Discovering Fibromyalgia: Share Your Story

Once I could barely get around, I was subjected to the pressure test. I scored 10 out of 10. Then, I was sent to a rheumatologist who ran many more tests. Once he was done, he diagnosed me with advanced and severe fibromyalgia. He said I'm a little old lady in a middle-aged body

When I was 23, I was officially diagnosed by a rheumatologist that helped ppl with fibro. He did the trigger point test. It was a relief to finally get answers after years of searching.

It took a long time of ruling everything else out with many tests

I went through a serious of labs and visits with specialists before I was finally diagnosed. Luckily for me though I was diagnosed fairly quickly.

Took years to get diagnosed after multiple Ct scans, MRI’s, multiple specialist, pain relievers etc. I wish I would have known about managing trigger points when I was younger, not 25 years later.

My primary from several years ago said just loose weight the fibromylia pain will go away. So I did still have it. I don't have that primary Dr. Anymore. Went to a Dr who specialized in thyroid and diabetes pain. He knew by examining me, I had fibromylia after some blood tests were done. Then I went to another Dr who specialized in pain management for 2nd opinion. She knew right away too. I have had it since 2013. But they think I have had it longer than that.

I kept seeing doctors and then I got carpal tunnel surgery which helped a little but I still had pain so my pcp referred me to rheumatology and my rheumatologist did every single blood test under the sun to rule out everything else and because I had pain in a lot of the pain points that fibromyalgia causes she started treating me for that with a medicine called celebrex and it seems to be helping but the pain is starting to come back so next time I see my pcp I have to mention it to her about the celebrex doesn't seem to be helping anymore.

I never went to a specialist just my regular dr and put me on gabapentin for years and then it started not working and thy changed it to lyrica and pregabalin

Went to a few drs for different opinions. Finally found one that listened. Sent me for tests through a rheumatologist. Confirmed.

I just went to my primary dr

I just went to my primary dr and she touched my shoulders and my legs and it hurt and she said I had it put me on gabapentin and just now changed me to lyrica and it is helping a lot better

I had joint and abdominal pain combined with other symptoms for over 5 months with the abdominal pain and for about 4-5 years with the joint pain. I was in hospital for the abdominal pain multiple times a week for months and eventually on 10mg of morphine. I was discharged on codeine to keep me going whilst out of hospital. I had multiple ultrasounds and CTs and MRIs that found nothing until I eventually got so sick of all this I called my gp explaining my frustration with the pain and being unable to do what other teens can. That was when he brought up the possibility of fibromyalgia and reffered me go a rhumotologist

It got harder to lift things at work. Then, it got harder to walk up and down stairs. It got harder to lift myself and everything I needed for the day. Then I felt the constant pain. I was diagnosed two weeks after my 21st birthday.

My regular doctor wasn't available for whatever it was (maybe sinus issues) so I saw another doc in the office, who happened to be a DO and specialized in fibro. She recognized the possibility of it, did the test and diagnosed me. Really it was just luck seeing her. Had the diagnosis confirmed by neurology a bit later (their idea. Guess they wanted to make sure for themselves).

Back pain for over a decade, from early teens. Went to the doctor's multiple times. In 2021 I had a blood test, all normal. Took my BP, all normal. Had another round of blood tests, had slightly elevated ANAs. Referred to rheumatology, mainly for exhaustion but in the past couple of years the pain had migrated everywhere. Rheumatologist spent 5 minutes with me, asked questions, prodded me and had me do movements, etc. Diagnosed me with fibro

I was diagnosed by the third doctor that I went to, a primary care physician. I'm a retired RN but was actively working at the time. I was dissatisfied with the first two physicians (men) who basically just wrote me off. So I asked other nurses for the name of a good woman Primary doctor. It has been my professional and personal experience that male doctors do not listen as well to their female patients as women doctors do. I made a head to toe assessment on myself, described all my symptoms, and wrote it down. I shared that with my Primary and she immediately diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. No hesitation at all. I'm sure it helped that I was an RN and could provide a full medical assessment on myself. Without that, I probably would have seen many more doctors before being diagnosed. The male doctors didn't want my assessment. Their egos were offended. Since then, I have always had women doctors, unless my female doctor had to refer me to a male specialist or surgeon. It had to be her recommendation.

I went through many years of GI Drs for nausea and abdominal pain. An allergist and nutritionist for herbal meds, food elimination diets, and candida therapies. Too many tests and procedures to even count, and a total hysterectomy surgery that left me with with terrible complications, instant menopause, and painful scar tissue issues. I am so grateful that I finally found a primary care Dr that listened to me and went over my whole medical history to come to the conclusion that I have fibromyalgia (which makes perfect sense now!). I have started a new Fibro medication and am researching my options and the experiences and therapies that other’s have tried. In the USA it is recommended that you see a Rheumatologist for a fibromyalgia diagnosis but the only Dr in my town that my insurance covers will not take me as a patient. I truly believe that the painful and frustrating symptoms of Fibro and the available treatments are very individual to each person. Finding the right combination of treatment variables is another difficult process for me so far, but finding a Dr that sees me as a person, listens to my concerns, educates me on my options, and let’s me be an active part in decisions on my treatments and medications has made all the difference in the world! I have hope that I will find a way to live a productive but different life that I imagined.

I went to a Rheumatologist to find out what kind of arthritis I had. He didn't find any joint deformity and told me I probably had fibromyalgia. He said it was the "bucket" they put it in when they couldn't find any physical evidence. That was 1999. I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea at that same time.

I was diagnosed thru a doctor who specializes in it. I found him thru a ton of research and was lucky to have him. Best of luck!

About 15 specialists, emergency room visits every month for over a year, a ton of tests including a skin biopsy for the rashes, then a rheumatologist diagnosed me with it and prescribed lifestyle changes like fibromyalgia hadn't already changed my whole life anyway. So many complications from something so many doctors know so little about.

My primary care doctor sent me to a rheumatoid arthritis doctor, and he ran a bunch of tests. He actually did a lot of studies, so he was very educated about fibromyalgia. I lived near Michigan State University, and they were always on top of health studies. I would start with your PCP and then find out if and of the arthritis doctors are doing studies. They will be the most educated. You will have to pull these doctors up and call their office and ask or check on-line.

It's a diagnosis of exclusion. A rheumatologist and pain management physician will exclude other diseases to conclude whether you have fibromyalgia.

Had a field test when it became severe. No one would say anything but arthritis until then

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