Fibromyalgia

[greatk82]

Does anyone here have any experience dealing with fibromyalgia? My symptoms have been getting worse and I find that I am having trouble just doing simple chores around the house. I know there are alot of message boards and such on the internet, but I am partial to tuba players.
Thanks,
TJ "Ouch" K

[Dan Schultz]

Does anyone here have any experience dealing with fibromyalgia? My symptoms have been getting worse and I find that I am having trouble just doing simple chores around the house. I know there are alot of message boards and such on the internet, but I am partial to tuba players.
Thanks,
TJ "Ouch" K

Hi, TJ!

My wife is a pharmacist and she sees quite a bit of what if often diagnosed as fibromyalgia. At this point it seems to be a condition that can't be classified as something else. A friend of mine's wife claimed she suffered from the condition. She worked for a doctor group and was constantly exposed to the 'problems of the World'. She quit the job when a new grandbaby was born because the daughter needed help caring for it. Funny... the fibromyalgia just 'went away'. We speculate that her condition was more related to stress and general lack of purpose than anything physical. Pain can be very real even though it may not have a purely physical cause. Now.... go play that tuba and have some fun!

[iiipopes]

My wife has the actual diagnosis from more than one physician. Give me a PM and we can discuss it further.

[bearphonium]

I also have a friend with the disease, who is disabled from it. PM me, and I can get you some internet links. She is a vocalist/percussionist, not a tuba player...although she is pretty cool in other ways.

[Dan Schultz]

My wife is a pharmacist and she sees quite a bit of what if often diagnosed as fibromyalgia

I'm sure Dan means no offense... Pharmacists aren't doctors.

No offense intended. Just some personal observations. The biggest problems pharmacists see is when a person relies on self-diagnosis and/or when he/she visits several doctors for the same problems. Every case is different. For whatever the cause, pain is real. Symptoms of fibromyalgia often are the same as for depression... brought on by stress in a persons life. Stress can make you ill and like I said before, pain is very real... regardless of the cause.

Music is good therapy. Now... go play that tuba!

[greatk82]

Thanks for all the responses. I will be getting around to PM's in a little bit, but right now, typing is limited.
Dan, For a long time, I thought that it was largely in my head. I was told that I was faking it in the Army and was refused tests for any physical damages. It wasn't until after 4 years of the same pain patterns that I was informally diagnosed. I am stiill awaiting a VA Rhuematologist to check me out. I have been using music as my primary therapy. That horn that you loaned me means more than you could ever possibly know.
I haven't been working for three months, and have been primarly taking care of the house and home schooling the kids. Stress is at an all time low for me, outside of being stressed about pain. That is the hardest part; feeling intense pain, knowing that you are stressed and upset and depressed about, having that cause more pain and knowing that you are adding to the cycle, yet trying to overcome the pain and stress to alleviate both. I also have a problem with comma splices.
TJ

[tbn.al]

Please see a Rhuematologist asap. I endured 5 years of pain, little sleep, progressive difficulty playing and general malaise before I finally caved and went to a good Rhuemy. I found out it wasn't in my head, it was psoriatic arthritis and we found a medicine that works. I am now relatively cured, as well as one can be. I cannot believe I waited so long. Please hurry to the doctor. If you hurt all the time, even a little, life is hell.

[LoyalTubist]

In Vietnam medical doctors and pharmacists receive virtually the same training. Doctors do not have to do an internship or see any patient before they hang their shingle on their offices. On the other hand, pharmacists do. Most people here say the pharmacists here are the best people to see when you are sick. There are no self-service drug stores here and pharmacists do not require prescriptions if you haven't seen a doctor.

If might surprise you that, because of their high menthol content, certain candies, like Altoids, must be sold by a pharmacist. But you can get Fisherman's Friend at any supermarket.