Thursday, February 19, 2009

MY FIBRO FIGHT

Fibromyalgia causes you to hurt all over. Fibromyalgia pain can come from painful trigger points, aching muscles, chronic headaches, or neck and back pain. It also can cause fatigue, anxiety, and depression that affect your sleep, your career, or your ability to lead an active life.



Fibromyalgia, (also known as fibrositis, fibromyositis, and muscular rheumatism), is a chronic syndrome that causes pain and stiffness throughout the tissues that support and move the bones and joints. Muscle pain, tender points, and fatigue are the predominant symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.



Fibromyalgia may occur alone or in conjunction with rheumatic disorders such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, or lupus.



I bet there is a million different definitions of Fibromyalgia. You read, hear, and are told the symptoms of Fibro, and what it is. What you don't read hear or are told is how it really feels. No one tells you that when you wake up in the mornings you feel like you have had the crap beat out of you by a bucking bronco. You are not told that every nerve in your body feels like its on fire and is spasming. You never hear about the achy bones and muscle all over your body that you have every single day. You are not told that some days you hurt so bad its all you can do to get out of bed and shower. Want to hear my definition of Fibromyalgia? When you wake up in the morning you feel like maybe you have been laying squished up in a box for 10 years and when you finally get out you have to stretch your arms and legs out so slowly because your afraid that if you do it to fast they might snap because they are so stiff. Remember a time in your life when you were so sick with the flu or a cold or something and how achy you feel all over your body. Times that by 20. You either can't sleep at all because of insomnia, you hurt to bad to get into a comfortable position, or you can't stay awake because you are so tired you can barley keep your eyes open during the day. I describe Fibro is the worlds longest and worst Charlie Horse ever. Except its just not in your calf. Its your entire body. You hear people say " good days, and bad days" People with Fibro never have that. Its either I hurt EVERYWHERE today or I only hurt in a few places today. I can sum up Fibro in only 3 words : It Freaking Sucks.




I think that people with Fibro are very misunderstood. People don't get it. When I first got sick I was 15. I woke up one day, got out of bed, and fell to the floor. I was dizzy, my eyes were blurry, my neck hurt so bad, and my hands were numb. Long story short after every test ran and every surgery done we found out I had been sick with Spinal Meninigits.


Meningitis is a medical condition caused by inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges.[1] The inflammation is caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs or diseases.[2] Meningitis is potentially life threatening due to the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; it is therefore a medical emergency.[


The most common symptoms of meningitis are headache and neck stiffness associated with fever, confusion or altered consciousness, and an inability to tolerate light (photophobia) or loud noises (phonophobia). Sometimes, especially in small children, only nonspecific symptoms may be present, such as irritability and drowsiness. If a rash is present, it may indicate a particular cause of meningitis; for instance, meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria may be accompanied by a characteristic rash.[1][3]


I had gotten menigitis from having a Nerve Block put in my neck during a surgery on my shoulder. Apparently the Nerve Block was done wrong, and that was what caused the menigitis.


After having found that I still continued to be sick, and in and out of the hospital. I lost a lot of friends becuase they got sick of being around a sick person all the time. They didn't understand that one day I am okay, and the next I can't get out of bed. It took around 3 years of being in and out of the hospital, being taken out of school and put on the Home and Hospital program, having every test done to me and being put in every medical machine known to man , having 27 surgeries before the age of 18 and over 100 IV's. I was told that I would being going threw another round of tests and procedures to figure out whats wrong before they would send me to a MAYO clinic. I went to the U of U for a few days and that is where I was diagnosed with Fibro. For a very long time I thought it was just a catchall for everything. I was very upset and felt like I was given up on. I then did more research on it and every symptom that I read was right on the dot to what I have. As much as people think that Fibro is all in someones head, I know that Fibro is real. There is not a lot of outlets that people with Fibro can go to so the point of this blog is just that. Also, for me to keep somewhat of a Journal each day to record how I felt, What I did that made me feel better or worse. New medicine that I have tried that helped or did not help. I would love for people to comment and give me their stories to post. Fibro is real, and it is hard but there is nothing you can do but go day by day and fight the fibro fight. So here is my story, my journal of my day by day life with Firbomyalgia.