Yesterday I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I had never heard of it before and thought I had arthritis. In fact, I'm sat here now wondering if Arthritis would have been better as a diagnosis.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I understand that arthritis is not an easy disease to have and anyone with it would be telling me that I didn't know what I was talking about. The thing is though, Arthritis is believable. People can physically see it and therefore there is more sympathy with it. There is also more research and understanding.
I'm not after sympathy either, someone feeling sorry for me just doesn't cut it for me. Understanding thought, is just what I do need and right now I don't even understand it myself.
All I have come across so far is:
Nobody really knows how to diagnose it and diagnosis is hard and often people are misdiagnosed
You can't see the symptoms
People, even professionals, don't know what it is.
Exercise might help/so might complementary therapies/so might painkillers/but nobody is quite sure.
My experience of being diagnosed:
I went to the drs with aches, pains, joint problems and various other things. I had blood tests and the results came back that my inflammation levels were a little high and they were worried. A few weeks later I had a repeat blood test. Again, the inflammation levels were high and had risen since the last test. The dr referred me to the local hospitals rheumatoid department where I was examined and given the diagnosis. I was also given sleeping pills to fix the lack of deep sleep issue. Only one problem, I have a 9 month old daughter who wakes during the night and a partner who doesn't hear her. The dr was made aware of this but said I needed to get further support from my partner. Needless to say the prescription went in the bin.
So, here I am, diagnosed wondering what to do now, where to go and who to speak to. I'm scared of what might happen, but also wondering will I have to face this alone forever?
I guess only time will tell.
