OT How to handle MD visit today?

today I see my PCP.  I am going to address the problems I have been having for years with chronic pain.  When I was 315 lbs I attributed it to that.  Now that the excess weight is gone I am still in pain.  When I bring it up to the doctors I see, everyone of them says it sounds like Fibromyalgia but not one of them has addressed the problem.  That's why I'm going in today.  I looked it up on line and I have all the symptoms.  My pain focuses in my upper back and neck area most of the time with accompanying muscle spasms.  I get sore hips, sore ankles, sometimes my whole arm hurts down to my fingertips.  I am depressed, anxious, and forgetful.  I am now to the point that I am also having bladder control problems.  Every weather front brings on new waves of pain.  I do have an 0occasional relatively painless day here and there but I am always sore.  The worst days are when every muscle and joint in my body ache like you would running a fever.  This sometimes lasts for days.  I take trammadol and it helps some but something has to give.  How do I approach this with my doc?  Just tell her I think I have it and want to be checked?  I know there are no lab tests or anything.  I just want help.

Sybul,
Cry.  Explain it all as you have done in this post.  End with your exasperation and cry.  That usually works to get some action.  I don't find I get any help when I act like an intelligent, credible, responsible person.   It usually isn't until I'm at the end of my rope and on my last nerve and have broken down that my problem gets a serious look at.
I'm not an emotional person, so it takes some acting skills to pull this off.
Good luck. I hope you get some help.
Bev 

Sybul....so sorry for your pain and frustration.

I can so relate with this. It definitely sounds like Fibromyalgia to me. I have had that for years.

PCP is okay to go too but if you do have Fibromyalgia I would recommend that you see a Rheumatologist...they understand the need for meds so much more.

I also took a class for Fibromyalgia through our hospital here. I have a book on the decease....I would be happy to lend it to you if you need it.

Hope today is a better day.

Hugs....connie d

Sybul, as someone who has fibro, I know what you are going through. There is a checklist online and something you can bring into your doctor. Can't remember where it was ... might be on webmd.com. One of the drug companies sponsors it.

Mostly what they use to control fibro are antidepressants for sleep or muscle relaxants, although Lyrica and Cymbalta are the new drugs. Massage, acupuncture, exercise, mediation ... these all have been known to work, too ... I like massage the best ... trigger point injections have helped me, too. If your PCP doesn't help, find a rheumatologist or pain specialist who can. I'm searching for one down here.

I sure know about those weather fronts ... every time there's a rise in barometric pressure, I get headaches, backaches, knee aches ... you name, I ache.

Good luck, I hope you get help. I have a really good book I got on Amazon ... can't remember the name, but if I find it on my shelf, I'll let you know what it was.

Thanks everyone for your kind advice.  I saw her a little bit ago and she gave me a sample pack of Savella.  She said it is supposed to help alleviate the sx of fibromyalgia.  We'll see.  The rheumatologist or pain doctor sounds like  good idea too.  I'll try this and see how it works.  She gave me some muscle relaxers too.  With all the Zoloft, Clonopin, muscle relaxers, and prn trammadol I wonder if I'll even be able to function.  We'll see.  I am working on my appeal for social security disability right now.  I went to a lawyer and he sees no problem winning the appeal.  I hope he is right.