Fibromyalgia.

[Through-Glass]

FMS (Fibromyalgia Syndrome) is an arthritic illness, causing widespread aches and pains, chronic headaches, muscle stiffness, and chronic fatigue. FMS is also linked to Major Depressive Disorder and anxiety.

My mother was diagnosed with this when I was an infant, and I have always known her to, often, be too exhausted to do things that seemed simple to me, like shopping at the mall. Now, I am SO worried that I might have it, too.

I've always had trouble with aches and pains. It feels like I was the only seven-year-old in the world to complain of migraines and stiff shoulders. Still, it wasn't much of an issue...at least, not until I was about fourteen.

I began treatment for chronic migraines when I was fourteen, after seeing a neurologist and having an Occipital Nerve Block treatment (I also had nerve pain at the base of my skull). I still get frequent headaches, but not nearly as bad as before. If I miss my medication, however, I'm pretty much useless...my migraines include a pounding headache, as well as nausea and dizziness.

When I was fifteen, I started psychotherapy and began taking anti-depressants...I was diagnosed with major depression. I still struggle to this day, but my medication has seemed to be my saving grace.

Over the past few months, my general stiff shoulders and aches and pains have gotten WAY out of hand. I constantly struggle at work, because my job requires a lot of bending over/crouching down, which almost always causes muscle cramps and soreness in my legs. When I'm not at school or working, I sleep. I go to bed early and, when I can, sleep in late.

It feels like my whole body hurts CONSTANTLY, and I swear I'm about to snap. I can't even do the things I WANT to do any more...when I was at the mall with my boyfriend the other day, I almost broke down crying because my feet and legs were hurting so bad from walking around.

I don't know what to do. I know I need to go to the doctor, but I'm scared of what they will say. My Medicaid will be cut off in about two years, I can't afford to take many more medications or go to the doctor more than I already do...

[Tonight]

My mom has Fibromyalgia.She's been trying for years to find something that works.Last summer she tried Lyrica and though she needed a higher dose she felt so much better and I even noticed a difference in her activity level and her overall mood (unfortunatly it was too expensive to continue).