While at my desk one day at my office, I was working along and felt a sudden 'pop!'. It came from my head. Suddenly everything faded to black. When I started to come to I was very confused as to what had happened. I figured it was a vasovagal episode and went to get some fresh air and water. From that day forward I started to have weird neurological symptoms. I was dizzy and felt nauseated. My hands and legs went numb. I had shortness of breath and weird chest pain. I couldn't remember simple things and was at loss for words when I wanted to speak. I did not feel the same and I could not understand what had happened to me.
Over the course of the next 5 years (2007-2012) I went to see every type of specialist you can think of. Family Physicians, Gastroenterologist, Neurologist, Rheumatologist, Physical Therapists, Pain Clinics and Psychologist. In 2009 I had an episode where I fainted and hit my head at my home. From that day forward, my symptoms progressed exponentially and pain seared through every part of my body. I had every diagnostic test imaginable, ruling out common and obscure diseases and conditions. I was told that I was developing an anxiety disorder by one E.R. physician, as years went by and no one could find a cause for my pain or understand the severity of the debilitating symptoms I dealt with everyday. Most of the doctors I saw believed the pain I was experiencing was real, but they did not have the answer to what it was. I started looking into the Mayo Clinic, I needed to know what was wrong with me and I was at my wits end, and was barely functioning. I decided to make an appointment at the University of Michigan and in February 2012 I found a Rheumatologist who finally diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. I had a name for the disorder, which I was ecstatic about, but now, what kind of treatment was going to help me?
For those of you unfamiliar with what Fibromyalgia feels like, below are a list of my symptoms.
- Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy
- Insomnia or waking up feeling just as tired as when I went to sleep
- Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long
- Difficulty remembering, concentrating
- Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea
- Tension or migraine headaches
- Jaw and facial tenderness
- Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Hard to do physical activities without lots of pain
- A feeling of swelling in the hands
- Dizziness
- Knots in upper back
- Widespread pain throughout body
- Problems hearing, ringing in ears
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle spasms in legs, arms back
- Slurred speech
- Pins and needle sensation, Numbness, itching, burning, tearing, stabbing sensation
The McGill pain scale shows the level of pain Fibro patients feel compared to other ailments, so you can get a real world idea.
There are a plethora of medications approved to use for the disease, from pain meds, anti-depressants, muscle relaxants and sleep medications. I myself have negative effects from most medications. I'm very sensitive to drugs and usually suffer from the side effects. I tried Neurontin, which is a anti-seizure medication, for a few months and it only took the edge off the intensity of my pain, and I felt like a zombie on it. I also take Hydrocodone if I have an extreme flare up. It's usually my last line of defense before I have to go to the Emergency Room (which I have not had to do in a few years, thankfully). I stopped taking medication in 2012 after I learned I was pregnant (more about that topic later!) and decided to take a Eastern Medicine approach to manage my day to day pain.
Acupuncture: a healing method that that increases blood flow and production of the body’s natural painkillers. Acupuncture involves stimulating points on the body by inserting thin needles into the skin. I try to schedule an appointment every other week to keep my blood from becoming stagnant and make sure it's moving to all the areas of my bodies as it should be.
Cupping therapy: an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine in which practitioners believe mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing. Glass cups are lit on fire and then placed on your skin which creates a suction and brings blood to the surface of your skin. I usually receive this therapy when I'm in a bad flare. The cupping does leave bruising which will usually takes a few weeks to go away.
Massage: an integral part of therapy for fibromites is massage. The healing touch of a certified masseuse on the painful muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue should be done weekly. I try to go as much as I can, my insurance does not cover this therapy, but I go a few times a month at least.
Diet: I eat a gluten free and mostly pescetarian diet. I also don't eat dairy, and stay away from sugar. Caffeine is also a trigger for me as well. I stay away from packaged food as its processed with chemicals and preservatives.
Yoga: one of the frustrating things about this condition is that I can NOT do any kind of strenuous exercise. Anything that is repetitive or heavy will hurt me BAD. I can not lift weights or do any rigorous cardio. I was very happy to find that I can do yoga. I practice twice a day and it has made a tremendous change in my life. I hurt less when I stick to my routine and I really like the lean muscle it's given me.
Meditation: quieting the mind and becoming conscious can really transform everything that you do. Being in chronic pain, you really need to remodel your brain to control and lessen the signals it's being given. The technique of meditation is to become aware of your pain, but not try to run away or fixate on it. By letting it be and being mindful of it, you come to terms and can control it. I practice in the morning and evening. It's been a great tool for my physical and mental health. You must learn to master your mind.
I truly believe that a holistic approach to well being should be your first approach. Most of the things listed above are considered "Alternative Therapies" but I think they should be your first choice when promoting wellness. I also believe that centuries of human beings have proved that the body has the ability to support itself. Conventional treatment is not your only option. Please explore your choices, you are the master of your destiny and you have to take your own health in your hands! I am not pain free, every day is still a struggle, but now I realize I can choose to live the best day I possibly can with some of the tools I use to manage my health.
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