View Full Version : I feel horrible...........
Life's always been a challenge for me. I've had depression since I was born, then had a bad family experience. I've always had lots of aches and pains. Most tests were always normal.
I have fibromyalgia, bad osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, IBS, peripheral neuropathy, etc., etc., etc. But I always kept busy and loved doing things.
In November, I woke up one day and everything was tons worse, along with much worse peripheral neuropathy. Up until recently I've really liked my internal medicine doc, but lately, I feel he has me pegged as "just" fibromyalgia and that's all it is. DH orders and runs tests for me, and they are always normal. The doctor intimated that they were unnecessary and he wouldn't have run them.
I eat fairly healthily. I can't do much walking because of my legs (bad knees), but I still try to get things done.
I saw a new neuro doc and he's running some vitamin levels.......but no other tests.
I feel so damn sick every day. I try to power through, but I feel like I'm dying. This week, DH ran tons of tests.........all pretty much normal. I was disappointed. He said it's a GOOD thing! .....but I want to feel better again and was hoping something was wrong that could be fixed.
I'm looking for a psychologist to see, but how do you guess which one is best? Seems like many of the reviews online, half the people say "this person is awesome", and the other half say "This guy should be put in prison." I guess I just have to take chances, but I'm so sick of feeling sick, I don't have much patience.
I've really lost confidence in most doctors. I'm open to the possibility of having some somatization disorder, but I just can't believe that.......when there's so many things I love doing, but am in too much pain to do them. And I just feel SICK.
Maybe for many years I didn't have the bad fibromyalgia I thought I had, but have it now?
Has anyone else noticed that it takes forever to get into a doctor now?
Anyhow......thanks for listening. Yes, I'm very depressed, but I really think it's from the pain. I have really dragged my feet on going on another SSRI-type drug. I feel physically ill and it pisses me off when docs don't make sure it isn't anything else, before they want you on a mind-altering drug that can be hell to get used to, and worse hell to ever come off of.
Anyone else have fibromyalgia? And I have heard how bad osteoarthritis can be........but this feeling of sickness seems like something else. It seems overwhelming to me to even do my gardening this year, which isn't like me.
I'm really bummed.
Depression and hypothyroidism can cause real pain, I've read.
iris lilies
4-26-18, 4:43pm
What does it take in a situation like yours to go to an advanced team of diagnosticians? Do people still go to the Mayo clinic for this kind of thing?
Decades ago my sister-in-law ended up at a Mayo clinic diagnostic center where they found she has sarcoidosis. The local docs had not identified that.
Isnt it likely, though, that you have multiple ailments, its not just one thing?
What does it take in a situation like yours to go to an advance team of diagnosticians? Do people still go to the Mayo clinic for this kind of thing?
Decades ago my sister-in-law ended up at a Mayo clinic diagnostic center where they found she has sarcoidosis. The local docs had not identified that.
Isnt it likely, though, that you have multiple ailments, its not just one thing?
Cathy, I second the idea of going to Mayo for a workup. I knew someone who went to the one in Jacksonville--we lived in SC. He ended up needing a lung transplant.
In the meantime, I would start looking at alternative medicine as well. I have had good luck with acupuncture and with taking st johns wort and valerian for pain and asthma. I have also found help with pain by taking hemp capsules.
I think both of these avenues-- Mayo and alternative medicines, might be good ideas!
Ultralight
4-26-18, 5:18pm
Life's always been a challenge for me. I've had depression since I was born, then had a bad family experience. I've always had lots of aches and pains. Most tests were always normal.
I have fibromyalgia, bad osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, IBS, peripheral neuropathy, etc., etc., etc. But I always kept busy and loved doing things.
In November, I woke up one day and everything was tons worse, along with much worse peripheral neuropathy. Up until recently I've really liked my internal medicine doc, but lately, I feel he has me pegged as "just" fibromyalgia and that's all it is. DH orders and runs tests for me, and they are always normal. The doctor intimated that they were unnecessary and he wouldn't have run them.
