Hi everyone, I’m Carmen, 63 years old, mostly retired now. (I decided last year that I was tired and would rather live poor on social security and working part time than deal with more BS and be unhappy.)
Anyway, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia around 1993 but was told, based on my past symptoms, I’ve probably had it since I was 19 (1981) or before. I had a neck injury in 1984 from a bicycle wreck (bodies bounce on concrete) that causes stiffness and pain in the tendons and muscle. Torn medial meniscus in 1997 from an assault and surgery to repair it has brought on arthritis behind my right knee. Sciatica, mostly in my left hip. Carpal tunnel since around 1983. Arthritis in my right foot stemming from breaking my big toe in 1981. TMJ that causes head and jaw pain, especially because I don’t have a proper night guard (store bought). And now tinnitus after losing most of my hearing in my right ear.
Whew, when I put it all down at once it sounds like I am falling apart. But I’ve had chronic pain so long that it just seems to pile up instead of being dumped all at once.
So mentally, I have bipolar II disorder with hypomania. The physical and mental disorders kind of feed off of each other. And I’m a recovering aside (abstinent since 1997).
I’m not looking for any treatment ideas or cures. I do what I do to get through each day. Some are worse than others. I take the minimum amount of (mental health) medication necessary to keep me functioning as I don’t like having a foggy brain and I won’t take painkillers or muscle relaxants.
So hi everyone. It’s a beautiful day at the Oregon coast and I have the windows open.