Thanks Lstcats,
I very much appreciate your message.

I am sorry to hear about your financial situation. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you not to have any support in your condition. I have been fortunate so far as to have my husband suppotring me emotionally and financially. However, he still struggles to understand how I am fine one day and not the next. And because of my condition our love life has taken a toll. I used to have someone help around the house. But, with the economy, I started doing things myself. We cut down on some things because my husband is in finance, and I never know how the market will be, which gives me alot of anxiety.

It's horrible that there is such a shortage of nursing instructors, yet schools are not willing to accept any help that they can get. Are you able to do any type of private duty care (like pediatrics, since adults may be hard to lift) ?

My medication (Cymbalta) slightly helps my back pain and helps me sleep a little better. I have only been on it for two weeks and at first I was nauseaous. Then, the doctor decreased my dosage. However, I only get 4-5 hours of sleep straight through on average. So
I am usually tired ( both my mind and body). Eating the wrong things and doing certain things around the house often aggrevates my condition. Once I eat the wrong things. it is hard to get back into the right routine because I am too fatigue to grocery shop and cook at times.

With your expertise and condition, would your recommend the PN program or the RN program ?

Well thank-you for all of your help, and I hope to talk to you soon.

I have been an ED nurse for many years and I have to tell you... The majority of doctors and nurses that I have worked with, laugh when they see the word "Fibromyalgia" in the pt's history.

I don't know if it is real or not; I haven't researched it. I do feel that there probably are people that have been wrongly diagnosed.

This may sound wrong, but my advice for people who have Fibromyalgia and need to visit the ED for something unrelated is to not include it in your history. In many cases, you will be taken more seriously.

[quote=HouseWifenpa;3311086]Thanks Lstcats,
I very much appreciate your message.

I am sorry to hear about your financial situation. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you not to have any support in your condition. I have been fortunate so far as to have my husband suppotring me emotionally and financially. However, he still struggles to understand how I am fine one day and not the next. And because of my condition our love life has taken a toll. I used to have someone help around the house. But, with the economy, I started doing things myself. We cut down on some things because my husband is in finance, and I never know how the market will be, which gives me alot of anxiety.

THANK YOU.:wink2: yes, you hit it right on the mark. No husband and really no body to help. they did last year once or twice but nothing since then. people are too "busy" and I can't stand that. I am sure not busy. Yes, it is hard financially and big reason why I want to move to FL. I have been blogging a lot on the FL website. so sorry about your love life as that must be really hard. Funny, but I only want a husband to help and take care of me or anyone for that matter. I can't imagine having sex again anyway. Yes, I have had hired housekeepers over the past year and ahalf which has cost me around $900 to 1000 dollars total. I just can't do that anymore. Then I had my friend's 13 year old son and he does okay but not good like I want it but I pay him $5 an hour which is far less than the $25 everyone else gets.

It's horrible that there is such a shortage of nursing instructors, yet schools are not willing to accept any help that they can get. Are you able to do any type of private duty care (like pediatrics, since adults may be hard to lift) ?

I just got word today that I am not needed for next semester because students have withdrawn or failed out. Out of 65 students, they expect only 40-45 to go on to 2nd semester. See, I only have a BSN so, I am really limited. I tried school online MSN twice in the past year and dropped the class because of my poor health. I had a consulting job but doesn't seem to be materializing. Many friends and my Mother tell me that I should apply for disability. I don't want to do that but maybe I should try. If something doesn't turn around then I will have to sell just to get some $$ and then will make the move to FL. I know I should but how to move w/ the FM flares and the stress of a move and also my two cats. But, I have a strong belief in God and He will get me through. My sleep apnea is so much better lately and I believe God is curing that for me.

My medication (Cymbalta) slightly helps my back pain and helps me sleep a little better. I have only been on it for two weeks and at first I was nauseaous. Then, the doctor decreased my dosage. However, I only get 4-5 hours of sleep straight through on )

MY Computer just erased a bunch of stuff I just wrote. i will write more later as I am exhauted now and need to get up as I sat so long.

[quote=Lstcats;3314128]

Originally Posted by HouseWifenpa

Thanks Lstcats,
I very much appreciate your message.

I am sorry to hear about your financial situation. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you not to have any support in your condition. I have been fortunate so far as to have my husband suppotring me emotionally and financially. However, he still struggles to understand how I am fine one day and not the next. And because of my condition our love life has taken a toll. I used to have someone help around the house. But, with the economy, I started doing things myself. We cut down on some things because my husband is in finance, and I never know how the market will be, which gives me alot of anxiety.