I eat fairly healthily. I can't do much walking because of my legs (bad knees), but I still try to get things done.
I saw a new neuro doc and he's running some vitamin levels.......but no other tests.
I feel so damn sick every day. I try to power through, but I feel like I'm dying. This week, DH ran tons of tests.........all pretty much normal. I was disappointed. He said it's a GOOD thing! .....but I want to feel better again and was hoping something was wrong that could be fixed.
I'm looking for a psychologist to see, but how do you guess which one is best? Seems like many of the reviews online, half the people say "this person is awesome", and the other half say "This guy should be put in prison." I guess I just have to take chances, but I'm so sick of feeling sick, I don't have much patience.
I've really lost confidence in most doctors. I'm open to the possibility of having some somatization disorder, but I just can't believe that.......when there's so many things I love doing, but am in too much pain to do them. And I just feel SICK.
Maybe for many years I didn't have the bad fibromyalgia I thought I had, but have it now?
Has anyone else noticed that it takes forever to get into a doctor now?
Anyhow......thanks for listening. Yes, I'm very depressed, but I really think it's from the pain. I have really dragged my feet on going on another SSRI-type drug. I feel physically ill and it pisses me off when docs don't make sure it isn't anything else, before they want you on a mind-altering drug that can be hell to get used to, and worse hell to ever come off of.
Anyone else have fibromyalgia? And I have heard how bad osteoarthritis can be........but this feeling of sickness seems like something else. It seems overwhelming to me to even do my gardening this year, which isn't like me.
I'm really bummed.
I am so incredibly sorry to hear you are going through this. As I have a long term chronic illness, I am sympathize and empathize.
Have you tried medical marijuana?
rosarugosa
4-26-18, 5:43pm
I am so sorry for your troubles Cathy. Is your DH a physician, since you mention he had run tests for you? If so, wouldn't he be able to connect you with appropriate caregivers?
My mother's issues were not diagnosed by local hospitals. She had to go to a university research and teaching hospital. Where are you going currently?
frugal-one
4-26-18, 6:49pm
I am so sorry Cathy. Not much to add but hope it straightens out!
dado potato
4-26-18, 7:18pm
My peanut cactus is blooming today, so I can send you a fresh cyber bouquet. Wishing you ease and comfort.
There are a few fibromyalgia support groups online, for instance the one I am linking to has 3,100 members.
http://www.dailystrength.org/group/fibromyalgia
2155
2156
Have you looked into side effects from any pharmaceuticals you may be on?
A friend of mine was prescribed a statin, developed muscle pain (no surprise there), and was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica (a wastebasket diagnosis if there ever was one) so they added a year of prednisone to the mix, when they should have just stopped the statin. Nancy Reagan had the right idea.
flowerseverywhere
4-26-18, 8:35pm
“I eat relatively healthy”
that stuck out to me. Is there a possibility of a food allergy or intolerance?
food today contains all kinds of altered chemicals, pesticides and so on. The gluten we eat today is nothing like what our ancestors ate. All these protein bars and drinks, processed cereals and grains, gmos, artificial sweeteners, colors and preservatives cannot be good for us.
Why don’t you try keeping a food journal just in case there could be a correlation. if There is no obvious correlation nothing is lost.
I just suggest that because if I eat as clean as I possibly can, organic fruit and vegetables, cage free organic eggs, full fat organic dairy, hormone and antibiotic free meat that roamed in a field and was not injected with any solutions, nothing with a label or packaged, no added natural or artificial sweeteners no gluten I feel far superior, have way more energy a very big difference.
