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[Flossie]

Hi, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia just before Xmas 2013 and have had a lot of muscle pains & severe aching and pain in my hips, calf muscles and, well, my whole legs actually ! I also get bouts of bursitis in one hip which is just miserable.
I know before diagnosis that hormones played a part in making the pain heightened and now that the hot flushes have started in earnest (up to 4 an hour), I know that the menopause is also kicking in (blood test also confirmed). I've not had a period for 3 months and before that was very intermittent.

I just wondered if anyone else is battling Fibro & menopause and how you deal & cope with everything. To top it all I have chronic hayfever whilst the tree pollen is floatingabout 

[Taz2]

Hi Flossie. There are quite a few of us on here, I believe, with fibro. Were you diagnosed by a rheumatologist and what medication have you been given?

I have had it since 1999 and meno didn't start for me until 2007 so I could easily distinguish between the two different sets of symptoms.

Your fibro pain should be symmetrical - do you find this is the case?

HRT has helped me in the past by alleviating the hot sweats and so aiding sleep. Poor sleep is one of the main triggers for fibro I believe. The main thing with fibro is to pace yourself - difficult to do but it really is the only way to start recovery. I hope you start to feel better soon.

Taz x 

[Hurdity]

Hi Flossie

Sorry to hear about your pain and fibromyalgia symptoms.

As you are being diagnosed at the same time as meno I presume your doctor/specialist has tested you for thyroid problems as well? Thyroid UK believe that one of the causes of fibromyalgia symptoms/syndrome is a problem with metabolism due to thyroid deficiencies.
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/related_conditions/fibromylagia.html

Also there was a woman on here who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and then moved elsewhere, went to a different GP, was given HRT and the symptoms disappeared. I understand that for some women also some of the symptoms are greatly lessened through taking HRT and wonder if you have considered this to see if it will help?

It must be so debilitating to have to cope with all of that pain as well as flushes so perhaps worth trying every avenue you can? Apologies if you already know all of this!

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

PS I meant to say that the info about thyroid was given to me by a very good friend who suffers from both fibromyalgia and thyroid problems and has read a huge amount about thyroid generally. She tells me that sometimes when she gets the thyroid medication wrong in relation to activity etc then her fibromyalgia returns but most of the time it is absent. I have no direct experience myself, but I pass it on in case it is of help to anyone else

Hurdity x

[Flossie]

Hello, yes the general pain is symmetrical in my legs but the bursitis in my right hip makes my right leg really painful as it goes down the outside of my thigh. I also have a sacroilliac issue on my right side so basically by right side is just knackered.

Sleep is a challenge and then when I do nod off I get a flush & I'm awake again.

To be honest I've suspected Fibro for at least 2 years but only got referred to a Rheumatologist after symptons got too much for me and my GP decided there was something going on.  I was beginning to  wonder if I had some other awful condition.
I take 10mg of Amitriptyline each evening with a few days break inbetween. It's the only meds I take currently as I don't want to rely of medication for the pain (I know, I'm stubborn). It was suggested I visit a pain clinic but I'm not sure what the purpose would be other than to talk about it - that's the impression I got.

I've wondered about my Thyroid for several years but any GP tests came back as normal, and I have had a few - but I have heard other people have had normal results & subsequently get diagnosed with a thyroid problem.

If I knock myself, hands, elbows, toes shins, shoulders etc. the pain is way more than you'd expect and the aching legs are just horrendous  and mostly at night time.

I do have an appoint on the 22nd to discuss things but the receptionist would only book a 10 min slot - & that was after a 2 week wait !!!!

[Flossie]

Sorry, I meant to add, thank you for the links,  will have a god read 

[Taz2]

I'm glad that you're on Amitryp but not sure why you have a break? It's important to keep the level up in the blood stream if you are to benefit properly. It's not being weak or giving in but something which may help you get back to proper health. It is also really good that you have been given the option of a pain clinic - again this can help enormously with the way you cope with the pain and then you may be able to relax more again leading to an improvement in the overall condition.

This is not something that you can get over by sheer willpower alone.  I found that out the hard way so don't think that you have failed by needing medication.

Taz x

[catlady]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia  17 years ago and started meno symptoms
14 years ago so I could tell the difference.

Do you have upper body pain too  ?
I can't tolerate any meds for fibro,  amitryp made feel on another planet.
The trouble with fibro meds is they become less sufficient over time so you
find yourself needing to try something else.

Hope you feel better soon. X

[Jaki T]

Yes, fellow Fibro sufferer here too! The symptoms far predated my diagnosis as I'd had symptoms for years.  Yes, it's worth getting thyroid tested but not everyone with Fibro has an undiagnosed thyroid problem.  That is one thing thing that irks me about the A-Z list of conditions at the top, there is no mention of Fibro or ME, as if these conditions don't exist really. I know many people who've had problems with getting their GPs to believe them 

[Jaki T]

Hi Sparkle

Yes, in the past. Vit D you have to pay for now so they just give you supps instead...not that I get in with them too well. Best source is the sun when it's here!

Jaki x

[Autumnlady]

Has anyone had inflammation markers up when diagnosed with low Vit D?

[Maryjane]

Autumn lady.....my Vit d was very low 34 along with other things and my inflammation markers were really low 0.1, so almost nil.

I think a lot of fibro is actually hormone related and lacking many of the vital nutrients , because as we age our guts find it harder to absorb these things. Do not take a "within range" from your GP , ask for a print off and then do your own research. It's how I found out about hubbues B12 deficiency and him heading for a wheel chair , now back at the gym three times a week.

[Jaki T]

Yup, Sparkle.  There are lot of deficiencies associated with Fibromyalgia.

[Autumnlady]

Thanks for your replies ladies. I don't know what my Vit D or B12 are but I am seeing the nurse tomorrow so will ask her if I can be tested as I have been on the Omeprazole many years.

It is my daughter who  has low Vit D. It was originally thought she had fibromyalgia as she has all the symptoms, especially the pain in her feet and shoulders. When she had blood tests it came back low Vit D and high inflammation markers so she is waiting to see a rheumatologist in January. She has been on the Vit D since September. She had repeat blood tests three weeks after being on the Vit D and the inflammation had gone down slightly. Hoping it will continue to do as they are now looking at Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as the fibro. I read that inflammation is not usually up with Fibro but can be with low vitamin D.