New here. Not sure if I have correct diagnosis.

[peppermintpatty]

I'm 55 and for years and years I have had unexplainable health issues. I have all the typical symptoms that are listed for fibro. Exhaustion, migraines, IBS, RLS, (don't remember if essential tremors are on that list but I have that) anxiety, depression etc. The one thing that I don' t really feel I have is the widespread pain. While I do have pain that comes and goes, it mainly stays to the point where I have had 10 surgeries (2 carpal tunnel, 2 trigger finger, 2 knee, 1 hip arthoscopy, 1 hip replacement, both shoulders done (bursectomy). I had a nerve ablation on my spine because of back pain that I was suffering with for over 10 years. Various breaks and sprains. The bottom line is my body just doesn't heal. It takes forever for the pain to release, if it ever does. I had a full rheumatology workup (everything came back normal) where the physician told me I have fibro and called me a hypochondriac and accused my orthopedist of malpractice (I did need the hip replacement for a cartilage defect). The same ortho didn't do all these surgeries. The exhaustion is horrible (I have to have at least one weekend day to just lay on the couch because I'm so exhausted). I do go to the gym and have been trying to increase my workouts again and I know movement helps but when I do it, I feel lousy afterwards. My PT said that it has to be the right kind of exercise.

The symptoms I have noticed for about 20 years but they were dismissed by my doctors is I can feel like I'm getting the flu or a bad cold. Achy and generally lousy for a day or two and then nothing. I just assumed it was being run down. So I would take it easy and it would go away. The other thing is my skin feeling like it is crawling but only in certain places. Lasts about 3 or 4 days. I can't even take a warm shower. It feel like the water is hot. Docs keep telling me it's nothing.
I was taking gabapentin for the RLS but I gained 30 pounds on it so I stopped and am not taking clonopam and working to lose the weight.
I am seeing a new neurologist next month who specializes in movement disorders and I am hoping that he can shed some light on this. I am afraid that he will dismiss me (my sister sees him and she said he is very good and understanding) because so many have done that before.

I know so many are suffering every single day and I'm so sorry about that. Does this sound like fibro?

 

[sunkacola]

Greetings, @peppermintpatty and welcome to the forum. Yes, what you are experiencing does sound like fibromyalgia. There are other things that have similar symptoms as well, so it's always a very good idea to make sure you get tested for those things that have definitive tests so that they can be ruled out as part of the diagnosis.

It's definitely true that exercise is important, but it needs to be the right kind of exercise. I recommend that you try some different things, if you can. Walking every day is excellent exercise, and less rigorous than going to the gym. You might also try Pilates or hatha yoga.

I'm sorry someone called you a hypochondriac. What irony...that person first said you have fibro and then called you that! That's contradictory! So....you can just toss that opinion out the door and don't go to any doctor who refuses to believe you or who is abusive in that way.

If you have not already done so, read the Advice post at the top of the General section. There are ideas there that you can try to see if any of them help you. And stick around. We are here to support and help each other, and other members will chime in to welcome you.