Meet Ann Kirk from Mesa, AZ, US who was misdiagnosed for six years. She has fibromyalgia along with many other medical conditions ranging from allergies to IBS and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Do read her interview as she talks about her journey with fibromyalgia.Age: 34
Location: (City / State / Country): Mesa, AZ, US
Occupation: Student / Homemaker
Year when symptoms started: 2007
Diagnosed in: 2013
Marital Status: Married
What's your story? How and when were you diagnosed with Fibromyalgia? Were you misdiagnosed at the start?
I was misdiagnosed for six years. The doctors kept telling me it was
just lower back pain, that just nothing helped. It kept getting worse and
adding more symptoms. Finally my doctor started sending me to different specialists this year and finally the rheumatologist said, "Oh you have
fibromyalgia," after talking and pushing all over my body.
How would you describe
your pain and what kind of symptoms do you face regularly as well as
occasionally?
Burning, stabbing, punching, tingling, numbing, pinching, fire feeling and ant-crawling feeling. Constant pain especially in my hands, lower back, feet and entire legs.
Burning, stabbing, punching, tingling, numbing, pinching, fire feeling and ant-crawling feeling. Constant pain especially in my hands, lower back, feet and entire legs.
Do you have any other medical conditions along with fibromyalgia?
Asthma, allergies, IBS, carpel tunnel both hands repaired by surgery but didn't work, insomnia, migranes,
Asthma, allergies, IBS, carpel tunnel both hands repaired by surgery but didn't work, insomnia, migranes,
How has your life changed with Fibromyalgia?
Severely. Not able to do most things with my kids anymore, they always ask when are you going to get better mommy. If I wasn't determined to complete my college, most days I wouldn't get out of bed. I just try to ignore the pain until evening time.
How has fibromyalgia affected your relations?
Severely again. I can't do many activities with my kids, and my
husband has to do most of the stuff we used to do together with the
kids.
How has fibromyalgia
affected your career?
No longer working.
What kind of specialist
you are consulting?
Neurologist, back surgeon, rheumatologist, pain doctor and general physician.
Has your medication changed over the years? What medicines you are having now and are they helping?
Yes, kind of
but not really just realising there isn't much more to do. Gabapentin 100mg 2x daily, Gavapentin 300 mg 3x daily, Cymbalta 30mg and 60 mg 1x
daily, Piroxicam 20 mg 1x daily, temazepam15 mg at bed time, vitamin C,
calcium, daily multivitamins, vit B and zinc.
Have you tried alternate therapy? Did it help you?
Tried, but did not help.
What are your personal
tips for relief?
Massages and hot bath are helpful.
Do / Can you exercise? What exercises do you do? Do you meditate?
Walking, that's it! I do not meditate.
Have you changed your diet / gone gluten free and did it help you?
No!
What would you like to say to people who know someone with fibromyalgia?
It just takes time and one day at a time.
What would you like to say to doctors? Honestly?
Stop treating us like drug addicts.
When did you join the Fibromyalgia Awareness blog www.
Aa few months ago. I love it!
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Interview published on 31sy August 2013
This blog and its owner have the rights to this interview. Do not
copy the interview on your website / print / publish elsewhere without
our prior approval that includes the approval of the interviewee.
However, you can share the link of this interview to help us raise
awareness. The opinions in the interview are solely of the interviewee
and we do not advocate the use of medicines / drugs, if any, mentioned
in the interview. Kindly consult your doctor before starting any therapy
or medicine mentioned here.
You can write to us on contact@fibromyalgiaawareness.com
We hope you Like and Share our Facebook Page.
- See more at: http://www.fibromyalgiaawareness.com/#sthash.5Tz06piG.dpufYou can write to us on contact@fibromyalgiaawareness.com
We hope you Like and Share our Facebook Page.
Interview published on 19th September 2013. This blog and its owner have the rights to this interview. Do not copy the interview on your website / print / publish elsewhere without our prior approval that includes the approval of the interviewee. However, you can share the link of this interview to help us raise awareness. The opinions in the interview are solely of the interviewee and we do not advocate the use of medicines / drugs, if any, mentioned in the interview. Kindly consult your doctor before starting any therapy or medicine mentioned here.
You can write to us on contact@fibromyalgiaawareness.com
We hope you Like and Share our Facebook Page.
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Fibromyalgia (FMS), one of the most complicated syndromes, affects every patient differently. We bring to you the real stories of Fibromyalgia Patients
from across the world. Every patient's story is a source of learning
and inspiration. These stories serve many purposes like helping us
understand the condition and symptoms better, helping people with
similar symptoms get diagnosed in time, finding tips that work and
making the 'Invisible Illness' visible so that sufferers are saved from
the stress of making people understand that they really are unwell.
- See more at: http://www.fibromyalgiaawareness.com/#sthash.5Tz06piG.dpuf
Fibromyalgia (FMS), one of the most complicated syndromes, affects every patient differently. We bring to you the real stories of Fibromyalgia Patients from across the world. Every
patient's story is a source of learning and inspiration. These stories
serve many purposes like helping us understand the condition and
symptoms better, helping people with similar symptoms get diagnosed in
time, finding tips that work and making the 'Invisible Illness' visible
so that sufferers are saved from the stress of making people understand
that they really are unwell.
Fibromyalgia Patient Interview 1: Grace Simpson
Fibromyalgia Patient Interview 2: Keri Seitz
Fibromyalgia Patient Interview 1: Grace Simpson
You may also like to read:Fibromyalgia Patient Interview 1: Grace Simpson
Fibromyalgia Patient Interview 2: Keri Seitz
Fibromyalgia Patient Interview 1: Grace Simpson
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Interview published on 31sy August 2013
This blog and its owner have the rights to this interview. Do not
copy the interview on your website / print / publish elsewhere without
our prior approval that includes the approval of the interviewee.
However, you can share the link of this interview to help us raise
awareness. The opinions in the interview are solely of the interviewee
and we do not advocate the use of medicines / drugs, if any, mentioned
in the interview. Kindly consult your doctor before starting any therapy
or medicine mentioned here.
You can write to us on contact@fibromyalgiaawareness.com
We hope you Like and Share our Facebook Page.
- See more at: http://www.fibromyalgiaawareness.com/#sthash.5Tz06piG.dpufYou can write to us on contact@fibromyalgiaawareness.com
We hope you Like and Share our Facebook Page.
Fibromyalgia Patient Interview 2: Keri Seitz
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