It's Been A Long Day
So, the last time I was here was about midway through 2009 and, at that time, things were OK. WOW, so much has happened since then I almost don't know where to start.
I was working at Microsoft at that time and enjoying the freedom of having an open workplace. This meant that I could come to work in shorts and my favorite hat and I had access to all the caffeine I could drink in one day. That ended in June of 2009 due to a year long contract that wasn't to be fulfilled because of cheaper labor from overseas. That being said, I really enjoyed my time there and made some great friends that I still talk to on occasion.
Late in 2010 I had a go at starting my own business. With most new and small businesses, that was not to be in my future.
All the while these things were happening, I was experiencing some pretty severe pain that some days kept me from getting out of bed. I can tell you that usually doesn't go over well with the employer but my wife and I soon started to realize this was not laziness. I decided to see my doctor to figure out why I was in pain all the time.
I was doing some research on my own and was starting to get a pretty good idea of what I thought was happening to my body but I needed to be sure. I saw my doctor in April of 2010 and discussed with him what I had been experiencing up to that point. We ran a battery of tests and talked at length about options about what might be going on but ultimately, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (FM). Now this is a condition that brings out the skeptics and park bench physicians. That created some natural concern on my part because I did not want my wonderful doctor to look at me as a "crazy" or telling me nothing was wrong. Nor did I want any doctors I chose to see after this diagnosis to refuse to treat me because of this "psychological condition" as it has been called in the past. The tests that were run all came back negative and that scared me. Being given negative test results is not always good. For people believed to have FM, a positive test result means that their condition has a possible treatment and it has a NAME. It is something they can attack with fervor and strength. It is something they can say definitively, I can't eat this or do that because it will affect me in a negative way. A negative test result for people with FM means that so much is left unsaid and undone. Yes, it has a name. Yes, there are certain things that you can avoid to make your life easier. Although there are some positives about being given negative test results, mostly you just feel lost that there are no proven treatments and medications are more miss than hit for the sufferers.
Being diagnosed with FM has changed my life quite drastically and I am no exception to the rule. Many diagnosed with this condition get to a point that they can no longer work or be productive even in the smallest of ways. Sitting in your car for even as little as 20 minutes can cause extreme pain. Try picking up your child who you love and adore only to have to put them down after only a few minutes because your arms are giving out. Helping your spouse at the grocery store or bringing the bags in from the car can bring fatigue in ways that many people may never experience.
Dealing with the chronic pain starts to affect you psychologically as well. I have regular appointments with a therapist who helps me to work through how my brain is coping with the constant barrage of pain signals that my body receives on a daily basis. Let's not forget the side effects from medications either. Try to remember the last time you had surgery or a sedation dentistry appointment. Remember how you had the "fog" of coming out of being sedated? Many people with FM experience some form of this "fog" every day. Varying degrees of pain are present in people who experience this medical problem and no two people are alike.
While I am sure that many more people deal with this condition than are diagnosed (especially men), I can assure you that many may be trying to take advantage of this condition because blood tests and other exams are not definite indicators of its existence within any given person experiencing similar symptoms. There are many things that may present similar symptoms but that could be remedied through proper testing, a change in diet or improved lifestyle choices.
Some things to remember are that you shouldn't see just one doctor. I started out with my regular physician, who diagnosed me, then I started to see other doctors as well. I did this for two reasons: First, always get a second opinion. There may be another explanation for what you are going through. Second, if the second doctor confirms what the first diagnosed, that is something called due diligence. You have taken some steps to properly inform yourself of what is REALLY going on. Let's not forget either that it is important to see a specialist. While my first doctor has always been really great, he does not specialize in rheumatology or gastroenterology. He is my primary physician for a reason and I trust him with most things that I experience although, I had enough support and information from those around me to see another doctor.
Keep that in mind when seeing any doctor and you should be equipping yourself for whatever comes your way. Cheers!
I was working at Microsoft at that time and enjoying the freedom of having an open workplace. This meant that I could come to work in shorts and my favorite hat and I had access to all the caffeine I could drink in one day. That ended in June of 2009 due to a year long contract that wasn't to be fulfilled because of cheaper labor from overseas. That being said, I really enjoyed my time there and made some great friends that I still talk to on occasion.
Late in 2010 I had a go at starting my own business. With most new and small businesses, that was not to be in my future.
All the while these things were happening, I was experiencing some pretty severe pain that some days kept me from getting out of bed. I can tell you that usually doesn't go over well with the employer but my wife and I soon started to realize this was not laziness. I decided to see my doctor to figure out why I was in pain all the time.
I was doing some research on my own and was starting to get a pretty good idea of what I thought was happening to my body but I needed to be sure. I saw my doctor in April of 2010 and discussed with him what I had been experiencing up to that point. We ran a battery of tests and talked at length about options about what might be going on but ultimately, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (FM). Now this is a condition that brings out the skeptics and park bench physicians. That created some natural concern on my part because I did not want my wonderful doctor to look at me as a "crazy" or telling me nothing was wrong. Nor did I want any doctors I chose to see after this diagnosis to refuse to treat me because of this "psychological condition" as it has been called in the past. The tests that were run all came back negative and that scared me. Being given negative test results is not always good. For people believed to have FM, a positive test result means that their condition has a possible treatment and it has a NAME. It is something they can attack with fervor and strength. It is something they can say definitively, I can't eat this or do that because it will affect me in a negative way. A negative test result for people with FM means that so much is left unsaid and undone. Yes, it has a name. Yes, there are certain things that you can avoid to make your life easier. Although there are some positives about being given negative test results, mostly you just feel lost that there are no proven treatments and medications are more miss than hit for the sufferers.
Being diagnosed with FM has changed my life quite drastically and I am no exception to the rule. Many diagnosed with this condition get to a point that they can no longer work or be productive even in the smallest of ways. Sitting in your car for even as little as 20 minutes can cause extreme pain. Try picking up your child who you love and adore only to have to put them down after only a few minutes because your arms are giving out. Helping your spouse at the grocery store or bringing the bags in from the car can bring fatigue in ways that many people may never experience.
Dealing with the chronic pain starts to affect you psychologically as well. I have regular appointments with a therapist who helps me to work through how my brain is coping with the constant barrage of pain signals that my body receives on a daily basis. Let's not forget the side effects from medications either. Try to remember the last time you had surgery or a sedation dentistry appointment. Remember how you had the "fog" of coming out of being sedated? Many people with FM experience some form of this "fog" every day. Varying degrees of pain are present in people who experience this medical problem and no two people are alike.
While I am sure that many more people deal with this condition than are diagnosed (especially men), I can assure you that many may be trying to take advantage of this condition because blood tests and other exams are not definite indicators of its existence within any given person experiencing similar symptoms. There are many things that may present similar symptoms but that could be remedied through proper testing, a change in diet or improved lifestyle choices.
Some things to remember are that you shouldn't see just one doctor. I started out with my regular physician, who diagnosed me, then I started to see other doctors as well. I did this for two reasons: First, always get a second opinion. There may be another explanation for what you are going through. Second, if the second doctor confirms what the first diagnosed, that is something called due diligence. You have taken some steps to properly inform yourself of what is REALLY going on. Let's not forget either that it is important to see a specialist. While my first doctor has always been really great, he does not specialize in rheumatology or gastroenterology. He is my primary physician for a reason and I trust him with most things that I experience although, I had enough support and information from those around me to see another doctor.
Keep that in mind when seeing any doctor and you should be equipping yourself for whatever comes your way. Cheers!
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