How I was Treated with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (“muscle pain”) is a neurological/muscular condition which the medical community is only beginning to understand. Muscle pain, fatigue, and a sort of “mental fog” are common symptoms. Sleep deprivation and stress can be both a trigger and a result of fibromyalgia, as I soon found out. There are many treatment options open, including acupuncture, medication (painkillers, muscle relaxers, SSRIs) and massage, but every case is unique. While most people suffering from fibromyalgia experience ongoing pain, most also cycle through flares of increased pain and periods of less discomfort.
In the years before I became severely ill, I had a case history of frequent ear, nose, and throat illness with long recovery times. As a high schooler, I also had an erratic schedule brought on by a demanding academic curriculum that contributed to perpetual sleep deprivation. I exercised frequently, but didn’t eat very healthfully.
After the initial consultation with the ER doctor, my mom took me to my regular doctor the same pediatrician I’d been seeing since I was a baby. She tested for thyroid problems and diminished iron levels, but all my tests came back negative. My doctor and my mother were both baffled, and agreed that it didn’t look like arthritis, as my joints weren’t swollen or very warm. So my doctor gave me a referral for a local rheumatologist and agreed to write a note for when I needed to miss school in the meantime. (At that point, I was having a hard time climbing stairs and an even worse time taking notes in class.)
By the time we met with my rheumatologist, about a month had elapsed. She immediately ran tests to check for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and had me take aspirin for pain three times a day. After five days, it was clear that the aspirin wasn’t helping at all, so she called in a course of prednisone for me. When it became clear that the prednisone wasn’t having any effect either, I returned for a followup visit. The physician’s assistant met with me and checked me for the tender points associated with fibromyalgia. I had almost all of them, so she gave me a bag of Ultram samples and told us to call back if they had any effect.
The appointment had been in the morning. By the end of the day, I was already feeling better and able to move around with greatly diminished pain. After my success with Ultram, my rheumatologist settled on a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. I was able to manage the rest of the school year well, if not with ease, and graduated first in my class.
However, I was very uncomfortable with the idea of using Ultram (which is tramadol and acetaminophen) or any pain killer long term. During my final semester of high school, I weaned myself off tramadol slowly, from three pills a day to one. After graduation, I quit entirely. Over the summer before my freshman year of college, I cut caffiene out of my diet and worked to eat more healthfully. I try to avoid processed foods whenever possible. Also, I try to exercise frequently – right now, I bike around 10 miles per week and walk a mile at least five days a week. Making sure that I sleep on time is also key.
My experience with fibromyalgia treatment and managment has been very positive, but I know this is not the case for many who have fibromyalgia. Because so little is known about it, many doctors are unable or unwilling to diagnose or treat it effectively. I was very fortunate to have my mother advocate for me as a healthcare professional, and also fortunate that she knew of the best doctors to seek help from. Having her support both in the process of finding a diagnosis and in making major lifestyle changes has been one of the main elements in becoming and staying healthy.
