the Methacholine test, they have disproven that I have asthma. My breathing difficulties and other symptoms always worsen during windy days, humid days, and cold days. I got an endometrial abalation in 2007 and since then periods are almost non existent though my cramps have increased in the last 2 years when I am around my monthly time. I am extremely irritable, easily angered now. I am very sensitive to light and noise. I can't drive at night anymore.

I can't get warm sometimes at night even with 4 blankets, I am shivering. Other times, I am hot and throwing off the covers. My feet take a long time to warm up even under blankets. If I sit too long, I am stiff getting up. I am stiff every morning. My brain doesn't function as well as before as I forget names of common things or names of people, I can't get an idea out sometimes, I sometimes struggle to talk without tripping on words or stuttering. I can't concentrate or think sometimes. My eyes get blurry sometimes and I have had dry eyes for 8 months now. I have a hard time making decisions, and balancing my cheque book.

As far as trigger points, there have been times when I am in a flare up that if I touch a certain area that hurts, it feels bruised. I don't know if that is what you call a trigger point or if that is how it feels. My husband can massage the area or touch the areas affected without me jumping out of my skin so that is why I thought it couldn't be fibromyalgia. Also, up until a couple of months ago, I didn't have that much frequent pain - just aches here and there and my lower back, pelvic area and neck were never quite ache or stiffness free.

I have had CAT scans on my lower back. I have had CAT scans and ultra sounds on my pelvic and abdominal area for the mysterious aches that won't go away and they found nothing to explain them. I have had a Cystoscopy with no problems found. My family physician is totally puzzled. I have consulted a Neurologist, I passed all of his MS tests that you have to perform in his office and I am about to have an MRI this week on my brain and cervical spine area to find out the cause of my neurological symptoms in my arms, neck and back.

I am feeling sad that my body is failing me all of a sudden and I am only 45 years old. I have been in good health all my life - no drinking, smoking, doing drugs. I am a little overweight by about 40-50 lbs as I have lost 22 lbs already. No problems with blood pressure, heart or cholesterol. My blood tests all come back normal, including the autoimmune tests. I have an anxiety disorder which in the last 10 years has escalated though I am not on medication. I am frustrated because my husband has had to take time off work during the off days and has had to do more household chores that should be my job as I do not work. I cry alot when the health problems get to me but I still try to carry on a normal life even though it is hard to ignore some of the discomfort. I hate that my 2 kids see me like this and especially when I cry. I don't want them to worry and I want to be there for them when they need me, not sitting in a chair popping tylenols covered in a blanket, snapping or being impatient with them because I am in pain or exhausted.

Anyway, I hope you can help me figure this out. Between you and the MRI, it should give me some answers or at least, eliminate some possibilities.

You probably did not want all this information but I thought it might help put the puzzle together.

Take care,

Pamela