Expert: Kathleen Lewis - 9/8/2009

Question
I think I may have fibromyalgia although I have not been diagnosed with it.  I have been suffering the symptoms of pain, severe fatigue, digestive problems, sleep problems, and depression for quite some time now.  These symptoms are greatly interfering with my life.  I am only 40 years old and feel like I am 80!!  My doctor seems to think I am in pain because I am depressed but I feel that I am depressed because I am in pain.  She continually wants to give me more or different anti-depressants because my lab tests seem to come back normal so again she insists it is just depression.  I am not sure what to do at this point.  I am so tired of feeling this way.  And, yes, it is depressing because I worry that my husband and children will soon grow tired of my declining state.  What suggestions do you have for me that may help me get a diagnosis, whether it be fibromyalgia or something else?

Answer
Hi Tanya,
I am so sorry that you have been suffering so and are so frustrated in your quest to find out what is wrong.  

Sometimes, it can take up to 7 years to diagnose a medical problem that has general symptoms, following them along with labs over time.  Different meds may be tried to see what response there may be.  Some antidepressants can actually help break up pain signals.  

You're right depression can make pain worse and pain can make depressions worse.  You need to help break the cycle in some way.  Work on the depression to try to make the pain better and the pain to make the depression better ... counseling wouldn't hurt.  My counselor became my greatest ally in my diagnostic process.

You can work on the pain with stretching and toning exercises, massage, heat and ice trigger points, etc., etc., etc..  Exercise can help fatigue, depression, sleep,and digestive problems.  Meditation and relaxation can help pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep, etc. etc.

Become scientific about your problems.  Keep a record of your symptoms on a month at a glance calendar and see what makes you worse and what makes you better to keep a record for you and your doc.  Become an observer of your health problems looking at them objectively!

Go to http://www.myalgia.com to learn more about FM.

God bless you and take care of yourself!

JOY{;-)AWE!
Kathleen