PatientsLikeMe ™

Okay, I'll take a moment to be serious and explain, briefly, why I chose to join this Web site.

Although I received a diagnosis of fibro several years ago, I have had many doctors tell me since then that they don't believe that's what I have.

My condition, although massively symptomatic, really only effects the left side of my body.

I have gone from a wheelchair, to a cane to walking and being more active through much effort over the past 15 years.

I have stopped taking regular prescription medication (I have "lifetime" scripts if needed) but I rarely use my prescription medication unless I absolutely have to. I found that I only added to my problems by taking the multiple dosages of medications the doctor's had me on.

For one thing, none of the "treatments" were in an effort to fix the problem, only to mask it, allowing me to do things medicated (like walk) I would only pay for hours later.

It's taken many years to build my pain tolerance up, I still hurt a great deal every day all day long, but I wouldn't go back to living in a daze and "crashing" off the meds for anything.

The Catch 22 is that I've built the tolerance to the point where I no longer notice warning signs of other problems such as severe internal infections (i.e., bladder, UTI, kidney, liver infections and pneumonia) until I'm well past the point of needing hospitalization. I even have to be careful running bath water for my dogs or significant other because I tend to run it too hot for them.

I'm by no means satisfied with my diagnosis. I still feel like I'm in limbo every day, wishing I could just live one non-medicated, pain-free day in my remebered life.

As long as I don't, so be it. It's made me who I am - built character and all that. I just think I could speak for not just myself, but those that know me when I say - I have way more than enough character to last me without adding anymore.

It would be nice to have people to talk to that were going through the same thing as me. It's rare I meet anyone that even begins to understand what I see as my bad days or can celebrate with me during my triumphs, (no debilitating muscle cramps in 5 hours). Perhaps I can find some mental relief from this body through friends on this site.