You’re absolutely right about our combination of conditions and how different these conditions can be for each of us. Living with pain especially, has made me feel alone in my struggle and isolated. My activity level changed and I stopped being able to do things with friends and family. As much as I’ve learned about self care, etc. I still have difficult days. After a hysterectomy in 97, my hormones went crazy and I was diagnosed with hypothyroid and depression. I had a couple back injuries prior, after working in the (plant) nursery business for many years. Then fibromyalgia in 03 after a head on automobile accident, but I had symptoms before the accident I just didn’t know what was going on. I was diagnosed with ddd. As my back has deteriorated, I’ve had a lot of pain but couldn’t always distinguish where my pain was coming from with fibro. After a back X-ray, I found out what’s going on there. Now a pain doc wants to do facet joint injections in my lumbar spine for nerve compression. I had a colonoscopy on Thursday, I have tortuous colon. After not being able to go for 11 days, I ended up at the emergency dept. I’ve spent the last 2 months waiting for an appointment with my gastroenterologist. Now this diagnosis!
I educate myself on what to do and how to best handle these different diagnosis. Obviously you have too, I commend you for that! Are you able to get out for walks or any exercise? That can be a big challenge with pain.