Hi Donna, glad to see you made over here. Welcome to our humble thread.

Battling FM seems to be a full time job. Throw in another couple of problems, like RA or OA and you REALLY have a fulltime job. I hope that you find something to help you with the pain you are having now.

Congratulations on that nice weightloss - keep it up.

Hey Donna and welcome to the FM board. We are kind of nutty here at times ... just thought I'd warn you about Happy, Candice and Ally!!!

I've been diagnosed with FM for over 20 years now... but I've had it longer. My upper back, shoulders, neck and arms are also what is the worst! It's tough sometimes. I have 4 grandchildren (who are spending the night with me, by the way)... and they wear me out! But, even with the Fibro, rheumatoid and osteo arthritis and migraines, I still manage to live a 'somewhat' active life.

I teach piano, part time and I live in Tennesse, about half way between Nashville and Knoxville. Been married for 37 years, two children and the 4 rugrats, ages 3, 4 (almost 5), 6 and 7. I'm on gold shots and methotrexate for the fibro/arthritis and a host of other meds. for other problems. I take Neurontin at night ... it helps some but I still have some sleepless nights... like the last 2 ... only about 3 or 4 hours each! I need to lose about 30 or 40 pounds. I just started Atkins on Monday ... lost 4 pounds so far.

Hope you stick around so we can get to know you. We're pretty sociable here... when we're not in a Fibro Fog!

Hi and welcome Donna-the regimen for Fm-have had it for many years-is 50mg of an antidepressant at night for sleep and400 mg 2 times a day of Tolmetin-an inflammation pain med. Hate muscle relaxants-get way too sleepy and crabby. Also 5mg of prednesone one day and half the next. Also massage and chiropractor-try them -they should help your neck and back big time -that's one of my bad areas-also I have a problem with a muscle in my back causing leg and knee pain. Enough-I keep busy no matter what!!!Like everyone else-we are over achievers-that's probably why we have fibro. Going to a church bazaar today!!!Meeting my best friend. Brad is making the dryer have another temp.-it only has one and someone is coming to see our kitchen to finish it-yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!Have a great weekend everyone. Mima

Thanks guys for the nice welcome to this board. MEME I noticed you said you are on gold shots, my husband has had RA since he was 23 and is on the gold also, but we are unable to find anymore and his Dr. said he can't seem to get it for his shots. Can you tell me what you know about the shortage of the Gold and maybe we could tell Hubby's Dr. and he could look into it. I am not insurable as we are self-employed and all three of us have medical conditions that insurance will not touch. I use to get massages but can't fit it in financially right now. I too am a busy person in my business life as well as my personal life. I have two dogs that were adopted from the SPCA. One has epilepsy and the other diabetes. I am busy administering med's and special foods for the two fur babies and my mother is a widow and requires a lot of attention too. I am glad I found this board to communicate with ladies in the same boat as I am. Everyone have a great weekend.

Donna H

Hi Donna, welcome. I only post on weekends lately. Too hard to get the computer from my kids during the week.
However, I just added new security stuff. Now they can't get anywhere.
I found some porn sites in the history.
On of the was nude grandmothers.
Really!!!
It was an ad for a site of naked old women.
At least I know there is a job for me when I retire

Now I can't get the security window to stop opening. It may have come up cause I typed NAKED.

That's funny Ally. I am feeling that stress again and also I have had gas pains in my upper abdomen since Friday night. I wonder if it's stress-but I had a nice day yesterday=met my girlfriend at the bazaar at my old church-saw the pastor who has been sick and he was so glad to see me. I miss that church!!!!But it's too far!Another shooting-yuk. Pray hard today guys. Bye for now Mima

Does everyone who has fibromyalgia have the same symptoms? Do you know what causes it? I've been wondering if I could have it.

roundwoman...the symptoms...ahhhh...there's a book for you!

Mostly I feel like I have the flu a lot of the time. My body aches. Then...the spots! OUCH! I have pain in the neck and shoulder area...not the shoulder joint but that big muscle between my neck and the joint. I have big knots there, all the way down my back and around my shoulder blades. My arms also ache. I have arthritis with the FM so it is hard to say where one pain stops and the other takes over. With FM you have 'sore' spots, most people have other symptoms with FM such as: irritable bowel and migraines. You also forget things A LOT...we call it 'Fibro Fog' for lack of a better description.

Hope this helps.

It is raining here today...joy to the world...and Jeremiah was a bullfrog ... need I say more?

Ally... now there's a pretty picture (NOT) in my head... of you old, wrinkled, posed ... AND NAKED!

