BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome How did you come to your diagnosis?

Hi All,

I was wondering how, for those of you who have FMS and CFS, came to get your diagnosis.

I had a car wreck in 2001. Then, I got pregnant. I was diagnosed Hypothyroid and Depressed first. I had bouts of extreme pain and had to go back and forth to my doctor A LOT for many months.

Finally, in April 2003, a rheumatologist diagnosed me with FMS.

I was wondering what your journeys to these conditions were like. I've heard some people say it took them EIGHT years or longer to get diagnosed and that it was an uphill battle all the way.

Hey Deanna,

I was wondering when you were diagnosed being hypothyroid, was it Hashimoto's? All of these nasty auto-imune disease's, FMS & CFS, stick together. Once you have one of them, there is a good chance another will show up sooner or later.

I was diagnosed with Hashi in May, (after yrs of being told I was just depressed)...and found out last week, my daughter has MS.

Have you noticed the same trend?

Maryan

Hi Deanna. I'm new here - have only just registered (found you via Dominie Bush's FMS newsletter). It's amazing how much more is available online now than a few years ago when I was checking out CFS/FMS - forums are a godsend and this is the first one I've found.

So sorry to hear that your daughter has MS, Maryan. Life sure hits us where it hurts.

Deanna, next year I will have had CFS for 20 years. I was diagnosed by a naturopath a week after "it happened". I first got sick with a terrible vertigo attack and no-one knew what it was, not even me. It was terrifying - was taken to hospital with lots of strange symptoms. After that I had so many tests (my story is on my website) but still no-one has been able to pinpoint exactly what is going on.

Menopause has of course lessened the anaemia I've suffered. The fatigue is not quite as bad. But anxiety seems to be ever present (what comes first, the chicken or the egg...), I suffered a panic attack a few weeks ago - the first in ages, I've have food intolerance. I can be so-so for a week and then it all hits again - sleeplessness (when I'm normally a great sleeper), nausea, no stamina. I haven't been able to hold down a job.

I have a dear friend who has FMS and our friendship has kept me going. She is suffering terribly.

Thanks for this forum. I look forward to popping in regularly.

Thanks Hillie and welcome!

Maryan

Thank you Maryan <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks all for sharing your stories. I believe that it started out as undiagnoses Hashimoto's or postpartum thyroiditis (my hypothyroidism that is)

I've gained weight at an alarming rate since I had my first child. (Been told to take antidepressants, go on Weight Watchers, all that stuff...you know...the drill...)

Finally, I went on Synthroid and was better for a bit, but my 'levels' show normal.

Whatever.

I go with the old CFS/FMS joke, "the only thing normal about me are my test results."

I had a car accident in 2001. At first, I thought I got off okay. The car was totalled. I had mild whip lash. Pretty soon after, I started having tremors and mild seizures.

They seemed to go away. Then, the pain started and I got pregnant with my second child so we didn't know what was causing the pain then.

After I kept at my doctor, did my research and just kept asking questions of anyone who'd listen, I got my diagnosis in late 2002, but had to wait until April of 2003 for it to be confirmed.

Although I feel like my whole life was a set-up for FMS. I'm a classic case. Type-A, stressed out all the time, female...etc...

My mom always told me I'd make myself sick with stress. I didn't realize how right she was <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Isn't that amazing that when you don't feel well and gain weight the answer is anti-depressants! I truly believe it is a doctors way of telling you..."I don't know what is wrong with you".

I too am on Synthroid, 100mcg, but it isn't helping...still have all the symptoms...fatigue being the worse! My doctor told me I am not responding to therapy since we can't stablize my TSH and anti-body levels. I had a complete hyst on 10/14...so I can't have a thyroidectomy until at least January.

Oh, and don't worry about the only thing being normal is your test results...I have been told by my GYN and Cardiologist, within the last 2 months that it is normal for me to be abnormally normal!

Like you said...Whatever!

Have a great day!

Maryan

Anti-depressants is the answer for fatigue, CFS, practically everything. Here you'll find my problems with Aropax and why I went off it : http://www.angelfire.com/art2/hillie/cfs/cfstory_update04.html (on my website),
and how dangerous and addictive Aropax can be:
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2003/20030428_happy_pill/default.htm.

I went off it within a week after landing in hospital.

Oh yes, and as far as my diagnosis went, Glandular Fever (Epstein Barr Virus) in 1978 sure didn't help <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It is certainly frustrating. I don't understand what's wrong with me, but I know I'm still hypothyroid even if my TSH and other levels show normal. I'm trying not to be resigned to the fact that many doctors don't know or care what's wrong, but I know they don't know how to figure it out...

Deanna,

Stay positive towards doctors...they are only human like us...but sometimes forget that, when they are treating our ailments. We just have to contiune our search for the "right" doctor, who has the same problem as ours and then...we might be heard.

Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season!

Maryan