For instance a meal of baked highest quality chicken I can find, with baked potato, high quality butter, fresh steamed green beans and an apple for dessert. A meatloaf full of vegetables and organic field grown beef, sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables. Organic steel cut oats for breakfast. Homemade vegetable and bean soup for lunch. Hard boiled eggs with fresh greens. Full fat organic yogurt with fresh fruit. Once you start taking out the natural fat of dairy and adding chemicals and gums and artificial sugars it defeats the purpose.
Treats do do not make us feel better for long yet we are all brainwashed that we deserve it and it makes us feel better. The highest quality unprocessed organic food closest to the way it was meant to be raised full of natural vitamins, protein and fiber has to be the best thing for us. Our bodies deserve it.
Gardenarian
4-26-18, 10:21pm
Cathy, that is just terrible. I don't have fibromyalgia but my close friend has and it is a beast. She has an identical twin sister, and she has it too. Lyrica helped the sister but not my friend.
She finds anti-anxiety drugs (xanax I think) to be more helpful than antidepressants. She gets regular massages (her insurance will pay for them as she gets them from a physical therapist.) She also gets cortisone shots for certain areas. She spends a lot of time in her hot tub.
I can't come close to imagining having depression and fibromyalgia together. I'm just so sorry.
“I eat relatively healthy”
that stuck out to me. Is there a possibility of a food allergy or intolerance?
...
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Good point. I remember Cathy did better without some foods in a previous experiment. Might be time to revisit that. Food can be healing--or the opposite--and our microbiomes are largely in charge.
I'm sorry to hear of that, Cathy.
I have a relative with fibromyalgia and some other illnesses. She experienced a marked degradation in how she felt each day. Visiting a doctor who would attribute the changes to something other than the worsening of existing conditions took a surprising amount of time (as someone in this thread already noted). But she finally got to one. The doctor's call is that my relative experienced a flareup of an illness that has as its precursor a childhood disease (the way chicken pox and shingles are related). So far, treating that illness has addressed the latest degradation).
I mention this not as a long-distance diagnosis but rather as an illustration of how seemingly-unrelated prior health incidents can play into current health. I also will echo the suggestion to find a clinic like Mayo or Cleveland Clinic where all the care and diagnosis can be coordinated rather than spread out over time and many unrelated specialists.
I've read several accounts of people suffering some of these symptoms and it later turned out to be Lyme disease.
I know you've had many tests, but just thought I'd mention it.
Also adding a +1 to the suggestion of a Mayo clinic or similar complete re-evaluation. It's not as expensive as some would think, but your mental and physical health are worth it. Best to you, Cathy.
The food thing is also an important factor, I have found that alternative medicine DR's are better at this. However for my kids and myself I had to do all of the work myself unless it was a severe peanut allergy. I found out I had fructose intolerance! It can also be common with the gluten issues, but I have not had to have a gluten free diet.
I am disappointed in how many people I know who have to do their own work and get diagnoses through family members with illnesses that run in famlies. Not cool
Simplemind
4-27-18, 11:27am
I have been diagnosed with Fibro and have been dealing with it for about 20 years. I was chasing aches and pains as you have been and after awhile just stopped looking into them after being told over and over that it was Fibro and I needed to accept it and deal with it. I have been given drug cocktails for years. After I retired a few years back I really took on my health as job one. I walked the talk. I was surprised because I wasn't seeing a budge in symptoms. After an endoscopy for yet another ulcer the doctor made a comment "You really need to get your stress under control". Actually, I didn't have anything to feel stressful about. I was doing everything to combat that (Exercise, diet, Yoga, Mindfullness, Massage, Accupuncture etc..) The only thing that none of the doctors ever questioned was the meds I was on. Each doctor would always ask at the beginning of the appointment but never questioned who put me on what and why and how long. I finally started researching that and decided to take myself off. Oh.... my.......GOD. So much of what I have been experiencing has been drug related. As soon as I stopped Xanax my stomach problems cleared up within a week and I haven't needed so much as a Tums since. My sleep was terrible and I have apnea but after finally getting off Ambien I am getting naturally tired in the evening and sleeping normally. Doctors are prescribing meds and not discussing possible side effects. Xanax should never be taken for more than two weeks. Dependency can kick in even sooner for some people. Getting off is very difficult. Sleep drugs are not much different and many muscle relaxers (a fave for Fibro patients) work by the same mechanism. They work for awhile and then begin to cause the same problems that you took them for in the beginning. Doctors will misinterpret that as you needing a higher dose or adding something else on top of it. It is crazy. Coming off isn't easy but I was determined. I'm 10 months off everything now and feeling better every day. I still have Fibro symptoms but they are a walk in the park compared to what they were when I was taking a handful of meds. I basically followed the protocol that we used for my husband after his stroke. He was great support for me. I'm thankful to have my life back. Research all your meds, look up support groups with members dealing with problems with them. When you start reading information from users as opposed to doctors (who probably wouldn't be caught dead using what they are tossing out) you will see you have a lot in common.
