How I was Treated with Fibromyalgia

When I was 17, a senior in high school, I suddenly became stricken with severe pain in my wrists and ankles, as well as full body aches. My mother, a nurse practitioner, couldn't find any reason for the pain and rushed me to the ER. An embarrassing visit with a disinterested ER doctor later (clearly, I wasn't suffering from an STD!), we were none the wiser.

Fibromyalgia ("muscle pain") is a neurological/muscular condition which the medical community is only beginning to understand. Muscle pain, fatigue, and a sort of "mental fog" are common symptoms. Sleep deprivation and stress can be both a trigger and a result of fibromyalgia, as I soon found out. There are many treatment options open, including acupuncture, medication (painkillers, muscle relaxers, SSRIs) and massage, but every case is unique. While most people suffering from fibromyalgia experience ongoing pain, most also cycle through flares of increased pain and periods of less discomfort.

In the years before I became severely ill, I had a case history of frequent ear, nose, and throat illness with long recovery times. As a high schooler, I also had an erratic schedule brought on by a demanding academic curriculum that contributed to perpetual sleep deprivation. I exercised frequently, but didn't eat very healthfully.

After the initial consultation with the ER doctor, my mom took me to my regular doctor the same pediatrician I'd been seeing since I was a baby. She tested for thyroid problems and diminished iron levels, but all my tests came back negative. My doctor and my mother were both baffled, and agreed that it didn't look like arthritis, as my joints weren't swollen or very warm. So my doctor gave me a referral for a local rheumatologist and agreed to write a note for when I needed to miss school in the meantime. (At that point, I was having a hard time climbing stairs and an even worse time taking notes in class.)