Hi all - My first time shareposting here, though I've been doing a little question answering. I am a chronic Migraine sufferer, and for years I've been describing myself as "mostly recovered from Chronic Fatigue."
But I've been wondering... why my body aches all over so often, and... why I have days when I am so fatigued I can hardly move, though it's not with me every day as it was some years ago, and... why sometimes I am so foggy and can't concentrate, and it's not connected with a Migraine... I was never officially diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue, but my PCP described me as "chronic fatigue-ish." I'm also hypo-thyroid, and since I have been on Armour thyroid and also a number of other natural hormone supplements my fatigue has improved a lot. I coach Migraineurs and others with chronic illness so I know a lot of people with fibro and I have to admit I've been avoiding looking into it for myself. Well, no more!
I saw a new (to me) Migraine specialist a week and a half ago and he pressed my fibro tender points in the physical exam - 14 or 15 of them hurt like crazy. He asked whether I am in daily or frequent pain in my body, and I answered no, and we tabled it as an issue to come back to at a later appointment. But since then, I have been paying attention to things I have ignored before. Like how incredibly sensitive I have gotten, where a vigorous hug or a slap on the shoulder from my kids actually hurts, where sitting and talking with my husband, with his hand resting on my shin for a few minutes, the pressure of his thumb could actually cause pain after a few minutes, where there are many days when I just ache all over, as if I had had a big workout or used great muscular effort, when I hadn't!
I don't have an official diagnosis yet but from everything I've read and seen, this makes a lot of sense to me. It's also kind of freeing to be able to put a name to something rather than just wondering what's wrong with me, if I'm making it up, if I'm just being lazy or unmotivated. But it's also worrying - another disease to learn, another prognosis I may not like. I guess the limitations to my life aren't any different than they were the day before my doctor poked me into a new awareness - it's just harder now to pretend that they might go away!
- Megan
Hi Megan - I'm joining the community to say, first of all, that your migraine newsletters are great. As a newbie migraineur, I've found your comments very practical and helpful. You obviously know what you're talking about in that arena and are well-qualified to share your experience and expertise with we fellow sufferers. (My first migraine was the scariest experience of my life - such a relief, though I'm sad others suffer, to find I'm not alone.)
Second of all, I too have suffered from tiredness and chronic muscle pain, though I'm not formally diagnosed with fibro. (Muscle pain went away with Cymbalta, though next time I get it I'm heading to my doctor pronto.) I also suffer from IBS. (It turns out several of my relatives have migraines, IBS, and fibro as well.) I'm truly sorry to hear that your pain has increased and think you are headed in the right direction as you ask yourself these questions about it. Definitely having a doctor who listens to you will help you lots, both emotionally and physically, too. Thanks for posting and please let us know what happens.