Thank you Simplemind, for illustrating my point above. I heard a doctor once say that his father (also a doctor) told him "All drugs have side effects, and they're often worse than the conditions they were prescribed to treat. My advice is to avoid them if at all possible."
Thanks everyone. My system has been so complicated since I was little. I don't think I'll consider Mayo or Cleveland clinic. I've known people who went to both and got no help. Strange, how I've heard so often (even from a neurologist), that many people who have fibromyalgia, have been abused in some way as children........like it's a permanent reaction to stress.
I was given an acupuncturist's name by my dentist, who liked her a lot. I may check her out. But I've heard you might have to go a lot, before you know if it might help.
I have 2 conditions (fibro and osteoarthritis) that pretty much wreck every part of your body......except major organs, thankfully.
I also have a doctor/test phobia. Yes, DH is a doctor, but he has trouble being a doctor to his relatives. I, on the other hand, love using my nursing skills on everyone.......but everyone is different in what they feel comfortable with.
I've told DH a number of times that if he had my symptoms, I'd be doing a lot more for him in helping to figure this out. It's like he doesn't know how to help. At least he can order tests for me.
But maybe there's nothing to figure out. Maybe some of us just get the short stick as far as genes/life experiences. My brother was a drug addict when he was younger. He went through years of rehab. He retired 2 years ago, bought a huge RV and spends almost every day hiking and biking out west. And here I am, having led a good life, eating right, no drugs, and I have trouble walking and am in tons of pain. Go figure. I tell DH, "I should have done drugs".
I try to stay away from "bad" food.......like I try to avoid potatoes and bread, since they give me problems. Some dairy bothers me, while different kinds doesn't. I try to limit sugar.......which is VERY hard for me.
I think I eat too much, even of good stuff. My mother told me once "When you were an infant, I fed you every 4 hours. If you screamed the whole time, you just had to wait." Thanks mom. I think I've been feeling starved ever since.
I'm only on a tiny dose of a beta blocker and sertraline. I keep refusing to go on a different SSRI, and I'm sure it irritates my doc, but I have a hard time handling the things it does to my mind. I've had so much pain lately, and depression because of it, I'm almost feeling open to taking something. The doc wanted me to take Cymbalta, since it supposedly works on pain too. Anyone take it?
I'm wondering if a lot of this is from my bone-on-bone knee. It hurts a lot and has hurt for years. Some people think I'm stupid for not getting a replacement, but I don't want one. Period. I would be interested in the stem-cell thing, if I live long enough for it to be more widely available.
But I'm wondering.........with fibromyalgia, is all this other pain everywhere else, just a reaction to that bad knee?
It's a very difficult place to be in, to need so much doctoring, but have a phobia about docs and tests. This just started up with menopause. Before that, I didn't hesitate to see docs and have tests.
I will definitely check out the CBD oil, since it's now legal here. Have any of you ever heard of the CBD cream?
