Pain

Have been gone for week with school work, and it has been a long week at that. Tonight is a painful day for me. My chest is so sore, it hurts to breathe, which we all know is something thag needs to happen, continually. It is absolutely no fun and I hope it goes away. I have been at home for the last 3 days, so my schedule of medicines is so off. That is kind of bad because no body is so used to my set school schedule and getting off of that throws my body off and makes it not happy. Ugh. Should be starting my immunotherapy soon, so that will be nice, because then I can decrease the amount of medicine I have to take down to a reasonable number. Well, to sleep for now.

Longest Week of My Life

This has been one of the longest and busiest weeks of my life, and it is only Wednesday. After the flooding two weeks ago, all of my assignments got pushed back and condensed to get done before Spring Break. So this week I have three papers, two quizzes, three homework assignments, and two lab reports due, which means that I get zero hours of sleep. I have done about half of those assignments already, minus all the papers. I have a 8-10 pages paper that is due tomorrow at 3pm, I am currently at the end of page 6, and my other two papers are due on Friday. This longer paper is killing me and I am trying to figure out how I screwed myself so much that I am basically writing this paper is just 24 hours. I am hoping to finish the paper by midnight so that I can revise it and get some other homework done. I am just so tired, I don't really care right now. My friend is in the room with me so I am sure she thinks I am just typing way at my paper, but she would be mistaken. This week has also been long because anything that can go wrong, has. I spent the majority of Monday and Tuesday fighting with my insurance companies to figure out who was paying for my allergy immunotherapy, but I think we finally have that figured out and I should be getting those ordered soon. My friend and I are also planning on moving off campus next year, and some drama came up with her mom about it so we had to deal with that, but again, thankfully, we have that figured out as well as we are signing our lease in two weeks! Wow, being an adult is just stressful, but it is also worth it. Having my own apartment and being properly medicated, dealing with my fibromyalgia on my own, being an adult is just an excitement so far.

Good Friends Help Bad Days

I don't know what happened today but it was just a classic fibromyalgia day. I woke up on time for my 8 am but I was in so much pain and still under the heavy influence of my medicines from the night before. So as I always do on mornings when I am not feeling good, I texted my friend to let her know that I was alive but that I was staying in to sleep in/ not go to class at all. After that one text at 7:50 and a call into the Pulmonologist to cancel my appointment, I fell back asleep with an alsrm set for 9:15. Next thing I know, my friend is standing over me, waking me up, handing me my phone, and then packing my bag for class. Have I ever mentioned how great my friends are? I had a statistics test for 11, so at 10 she came into my room and checked my phone to see if I had any alarms set (my dorm stays unlocked because I am HoH and she knows the password to my phone) and when she noticed I didn't, she woke me up to ask if I was going to class or not. On days we have 8ams together, MWF, she texts me to see if I am up at 7:30 and if I don't reply she comes and gets me up. On days I only have an 8am I usually text her to let her know I made it to class and if I don't text, she comes and checks on me before our 11am, as what happened today. I am so thankful for my friends and everything they do for me. I don't ask her to text me every morning to make sure I am up or to come get me if I don't. I don't ask her to pack my bag while I struggle to wake up and understand that getting out of bed is necessary. But they do it anyways. I am thankful they understand my medicine makes me over sleep and that they understand that because I am HoH (hard of hearing) and I sleep unaided, I sometimes don't hear my alarm. I am so blessed for having the friends I do because otherwise I don't know how I would get to classes most of the time.

