I am not sure if this is a final update on my weird medical issues. Things have not really been better, but yesterday i went to see my rheumatologist, after seeing a rheumatologist at one of the Harvard affiliated teaching hospitals in Boston. They have decided that I have fibromyalagia. While, I am glad I have 2 doctors that agree on something, I still am not completely satisfied that this is what I have. Am I just obsessing on things? I am still having ringing in my ear, every 2-3 days, which can be a symptom, but it's not a common one and sometimes I feel like my hands and feet are turning red, like maybe I have some type of circulation issue. I am also having weird pain near my glands in my throat that no one seems to say anything about. Anyway, I have some questions for those of you who know about these things.
The doc gave me a prescription for Lyrica, which has just been approved to treat Fibrom. The side effects look very scary to me (dizziness, tiredness, hand swelling, weight gain ). He told me to consult with the shrink that has been prescribing anti-anxiety meds in tandem with the therapist I am working with (who is not an MD). I have an appt. to see her tomorrow, so i will discuss this. He also told me to gain 5 pounds! I have lost a couple of pounds, but I really don't want to start pigging out. I eat healthy and I don't starve myself, but all of these issues have decreased my appetite at times. So, has anyone here taken Lyrica?
Question 2 has to do with exercise. The doc and everything I read says exercise helps this condition, but strenuous exercise makes it worse. This does sort of go along with what I've experienced. When I ride with my friend who has an average of let's say 13, I am fine. When i ride by myself or with others that are fast, my symptoms get worse after i ride.Usually my average is around 15-16 on roads that have some climbs, but not continuous hard climbs. I hate to go backwards in what I have accomplished! But it does seem like my trip to the Berkshires where i did 9,000 feet of strenuous climbing in 3 days sort of pushed me over the edge last summer.
Finally, I have an appointment in Boston for a 2nd opinion with a neurologist in 2 weeks. I am going to keep it, because I still am not sure I agree with this diagnosis. Also, my ENT told me that he can hook me up with someone in the top diagnostic internal medicine group at the same teaching hospital in Boston, if the neuro doesn't find anything else. He is the only one who doesn't think I am "crazy."
I feel a little better mentally, but I am totally frustrated by the fact that maybe I am just someone who is totally afraid of illness and dying and this is how it comes out. I had about a year of this when I was in college, although the physical symptoms were somewhat different. I have had to hold it together this past week; my former exchange student and his girlfriend are visiting for 2 weeks and my son who is in the Marines was home for a few days. (ramble here) He is definitely going to Iraq in March, although as an intelligence officer, not as a "fighter." It's still dangerous, but at least he won't be riding around in a Humvee with his head sticking out of the top as a gunner.
I am supposed to be going back to work during the last week in February until the end of the school year, to fill in for a former colleague who will be on maternity leave. I really want to do this, but some days I wonder if I can. I seem to be worse in the mornings. It's pretty much too late to tell my boss "no," so I am going to try. We also have a x country ski trip planned at the end of January that I am nervous about. I guess i can go and not ski, but I just can't cancel another vacation because of this. My husband has had a hard time dealing with the stress of all of this and he really needs to get away and I feel like I do, too.
Last queston: Anyone know anything about accupuncture as a treatment for Fibro.?

Thank you everyone!

Robyn