Living with Chronic Pain: Fibromyalgia

For years I have been suffering from chronic pain. I have expressed the severity of my pain to doctors and finally received a diagnosis last year. The relief of knowing why my life has been this way was short-lived. Though I now have answers, I am learning that there are not many solutions. I have fibromyalgia.

Clickable links throughout the article will redirect the reader to sources.

When I first was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I did not fully understand what that meant for my life. I grew up knowing that my aunt has fibromyalgia but I never realized that the pain I have been pushing through, is something that she has been dealing with too. This chronic illness is something that I am constantly educating myself on, to better understand what I and many others are going through.

---

Index

What is Fibromyalgia?

What causes Fibromyalgia?

How did I receive my diagnosis?

What helps me with my Fibromyalgia symptoms?

Dealing with two Chronic Illnesses at the same time.

---

What is Fibromyalgia?

Defined by the Mayo Clinic, "Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues."

"My fibromyalgia is a widespread pain. It seems to target the joints in my hands, my legs feel like I have constant shin splints, my lower back hurts too much to sit at times, and there times where even showers are painful." - SAM

Here are the symptoms someone with fibromyalgia may have.

I recommend Arthritis National Research Foundation's website to learn more information.

The symptoms that I specifically deal with are:

• Internal Tremors (I believe are from the pain)

• Shaking hands

• Hard time moving quickly

• Fatigue

• Joints ache

• Clothing hurts (i.e. waistbands, bras)

• Going upstairs becomes painful and exhausting

• Lower back pain (painful to sit)

• Legs feel like constant shin splints are happening

• Painful showers (even the softest water pressure can feel like needles on my body)

• Nausea

• Painful Sex

---

What causes Fibromyalgia?

The cause of fibromyalgia is still relatively unknown, but there are theories researchers have on this condition. There have been correlations between fibromyalgia patients, sleeping problems, and stress. Other studies show that it could be in relation to the patient's immune system, endocrine system, or biochemical problems.

According to the Southern Pain Clinic, studies have reflected fibromyalgia patients having high counts of white blood cells and their immune cells (cytokines). This reaction typically occurs in a patient that has an infection that is triggering their immune response. In these fibromyalgia patients, no infection was present but fibromyalgia symptoms were.

The patient's endocrine system could be what is causing their fibromyalgia. The NHS UK, explains how research has shown that patients with fibromyalgia also have abnormally low levels of serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine in their brains. These hormones work together in helping your body process pain messages sent by your nerves.

Fibromyalgia often co-exists with these other conditions:

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Migraine and other types of headaches

• Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome

• Temporomandibular joint disorders

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Postural tachycardia syndrome

It was interesting to realize that my IBS, chronic fatigue, and other symptoms all could be in relation to my fibromyalgia.

---

How did I receive my diagnosis?

How it began...

Frankly, I wish I could say it was a smooth process; however, that would be a lie. I have mentioned my pain for years to doctors, and many times I felt like my words were falling on deaf ears.

I gave up on figuring out what the cause of my pain was and tried to just live through it. Sometimes I would take some ibuprofen in hopes that this time it would make a difference, but like usual it would not provide any relief. Some nights wine was my award for pushing through the pain and often I would cry myself to sleep. These were my coping methods. Suffer in pain and a dose of ibuprofen. This was not a sustainable method of handling this situation and I knew this.

This was not the quality of life that I had envisioned for myself. I knew that life could be so much more than a cycle of different forms of suffering while trying to do everyday normal tasks.

"When I graduate from The University of Nevada - Reno, I will figure out what is causing this pain!"

That was the plan I gave myself and I am glad I followed it. Once I graduated, I moved back to my hometown to live with my parents and sought out medical help again for my pain.

This time I got some answers!

I finally found a primary care physician (PCP) who listened to me and cared. She has been a blessing in so many ways. My PCP is who discovered my liver disease, referred me to a gastroenterologist, and gave me a second chance at life. She also referred me to a rheumatologist for my chronic pain and that led to my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia.

Rheumatology for the win...

My rheumatologist is who diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. She was able to do this in several ways:

• Lab Work

• Fibromyalgia Tender Points

• My medical history

She went over my lab work and ordered additional labs. Here she was ruling out autoimmune, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and any other condition that could be causing my pain. It appeared that aside from the concerns we already knew about, my labs were good. They ruled out other conditions that could have been the cause of my pain.

Fibromyalgia tender points is another way rheumatologist determine if their patient has fibromyalgia. There are 18 different tender points that when pressed with enough pressure to cause the doctor's fingernail to turn white.

• 16 of the 18 tender points caused pain for me when this test was performed.

