I started developing symptoms of fibro in the mid-70s: chest pain (costochondritis), pain in the back of my neck when I mopped the floor, upper arm pain, irritable bowel syndrome, an achiness in my arms and legs like I was coming down with the flu (but no fever). And the tender points; my husband thought I was rejecting him and the kids because I didn't want to be hugged or even held close, but it hurt too much. The symptoms worsened with the death of my brother in the late 70s from cancer, so I became paranoid thinking I had cancer or heart trouble. In 1991, I was at the doctor's office with another bout of IBS. She touched a tender point (left rib area) and ordered a complete bone scan. When it came up with nothing, she referred me to a rheumatologist. I have been under his care for both fibro and DJD. I was able to continue working, but I was never able to move up the corporate ladder because I was too slow. Also I took many Mondays off (usually asked for ahead of time because I had a "hard" weekend planned) because I had done too much over the weekend. I worked until full retirement age, but it was hard. Published: October 13 ::

Fibromyalgia attacked my body more than 10 years ago after knee surgery. I was in a wheelchair for about six months, and I used a cane for another six months. I did not even know how to walk anymore. I fought the fibromyalgia with a lot of pain pills and tears. I was on so many medications that it damaged my stomach lining. Learning to break the cycle wasn’t easy because it was painful. It caused tiredness and depression. To this day, I am no longer on meds, and I live a new life with a new career. I have no more depression. It tries to creep in, but I fight it off through prayer. I have bowel problems, this pain that pain, etc., etc., etc. I find that when I help others and talk about it, it brings hope to others. Learning to stop the cycle is a battle. But there is hope. Published: August 27 ::

About 10 years ago, I was recovering from a virus (which may or may not be applicable) and just couldn't seem to start feeling better. I had started to feel achy *after* the virus and it culminated in a day of pain that I can only describe as having been in a car wreck - that's the type of muscle pain I was having. After that initial bout which lasted several weeks, the pain settled into my shoulders, neck, lower back and hips. I finally went to the doctor because the pain in my hips became so severe I was convinced I had bone cancer. During the exam, the doctor pressed on the areas I've later learned are the pressure points. There was only 1 pair of pressure points in which I didn't feel distress when he pressed on them. After ruling out RA, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Published: November 04 ::

My very first symptoms were pain in my lower back hurt and then in my wrists, which made me think I had carpal tunnel. Then my shoulders and neck started to hurt. The pain got so bad I ended up in the ER pleading for the pain to stop. I was started on Lyrica, Cymbalta, muscle relaxers and Amitriptyline for my constant insommina. If I got 3-4 hours of on and off sleep a night, it was a good night. When I was in the hospital I was lucky to sleep 1-2 hours total the whole day. Now I am on Lexapro since the Cymbalta was dropping my b/p too far and I am on Savella since the Lyrica was not helping with the pain. The pain is a little better but not by much. Some days I just don't want this pain anymore and would do almost anything to get rid of it. I had 2 children by c-section, gallbladder and gastric bypass surgery - all were relatively pain free compared to this. I have never had so much pain in my life. Published: October 19 ::

I have extreme pain in my upper arms and thighs as well as osteoarthritis. I went to the doctor as I had trouble lifting my arms. I was sent to see a consultant who diagnosed fibromyalgia. Published: August 27 ::

I have suffered chronic pain for 30 years. It mostly affects my neck, back, shoulders hands and chest. More recently I have severe pain in the jaw area, blurred vision and have just had surgery for reflux problems. Sleepless nights with cold sweats and muscle cramps are awful. I was forced to leave a job I loved five years ago, as I had so much widespread pain. People will tell me I look extremely well and although I wouldn't want to look ill, it is extremely hard to make family and friends understand how debilitating these symptoms are. It is only now having seen a new G.P. that I have been referred to see a consultant who is arranging an MRI scan. He has mentioned he thinks it could be fibromyalgia. If it is don't let anyone tell you it gets better. It is totally disabling. Published: October 28 ::