Allergy Shots

Just a quick update. I went to the ENT today for my follow-up. Last time I was there, it was after 4 months of constantly coughing and not being able to breathe. She ran some tests on me, one that included allergy testing, and referred me to a pulmonologist, who I have a follow-up with on Thursday. The allergy testing was just so fun. I got poked 60 times by needles (I hate needles) and had to sit still for 15 minutes (more like 20+ because they forgot about me). Anyways, they found out that I was allergic to almost EVERYTHING. Grass, trees, animals, weeds, molds. Just tons of stuff. After the test, the technician mentioned allergy shots as a possibility for me because my allergies were so severe, but mentioned nothing more. I brought it up to my pulmonologist, who said I had moderate asthma and fixed me up with new meds to stop my cough (THANK GOD), and he even said that yeah, it was a good idea for me and it would help my asthma as well. I looked into it some and found out the needles were itty bitty and that it was highly effective and so I figured why not, so today at the follow-up the ENT mentioned it again as an option and I said yeah, go ahead. So long story short, they are calling my insurances to see if they will cover the shots (they are a 3 year treatment and expensive) and sent in a prescription for an EPI pen for me. I have to tell you, I have been prescribed some medications over my years of having pain, but seeing my Walgreens app pop up and say that my EPI pens were ready to pick up scared the crap out of me. Like, I think it just hit me that I just agreed to stab MYSELF multiple times a week for the next 3 years. My doctor also informed me that with asthma, the risk of having an allergic reaction to the treatment was higher than a normal person and that scared the crap out of me. That something I could have lived without knowing. Thankfully, if everything works out with the insurance, I, and most likely my friends, will get trained on how to do the allergy shots to myself and on how to work the EPI incase I do need it, so that makes me feel a little better. Until I get that call saying yay or nay, it is just a waiting game..

Beyond Tired and Behind

Oh the joys of having fibromyalgia. Since we got rained out of school last week, all my assignments got pushed back to this week and I already had to miss school this week for follow-up appointments with my ENT and Pulmonologist and I have a 10 page term paper, 3 page chemistry paper, a presentation in class, and a proposal for another 10 pages term paper to deal with for next week. Therefore, the rain has caused my calm week to become hectic and I have a lot to do. And of course, this is when my fibro decides that I don't want to focus and that sleep is needed at all hours of the day. I have been extremely tired for the last 3 days and have spent the majority of my day sleeping instead of catching up on homework. Now I have a biology test in two days and I haven't had a chance to study and a statistics test in three days. Gonna be a long week.

Allergies

I had an allergy test done about a month ago and it showed that I was pretty much allergic to everything. So for a month, I have stayed constantly drugged on Zyrtec and Singulair to try to keep my allergies at bay. Before, my allergies would cause my asthma to act up and the weather here in town has changed by 20 degreeses nearly every other day, so it was miserable. Now my asthma and my allergies are 'under control', which is exciting. Bad news, I miss one day of allergy medicine and my body freaks out. As per my earlier post, I did not take any of my medicine last night and I am now dealing with the effects of that. My hands just started itching so bad after I grabbed some ice cream, so I am guessing the cold set it off.. Now the itching is spreading to my back and my stomach, so I am going to go take my medicine really quickly before I go crazy from itching. I have an appointment with my allergist next week, so maybe we can get some better control over my allergies. We will see how this goes.

Chicken Nuggets and Ice Cream

Last night was formal for my school, and since I was originally scheduled to have 3 tests this week, I had long ago planned to take off work and relax with some alcohol. With the rain, my 3 tests got reduced down to just one, but I studied my butt off for it, so I felt alcohol was still warranted in this situation. Of course, enjoying a night of alcohol meant I had to plan ahead and make sure all my medicine was out of my system before I took the first sip. I took my Thursday medicine as normal, but took none of my Friday medicine. By the time I drank, it was all out of my system and I was free to enjoy the night. It was a good night though. I enjoyed myself and it was a time when I could finally let loose and enjoy myself. Before this day, when I was having good day, I was going 7 days a week. I had class every week day at 8 am and work at 7 am every weekend so I never had a day I got to sleep in or a day I could drink without jeopardizing the next day. I am so glad that I decided to take a day off work and that I went to formal and enjoyed myself; it was much needed. I slept in this morning, got some breakfast, and then stayed in bed for the rest of the day until I just got up to go eat some dinner. I probably drank too much, but hey, it was worth it. I always enjoy a good night with my friends. Not so much pain today, but I will give credit to the booze for helping that. I took my 3pm dosage today because I figured most of the alcohol was out of my system and I had to get medicine in me before the pain kicked back in. Unfortunately, tomorrow is Day Light's Savings and I have work at 7am, so let's all cross our fingers that I don't over sleep. I have so much homework and studying to get done tomorrow, so we will have to see how that goes... it probably won't. Until tomorrow!