I'm really trying to do things, but it's hard. DS is getting married in 2 weeks, then I will go see the ortho doc. But I have the feeling he'll say......"nothing left but a knee replacement". I would be open to even having surgery to somehow straighten out my lower leg. The doc who "trimmed" my meniscus in that knee 12 years ago failed to tell me that my lower leg would probably bow out.....which it did, and then that cause a lot of foot problems. Don't these guys know that the foot bone is connected to the knee bone and the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone, and...................... :~)
Man.........I'm whining too much! Sorry.
Thanks for listening.
A friend used CBD oil topically plus an edible combination for insomnia; she said she had the first full night's sleep in forever. (Mr. Moxey's mints plus Luminous products Earth Blend. https://www.luminousbotanicals.com/ )
Mrs. Hermit
4-27-18, 7:50pm
You may be on point about your whole system reacting to your knee pain. With fibro, it seems like the system gets primed by a "real" pain to freak out about any pain or discomfort. My fibro pain improves dramatically if I can just stay out of physically-caused pain for a while. Even something relatively small like my feet hurting after a day a work can start the chain if I am not super careful to stop the pain before I try to sleep. If I go to sleep in pain, the next day will be worse. And the painful days build on each other--one bad night leads to a bad next day, leads to a worse night, leads to a much worse 2nd day....It all seems to snowball.
And of course constant pain and incomplete rest are so good for our mental outlook--NOT!
Simpleminded, I can’t really talk now but I just wanted to say that I missed your post above before I posted my last one and I wanted to say that it was an excellent post and I’ll talk more about it with you tomorrow.
Mrs. Hermit.... it’s hard to believe that one pain can cause your body to react to it but I think you’re right. It’ll be interesting to see once I see the ortho doc if I get my pain under control if the other things settle down. I sure wish they’d figure this fibromyalgia thing out.… And give us some better options. Thanks again everyone!
I'm wondering if a lot of this is from my bone-on-bone knee. It hurts a lot and has hurt for years. Some people think I'm stupid for not getting a replacement, but I don't want one. Period. I would be interested in the stem-cell thing, if I live long enough for it to be more widely available.
then I will go see the ortho doc. But I have the feeling he'll say......"nothing left but a knee replacement". I would be open to even having surgery to somehow straighten out my lower leg. The doc who "trimmed" my meniscus in that knee 12 years ago failed to tell me that my lower leg would probably bow out.....which it did, and then that cause a lot of foot problems. Don't these guys know that the foot bone is connected to the knee bone and the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone, and................Thanks for listening.
I'm surprised to learn you are a RN and your DH is a Dr. You've been living with bone-on-bone knee for years? You are grinding it down with daily living. Your lower leg didn't "bow out" your knee is grinding down (medially I suspect from your description) and that's where the deformity is that is causing the "bowing" and the "foot pain". And yes, menisectomy is a solution for a time but missing that "joint pad" begins the bone wearing.
Knee replacement is necessary if you want to stop the knee pain. There is no stem cell therapy evidence to regrow all the cartilage in your joint. There might be i 20 years.
I do understand the reluctance to do it. It's been 3y since my knee injury. I too have had the arthroscopy and shaving of the injured surfaces. But I'm done. June 6 is D-day. I'm super excited to think that the pain will be gone and I will be able to stand up straigtht, be fully weight-bearing on it, and walk a normal gait again! Can't wait to power walk this fall!!!! Will it be a fun summer of rehab? No. But oh I cannot wait for September!!!!
And you're right. It's all connected. The bad knee WILL cause many other problems-I'm having a lower back twinge I've never had before. If you saw my gait you'd see why.
It seems you KNOW this is the answer to much of your physical symptoms. You just don't want to do it. I cannot understand why.
Gardnr........I guess that's a fair question. But DH being a doc and my being an RN doesn't really have anything to do with it.
