I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (FMS)in 1998. Back then it was not considered a disease or even a syndrome. My doctor handed me a pamphlet about the pressure points and symptoms and told me there was no treatment. He said for me to make an appointment for 3 months later. Now why would I want to do that if there was no treatment and an office visit cost me over $100.00? That sure was one expensive pamphlet!
At that time, my main complaint was that my hands hurt all the time. Just hanging there at the end of my arms and hurting. Like a toothache that NEVER went away. I had consulted a hand specialist who ruled out carpal tunnel, arthritis, and rheumatism Then he gave me this really painful needle-in-the-joints-test that revealed nothing as well. Finally, in desperation (and perhaps to milk more money out of me) he fashioned two wrist braces that held my wrists at a 45 degree angle and told me to wear them at night. They provided no relief and made it nearly impossible to pee in the middle of the night! I could not undress without taking them off. Nearly didn't make it to the toilet after all that taking off of wrist braces while nearly asleep.
Then, for a while, my symptoms were not so severe. Oh, I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and depression and went into therapy but no one else said FMS to me for a long while.
In 2002, I had a rollover accident when a woman ran a red light downtown and T-boned my Blazer. I walked away with just a tiny scratch where some windshield glass cut me on my finger. I took two days off work and resumed my normal life.
But normal life wasn't normal anymore. The symptoms of hurting hands and the inability to get up off the floor once I was down there, and an aching right knee began to become intense. So, I trouped myself back to a doctor.
Then, for a while, my symptoms were not so severe. Oh, I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and depression and went into therapy but no one else said FMS to me for a long while.
In 2002, I had a rollover accident when a woman ran a red light downtown and T-boned my Blazer. I walked away with just a tiny scratch where some windshield glass cut me on my finger. I took two days off work and resumed my normal life.
But normal life wasn't normal anymore. The symptoms of hurting hands and the inability to get up off the floor once I was down there, and an aching right knee began to become intense. So, I trouped myself back to a doctor.
FIBROMYALGIA! No treatment. At least now it was recognized by the AMA as a disease!
Work became a tremendous strain. I was responsible for the Leadership training for 350 managers and supervisors all around Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. I took classes for myself in Washington State, Florida, Dallas, and California. I also had between 4 and 12 assistant manager trainees whose branches all over Houston had to visited at least once a month. The travel, schlepping training materials,climbing stairs, airports, driving.... all that HURT!
Work became a tremendous strain. I was responsible for the Leadership training for 350 managers and supervisors all around Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. I took classes for myself in Washington State, Florida, Dallas, and California. I also had between 4 and 12 assistant manager trainees whose branches all over Houston had to visited at least once a month. The travel, schlepping training materials,climbing stairs, airports, driving.... all that HURT!
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