Stomache better! Hope everyone had a good weekend. Roundwoman-you need to be diagnosed by a rheumotologist and they will look for 12 or more ? trigger points that are sore. Plus sleeping problems. There are so many things also linked to it. It's a stinker!!!Bye Mima-nothing fatal though

Well, you will all be happy to know that it is snowing today. Seems a little more falls each time. This, also, will leave, as it is going to warm up. We need moisture so bad, we are even happy to see the snow

Went to Edmonton on the weekend. Had a great time, and the best part is - not much in the way of FM symtoms. Normally, after that trip, I am in a state of fatigue for the next few days. Today, I am NOT, and only have a bit of arthritis pain right in the lower spine. I think I am going to have to give up water aerobics. All they seem to do is twists and my back just can't handle them. The deep water was actually worse. I think I will just buy a pass to our new recreation center and go for that. It is a state of the art center, only one of it's kind in Canada at the moment. It has absolutely everything - but all I want is the walking track for now.
Today is my daughter's birthday. She is 35 - has lost over 75 pounds on ww, and has started on maintenance. I am very proud of her. She has worked SOOOOOOOO hard to get this off and it has taken her two years, but she has learned a lot in that time.

Roundwoman - You should go to the Dr. and ask him. FM mimicks so many other diseases. There are 18 tender spots and if you test in at least 11, you will probably be diagnosed with FM. I tested in 17 out of the 18 points. You have to experience pain in all four quadrants of the body as well. I hope you can find out what the problem is. Come on in and join us. We would love to have you.

Mima - glad you are feeling better.

This weekend was a real test of how the Atkins works. On Saturday, we went to a 40th anniversary dinner (held at noon). She had pork roast, meatballs and everything else was carbs that I could not have. I did take a teaspoon full of potatoes, but that was it. Then came dessert. Pineapple Fromage and apple cake - didn't even bat an eye. Wasn't interested in them at all. This dinner was a wonderful Danish dinner. After we left there, we went to my daughter's. We then took her, and her family, out for supper(to celebrate her birthday). Went to Applebee's. Had a chicken breast, smothered in onions and mushrooms and some veggies. So good. I had packed a little emergency bag with some turkey and some cheese in it, and that helped to get me through. Everything in my daughters house is low fat, and I need high fat, but I made it through. Now, I am back at it again. It seems to get easier each day. I especially enjoy not having to worry so much about cooking. My hubby is going to join me on this soon.

Everyone have a good day.

Have another headache. All the way down in my teeth! I'm going to go to the Dr. this week... I'm sure it is my sinuses now! I just hate that sinus med. though, it always drys me out so! It only hurts on the right side ... think he'll give me half a prescription?

Anne, I bought some splenda last weeked and I really like it. I also found some low carb meal bars. Have you ever tried 'Edge' bars? I bought some other brand, too. They are only 3 carbs for the whole bar and they are really good. I had one Friday when I got stuck in town at lunch time... no time to eat. That's why I bought the bar, I was in the health food store and saw them there and thought that would do for lunch since I was so rushed. That one was so good I got some more at the grocery store ... had one for breakfast with coffee this morning. I especially like the lemon cheeseecake. If you get some, be careful! Some of them have up to 12 carbs a bar. The lemon cheesecake Edge has only 2.5.

Still rainy and yucky here... and I cleaned and decorated the whole basement Sat. evening and Sunday afternoon plus, I had the 4 rugrats Friday night and all day Sat. I'm hurting big time.

Meme...you have migraines sometimes too, right? What is the difference with a sinus headache. I just got over a bout of migraines.
I was perusing the sites on fibro today and saw quite a few that were wierd. One was talking about a "zapper" therapy that gets rid of parasites in your system.
I wish someone would figure this out.
Snow, Happy? I haven't even had fall yet.

Beautiful fall day here today. Not ready for snow. Dh and I took a walk in the park this afternoon. Gorgeous - color finally starting to show up a teeny bit.

DD and granddaughters came yesterday, left this afternoon. Kids had a ball at playground and helping dh rake a leaf or two. DD felt she needed a break from "sniper country". Dh and I had a ball too but were of course worn out when they left.

Hope all the headaches clear up. I used to get a lot of them but for some reason seldom do any more. Glad you enjoyed your weekend without fatigue, Happy. Welcome home, Joanne.

Yes...those grandchildren DO wear us out but they're worth it!

Ally... a migraine is just pure pain...like somebody hit you in the head with a sledge hammer...I'm sure, if you had them, you already know about that pain! With a sinus headache the pain is caused by pressure and you can FEEL that pressure. My teeth hurt and so does my face... I can't stand to touch under my eye... the pressure just kills me!

I'm ready for snow...this changing of the weather from warm to cold makes me hurt too bad. Hey Anne...how much did you get this time??? I wish it could just stay a nice, fall 74 degrees all the time!

MEME you wrote in a post above that your taking gold shots for your RH. My husband also takes these but his Dr. says he is unable to find any more gold salts for the shots. Can you let me know if your Dr. knows a source to get the med since Hubby only has one more gold shot left until the Dr. runs out. I would appreciate it very much.

Donna H