UPDATE: 8.20.11
Very often those with Fibromyalgia have a difficult time describing what they experience. I found this definition in Fibromyalgia Aware:
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a complex chronic pain illness that challenges patients and healthcare professionals alike. FM causes excruciating pain to any and all parts of the body. Overlapping conditions and symptoms that accompany the pain include: extreme fatigue, distinct sleep abnormalities, cognitive problems, irritable bowel, restless leg, migraine headaches, neurological symptoms, anxiety and environmental sensitivities.
*It is important to note that symptoms are different for each individual.
UPDATE: 8.6.10
Original Post:
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in August 2008 after about a year of unexplained pain and fatigue. During this time, I had symptoms of what one doctor diagnosed as Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease — main symptoms being ulcer-type sores in my mouth and fatigue. Then, my doctors thought that the reoccuring mouth sores may be an allergic reaction to a medication. They put me on steriods to get rid of the sores but they kept coming back. In November 2008, my doctor linked my symptoms to a rare auto-immune disorder called Behcet’s. She referred me to a rheumatologist who confirmed both the Fibromyalgia and the Behcet’s.
I am now on the path of trying to find the right treatments and to adjust my life to having chronic illnesses, including chronic pain. I’ve included some links below for some helpful information about Fibromyalgia and Behcet’s. Sometimes I post about my health because it is an important and dominating force in my life — obviously. But I also try to stay focused on the positive and focused on the greatness of God and his saving grace.
If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from others who are also dealing with chronic pain illnesses or auto-immune disorders.
Fibromyalgia:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079
http://www.fmnetnews.com/
http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer
Behcet’s:
http://www.behcets.com/site/pp.asp?c=bhJIJSOCJrH&b=260521
http://www.medicinenet.com/behcets_syndrome/article.htm
March 30th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Health update: I’m going to try to add info about my health in the “comments” section on this page. We’ll see how it works!
This weekend was really difficult. I had a slight recurrence of Behcet’s this weekend. I say “slight” because I did not end up with ulcers in my mouth like I usually do. I had swollen lips and itchy patches on my face. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to get any worse. My doctor told me that when I experienced recurrences that I would have to take prednisone for a little while. I HATE PREDNISONE! I definitely didn’t want to go that route. Hopefully it will all go away this week.
March 29th, 2010 at 5:46 am
http://mlhgracefilled.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/what-is-fibromyalgia/