Providing my doctors with a comprehensive chart of my medical history, helped me in communicating my concerns in a clear and concise way. Having something in my own words that described my symptoms, and what living with them looked like, was helpful in painting a full picture for my doctor.

The chart I created was similar to this:

Date	Symptoms	How Many Years	Medical Team	Treatment	Update

I included any details that seemed important in this chart and I continue to update it (when I remember).

---

What helps me with my Fibromyalgia?

We are still trying to figure out what triggers my fibromyalgia, but there are a few things that help me with the pain while it is happening.

Medications

At the current moment, there is not too much that helps with the flare-ups when they occur. We are trying to figure out what medications work with my body.

Currently taking

Mornings:

30 mg - DULoxetine HCI EC

300 mg - Gabapentin

Evenings:

900 mg - Gabapentin

So far, I believe taking the medication is helping reduce the number of fibromyalgia days I have in a month. I still have days that fibromyalgia takes over my life. On these days I have to choose what is important to do that day, and what will have to be saved for another.

With my liver disease, I have to be careful what I put into my body. This includes what I take for my fibromyalgia. When my prescribed medications are not doing the trick, I am still having to push through the pain until it stops.

Natural Methods of Combating Fibromyalgia Symptoms

How I treat my symptoms, varies day by day. Stretching, light massages, and wearing loose clothing all are things I do to help with my flare-ups.

Stretching my arms, back, legs, and any areas of my body that are aching tend to help release some of the pain. When my hands and shins are having deep aching pain, taking lotion and lightly massaging those areas can help. Most articles of clothing become painful and irritating during some flare-ups. When I am not going anywhere, I will choose clothing that is loose and soft on my body to help ease the pain.

These tasks, though they are simple, are helpful when it feels like nothing can help with my symptoms.

My Mindset has Changed

The biggest difference in my chronic illness journey now is that I have more grace towards myself and my situation. Not every day is going to be pain-free, just like not every day is going to be terribly painful. Have fun and accomplish what I want to on days that I feel good; rest and be kind to my body on days that I do not. That is the secret sauce to how I am living my life.

---

Battling two Chronic Illnesses at the same time.

I feel as if my energy is being torn between my liver disease and my fibromyalgia flare-ups. I am doing everything in my power to combat my cirrhosis diagnosis; however, there are times my fibromyalgia gets in the way.

One of the main times that I notice the two chronic illnesses battling is when my fibromyalgia flare-up gets in the way of my health goals for my liver disease maintenance. In my liver maintenance plan, I am to exercise daily, incorporate weight training, and eat following the nutritional guidelines my endocrinologist provided. When I am having a fibromyalgia flare-up, this plan goes out the door.

During a flare-up, my hands become hard to use. Each joint in my finger feels like it is burning in aching pain and at times the pain causes my hands to shake or have involuntary movements. My lower back tends to hurt too much to sit but standing causes a shin splint feeling in both of my legs. The list goes on, but these are the most common symptoms.

Then there are moments where the pain levels are high enough to make me feel nauseous and I cannot bring myself to eat. All of these things take away from some of my efforts in fighting my liver disease.

Before my last vacation, I wanted to go to the hospital, take something, or do something to alleviate my pain. I had to sit in the pain. That feeling after a few days began to make a negative impact on my mental health. My flare-up was painful enough in my hands that packing was terrible, my legs hurt when standing but my back hurt too much to sit.

I am learning to allow myself to feel the pain, cry if I need to, and not mask how I am feeling. Holding it in only harms me in the end. In a professional setting, no one would know or even be able to tell what I am going through. I have been able to mask it for as long as I can remember. Not having to mask while I am living at my parent's place, has been healing in its own way.

---

Overall...

I just have to keep taking it one day at a time and have patience with myself. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when dealing with chronic illness and learn to treat myself with kindness during these times. I can guarantee that there will be days when I am frustrated, exhausted, and want to take a break from this reality. While I am still learning how to handle these moments, it has been helpful and a great coping mechanism writing here.

The medical research and science about fibromyalgia are constantly growing and changing. I hope that in the years to come, medical research about fibromyalgia leads to a better understanding of the disease and how to treat it.

---

**Please note that this is not medical advice. I am in no way a medical professional and it is recommended that before starting anything new, you consult your primary care physician.

This blog is for me to document my journey, compile the information I learn about my chronic illness, and change my life in the process. Information that my doctors have given me, new information that I learn about my disease, and as I grow on this journey I will update my blog to reflect that.**

---

Thank you for reading about

what it is like living with chronic pain.

If there are any tips or tricks

that help you with fibromyalgia symptoms,

leave a comment below.

Have a beautiful day!