I first remember having symptoms, that I now know are fibro, when I was 12. From that time on, until leaving my parents house at 19, I was "the hypochondriac, complainer, moaner generally miserable person" who "said she hurt all the time". I went through peaks and valleys over the next 20 years, maintaining full time employment, 2 children & school. By the time I was diagnosed, I was 44, and massively depressed. I hadn't worked for 4 years and was diagnosed by the physician who did my physical for Social Security disability for major depression. Finally, life made sense.

During the 1980's during another exaserbation,I finally found a physician who believed the pain was REAL. He put me thru numerous tests with specialists for  TMJ(positive), IBS(positive), neurologist(nothing), & an  ENT for nasal correction surgery and followup. Also an orthopedist for specific joint pains (knee, wrists, shoulders) which indicated I had fluid & broken cartilege in my knees, and tendonitis in both wrists, but no diagnosis for my shoulders. The docs were as frustrated as I was, and we decided to treat the individual issues as they came up.

In 2003, I was severly beaten and it caused additional memory problems. I  take Namenda, since there is concern that I will have dementia problems because of the injury. This is in addtion to the normal fibro fog. It was later that Namenda was recommended for fibro.

Currently, I am feeling and doing better than I have in years.  The depression is under control for the first time ever. What a wonder that is.