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Fibromyalgia

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flyfisher

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I served in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I have been recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia/ Myofascial syndrome by two seperate nurse practioners one of them being my primary care provider and the other in the pain clinic. My primary care provider filled out a Disability Benefits Questionnaire where she stated by pain was not responding to treatment and that her opinion that it was least as likely as not related to my service in the Persian Gulf and exposure to possible environmental causes. I have filed a claim with my VSO and still waiting on a decision. My primary care provider has completed all the blood work to rule out other causes such as arthritis. I have been referrred to neurology and rheumatolgy but have been denied to be seen as they tell me to be treated for chronic pain in response to the referrals.

Has anyone else who served in the Persian Gulf claimed fibromyalgia as a presumptive illness and been granted service connection. I am trying to gain information in case my claim gets denied. Any help would be appreciated.

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The thing about fibromyalgia is not only there is no cure; there is no standard of medical treatment. Medication that works for one person may not work for another. There is no standard of laboratory test to prove or disprove that a person has it. There is no magic pill to take away the pain. The only thing a person can do is try to see a rheumatologist for management. I say management because I have had several rheumatologists to tell me that they cannot do anything for me except monitor my condition to see if and when I may need surgery. They have also told me that I will most likely not need surgery because my pain is in my muscles, nerves, and tendons. Fibromyalgia is a bear to deal with. It is very frustrating and depressing knowing that you are very limited in the things that you can do and there is nothing you can do about it. Keep in mind that fibromyalgia is a cluster of symptoms from; Fatigue, IBS, Migraines, Sleep Disorder, trigger point pain, numbness and tingling in your extremities and other conditions that will just irritate you. Most doctors' will try to treat the separate symptoms but all that does it put medication in your body that seems not to work but if you don't take the medication you feel worst. I hope you fine some help but unfortunately I have not.

Thank you for this. I think only recently am I coming to terms with the possibility of being "disabled" for the rest of my life. It's been kind of a devastating thought at this point in my life right now. Been suffering for 6 years (since 21) already and have a baby on the way. I have 2 boys that I may not be able to be active in their lives *as I thought.* Expectations and realities for me are kind of a bummer right now.

I understand that there is no modern medicinal cure that has been studied and published. I am just now starting the process of starting diagnostic testing (getting appointments made) so that I can get some clues as to what I may have, although I think my current symptoms and past history, including the costochondritis diagnosis in 2008, I would be surprised if it were not fibromyalgia. I would like to get it documented and service connected so that at least I can have some type of history of care if it progresses even further.

It would just be nice to have a better idea what I am afflicted with so that I can start self-treating NOW (possible diets or stretches that may help, what to avoid/what to consume type of stuff) so that I don't have to wait on the VA boneheads to take a year or two to tell me that I might have a condition.

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I'm still pretty knew to this forum, but I'm grateful for how helpful you guys have been.

I feel like I'm losing my mind. I honestly can't remember when the problems started but best guess is around 2 years ago. I did 1 tour in Iraq in 2007-08. I'm currently rated 10% for back injury and 10% for tinnitus. Recently I stumbled upon an article about Gulf War Illness and I'm starting to wonder if the problems I've been having are connected.

The worst has been the pain. It is everyday but it moves around. Sometimes it's pretty much everywhere in my back, legs, arms, neck, knees, hips and elbows. Other times it might be just my back and legs, or back and neck etc. It's like a severe throbbing pain, and it's always worse after any sort of activity. I worked on my car one Saturday and I could barely function for the next 2 days from the pain and stiffness. Headaches have also become a regular occurrence

On top of that I've had trouble sleeping and always feel like I've barely slept. I always wake up frequently in the night. Depression and anxiety are frequent (but more depression than anxiety). Fatigue is less frequent than pain but definitely noticeable. My memory is slipping (which my wife is kind enough to point out constantly), and I regularly forget what I'm doing (like standing in the family room trying to figure out why the hell I'm in the family room). My left eye twitches uncontrollably at times, and I have persistent red bumps on my thighs and waist.

I'm not sure what to do. I am honestly affraid to bring these symptoms up with my doctor. I've been with him for about a year, and I suspect that he won't believe me because I've never mentioned these problems before. Hell, I was even embarassed to tell my wife about the pain. She knows about my back injury, but until last week she didn't know about the rest of it. I've started a log to describe the symptoms day-to-day, but even that has been difficult.

What would you guys suggest? It feels like I'm losing my mind.

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I'm still pretty knew to this forum, but I'm grateful for how helpful you guys have been.

I feel like I'm losing my mind. I honestly can't remember when the problems started but best guess is around 2 years ago. I did 1 tour in Iraq in 2007-08. I'm currently rated 10% for back injury and 10% for tinnitus. Recently I stumbled upon an article about Gulf War Illness and I'm starting to wonder if the problems I've been having are connected.

The worst has been the pain. It is everyday but it moves around. Sometimes it's pretty much everywhere in my back, legs, arms, neck, knees, hips and elbows. Other times it might be just my back and legs, or back and neck etc. It's like a severe throbbing pain, and it's always worse after any sort of activity. I worked on my car one Saturday and I could barely function for the next 2 days from the pain and stiffness. Headaches have also become a regular occurrence

On top of that I've had trouble sleeping and always feel like I've barely slept. I always wake up frequently in the night. Depression and anxiety are frequent (but more depression than anxiety). Fatigue is less frequent than pain but definitely noticeable. My memory is slipping (which my wife is kind enough to point out constantly), and I regularly forget what I'm doing (like standing in the family room trying to figure out why the hell I'm in the family room). My left eye twitches uncontrollably at times, and I have persistent red bumps on my thighs and waist.

I'm not sure what to do. I am honestly affraid to bring these symptoms up with my doctor. I've been with him for about a year, and I suspect that he won't believe me because I've never mentioned these problems before. Hell, I was even embarassed to tell my wife about the pain. She knows about my back injury, but until last week she didn't know about the rest of it. I've started a log to describe the symptoms day-to-day, but even that has been difficult.

What would you guys suggest? It feels like I'm losing my mind.

I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist

My suggestion would be for you to seek treatment whether it is VA or private treatment. Keep in mind that chronic physical problems can cause mental problems (depression and or anxiety) and they can cause relationship problems. You may need to talk to your wife about your situation and what you are going through. The sooner you start the better for you and your family

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I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist

My suggestion would be for you to seek treatment whether it is VA or private treatment. Keep in mind that chronic physical problems can cause mental problems (depression and or anxiety) and they can cause relationship problems. You may need to talk to your wife about your situation and what you are going through. The sooner you start the better for you and your family

Thanks, Pete. I think I will try to talk with my doctor about it first, before I go to the VA. It has definitely caused some relationship problems, but now that she knows I think it will be easier to work through them in the future.

Has anyone else tried to keep a daily log of their symptoms? I'm having some trouble with it and wondering if anyone else has tried it. If anyone has, did you show it to your doctor?

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Fibromyalgia is one of the presumptive conditions of the gulf war syndrome. I didn't even have a rheumatologist diagnose me and I was approved first time. I now see a pain specialist routinely and I on medication which has helped some not a complete cure.

What do you mean by "presumptive condition?"

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