I wish I had started early to care for the pain, I am living with chronic  pain for 16 years now,  was diagnosed with fibro in 2004. By then I had tried all the pain medications with the awful ill effects of them, I had a bleeding stomach ulcer, developed IBS.  I did try the new medication for Fibro I had serious side effects with them. My pharmacist told me that by now my brain is too involved with the pain, the neurons don't process the signal to benefit of them. It is true that people newly diagnosed with fibro kind of shut themselves and refuse or are in denial. It doesn't help with all we hear about fibro. I myself rarely use the word Fibro.....

I am old enough to remember when it was told more about cancer, then it was almost a dirty word.   

jerry hesch

10/29/09 12:17pm

Please don't give up on acieving relief from medication. I just very recently found empirically that neurontin is much better tolerated for my condiiton when coupled with Tramadol/Ultram as opposed to a long acting low "wattage-Ha-Ha" opiate. furthermore, I do n ot have restless legs yet Mirapex is miraculous in helping my sleep. forever I empirically did NOT believe in the biochemical model for sleep disorder which I inform my Physicians is more of a hyper-arousal disorder than a traditional insomnia. I know that my nervous system can be fooled for a period of time by any change in regiment, but I am now at 6-weeks, so I proclaim success. I am so much more functional and productive on proper sleep. fifteen years later, winning the good fight.

jerry hesch

My problem was that a "one of the best known facilities within the U. S." failed give me a diagnosis for many years because they did not believe in FM.  Early on, I was given diagnosis of post-viral fatigue. I saw their help in 1992, and it was not until the last three years that fm has been a " recognized " disease by them.  Up until that time, they wanted to treat me by a psychiatrist.  I was having many unexplainable symptoms, and I knew that I had to seek treatment from someone else.  Before going to the medical facility, I had seen a total of 14 physicians.  I then saw 6 more before getting a diagnosis from a family physician.  I only wish that I could have received treatment early in my illness. Unfortunately, after all of the information available today that wasn't available in my early years, my family and friends still consider it to be a " mental " illness and that I could do more if I only wanted to do so. I was Type A and active with work, sports, and very physically fit and reached the point that I was unable to get out of bed without assistance in first few months. I urge everyone if they are diagnosed to count it a blessing in disguise and take the treatments offered.

I have been told by the specialist ,the same as in the new info ,that I would have responded if I had gotten treatment early on. I know it is a diagnosis that no one wants; however, if you have it- please help yourself and your family. Get a second opinion to confirm , and then listen to advice of your physicians.