Some people go for the knee replacement and some don't. I suppose there are many factors that go into the decision to not have a replacement. First of all, they don't all work out well. Of course the knee surgeons want us to think they all work out great, but a number don't. Having fibromyalgia, my body reacts differently to pain than someone who doesn't have it. TKRs are not without problems. And many need re-done after 10 years.
And some of my reasons for not wanting one remain unexplainable to myself. The surgery is a very violent one. The idea of having bones cut off and covered with metal and plastic; a fake knee cap. Not to mention the need for antibiotics before dental procedures, when my GI tract is already a mess from antibiotics and my mouth is filled with old crowns. Also.......we complain about health care costs......well, how many replacements will be available in the future? I wrestle with how much we could/should do to keep living, and how can we be surprised at health care costs when we do some of this stuff routinely that costs $20,000++? And why can't we accept decline/aging/death and will go to any lengths to deny it?
Also, we live 25 miles from where PT would be and you have to go every day for weeks.
I understand that I should stop bitching and moaning if I'm not going to have everything replaced that hurts. Some people don't have their bad teeth worked on....but stay in pain. Some people don't have lots of things done that "might" ultimately improve their lives. LOTS of things go into these decisions........Money, fear, trying to balance physical and emotional pain/fears. There are tons of factors Gardnr. I'm happy for you that you feel totally okay with this and I hope it works out for you.
Personally, I would rather have a prosthesis.
I admit that I have an incredible phobia for some things. DH isn't as supportive as I wish he were about working some things out, so I'm alone in that respect. Phobias are very real and aren't a matter of just putting on my big girl pants.
Good luck to you with your surgery and recuperation. I hope it all goes well!
I'm with you re knee surgery, CathyA. I think of it as an amputation. And going daily for PT for weeks?
I'd be a candidate for two TKRs and a hip replacement. Fortunately, I'm just lame--the pain level is very manageable just with aspirin. I may investigate the possibilities in a year or so, and try something less invasive, or not.
I remember reading years ago when I was dealing with cancer and looking for help, in one of Bernie Siegel's books, that if you felt a treatment was wrong for you, it was wrong for you. that as a patient, you should get in touch with those strong feelings. So the knee replacement might be ideal for one patient, and a bad idea for another, just based on what the patient felt and thought about it.
It made a lot of sense to me.
I remember reading years ago when I was dealing with cancer and looking for help, in one of Bernie Siegel's books, that if you felt a treatment was wrong for you, it was wrong for you. that as a patient, you should get in touch with those strong feelings. So the knee replacement might be ideal for one patient, and a bad idea for another, just based on what the patient felt and thought about it.
It made a lot of sense to me.
I read Dr. Siegel years ago, and thought he was very wise. In fact, I just sent Love, Medicine, and Miracles to my stroke-impacted relative.
I think that was the book, Jane! Wonderful choice, and he has lots of positive thing to say about "difficult" and "non-compliant" patients, along with a real appreciation for what doctors and medicine can do to help people.
"
Teacher Terry
4-28-18, 1:56pm
I am not a big fan of surgery due to the risks, etc. But if I was in bad pain everyday I would certainly get the replacement. Everyone that I know that has gotten one has been thrilled with the results.
I think that was the book, Jane! Wonderful choice, and he has lots of positive thing to say about "difficult" and "non-compliant" patients, along with a real appreciation for what doctors and medicine can do to help people.
"
That "non-compliant" label makes me furious. I'm under no legal obligation to submit to medical personnel, and would make that clear in my records, if necessary. I would be proud to be considered "difficult" if being so was in my best interests.
My relative has already "fired" one physical therapist who opined they would never walk again. I think of that kind of thing as medical voodoo, where some self-anointed oracle essentially performs a "bone-pointing" curse on the patient--what Siegel calls "false no-hope."
I have a couple of seniors in my exercise classes that have had multiple joint replacements. A friend, over 60, is bionic with knees, hips and shoulder. One man is over 70 was an active tennis player. Had a knee replaced in the last year and the other a short while before. He is now back to pickle ball and cardio class. Doing all PT is necessary for complete recovery.
