I have a dilemma

My doctor says I either have MS or, as he put it, world class fibromyalgia. He's referring me to a neurologist. Neither option sounds too good to me. If you had your druthers, which one would you pick?

I hope you get this straightened out though, as soon as you can. :hug:

:hug:

I've been suffering for years and being treated for fibromyalgia. Some new symptoms have emerged that make my doctor think I have MS. That really scares me, but it explains a lot.

on edit: I can't speel.

MS is fatal. I think my sister's in the same boat, but she refuses to have a spinal tap done.

Best to you, ginbarn. :hug:

:hug:
Fibro just makes you wish it was fatal. MS usually manifests in the late twenties and early thirties. A guy I work with is my age and we thought we were out of the woods. He just was diagnosed. I'm terriried of MS.

My dad was diagnosed with MS when I was a kid. He's been relatively lucky in that his limbs still work--though his muscles ache in extreme weather. However, he did lose most of his eyesight to the disease. He's been living with it for 24 years now and so far so good, but it's such an unpredictable disease.

And fibromyalgia--a few years ago my doctor thought I might have that (I had horrible pains in my legs and all my muscles were weak) but it ended up being something else. I don't know what world class fibromyalgia feels like, but if what I had was even remotely like it--ugh.

I hope they figure out what's going on with you so they can figure out how best to treat you. Living with pain is no good. :hug:

With MS, you have to give yourself intramuscular injections of interferon. Not only does it hurt like hell, but you have flu like symptoms the next day.

I had an extreme fibro attack a couple of days ago. My foot crapmed so badly the my big toe was actually touching the bottom of my foot. It traveled up my leg, into my hip, through my back and into my neck. It was nasty, but you just have to ride it out. I take muscle relaxers, but they don't ward off the big guns.

At lest there's medicine for MS, evem if it is eventually fatal. I don't know - it's not like I have a choice here, but damn!

:hug:

But you're right, there are treatments for MS and as Misunderestimator said below, they've come a long way in 40 years.

I remember my dad getting shots for a while when he was first diagnosed, but I think it was only for a certain amount of time--I want to say a year or less but I was only a kid then so I don't really recall. I know he hasn't had to inject himself with anything, but he does have some pills that seem to help him.

I'm really bad at finding the right words, but please know you're in my thoughts and prayers, and know that you're stronger than you think you are--you'll get through it. :hug:

It's one thing to describe it but it's quite another to see a family member go though it. It's so easy to get down in the dumps, but I really want to stay positive. I have my days - Derby378 calls them my "black cloud" days.
:hug: :O8):

She progressed rapidly over the next several years going from cane to walker to wheelchair, and was completely disabled and bedridden for the last ten years of her life. She passed away at 58.

I wouldn't wish MS on anyone, but at least it is SO unpredictable that it is not necessarily a death sentence, as it was with my mom. And there are far better treatments for it now than there were 40 years ago.

My father on the other hand, has fibromyalgia, and from all I can tell, it is under control and definitely nowhere near as bad a disease as MS. I suppose they are both rather unpredictable though.

I'm 52 now. I've had cramps so bad that I broke bones in my foot (I also have osteoporosis). I'm not a hunchback or anything, but a 3 year old broke 2 of my ribs. :) How wussy is that?

I'm so sorry to hear about your folks. Sometimes I think it would be better to have MS and die than suffer a lifetime with fibro. That's morbid, for sure, but horrible pain does that to you.

You broke bones in your foot? And the ribs... I'm so sorry... I wouldn't consider that wussy at all.

I really don't think I would choose MS, my mom suffered for almost 30 years with it. Not that there is a choice I guess, but 52 seems awfully late to be diagnosed. I will keep you in my thoughts.... hopefully they will find neither to be true. :hug:

but some new symptoms have come about that suggest MS. I feel really badly for Derby378. He's young and healthy and saddled with a decrepit old woman with some disease. I overcame Stage IV ovarian cancer - it would be a pip if MS did me in.

My mom was still an incredible human being with a lot to offer. Disease doesn't change everything.

:hug:

It wears me down, but maybe that's just a symptom. I told my doctor that heaaven wouldn't want me and the devil was afraid I'd take over. I have really good days too, so it's not all badl But thanks for the reminder. I love you guys! :hug:

I don't know much about either one, but as far as muscular cramps and pain, have you looked into acupuncture as a possible pain relief? Acupuncture works on the electrical / nervous system of the body -- some theorize that it sort of helps to "reset" the pain receptors. All I know is that I have had amazing pain relief with sports injuries and with repetitive stress injuries. I mean, walk in feeling like crap, walk out feeling better. I don't know that it's a permanent solution but sometimes just pain relief in and of itself is wonderful.

Here's another hug ((( HUG ))) I know a great acupuncturist in the Garland area -- if you want to go with me sometime let me know. :)

Derby and I (and Texas Thought Criminal and his partner) love you to pieces. I might try that at some point - maybe after the tests are done. :pals:

I have a cousin with MS and I bet she'd pick fibro anyday. I would get an MRI asap. I'm headed to one on Thursday more than likely and I'm petrified.

:hug: Take care..

I hope the MR turns out well. I've had many and it's sooooo boring!
Take care. :hug:

...but you know I'll be there for you no matter what. If I could trade your body with mine for one day a la "Freaky Friday," I'd do it.

Of course, the only downside is you'd get to experience ADHD first-hand...

:loveya:

Now see, I'm being ugly! How on earth do you stand me, especially whenI I'm cranky and in pain???? :shrug: