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Post by princess26 on Jan 19, 2004 12:50:39 GMT -5
I think that I read a thread posted by Fawn from a while back that stated that she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia...has anyone else been diagnosed with this? The reason I ask is cuz I am having trouble getting a diagnosis from a few doctors and was wondering what the determining factor for diagnosis was.
I have been having issues with muscle/joint pain...unexplainable muscle pain and such...Everytime I have gone to the doctor they can't give me much to go on. The most frequent problem for me has been strange, unprovoked pain in both calves at the same time. One of the times I went to the doctor he told me it sounded like I was getting blood clots in my legs from BCP's. The problem with this is that I had been having this leg issue before I was ever on the pill. It has never been a daily or weekly pain...usually happens about every other month. It used to only happen maybe once to twice a year. I have also had many headaches, insomnia, neck/back pain, night sweats...things like that. I guess I am curious to see what they are missing. I don't think there is a test they can run, maybe more along the lines of ruling everything else out...and then when there's nothing left, they would diagnose with fibromyalgia.
Any ideas for me? Maybe I don't have it, but it would be nice if the doctor would give it some consideration before telling me there is nothing wrong with me. I know something isn't right!!!
Kelly
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Post by princess26 on Jan 19, 2004 13:29:33 GMT -5
I would also like to add that everytime I have had this calf problem, it has been both calves at the same time...not just one. Which makes me wonder...how many people would develop a blood clot in both legs at the same time....only to have this come and go at will and always both legs affected...does this make any sense to anyone???
Kelly
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Post by gigi on Jan 19, 2004 14:48:19 GMT -5
Hi Kelly,
When I have had leg and foot cramps the remedy was to take some magnesium or potassium or both. It became more pronounced when I was exercising vigorously or dieting. You need to replace the minerals that are leeched out of your system somehow. My two cents!
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Post by princess26 on Jan 19, 2004 15:13:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the input... I guess my main concern is the blood clot issue, but due to the fact that it's always both calves and usually lasts about 3 days at a time...it just doesn't seem like that's what it could be. I could be wrong, but I hope that I am not. I think that I will look into the possibilities of mag. and potassium to see if they will help me. I just can't stand to feel like I do. I look like I am walking around like a 90 year old woman in desperate need of a walker.  Kelly |
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Post by kathio on Jan 19, 2004 15:40:56 GMT -5
Hi,
I also take a calcium/ magnesium supplement twice a day for muscle aches and as a matter of fact my sister told me about it and she takes it for fibromyalgia. She told me to take the last dose about 45 minutes before bed and it would help me sleep better and it sure does. The one I take is 1,000 mg calcium and 500 of magnesium and I have been taking it for a couple of years. Hope it helps.
Kathi
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Post by princess26 on Jan 19, 2004 23:28:46 GMT -5
Thanks alot for the info...matter of fact, I sent my hubby out for calcium supplements tonight...he brought some of those chewy things...hope they work. I almost cried last night when the leg pains came back, cuz it had been over 4 months since the last time I got them...and of course with the fact that I just started back on the BCP's this past week...well, I guess I got really upset, cuz I figured the first thing the DR. would say is to quit taking them ASAP!!! Hopefully this is nothing major...I will try the calcium and see what happens...I know while on the depo shot, my doctor told me to make sure that I take a calcium supplement, cuz the depo does affect it somehow...maybe I should have listened, huh???  Thanks again...I feel a bit better now!  , Kelly |
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Post by princess26 on Jan 20, 2004 15:35:26 GMT -5
Kathio, Thanks for the help...I just wanted to say that I took the calcium last night...and it really did help me sleep too. I am used to taking Trazodone to sleep, but didn't even need it last night!!! I was amazed that it was pretty quick to act too. I took another one this morning and will need to take again before bed...the one thing that I didn't realize is that u need to eat before taking it. I felt pretty nasty for a while after I took it. I do feel a little bit better with my legs today...it's by no means gone, but it does feel somewhat better... Thanks again, Kelly ;D |
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Post by fawnmarie on Jan 20, 2004 16:21:06 GMT -5
Princess
There are a series of "tender spots" on the body that are mapped by your doctor to determine the possibility of fibromyalgia, and there are none on the calves.
It does sound like a calcium deficiency - and a VERY common symptom in cramps in the calves. One thing they normally tell you during pregnancy is the you may get charlie horses in your calves because you aren't getting enough calcium for both you and the baby.
You may also need extra magnesium. Best to get a "cal/mag" supplement for this.
You may find that it sometimes seems to occur the same time every month. I'm not sure if the need for magnesium goes up during the last half of the luteal phase, or if some process requires all of it. But it does seem to be involved, and many women find that adding cal/mag helps PMS and pain during their period.
Fawn
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Post by princess26 on Jan 20, 2004 18:20:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice Fawn...I am hoping that u are right and I only have a calcium defic. problem...now that u mention it, I do think there is correlation to when these instances occur. Seems to me that they are about every 3 months or so. And seems like before I started to depo last year, they were less frequent than that. I know that when I had my first shot, my doctor said to take a calcium supp. but of course I didn't until just now...anyway, I do think that after taking it last night and this morning I do feel a little better...and hopefully be even better tomorrow. ;D I wonder if this had anything to do with the timing of my shots...since I was due for one a week ago, but switched back to the pill instead...makes u wonder huh? And I think the last time I had a problem with my legs was around the time that I got my last shot back in October... Well, thanks for the help...I really appreciate it!  , Kelly |
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Post by fawnmarie on Jan 21, 2004 13:56:11 GMT -5
I get some kind of screaming magnesium drop about a week before my period, and it's usually worse every three months or so.
And I'm on NO birth control.
But if you are having bad cramps/charlie horses in the calves, yep - it's calcium or calcium & magnesium.
Fawn
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Post by kathio on Jan 21, 2004 20:40:12 GMT -5
Kathio, Thanks for the help...I just wanted to say that I took the calcium last night...and it really did help me sleep too. I am used to taking Trazodone to sleep, but didn't even need it last night!!! I was amazed that it was pretty quick to act too. I took another one this morning and will need to take again before bed...the one thing that I didn't realize is that u need to eat before taking it. I felt pretty nasty for a while after I took it. I do feel a little bit better with my legs today...it's by no means gone, but it does feel somewhat better... Thanks again, Kelly ;D WOW that is great news. Make sure you are taking a calcium with magnesium. I am glad it is working for you. Also no carbs before bed will help you rest better as well. If you feel you have to eat something with your supplement eat a protein like a slice of cheese or meat. |
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