Helloooo...

Well, there are many theories of how fibro starts. Most docs would say it starts after a trauma (very common after whiplash from a car accident). Mine seemed to start after I had a knee replaced. I had to have three surgeries in total and after a year I realized the pain as now something different. That's when I was diagnosed.

There is also research that shows there is a difference in the brain of people who have fibro - can't quite recall what the difference is right now.

There are no diagnostic tests to confirm fibro. A good doc. will rule out everything else. I have been tested for lupus, lymes disease, rheumatoid arthritis, toxic metals, thryoid disorder, and many other inflammatory tests that woud indicate possible cancer if the numbers were off. After all the tests it showed I am iron deficient, magnesium deficient (very common in fibro sufferers), vitamin d deficien. Some of these deficiencies could also be from having gastric bypass surgery.

After ruling all the diagnosable illnesses, they also will do a physical examine where they will apply minimal pressure to certain pressure points. If you have pain, not discomfort, in a majority of thse points they will diagnose with fibro.

No cure, no tx really. I was on pain killers but there is only so long you can take those and the milder pain killers don't work.

I get a massage every two weeks, I went for reflexology for the first time - my sister does it and I never had her do it until this weekend, I go to the chiropractor (use to be every week but wallet is getting light so now it's every two or three weeks), hypnotherapy once a week for pain mgmt (just started), and for the last 8 weeks I have been on a wheat/dairy/sugar free diet. I'm on anti-depressants but that as from far before this diagnosis. I recently went on provigil to help with extreme exhaustion.

The diet really has not helped the pain, but I've lost 23 pounds. And I found out I'm allergic to tomatos!

There is testing on a new pain killer that will work with the pain receptors in the brain and it will be a non-narcotic drug with none of the side effects of current narcotics. Sounds like a dream to me!

-Tranquility