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.

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.

Hello……I’ve had debilitating CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia for over 30 years. It’s been my personal experience and that of most patients that exercise actually exacerbated your symptoms. Whether one has PEM, “POST EXERTION MALAISE” or something similar, any kind of exercise or physical exertion can really be difficult to manage. Of course, there are always exceptions and anybody who can tolerate physical exertion without exacerbating their symptoms and debilitation are fortunate.
However, reading and researching most of the evidence these past 30 plus years, exercise is something that is really not promoted.
It was thought to be beneficial in the early years for patients with these disease states. However, that was mostly predicated on the belief that any exercise in general is beneficial to the body. It just isn’t true nor does it serve the well-being of most patients. Of course, doing whatever amount of stretching, yoga and exercise is beneficial as long as it doesn’t make you feel worse.
I was a very fit athlete participating in a number of sports in high school and college. As a result, I am very well versed and experienced in knowing and experiencing the difference between normal muscle soreness and fatigue that is very short lived after exerting maximum physical effort versus the very painful, long lasting pain and extended fatigue and exhaustion associated with POST EXERTIONAL MALAISE. This is nothing to take lightly or abuse.
Quite simply, if exercise on whatever level makes you feel better than it’s obviously tolerated and appropriate. If it’s anything less than that…….don’t do it.
It can spin you into a severe relapse. Just an alternative view to some of the other comments made above.

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.

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.

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...