New Member with something to add....

[Nana05]

Hello everyone...

Since I am very new to this (Forum and Support Group), I would just like to ask everyone to please be patient with me. lol I have been struggling with this horrible "illness" (or what ever everyone calls it, as I want to be as "politically correct" as I can be here, lol) for many years now. In fact, I was diagnosed for the second time in 2004, so I have been dealing with this (or trying to I should say) for a very long time now. If I'm not mistaken, I believe it was about nine years prior to this last diagnosis (sometime in 1995 I believe it was). Although back then, at that time, I was extremely skeptical about it and DID not believe in it (not one bit). I thought it was just a bunch of hooey and that much like "stress," it was something that the doctors would say you had when there was nothing else they could find or even come up with. THEN however... flashing forward to 2004, when I was suddenly and very unexpectedly I might add, diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Long story short, it was toward the end of my cancer care that I was diagnosed once again with Fibro. And THIS TIME... I DEFINITELY "knew" that there was something TO this thing called Fibromyalgia! I was also diagnosed at that time too with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Pain. Without knowing much about it all, I was under the impression that the last two diagnosis's were just a different way of saying "Fibromyalgia" and that it was all the same. I must say though that since that time, I have certainly been learning quite a lot as I venture on this journey. You know the one... the journey of pain, fatigue, depression and everything ELSE that comes with it. NOT FUN! Nope...

I do look forward though, to hopefully learning much MUCH more, about this crazy illness or disease or temporary set-back or what ever else people are calling it these days. I must say here though, that I myself do NOT feel as though "this thing we all talk about" is just "a temporary set-back" (as someone so kindly referred to it as when I was trying to explain what it was like). In fact, I was actually quite taken aback at the time by that comment. It seems quite often over the years I have run into people (that btw... are extremely fortunate enough NOT to be plagued by this dreaded "whatever" :? who SEEM to think, that "it's ALL in one's MIND" or that it's "MIND over MATTER" or "just ALL in our heads." While I am generally a pretty sedate and mellow-minded type of person, I would be lying if I were to say that I do not let comments like these bother me. In fact quite frankly, it's comments like "these" that have made me realize, that I really DO have a voice that needs to be heard about this, and that I DO have a story to tell that isn't all "peaches and cream" such as those people's stories are that have told me "oh it's all in your head" and "it's just mind over matter" and "it's ONLY a temporary set-back and you'll be better in no time!"

SO... in closing I would just like to say... first of all... "thank you." As you can clearly see, I have never figured out exactly how to make a long story short. lol And secondly, that I really DO look forward to hearing a lot of "good" things (hopefully) in the future on here. And lastly, I would just like to wish everyone "a really good day" tomorrow no matter "where" they are at in their fight against this awful "thing" we commonly know as Fibro. Thank you for hearing me out, and I wish ALL of you "the very best of everything!"

Sincerely... Deb

 

[JerseyKelly]

Welcome! I am new here too and have all the same hopes as you do! Hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

 

[1sweed]

Welcome to the forum. Don't worry we were all new to the forum, and new to fibro at one time so we completely understand your confusion and
your need for understanding and kindness, at this time in your life. You must be one brave soul as well, having been told you have fibro, then RA and CFS, and chronic pain and lung cancer.

It has to be terribly confusing trying to figure out which symptom goes with which disease or is it a side affect of a medication. Well in someways this forum can help. Our members talk about medications and how they were affected and what worked and what did not. While everyone is different it is good to know about medications and what to be alert for and to ask us should you need a few opinions.

As you look around the forum, you will find many topic sections and lots of questions and answers. Feel free to jump in and ask what you need to know and offer your help to others. This way you can form friendships and know that we all care about you. Don't forget the blog section, as well as, a section for venting and for off topic subjects.

I look forward to seeing you around the forum and offering caring advice for your questions and getting to know you better.

 

[Nana05]

Why THANK YOU JerseyKelly and 1sweed! It was very kind of you both to respond. I have a feeling that I'm really going to like this "forum" thing, although I haven't really had the time yet to check out everything it has to offer, but I will though... most definitely.

1sweed... I really want to thank you for the very kind "welcome" that you sent me. The fact that you took the time to do that says a lot about you. And yes, at times it is a little difficult to figure out what symptom goes with what (lol), BUT... sometimes just to make things a little simpler for myself, I just kind of lump them all together under one or the other! lol Actually, the funny thing is... (and of course I don't mean "ha-ha" funny because there isn't anything funny at all about any one of these things), believe it or not, after all the years that I have been dealing with everything, I can pretty much tell now what's what when I'm having a really bad day. Not ALWAYS, but I think it's safe for me to say that "most of the time" I can tell. The one that is the hardest though for me is the CF (chronic fatigue). Since those of us with Fibro know that we don't sleep well to begin with because of it, it's still a little hard for me (sometimes) to tell the difference. But then there are "those times" when I "know" it's from the CF or RA and not so much from the Fibro. There is actually a little bit of difference in the feeling of "tiredness" (or "fatigue" as the specialists call it) and you just learn the difference by how you're feeling most of the time. But then there are those REALLY BAD DAYS where I don't even CARE what it's coming from... I just want it to GO AWAY! You know the kind of day I'm talking about I'M SURE! :'( It's so good to know that there is somewhere I CAN go to vent if I feel the need to do so. Somewhere to go to talk to people that really DO understand, who WILL lend a little support when needed! Those are the things that truly make a difference in the kind of day I'm going to "allow" or "not allow" myself to have. I do hope this makes (at least) a little bit of sense! There isn't a lot we CAN do (physically) when things get so bad, but I feel that we are still "in charge" of the kind of day we are GOING to have with regard to... well mainly... attitude I guess (even where pain is concerned)! Personally, I have found that if I try to STAY positive (which isn't always very easy to do when I'm in a lot of pain and having a really bad day, and sometimes it's all I CAN do to "try and "stay focused on being positive"), then my day many times WILL BE more positive! So in THAT respect, I guess you COULD say that it sometimes IS a little bit of "mind over matter." WOAHHH... well I certainly did not mean to go on and on here! YIKES! I only wanted to reply to the "thread" YOU left for me! ohboy.. see what I mean! hehehe Have a good week and thanks again!

 

[Trellum]

Welcome to the forum, Nana! Don't worry about us, we understand you completely because we once were new to the forum. You will be glad to find out this community is full of very kind and helpful members, we really care about each other and are always willing to give some advice when needed. I'm sure you will enjoy your time here! Please feel free to explore the forums, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to create your own threads. You might find the vent section useful as well.