Finally Went To Va About Fibromyalgia

[fortitudine]

So after about a year and a half of feeling like shit, I stumbled on the fibromyalgia discussion on this forum. Long story short, I was convinced that I should seek treatment at the VA hospital.

I had my first appointment late December. Told the doctor (actually a nurse practitioner) about the constant and widespread pain, stiffness, depression, fatigue, and memory/concentration problems. She didn't seem to be paying much attention as I talked to her, and she even took a long phone call in the middle of my appointment. Then we spent an inordinate amount of time talking about how I should quit using tobacco (I agreed to the nicotine gum just to get the discussion back on track). She brought up arthritis and fibro, and asked me about meds I've tried. I told her I'd tried gabapentin, duexis (800 mg ibuprofin), and advil, none of which did anything for the pain. I got a ton of blood work done at the lab before she sent me away with the gum and a slip for 400mg Ibuprofen.

I called several times over the next few weeks inquiring about the blood work, but never heard back. So I returned Friday to see her again. I was in an enormous amount of pain that morning (more than usual), and I think she could see it. She referred me to the rheumatologist, ordered more blood work, and prescribed muscle relaxers and etodolac (arthritis pain medication). The muscle relaxer surprisingly made me feel worse. I'm not sure about the etodolac because it knocks me out before I can feel any improvement with the pain. But I'm at least satisfied that I'll be seeing a specialist in the near future.

Just want to thank you guys for sharing your stories and convincing me to get help with this. I'll keep this thread updated with any progress I make.

[fortitudine]

Thanks everyone. Buck, I will definitely try getting the report of the exam after each visit. That sounds like a good habit to get into! The blood workup came back normal (cholesterol, platelets, etc.) with the exception that I was vitamin D deficient. Which explains why I received Vitamin D supplement in the mail without any prior explanation of why I was getting it!

Kelly, I registered for the burn pit exposure list, but I haven't heard of any presumptives for it. I signed up for myhealthvet but I can't access the records until I get the premium account verification. And the doc IS mediocre. Seems like she wants to give me pills and get me out the door. I've at least started to be more upfront to the doc about my pain levels, whereas I used to be much more reserved about it.

Still waiting to hear about my referral to the rheumatologist.

[63SIERRA]

the registrys are all bullshit. its just another hollow apeasement to try and convince desert storm vets they give a rats ass., The fact that the VA tries every few year to close the door on veterans filing gulf war related claims of presumed nature, tells the real story.

They will deny as long as possible, screw as many as possible just like they did our fathers and uncles and grandfathers in Vietnam, with agent orange.. It took a massive lawsuit called Neimer actions just to get them to admit what they already knew.

Its all a big smokescreen.

VERY few desert storm vets get comp for presumptive illnesses. The va is quick to give desert storm vets 20 or 30 percent for a bum knee, but avoid the presumptives like the plaque.

Never believe anything the VA tells you,,,, watch what they are doing.!!!!

Edited January 21, 2015 by 63SIERRA

[63SIERRA]

Every time they set a date to end eligibility to file for a gulf war related ilnesses every desert storm vet should go file a claim for it, so that later on, when symptoms worsen, they wont have missed the boat . Some things are very gradual, or you think its normal, until your tested for it, like memory, sleep disturbances, muscle stiffiness, joint pain, ect.

THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR !!!

[fortitudine]

Sierra, you're right about the cutoff date. Although I served in OIF, and not the Gulf War/Desert Storm, I think the presumptives are the same. My father suffers a number of illnesses from agent orange (including alzheimer's), so I know what you mean.

Truth is I should have had this all checked out earlier.

[onrope]

fortitudine...Good luck in your process. I was granted 0% for Fibro. Only because I am not being treated for it. My PCP still denies it's Fibro. My next step will be go to my outside Dr. and try and get treatment.

My labs are all normal with the exception my vitamin D is slightly low. So they give me a vitamin D pill, B12 pill and meloxicam for my widespread muscle and joint pain. All of which have done nothing for relief.

[fortitudine]

Thanks onrope. Good luck to you with your treatment and claim. Strange that we both had low vitamin D. If you're up north as I am, maybe it's the lack of sunlight.

Rheumatology called today and told me my appointment was Feb 9th. The etodolac is completely ineffective, and the flexerol helps only slightly with the morning stiffness. Also, I'm not sure if its some sort of flare up, or something else, but the pain and stiffness have been unbearable as of late. Most days I can barely move in the mornings, and it takes some time just to stand up straight and walk normally. And I've been sleeping even less than normal because I wake up to pain before I even try to stand. All I want right now is to get some meds that will actually help.