I had an arthritis attack in one knee quite a few years ago and it was so painful, I would have agreed to anything. Thankfully, it resolved itself and with exercise to strengthen the knee supports, I can do stairs again.
Gardenarian
4-30-18, 2:51am
I do think having one joint (knee, in your case) throws your whole body off.
I'm also against replacement surgery (for myself.) My dad had two hips and a knee replacement and never got any pain relief - but he did get a (literal) killer case of osteomyelitis.
Exercise can really help, even with bone on bone arthritis.
As for P.T., plenty of people do P.T. for years - I have been doing various forms for 3 years. Not a big deal.
It's not like there's a magic bullet for this stuff, and really, it's a moving target. You get one thing in alignment, then figure out what's next. You try trekking poles and canes, maybe find a brace that works for you. You work on diet and supplements. Work on the sleep issues - New bed? Melatonin? Meditation?
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
I always kind of chuckle about that one.
I do think having one joint (knee, in your case) throws your whole body off.
I'm also against replacement surgery (for myself.) My dad had two hips and a knee replacement and never got any pain relief - but he did get a (literal) killer case of osteomyelitis.
Exercise can really help, even with bone on bone arthritis.
As for P.T., plenty of people do P.T. for years - I have been doing various forms for 3 years. Not a big deal.
It's not like there's a magic bullet for this stuff, and really, it's a moving target. You get one thing in alignment, then figure out what's next. You try trekking poles and canes, maybe find a brace that works for you. You work on diet and supplements. Work on the sleep issues - New bed? Melatonin? Meditation?
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
I always kind of chuckle about that one.
Haha Gardenarian........what doesn't kill you, will eventually get you. :~)
I was doing PT for awhile, and do believe it can help. But different parts of my legs started hurting and seemed to hurt worse with my exercises I was doing.......so I stopped. Recently, I started using my "peddler" again, and it does seem to help grease up my knee joints.
I have to admit......I'm running out of energy to do all that I need to do to get through a day.......exercises, creams, pills, ace bandages, shoe orthotics, cpap, TMJ appliance, etc., etc.
I wish the ortho doc who did my meniscus (or rather, removed much of it), would have told me to try P.T. first. I really think I could have avoided it............but he wouldn't have made money from that.
Teacher Terry
4-30-18, 12:42pm
Have you tried CBD oil? It works great on my old big dog with joint pain.
Have you tried CBD oil? It works great on my old big dog with joint pain.
CBD doesn't seem to affect me, but I have friends for whom it works well. I had a tablespoon of hemp oil this morning; we'll see.
Simplemind
4-30-18, 2:51pm
Alas, CBD doesn't seem to be helping me. Isn't hurting either so I'm going to continue. Dosing sometimes is hard to figure out and more isn't necessarily better. I do a bit better with a little THC push.
Dammit. For a little while I thought I'd found a reason for some of my symptoms. The neuro doc's nurse called and said my B12 was normal, my Folate was normal, but my Methylmalonic acid was high (which means vitamin B12 deficiency in spite of a normal B12 level). she said the doc said to take B12 supplements.
Well, I noticed that the number that I'd written down for the MMA test was actually low and thought I'd left a number off of the level. I called her back and she said it was her mistake saying it was high and it WAS low, but it still meant I was deficient.
Well after talking to DH and my researching it, she was wrong. It means my numbers are great. :( Geez. Can't people do their jobs right? I know it's no big deal to have too much B12 if I'd taken supplements, but it's the fact that it was incorrect information. And my hopes were dashed a little again. :(
Alas, CBD doesn't seem to be helping me. Isn't hurting either so I'm going to continue. Dosing sometimes is hard to figure out and more isn't necessarily better. I do a bit better with a little THC push.
