Has anyone been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia?

[kjade]

I was a few months ago.  I have also had panic/anxiety disorder for many years.  My panic attacks had stopped, pretty much, from years of therapy, reading, learning, ect.  But since hearing I have Fibro and having all those terrible symptoms, my panic attacks have come back ~ now they are really bad.  The Rheumatologist who diagnosed me told me to stay away from message boards for Fibro and I didn't listen. He said they would just scare me, and I would get alot of misinformation.  Actually, they have been very helpful in a lot of ways.  To find others suffering with the same issues and having them offer wonderful advice and insight can be very comforting.  But I do tend to read TOO much, and have scared myself again.

I keep doubting the Fibro dx, and continue to be obsessed with the idea that I have MS or Lyme disease or worse.  Of all the countless tests I have had over the years, I have never had MRI of the brain. (have had MRI of neck & cat scans of the brain though).  I have so many symptoms that are exactly the same as those with these conditions.  I have been suffering with dizziness so bad lately, that I can't walk right anymore.  Sometimes, I have to hold onto things because I feel like I'll fall.  My speech doesn't always come out right either. Just keeps scaring me more - I'm starting to think I'm losing my mind!

Thanks for listening.

[powderkeg241]

I was not sure what fibromyalgia was so I looked it up. I sounds so much like the typical symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. I do not (or have not been diagnosed) have fibromyalgia but the symptoms seem to fit me as well. That is why I hate the internet for symptoms. I am not a medical doctor but does your doctor know about your history with anxiety? The burning, stabbing, tingling in the neck, hips, and muscles, tendons, sounds so much like chronic anxiety symptoms to me.

Good luck to you

[kjade]

Fibro is complicated.  Yes my Drs all know I have anxiety/panic disorder.  It is always the first thing I tell the Dr since it has controlled most of my life.  Every time I see a new Dr for some strange new symptom, and they send me for test aftet test, I just wait to hear everything is fine - it must be the anxiety.  Fibro is different, but anxiety worsens the symptoms. It is like having 2 chronic conditions - each one makes the other worse.  Sorry, I didn't mean to scare anyone - Fibromyaglia is a chronic condition just like anxiety disorder.  You have to meet certain criteria to be dx'ed with FMS...
Anyway, I know what you mean about the Internet for symptoms - two different psychologists told me I need to stop reading and googling since I am so "suggestible".  They told me I can actually "create" symptoms by filling my head with this stuff.  Makes sense, I guess.  But I can't stop it.  ~SIGH~