The UKFibromyalgia Forums

Hello Everyone,

My name is Kath.

I don't have an official diagnosis so I hope it's OK to post.

I have been struggling with symptoms for a long time, some I've had most of my adult life. Since 2008 things have gradually got worse, especially over the last 12 months. I did mention to my GP some time ago that I thought I might have FM but was dismissed. I wasn't sure myself and it's only recently that I came back to look at info on FM and realised that it's very probably that I do have it. I think what clouds things is that I have other health problems too.

Currently I have pain everywhere all the time, stiffness in my legs and feet that is so bad in the morning that I can hardly walk and makes getting on and off chairs, climbing steps and so on painfully difficult; back pain which is agonising after walking a few yards and seriously impacts on my daily life and ability to do anything; sleep apnoea which is managed on Bi-PAP plus not being able to go to sleep or stay asleep for any significant length of time; waking up every morning feeling like death warmed up; exhaustion; fatigue; extreme and constant nausea which begins the moment I wake up; vomiting if I'm overly stressed or tired; hyper-sensitivity to most meds which presents as an acute intensifying of the nausea, vomiting, dizziness and feeling awful; dizziness including bouts of BPPV; IBS; can't stand noise or bright lights; depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

The irony is that I'm under the care of mental health, an endocrinologist, a physician specialising in sleep disorders, and awaiting referral to a gastroenterologist, yet no-one seems to be connecting the dots except me.

I'm very fat and apparently, this is the cause of everything that's wrong with me.

I won't bother to say how my daily life because you all already know. One of the reasons I joined the forum was to be around people where I don't have to explain or justify anything. I'm very lucky in that my family are lovingly supportive of me but the rest of the world seems to think I've brought it all on myself because I'm fat.

I am going to make an appointment with the most sensible of our GPs and see if she will refer me on to someone who can investigate and make an official diagnosis, if it turns out that I do have FM. Would this be a Rheumatologist or some other specialist?

Is there anyone else in the Swansea area who could advise who get myself referred to?

Many thanks,

Kath

Hi Kath and to the forum hope you find some answers

hi kath, yes it would be a rhumy, you must keep pushing to get the appointment and have things checked out,

i have never heard that fm is due to being over wieght so dont let people put everything down to that,

im so glad you have a good family as that realy dose help,

i have found this site a great help to me and the poeple on here are lovely to everybody so make good use of it.

hope you get the right help soon

take care xx

Thanks for the welcome.

I don't believe for a moment that if I have FM it's because I'm fat. I'm just fed up of health professionals trying to tell me that any health problem I have is down to being fat. So many of them look at me, register my size, and then I can sit there and watch their eyes glaze over as I'm trying to talk to them because they've already decided whatever is wrong is because I'm fat, and so they don't even bother to listen to me.

It's extremely frustrating.

If anyone knows of a decent Rheumatologist in the Swansea area, that would be great. I'd even travel to Cardiff if needs be.

Thank you

hi kath, im sorry if my reply came across wrong i didnt think that you thought your fm was down to wieght.

i was trying to get across that you have to fight for a referal and not let the drs put it all down to wight.

i hope i did not upset of pffend you in any way and if i did im truley sorry.

take care xx

Oh no, not offended at all and I certainly didn't take anything you'd written as a criticism of me.

I was just having a bit of a rant as I'm so sick and tired of health professionals treating me like that, and this is one of the few places where I know people will understand why it upsets me.

to the forum Kath

There is lots of info and advice on here so whilst you're trying to find out the reason for your additional symptoms, have a look and a read around, you may find something helpful in amongst it all.

Weight gain seems to be a problem for quite a lot of us with FM and other conditions, so it can add its effects to how we are already feeling. No~one seems to know why or what triggers it tho, theories range from side effects of meds thru to being so much less active than we were previously. It would be nice if losing weight could be the answer to all our problems

Keep pushing and seeing different GPs until you get that referral to someone who can tell you what the reason is behind your symptoms. Generally it is a Rheumatologist who dx's conditions like FM, so keep asking to see someone.

Just ask about anything you want to know about, it doesn't usually take too long for someone to along with a reply for you

Hi I have FM an Rheumatoid arthritis and originally I went to see a Dr Bevan in Bridgend but then found out he had a clinic in Prince Phillip Hospital which maybe Closer for you it was for me. It can take a while to get Diagnosed but don't give up Good luck xx

Sent from my BlackBerry 9300 using Tapatalk

Many thanks :)

Hi.. I'm in Swansea too. I go to local FM support groups, which are a big help for sharing info etc. if you want further info, pm me.

Hi Helen,

Thanks for your reply. I was going to go to the meeting this Tuesday but am in bed with a sinus and chest infection instead.

I'm really hoping to get along to the next one though.

Kath :)

to the forum Kath

Thank you

I'm still awaiting a formal diagnosis. My last round of blood tests show that inflammatory markers are normal but my ESR is elevated, which I think indicates FM.

This is what my GP said she expected to see and she is referring me to a Rheumatologist.

Kath

Hiya Kath, I live in Haverfordwest, Pembs. i also am under mental health (aswell as physio, pain clinic etc) and i also struggle to be taken seriously because of my weight. Hope youre aswell as poss today. We will get there.
x