Yes--with all the strains, distributors, and percentages of CBD and THC out there, it's hard to find just the right dose. I made some tea once that magically erased all my geezer pains, but I have no idea what strain it was. The quest continues.
CathyA, I’m so sorry to read about your bad place. I have nothing as bad as you, but I still have times when it’s one migraine too many, one bout of IBS too many, one night with barely any sleep too many, one flare of CFS too many. And sometimes they all hit me at once. Like you, I’ve been depressed all my life and survived an abudive childhood. And I fully get that hope/disappointment/despair cycle.
I’m now exploring the histamine connection. According to my Promethease read-out, I have two genes associated with low DAO activity. All my ailments seem to be correlated with histamine sensitivity. I figure a low-histamine diet for two weeks can’t hurt at all and might just do some good.
I really want to send you my support.
Suzanne.......thanks for your support! When I was younger with some of these ailments, I knew what to do and what would make me feel better. But now, I seem to have no control over anything.
Maybe I should get a DNA test?? DS is getting married this weekend. It was supposed to be simple, but has gotten very complicated. And the weather is supposed to be 90 with a chance of storms.....and it's mostly outside. I got another upper respiratory thing and feel even more like poop. I'm not a social person, so the stress of being at the wedding is overwhelming to me. So I'm wondering if that's making my body have more pain? It's not easy being me....But it's all I got, right?
I'm sorry that you struggle too. There's so many wonderful things out there to do and experience........I just wish the both of us could feel good to experience them! Thanks so much for your kind reply, and let me know if your low-histamine diet helps.
Cathy - I know you probably wont like hearing this - but the more I read about your various symptoms, the more I think an SSRI would help you. I’ve worked in psychiatric nursing for 18 years and I’m certified in psych and I’ve been an instructor also. If my credentials mean anything to you ... just trying to help.
I am betting the upcoming wedding is adding a lot of stress that contributes to your physical pain. DD's wedding a few years back was one of the most stressful events of my life. And as with most things we worry about, all my stress was for nought as it turned out to be a lovely and memorable event.
Tammy.....I'm re-considering it. I just want to be sure there's no other physical reason for some of my pains. Maybe even because my neuro system is tweaked so high, getting used to an SSRI will be full of challenges, I'm sure. And then if I ever need to come off it, there will be even more challenges. I guess I'm so afraid of adding more problems on, that I've become paralyzed. I've been on a very small dose of sertraline for many years. But I could never go up on the dose, because it causes horrible diarrhea. I tried to change to Lexapro once, and it was not fun at all, so I went back to the small dose of sertraline. I have a weight problem and I would be really bummed if I gained weight with an SSRI. As you can see........I'm sort of in a corner with myself.
Thanks pinkytoe. We'll see after the wedding is over, if I get manic for awhile. haha and have no pain. That would be wonderful even if it was short-lived.
I had a steroid knee injection last summer. they always say that it stays in the knee and doesn't go systemic, but that's not true. For 3 days I went crazy, then I got over that and didn't have any pain anywhere for a week and a half. Steroids are pretty destructive.......but dang.......I wish I could take some every day. I've heard of people who agree to the possible problems of taking them, just to have a little quality of life. This is probably how people with drug problems get started.........they enjoy not being in pain.......
I need to focus on my bad knee first..... I know if I could walk better, it would take care of some of the emotional stuff.......and even physical stuff. But I guess I'm constantly in high anxiety mode, and very distrustful of doctors (and in many cases, for good reason). I'm rambling. I've worn myself out in the kitchen making lots of food for people helping the day before the wedding. If I could relax from now until the wedding, I think it could go much better..........but there's' no rest for the wicked. ;)
I really do appreciate everyone's input!
Checking in on the low-histamine diet: I’m beginning to feel less unwell. My jeans are looser. My thighs and bottom are less ripply. I have less congestion on waking and I feel a tad less exhausted. I’ll give it a full month and see how it’s going.
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