Diagnosis

From what I understand, my diagnosis was pretty easy. I've heard about people being mis-diagnosed for years...or worse being told it was all in their heads. Which is what I thought it was with me. I figured I was just getting older, the pain wasn't that bad, I'm focusing too much on it...and so on. It took over year of being in pain before I finally made a doctor's appointment. What finally made me do it was the realization that if everyone was in that much pain as they got older we would have a lot less old people running around and assisted suicides would be much more acceptable.
So, off to the doctor I went. I presented it in an off-hand manner as I was sure I was going to be told to suck it up and get on with life. Much to my surprise my doctor started asking different questions and poking at different parts of me. The questions I didn't mind, the poking hurt and made me pretty cranky by the end of the appointment. When he finished he told me I might have Fibromyalgia and asked if I had ever heard of it. Nope, I was clueless. He gave me a basic rundown and told me he was refering me to a rheumatologist. Oh goody, more doctors.
When I went home I looked up Fibromyalgia and this is what I found out. Fibromyalgia syndrome affects the muscles and soft tissue. Fibromyalgia symptoms include chronic pain in the muscles, fatigue, sleep problems, and painful tender points or trigger points at certain parts of the body.
I went to the rheumatologist and he poked at all of the tender points. I had promised myself a margarita later that night if I didn't get cranky with doctor for just doing his job. Out of the 18 tender points, I had 16 so the doctor says I definitly have Fibromyalgia. The rheumatologist also said I have some arthritis, he is trying to determine what type.
So now I have a diagnosis. On one hand it's nice to know I'm not losing what little sanity I have left. On the other there is no real cure for Fibro and that is disheartening. Like many things in life though, this is a fight, and I refuse to lose. So, I started this blog for my own theraputic benefits, but also in hopes that others out there will stop by and tell me their stories, what has or hasn't worked for them, and to add my voice to internet to help bring about awareness.

Current Medications:
Daily vitamins
Chantix 1mg twice a day- Yeah for quitting smoking
Tramadol 50mg tablets 1 to 2 tabs every 4 to 6 hours for pain
Trazodone 50mg tablets 2 before bed
Diclofenac Sodium Tablets 75mg 1 tablet twice a day