Living with Fibromyalgia

My story begins a few years back as a healthy, energetic, 35 year old female. I was working as a full time barber, exercising at least an hour or more a day, and definately was in the best shape of my entire life. My husband and I would go out a couple times a week and we would enjoy dancing and just being around other people. We live in Texas so on the weekends we would go to the canyons on the weekends and take our bikes and go riding. We also have a big family between us. I have 4 children of my own and he also has 4 of his. Needless to say we are a very happy family. Anyway, my life started to unravel little by little.

The first time I can remember something wasn’t right was when I was doing a haircut one day, for some reason I was getting really bad cramps in my feet and calves that made my toes curl under. I had to sit down several times that day just to straigten my feet out. I have never experienced anything like that so I bothered me a little so I just shrugged it off as nothing. Not too long after that I started having severe cramps in my legs at night in bed that woke me from sleep, in fact I remember waking up screaming and crying from the pain one night.

After a while I thought everything was ok. I was offered a great opportunity to take over a very busy barber shop so I did just that and my whole life was taking a turn for the better, but didn’t realize the problems that were about to break. I had been working in the new shop for maybe a month or two when everything began to change, I knew something wasn’t right but I continued to push my self thinking everything would be ok. My husband and I decided one weekend to take my daughter to the amusement park one day it was a little warm but I didn’t think anything of it, but when we came home I started feeling really shaky, weak, and a little frightened. Then I began having tremors so my husband decided to take me to the er. I found out that I had mononucleosis again so you could imagine the frustration I felt knowing I was going to take over the barber shop by myself the next morning!!!!!

Instead of staying home and taking care of myself like I should have I worked hard all day, exercised and tried to do too much. That was the biggest mistake I will ever make in my life. Soon after I began have muscle twitches (severe)in my legs that have finally made their way to my face and in places you would even dream. Numbness, tingling, stabbing burning pain came very soon after. I even had to go to the er a couple of times because my face muscle would droop on the left side that made me look like I had a stroke The dr. that visit did a lyme disease test that came back positive, but found out a month later it was a false positive. So for a whole month I thought they finally figured out my crazy symptoms. Yea right!! Anyway, I went through several neurologist, rheumatologist and other doctors, that thought I either had ms lou gehrigs, lupus, and other scary illness.

I made my second trip to Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale AZ, which was the best decision I’ve ever made. I was put through all the major testing mri’s,spinal taps and everything you can possibly think of. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia was finally made and explained to me in detail and I completely undertood what my doctors there were telling me. It is a very real misunderstood disorder that they still don’t know enough about which was refreshing coming from a great neurologist and rheumo at Mayo clinic!!! They treated me with the utmost respect and told me not to pay attention to doctors or anyone who doesn’t understand this disorder. So I don’t.

I feel better about knowing what is wrong with me but this illness can be really scary at times so I really feel for all of you and your family who is dealing with this crazy syndrome. I decided not to take any meds because they make me so tired I can’t function. I rest more, I only work part time now, but I push myself to exercise every day even when I feel bad, I believe that has helped me more than anything (well I pray alot too), and of course my wonderful family. God bless you