How my Fibromyalgia started and the evolution of research

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia when I was in college. It took several years for a doctor to decide that's what it was. Reading some of the posts on here I feel like my 20 year battle is not as bad as I thought it was. Since I have had mine under control most of the time without medication. When I first got diagnosed they tried so many drugs and none of them seem to help. I was finally put on Cymbalta and that drug was the worse, I stopped taking all my drugs and things got better for me. I learned ways to help myself without drugs however there were times of the past 15 years it has flared from time to time, but within a few months I can usually get it under control. However I have now battled with it worse than ever since September and I can't seem to get it back under control. I am also having symptoms I hadn't had in the past. In the past I mostly had aches and pains, sleep issues, and neuropathy. This time I am actually passing out, feel like even my bones hurt, lightheaded and dizzy all the time (I have had to give up driving), lymph nodes are constant swelling especially in my neck and underarms. The symptoms just seem to be adding up. I am scheduled to go to Mayo at the end of the month for the Fibro clinic and in July to the POTS clinic in hopes to find some help and some relief. Hang in there and try to find something that works for you.

Dart0207, Have you had COVID by chance? It worsened my fibro pain and other maladies. I pray you get some answers from the Mayo Clinic.

My very wise primary (he retired a few years ago) told me after he diagnosed me with Fibro that the pain could resemble RA. I truly believe that.

I pray you get some answers. I will say this to you, Thyroid Disease tends to go along with Fibromyalgia and so does Arthritis.

P.S. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can cause swollen lymph nodes. Fibro and CFS are twin sisters and a lot of times you can have both.

Blessings & Hugs...

After 40 years of this continuous pain I have not had any relief. People talk about flares of pain, well I hope I never get one because I can't handle what I have now. You are not alone.

What was your experience at the Mayo's Fibro clinic, were they able to help you? Did you go to the one in Rochester? Thanks.

I fear FM (fibromyalgia). Is turning into the same things as asthma, arthritis a catch all for things they don’t know. They know there is something going on and they don’t know how to treat it.
I started having problems when I was in my 20s. They did not have a name for it and called me many names that I felt offensive by. Things are better for the people who now are coming down with it, but 40 years ago it was not the best.
. Things are better and I need to control my stress and not allow other people to stress me out.
I wish everyone the best and I hope they figure it out.

Anyone with bone pain should consult their doctor about testing for Hyperthyroidism. Many of the symptoms of that disorder mirror fibromyalgia. But, as I understand it, fibromyalgia pain is usually felt in the muscles. But the pain with hyperparathyroidism is felt in the bones.