THANK YOU.:wink2: yes, you hit it right on the mark. No husband and really no body to help. they did last year once or twice but nothing since then. people are too "busy" and I can't stand that. I am sure not busy. Yes, it is hard financially and big reason why I want to move to FL. I have been blogging a lot on the FL website. so sorry about your love life as that must be really hard. Funny, but I only want a husband to help and take care of me or anyone for that matter. I can't imagine having sex again anyway. Yes, I have had hired housekeepers over the past year and ahalf which has cost me around $900 to 1000 dollars total. I just can't do that anymore. Then I had my friend's 13 year old son and he does okay but not good like I want it but I pay him $5 an hour which is far less than the $25 everyone else gets.

It's horrible that there is such a shortage of nursing instructors, yet schools are not willing to accept any help that they can get. Are you able to do any type of private duty care (like pediatrics, since adults may be hard to lift) ?

I just got word today that I am not needed for next semester because students have withdrawn or failed out. Out of 65 students, they expect only 40-45 to go on to 2nd semester. See, I only have a BSN so, I am really limited. I tried school online MSN twice in the past year and dropped the class because of my poor health. I had a consulting job but doesn't seem to be materializing. Many friends and my Mother tell me that I should apply for disability. I don't want to do that but maybe I should try. If something doesn't turn around then I will have to sell just to get some $$ and then will make the move to FL. I know I should but how to move w/ the FM flares and the stress of a move and also my two cats. But, I have a strong belief in God and He will get me through. My sleep apnea is so much better lately and I believe God is curing that for me.

My medication (Cymbalta) slightly helps my back pain and helps me sleep a little better. I have only been on it for two weeks and at first I was nauseaous. Then, the doctor decreased my dosage. However, I only get 4-5 hours of sleep straight through on )

MY Computer just erased a bunch of stuff I just wrote. i will write more later as I am exhauted now and need to get up as I sat so long.

Lstcats,
Housework can be difficult for me at times. It makes me tired or gives me back pain. My little sister helps me sometimes and I pay her 5$ an housr as well, but it lacks professional quality.

I am sorry to hear about your job and your schooling. I don't haven have a 4 year degree. I was in school a few times before and kept getting sick, so I kept stopping. I thought I was just lazy or wan't focusing enough. Then I found out that I had lupus and fibromyaglia. Do you have any other related conditions ? Hopefully, I can at least get through LPN school.

I am not sure how the disability laws work in your state. I know someone who had an on the job accident and has some permanent brian damage and was cut off of disability. He has a basic job, but it's barely enough to pay the bills. Its as if, if you can work a few hours doing anything even if its a minimum wage job that cant support you, then they don't want to give you disability. Yet, if you have 10 kids and you are on crack, you can get welfare. ( Don't get me wrong I am all for helping single mothers, but there are too many people who take advantage of welfare and neglect their children) Maybe you should try to look it up now, because it may take awhile to get. Especially with a condition that many do not believe trully exists. I hope (if you decide to) you will get evaluated by people who understand the condition.

Florida is so nice and warm, I wouldn't mind living there. The winter's cause me such flare ups. Flordia housing also seems so much more affordable compared to other areas. Well, please keep in touch and let me know how things work out for you.

Originally Posted by wealthpro

The majority of doctors and nurses that I have worked with, laugh when they see the word "Fibromyalgia" in the pt's history.

This may sound wrong, but my advice for people who have Fibromyalgia and need to visit the ED for something unrelated is to not include it in your history. In many cases, you will be taken more seriously.

This is just so sad to read!
It makes me feel so ashamed of the Medical and Nursing Profession to know that these attitudes are still alive and well. Since, we don't know enough about something and seeing this chronic pain affects women, for the most part, it must be made up. Okay. Whatever.

Remember when ulcers were only caused because of stress? Calm down, relax, take something for anxiety....this ulcer is only caused because of your anxiety and stress. It's all because of what you are thinking.
Funny how things change.