Another Day of Rain

With classes cancelled today, I decided to treat myself to a waffle for breakfast and Netflix. Unfortunately, then it became homework time. Got some homework accomplished and school is also cancelled tomorrow so I don't have to kill myself to learn 3 chapters of Biology by tomorrow. My back muscles have not really liked me today. I've had small twinges here and there as my back attempts to spasm out, which thankfully hasn't happened yet. Been on track with my 3x daily medicine but the side effects are still killing me. It makes me so tired that I need to take a nap almost daily. Still rained into school. Now that it is daytime, you can really see the extent of thenflooding that is happening. We are pretty much trapped at school because all roads out the city are currently under water and unpassable.  So, time for a break from homework and an hour long nap so I can be productive again on this rainy day.

Thunderstorms

It has been storming here for over 24 hours, and is set to continue until Sunday. At least school was cancelled today and tomorrow, so I habe some time to study and attempt to get my life back on track. Woke up this morning with my whole upper back in shear pain. My muscles felt so tight that I didn't want to move my arms. Thankfully, about an hour after taking my Gabapentin this morning, I could feel my muscles relaxing and I could move again. A day of nonstop thunderstorms and lightening put my anxiety on high alert, so I spent my day jumping at every strike. An extra half pill of Xanax thankfully calmed that down and also allowed me to go about my day without my anxiety affecting my body. Normally anxiety and stress puts me in the worst pain ever, but I got through the day with work and thunderstorms pretty ok. Thankfully my boss picked me up for work so I didn't have to face my worst fear of mixing driving with thunderstorms. Those two mixing would literally end my day and probably tomorrow with anxiety attacks and horrible pains. Now that I am laying down, I can start to feel my back pain, but my night meds ahould curb that soon. Until then, I will just lay down and watch Netflix.

The Room is Spinning

After my very stressful Organic Chemistry test this morning, I had to calm myself down and try not to think for about an hour. Had a couple of back spasms here and there, but most of my issues have been my shoulder today. It has just been sore all day and it's my dominant arm,making things more difficult. It STORMED here and I was more focused on trying to get back to my dorms safely than anything else, so I naturally forgot my afternoon pill, again. One of these days I'll get into the rhythm of my pill schedule. But for now, ill just continue to yell at myself when I remember 3 hours too late. I don't know if its because I missed my pill, but headaches have been all day for me. I just got one when I laid down and it felt like my brain was doing flips in my skull I was so dizzy and could not thing straight. In better news though, I might be going to a concert next week and I am so excited!

Classic Day

And just when I thought that I was feeling better and my week was going to be a good one, fibromyalgia decided to do otherwise. I woke up late for my first class, rather I was woken up for class since I didn't wake up to my 5 alarms by myself. Thank you to my amazing friends that check on me on the days that we have 8am together, which is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Tuesday and Thursday, I am on my own for my 8 am. Once in class I realized that I was in pain and my back had already started spazzing, such a great way to start my day. And my day was just downhill from there. I got sick off of my breakfast, leading to stomach pains, back spasms got worse, and I had a headache. To make things better, I have a huge Organic Chemistry test tomorrow that I need to study for, 2 lab reports due tomorrow, and 2 more tests later this week. Trying to get homework done now and my spasms are just spreading. Started in my lower back, went down to my legs, and just got to my ribs, so that is just amazing. On top of everything, I am of course exhausted so it is going to be a long night.

Gonna be a long night

Well, as usually, my daily schedule has been interrupted and rearranged by fibromyalgia. After taking my medicine and taking a shower, I got extremely tired and there was no way I was going to focus unless I got some sleep. So, as reluctant as I was, I took a nap. I hate taking naps after I get off work because it is almost 4 pm by the time I get home and it is nearly impossible for me to have a short, hour long nap with fibromyalgia. Therefore, I almost always end up waking up when it is 7 pm and dark and then it take 1-2 more hours to convince my body that it has had enough sleep and actually get up out of bed. So I essentially don't start homework until 9 or 10 at night and I normally have to be back in bed by midnight if I plan to wake up on time the next day. It is so annoying to deal with needing a nap at 20 when I just want to be a responsible college student and get homework  and studying done. It is bad enough I am already behind in school from being sick for the last 4 months, but I have 3 huge tests this week and tons on studying that has yet to happen. Thankfully my brain is finally ready to get work done and I am full speed ahead on homework, as of right now. Unfortunately with fibro, this motivation and energy can go away just as fast as it appeared, so I need to get done as much as I can before my next crash.

