Morning!

I hope you all are feeling ok. I'm a bit shell shocked. I went to see the Rheumy Consultant yesterday (a nice young man) who after listening and asking questions about my symptoms told me that I had no active RA (fraud) and seemed to be in remission (fab) but because I was still experiencing pain and fatigue that he thinks I have Fibromyalgia (what!!). He gave me leaflets etc and a note for my GP.

I left feeling weird .... do I have RA (all test negative) or not? He seemed to think that in April I had a RA flare as I was seen with inflammation but nothing showed up on Ultrasound in August. If it is Fibro have I been treated wrong, putting my body through very strong drugs for nothing (as the only thing that has helped is steroid injections) Apparently Mtx is supposed to give you a new lease of life but its just made me lethargic and ill all the time. He asked what constituted as a flare to me. I replied the chills, fever, aches, fatigue, pain, pain and more pain. Was he testing me? The consultant has reduced my Mtx to 15mg from 25mg and asked GP to prescribe Amitryptaline (however its spelt sorry!) and something else eligible.

I look Fibro up on the internet when I got home and was gobsmacked to discover that out of the 6 main classes of symptoms I had 4! It ticked all the right boxes and states that Fibro is also seen as a secondary disease to RA (amongst others)! I think I finally have a diagnosis! Whooo! After 20 years of pain and discomfort!

Downside There is no cure......

In the space of half an hour I'd gone from feeling a fraud to exasperation. I'll give the man credit because he explained everything to me and as Fibro is a relatively new discovery (1990) the more mature Dr's don't necessarily know about it (I thought they would being specialists and all!!)

So where do I go from here? I have horrendous pain and fatigue and the only time I feel good is in the sun! That's it I need to sell the shop and house and possibly 3 children and flit to warmer sunny climates! Anyone joining me??? I could open a retreat for fellow sufferers with waiter/waitress service on tap, you wouldn't have to lift a finger!! Its a good job my imagination is still in tact!

Wishing you all a pain free day.

Lxx

Hi Louise,

Sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia as well as RA! As if one isn't enough!
Amytriptalline apparently is a recognised treatment for fibro and I know it works very well for lots of people and hope it works well for you.

By the way, I'll join you at that retreat in the sun!

Love Doreen xx

I'm coming to the sun too please. I'm beginning to wonder if i have fibro too because i tick a lot of the boxes but am sick of being told that I'm fine just because my bloods are good.

Hi Barbara,

Apparently Depo does work on Fibro as its injected into the muscle.

I know exactly how you are feeling and its good to share but not nice to have it.

Anyone else for the sun??

Lxxx