Hi K2 and Carol.

Wow. I thought I had posted a message a few days ago, but something
went wrong - probably me !!! I, too have a full-time job. Mine is
not anywhere near as stressful as yours, though. I don't want to
quit until I absolutely have to. I am a legal secretary with a
husband and 2 dogs. Most of the time it is all I can do to get
through the workday.

I too am astounded, K2, that our stories are so identical . . . I,
too, have been having symptoms for years. Started with Migraines
when I was 25. Diagnosed with Fibro at 33. Have been going very
slowly downhill ever since. My hands and feet are almost always cold
and they are always tingling to some degree or other. They warm up a
little in the summer – the temperature will be 110 degrees today here
in the Phoenix area!!

Carol, I agree totally with K2. You're definitely not boring anyone
here !!! I am glad we can be supportive of each other. I'm also
glad you are on the verge of a diagnosis. Please let us know how
your appointment goes.

I had my very first MRI last week. I am hoping it will show
something, although my PCP said they sometimes don't show anything.
At least he is listening and assures me that we will keep going until
we figure this out – and he is going to get me a referral to a
neurologist he knows will listen to me. That is reassuring, but I
still feel like I'm in "Never Never Land." I am trying desperately
to be patient !!!

We are obviously survivors – we have been fighting with
these "symptoms" for years and we have refused to give in to them.
Kudos to us !!!!

You are right, K2, no one can understand chronic pain unless they
have experienced it.

Hang in there!

Lori


--- In UNdiagnosedMS@yahoogroups.com, "K2" <hechobes@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi! Sorry I have been absent for a week. Things have gotten
really
> crazy at work. I used to work 12-hour days 7 days a week (I work
for
> my boyfriend, and I'm VP of his company). Well, once I started
> feeling so sick in 2004, I cut my hours significantly back to a
> normal person's schedule of 8 hours, or less if I can do it, and no
> weekends. Most days I work 6 hours at the office, and two at
home.
> On weekends I work at home for about an hour each day.
>
> So anyway, this past week we had a major problem and all of the
> executives and managers had to work practically round-the-clock. I
> am totally exhausted and my entire body is tingling like I have
> electric current running through me and of course the pain. Funny,
> many people say to me "Oh, you're just stressed out." when I tell
> them about my symptoms. But you know what? Under this kind of
> stress, I had FEWER symptoms. It is when I'm relaxed that most of
my
> symptoms crop up -- and also after exercise.
>
> I go to the neurologist in late-July. I'm not happy having to wait
> that long, and they put me on a list if someone cancels, but I just
> know that ain't gonna happen. For now, I just keep a journal and I
> write down every symptom that happens each day, how long it lasts
and
> as good of a description as I can.
>
> That's the update from me... I'll try to write more later if
> possible!!
>
> HOw did it go at the doctor?!
> K2
>
> No one understands what it is to live with chronic pain unless
they
> have done it themselves.
> >
> > > How have you been feeling? What are your doctors telling
> you? Let me know what kind of test and stuff you are going
through.
> Are you in much pain?
> >
> > Wish me luck at the doctor tomorrow. Also tell me more about
> yourself.
> >
>