I've messed up already

Day 2 of taking Gabapentin and I have already missed a pill... I woke up for work this morning semi on time. As I rushed down the stairs of my dorm at 6:50 am putting my hearing aid on, I attempted to find my keys. Halfway to work as I was processing the day I was about to have, a light bulb went off and I realized that while I remembered to take a hit of my inhaler, I forgot the Gabapentin... AND IT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO IT. Ugh, so frustrating. Thankfully, because it is only day 2 of taking the medicine so missing a dose was not the worst thing to happen to me. I just got back and took my trash out, then remembered I had to take my 3 pm dose. I am used to taking medicine at night right before bed. That routine I have down by now after 3 years on a daily medicine. These 2 other doses though, they are going to be the death of me and my memory. I have gotten used to taking my inhaler in the morning, somehow, so hopefully this routine will move over to my Gabapentin as well. The struggle of taking so many medicines to take at all different times. Now for a shower and hard-core homework time before I pass out for the night.

A Totally Exhausting Week

Today marked the end of my first complete week of school. While college started back up for me in early January, this is the first week where I was successfully made it to all of my classes. Woo! Of course I am not just lazy. For the past 4 months, I have been dealing with what has basically been diagnosed as a severe asthma attack. Since the week before Halloween, I have been coughing non-stop, causing me to not be able to sleep and constantly have issues breathing. I was coughing so hard I was puking and at one point, I ended up in the ER because my O2 stats were getting low. After 8 doctors appointments, 4 rounds of antibiotics and 3 rounds of steriods, a scope down my nose, allergy testing, and a spirometer test, they decided I have both severe allergies and severe asthma. So on top of the 2 medicine I take for my fibro, I now have 2 inhalers (used to only have one from an old case of bronchitis), and 3 medicines fo help with my allergies. Add in my BCPs and I have the pleasure of taking 8 medications full time. Thankfully the ENT and the Pulmonologist have given me the proper mediciation finally to make me feel better, resulting in me being able to fonally get through a full week of of school. Before, I would cough so bad at night I wouldn't sleep, coughing caused my fibro to flare up so I was in pain, and then both lack of sleep and fibro made me exhausted so school became almost impossible. Thankfully I have amazing professors who have pushed things back for me and helped me start catching up. It's a long process to get my grades back where I want them, but it is slowly happening. One day at a time. But, I also added Ganapentin today. I used to take Amitriptyline, and that worked for just over 2 years. Then I was put on Xanax. While it worked for my anxiety, it didn't help with everything else fibro caused in me. So I decided I needed a new medicine and Gabapentin was what my doctor decided. After waking up at 7 am for classes every day, 3 days of work on my feet, and my normal tired, Gabapentin makes me tired. Therefore, it is 8pm on a Friday and I just woke up from a 'nap'. I have accomplished nothing for school today and I have work bright and early at 7am tomorrow, so it looks like I better get up and get cracking.

Introduction

I am currently in my Sophomore year of college as a Pre-Med major and I have had fibromyalgia for a total of 5 years. Since my Freshmen year of high school, it has been a long road of many painful days, lots of tears, plenty of doctors appointments and tests, and more medications than I care to count. I don't expect this blog to get a lot of views, but it will be my way to release the stress that comes along with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. For a while, fibromyalgia defined who I was as a person, but after a while, I learned to get it under control. Now it is a part of who I am, but it does not define me as a person. I am just a person who has fibromyalgia. For me, pre-diagnosis was a struggle. There was a moment in time when I had 8 specialists and a doctors appointment almost every other day. I have had an MRI, nerve conduction tests, trips to the ER, and many days spent crying in my bed in just excruciating pain. As I lay here today making this blog and typing this post, I am on day 1 of Gabapentin as my last two medications are no longer working. It is now just 1 of 8 medications I am currently on. It is so hard for other people to understand the daily struggles that come with fibro, as well as it is just as hard to try to explain to other people what I go through. I am fortunate enough to have 2 amazing friends that put up with me and my daily pains. But, as amazing as they are, even they are not fully aware of what I deal with. I started looking for support groups to help deal with stress, but most are geared towards adults. I am barely out of teens so of course I am out of my element among conversations with middle-aged adults. So with no where else to turn, I decided blogging would be the best. Dealing with fibro and college and work is a lot, but somehow I make it through the week.