I met with a new Primary Care Physician today and we spoke for about 30 minutes about my symptoms, history, etc. Without doing bloodwork, or really anything except putting pressure on different points of my body, diagnosed Fibromyalgia and prescribed Topamax. Is this normal in regards to getting a diagnosis? I've never been previously diagnosed with Fibromyalgia so it caught me off guard that he came to that conclusion so quickly. From what I read it can take months to get accurately diagnosed.
Hi guys, the blood tests is to check for something serious or something that could be causing the symptoms. If nothing shows then its Fibro. Thats why it takes a while to diagnose it. The doc felt some points which we call tender points that fibro causes. Its usually pain in those areas. Dont worry too much okay, everything is gonna be just fine πππ
Itβs usually diagnosed by trigger points. A Rheumatologist usually knows the most about Fibro.
Blood tests do not determine whether you have fibro. There are none. So doctors basically take an educated guess. Itβs mostly by touch points but some of them can be symptoms of other illnesses so never just totally accept it. After 25 years I found that it was something else. Sometimes the answers are very simple. I suggest you keep copies of all your bloodwork. If something comes out hi or low or abnormal question it. Donβt let drs says oh it doesnβt mean much because last time it was normal. I just went through this and pursued my calcium level and found out I have hyperparathyroid. It causes bone pain and other things. So always check and keep a copy of all your testing and write little notes on them regarding your symptoms at the time. That way you have something to go back and check out. Good luck and felt better.
They did blood tests on me to rule anything else out. My family dr did some and it showed I have arthritis. Well, duh! Only for the last 29 years!!! But when I saw the rheumatologist he did some blood work and at the same time told me that I most likely have fibro. 2 months later, I went in to get my blood tests results and he told me that I do have it.
Perhaps it is easier to diagnose Fibromyalgia now. 10 years ago, it wasn't that easy. A Rheumatologist didn't even want to treat me. He couldn't help me. I had to see another Dr. within the same practice. I was worried. This Doctor took me under his wing and worked with me for a year and a half. We finally figured out what medications worked. He diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. The most caring Doctor I've had. He didn't give up on me. I tried different treatments. Acupuncture was great! It only lasted 3 days and my insurance didn't cover it. I tried Chiropractic care with trigger point massage. Painful but it did help. I tried excersise. My joints did swell. I tried the pool it hurt really bad the next 2 to 3 days. I have a good mixture of meds and I changed my job.
I'm very happy at this place. I am also doing biofeedback and guided imagery. I am thinking more positive. I have bad days. I need my cortisone shots in my hips. I only need them twice a year at the most. At my other job, I needed them every three months and sometimes that didn't work. I would take prednisone. That helped tremendously.
I'm doing ok. I'm finding new things to do since my old hobbies are out of the question. My apologies for the length of this response. I just had to share my experience. The outcome is Polyarthritis, PARS Defect, Fibromyalgia, IBS and Periphial Neuropathy. Crazy.