Stepping into a Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Randall I have to say I am very much affronted by your comment. I have been living with one form or another of neurologically based chronic illness for many decades. I use relaxation and visualization and biofeedback and yoga regularly and am more in touch with my psyche than most. Migraines and fibromyalgia are both neurologically based chronic conditions. They aren't casued by self criticism - they are caused by having a particular type of nervous system.

I came to this site to share with others with fibromyalgia who might have some guidance for me on this particular journey, since I am new to looking at this particular disaease for myself. I am a Migraine coach and activist and I attend medical conferences and know many of the top Migraine specialists in the country personally. My Migraines are not caused by negative thinking, self-criticism, or fear. I have been down the road of looking for the stress of negative thoughts that might have led to my disease - believe me, that's a blind alley, leading only to self-blame. I have no doubt that hypnosis like many other complementary therapies can help those of us with chronic neurological conditions to maintain the equilibrium we need in our systems, but the "cause" is not bad thoughts, the cause is our genetic make-up. What I need help with is coping and acceptance, and management skills, not useless probing into the past. If I want psychotherapy I know people to go to for that, and it is hideous effrontery in you to offer me psychotherapy which I have not asked for.

Hi Megan, I couldn't agree with you more. I have more than 1 chronic illness and neurological problems.I have been dealing with them for 22 yrs now although I didn't get firm diagnosis until about 10 yrs ago with the ones that don't show up on x-rays or MRI's. One thing I have learned ( although I still haven't learned how to work through it  ) Is that people like you and me that finally get a diagnosis, we can then stop wondering if we were crazy, but then we have to go through a grief process. ALL 5 stages. I am fortunate to have a great Doc. that puts up with me even though I've been stuck in denial and anger for years. Just can't get past them. We miss what we were. What we were able to do, what we planned to do. And we're angry which makes us depressed. I personally just skipped bargaining. Who am I going to bargain with? My surgeon? I, personally, believe in God and know He has a reason for everything. I'm not going to know why right know though. You have a lot of my symptoms. Constant,daily, never ending headaches ( I did find a medicine that helps with these). Body aches like I always have the flu. I have fibro and Lupus and several other unseen problems that give me a bucketful of other symtoms. I got at least 60% of my life back with the right medications, when I finaally agreed to take them. I lost 10 yrs b/c of my "denial" I'm on my 22nd yr of dealing with this with this. I'm 45 now and  there is something worse and something better everyday. It has helped to find other people that can REALLY empathize and not just humor you. Or, tell you to just get up or think positive and you'll feel better. If that were true we would have already done it huh? Good luck and let me know how you are.

Thanks Dontlooksick for the reminder about the grieving process - I haven't really looked at where I am in that. I have been where you mentioned first - relieved to find a diagnosis that fits and explains what I have been experiencing. I doubt I've skipped right to acceptance, but I have been feeling much more at peace in knowing that my symptoms AREN'T in my head. My Migraines are well understood and well managed, it's the fatigue and mental fuzziness and yes, feeling like I have the flu all over my body, and extreme sensitivity to touch, that I have wondered about.

How dare you?

This looks weird sitting out by itself here, but in case anyone wonders who I was talking to, it was my p.s. to Randall.

Find the cause? And you think you, a hypnotist, are qualified to do that. That would be enough to make me laugh if it weren't so cruel and just plain stupid. 

What are you doing here even? Trying to drum up business?

Megan was talking about a PHYSICAL illness, you jerk. Go crawl back under your rock.

Jon

Thanks to Jon, groovygal and Karen for your support and welcome! That's what I was looking for!