New here---wondering what he heck is going on?

I had replied this on someone else's post, but I'm really worried about even asking this, so I'm reposting this as its own thread:

Hi You all,

I've never been here, and don't know much about fibro...I saw a comercial for some medicine and they described in general terms what it feels like (what it is) and it sounded scarily similar to what I've been experiencing.

I am scared to even consider the possibility but, what is Fibro?  How does it feel? What are the symptoms?

I feel tired all the time, like the nerves in my back, shoulders, legs, feet toes, etc are...burning, or like little needles all over the place, like too much electricity running through the "wires" of the nerves.

There are times when the pain on the back of my left shoulder blade, all the way up the neck to the base of the skull,  is so tight that, I just have to lie down and do nothing for hours.

3 months ago or so, I was diagnosed with ADD and Anxiety and began to take alprazolam 0.25mg (up to 3 times a day if needed - and this seems to help with the physical burning feelings...which triggers the anxiety..so first I feel the physical and then I get very stressed and anxious, so I take the alprazolam, and that seems to help with both physical and mental...for about 30 minutes.).

I was also given a prescription for something very similar to Adderall (its called Dextrostat ) and that seemed to help initially with the ADD (and Depression that I've had for at least 5 years.)

But now I worry that these physical sensations might be either

A) triggered by the Adderall/ or Alprazolam  OR
B) made worse by it.

Please don't scare me anymore by telling me what you have "heard" about these medicines that I'm taking with A LOT of care and almost unwillingly because the alternative its a different kind of hell of confusion, forgetfullness, frustration and worry. 

If you've taken them and noticed a cause-effect relationship to Fibro, please tell me...other than that I really don't need anything else to feel bad/ worry about (like the original poster, I too have been shamed for needing this medications that, whatever else they do, they did help me to function (mentally and emotionally) but now it is the physical pain that is ofcourse worrying me.  Tylenol does NOT seem to help at all.

I just want to feel normal (not depressed, anxious, tired, confused, and especially NOT in physical pain)  because this is all becoming like a nervous vicious circle that I dont' know, if one thing is related to another (directly) or not...forgive me if I sound frustrated.

I am scared, sad and feeling lonely, confused AND in physical pain. 

btw, prior to WLS back in 2002, I did NOT have any addictions (even the obesity had more to do with a back injury and the inability to do mucy), anxiety or painful/burning feelings of any kind.

help!

 Chrstian, it's Jen, the original poster. 
I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. 
No one deseves this kind of of suffering. Very generally speaking fibro is characterised by constant pain and aching throughout the body, severe fatigue, forgetfulness, mental foginess, stiffness in joints also usually are depression and frequently anxiety. I think the physical symptoms cause the mental symptoms. 
This is just a VERY basic description of fibro. And it can be different for everyone. Its odd, Hippocrates originally described fibro but we still dont have any real answers for the sufferers. There is a lot of resources online so google it. Feel free to come here for any support and we will be here for you and try to help as much as we can. 
I won't recomend any medicines because I have not found anything that really helps. Don't let others judge you or hurt you for seeking relief from your pain. Don't be me. 

Hi Jen,

Thanks for your reply and info...I'm just so tired of trying to figure out what the heck is going on...and has been going on for a while, that I'm both tired of searching for an answer (out of funds, no insurance, so additional test etc are nearly impossible) and yet see the need to find out, once and for all what's the what.

Thank you both for being so welcoming...exactly what I needed...I'll have to digest (and research...though probably wont for a while, just 'cause...you know).

But I will not forget how nice you both were.

hugs,

Christian

Welcome Christian, men can indeed have fibro, it tends to be more in women but men also can have it. My best description and one I often hear as a description is that it's like the worst flu you ever had except it never goes away. It is a misfiring or over activity of the nerves. We often just feel like all our nerves and muscles are on overdrive, sensitive to everything. That may be why some of your ADD drugs help it because it maybe calms that part of the brain where the over active nerves are firing. I would stronly suggest you see a rheumatologist or a pain clinic to get an exact diagnosis. There are pressure points they can test to see if you respond. Unfortunately as far as treatment goes it is trial and error for each person, what works for one doesn't automatically work for another. You have to keep working with a doc to get the right combination. You are more than welcome here, we are a pretty nice bunch of people and definately understand your pain. Use the internet and find more info and there are some good books out there on fibro so educate yourself. You may have to educate your docs too because alot of them don't know much about it. Feel free to visit here anytime!

Hi Hislady,

Thanks for your reply and info...I'm just so tired of trying to figure out what the heck is going on...and has been going on for a while, that I'm both tired of searching for an answer (out of funds, no insurance, so additional test etc are nearly impossible) and yet see the need to find out, once and for all what's the what.

Thank you both for being so welcoming...exactly what I needed...I'll have to digest (and research...though probably wont for a while, just 'cause...you know).

But I will not forget how nice you both were.

hugs,

Christian

With no insurance it is difficult but you might try seeing a chiropractor which should be much cheaper than a doc and all of their tests.Actually it was a chiropractor that diagnosed me and then it was confirmed by my doc. Most chiros will know about the pressure points to test. I hope you are able to get some help, it's a rough disease to deal with. Feel free to come here and we'll help all we can, best of luck to you!!