Information and opinions on health from learnFMnow at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/856871/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/856871/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/856871/index http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/111048/doubters Thu, 06 May 2010 13:51:37 -0400 learnFMnow First of all, if you are a doubter, you have absolutely no idea what fibromyalgia is to live with.  If you are a doubter, you have absolutely no idea how it hurts others emotionally who deal with this curse everyday of our lives. Enough research has come to light now which finds that this is a real disease.  If you still doubt, then I feel that you have closed your mind to all new research.   Just a few short years ago, the... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/111048/doubters http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/106855/fibro-fog Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:22:32 -0400 learnFMnow I suspect that many people would be led to believe that fibro fog is actaully caused by the medications we are on.  In my case the answer is NO.  I had fibro fog for years but did not realize what I had and tried my best to ignore it.  It was one of my first symptoms back even in my early 20's before I realized I was really sick with anything.   This was long before the pain even started.  It was long before I ever... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/106855/fibro-fog http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/105109/attention Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:02:42 -0500 learnFMnow I belong to another group whom have not hardly responded to anything I have said for weeks.  At least here, someone responds and listens to me.  This is a great place. hugs, Debra http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/105109/attention http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/104447/acceptance Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:33:08 -0500 learnFMnow At 45 years old as I sit in this chair trying to shake off the morning stiffness and pain, thoughts come to mind.  My growth through grief in living with fibromyalgia has brought me a long way.  I used to wax and wane through the stages of grief with this disease.  I have had denial, shock, depression, anger, bargaining, and acceptance phases.   Not to say I am in acceptance 100% of the time now, however maybe about 95%... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/104447/acceptance http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/99711/fibromyalgia Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:58:23 -0500 learnFMnow As a registered nurse of about eighteen years and a fibromyalgia patient of about six years, I know pain.  I know him firsthand as a monster that plagues myself and millions of others everday of our lives.  Do I need sympathy?  No.  Not sympathy.  However, I do want to be believed.  The doubts of fibromyalgia attacks our very integrity and dignity.  No one wants to live in pain and have their own family... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/99711/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/99402/fibromyalgia Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:38:10 -0500 learnFMnow Yes, here I am clicking away again.  On these kinds of days I sit and think.  When the thoughts of work seem to be distant clouds from my mind, I just think.  Most would ask "Why are you so vocal about fibromyalgia and why does it matter"?  My answer:  "Because I want to speak for the masses and not only myself".  If I happened to be the only person on the planet suffering with the beast, I likely would not be... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/99402/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/93984/fibromyalgia Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:52:45 -0500 learnFMnow I wish to explain more about my perspective of the stigma of fibromyalgia.  It seems as if the stigma exists no matter what state the FM patient happens to be in at any given time.  We are not allowed to be sick.  Yet we are also not allowed to have good days or hours without the stigma.  Of course, I have my good and bad hours no matter what.  I attempt to make the miserable hours less noticeable,  though... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/93984/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/92679/fibromyalgia Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:05:50 -0400 learnFMnow I think so.  The doctor put me on it about 2 months ago for my depression and nerves.  I also take Paxil and have for a long time.  Well, I noticed the pain is not as bad most days and lets up quicker.  Even a tad more of energy.  I wrote the people over at Bristol Myers Squibb and they called me last week.  They said that they would turn this over to reserach and development to see if it helps others.  I am on... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/92679/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/92422/plea-friends Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:58:35 -0400 learnFMnow I just want to introduce myself.  I am an RN of 17 years.  I had never heard the term "fibromyalgia" until I got very ill about 7 years ago.  I had no idea what was wrong with me.  I thought at first I had a fatal disease and would die.  This is because my body literally felt as if I were dying.    I am going to plea with you to read this and lend an ear for a few minutes.  Then if you choose still not... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/92422/plea-friends http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/88625/fibromyalgia Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:47:49 -0400 learnFMnow I am very very happy to see that FINALLY someone did a survey that seems to have included the real or rather more severe FM patients.  For so long I have heard the myth that says "narcotics won't work for fibro pain".  Not true and could not be further from the truth.  The survey results I found on this site is probably the very most accurate I have ever seen yet.   I suspect several reasons why research has made... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/856871/88625/fibromyalgia