Try having bipolar disorder on top of FM and being told that "You're bipolar disorder causes your FM and you are depressed and this causes your FM". And, also ridiculed by this and told to "You need to calm down and relax." When I am just sitting there telling the doctors what is going on. FYI, I went to the ER by ambulance this past May from an auto accident where someone hit me and ran from the scene. The doctor came in and her first thing she said was "So you have schizophrenia?" I couldn't believe it. I said, "NO, I don't." I couldn't even see her because I was in a C-collar looking up at the ceiling. She didn't even get near me. She was horrible and when I tried to tell her about the accident she whipped off the strap from my head and I said, "Oh, that hurt". She didn't say a word. I told my psychiatrist and my PCP what happened and the lawyer (it is listed as a diagnosis in the ER report). All of them are flabbergasted. And, I have not had a manic episode in a couple years due to being on Lamictal and I am not depressed until the FM starts. I'm so sick of doctors (I have had a reealy rough two years) that I am no longer going to any doctors. The OSA was cured. I think God cured it. See my blog about sleep apnea in another section. So, the medical community needs to wise up. My rheumatologist is horrible and it is obvious to me that she does not believe in FM.

I tried Lyrica, a couple of yrs ago, I took 1 pill, of 25mg, 24hrs later, I had to drive to work. I felt so foggy, I ran into a cement thing in parking lot, it was painted bright yellow, and huge, wrecked the front of my Jeep Commander (very sturdy vehicle). So My understanding is that it gets better, but we decided I had an adverse reaction to it. So I don't know, maybe someone has had better luck with it than I did.

Originally Posted by kizzykatlove

i have fibro and have had it for years, i haven't had to much trouble with it until the last few weeks . last night i had a horrible flare up and was in alot of pain. i didn't sleep a wink... i took motrin and a muscle relaxer and amytripline ( excuse my spelling ) and i had some lortab from an old foot injury and took one and nothing helped. i need to go to the doctor..
i am a RN and work those long 12 hour shifts on my feet and it kills me.

last night my knees . hips. elbows wrists everything hurt , i was so stiff and sore... and i am exhausted today luckily i didn't have to work today,

has anyone tried lyrica ? i wondered how it worked i am thinking of asking for a script for it...

i had lyme diease as a child and i think it brought the fibro on , although i just didn't link them together until recently.

thank you all for your posts. i love reading them

Originally Posted by smiles04

Please dont take lyrica that stuff sucks get real help by a pain management doc. lyrica will have you forgetting things dizzy wigging totally even after you are on it awhile you seriously won't know what your doing.

I haven't heard horror stories about Lyrica that even compare to Cymbalta!

How Cymbalta ever got on the market defies explanation.

Originally Posted by I love my cat!

This is just so sad to read!
It makes me feel so ashamed of the Medical and Nursing Profession to know that these attitudes are still alive and well. Since, we don't know enough about something and seeing this chronic pain affects women, for the most part, it must be made up. Okay. Whatever.

Remember when ulcers were only caused because of stress? Calm down, relax, take something for anxiety....this ulcer is only caused because of your anxiety and stress. It's all because of what you are thinking.
Funny how things change.

I recently tried to read a book about the history of Lyme Disease, and gave up in frustration and took it back to the library because it made me so angry.

It was story after story of people who had all kinds of medical evidence that they were sick, and their doctors were falsifying records because they didn't want it known that they were diagnosing Lyme Disease. Even reporting them to the state board did no good. I almost wondered if the stories were made up!

I cannot for the life of me remember the book's title or author.

One other thing. Nerdse, if you see this, please write your posts in English. They will be much easier to read, and you will be easier to take seriously, if you do.

Does anyone else have "fibro fog?" I keep losing my train of thought. ( may also be from Lupus) I also have difficulty concentrating/focusing for more than a few minutes of time. How do you deal with it ? Do you ever feel that it compromises your patient's care ?

LstCats,
Have you tried going to different rheumatologists ? How was your FM diagnosed, by the rheumatologist you were seeing or by another physician ? I switched physician's within the same office. I like her more. But, it just seems like un less the physician has FM, they cannot understand how you feel and imagine how bad your symptoms are at times, if when you have you appointment you look physically fine.

I've tried Lyrica and had no success. I took it awhile ago and had some minor side effects.( My Grandmother had a bad reaction to it, which caused skin problems and hair loss. Now, I am on Cymbalta. At first I was nauseous and overly hyper on 30mg. Now, I am on 20mg and it helps some with my back pain and I am able to get more done during the day than I used to. I think different medications work for different symptoms and severities. People also have different reactions, so it is best to try what you think is best for you.