I have gone back to work as a teacher, and the schedule I have this year is impossibe. Literally. I'm supposed to be able to leave one building and magically appear in another school at the same time. My boss and the super don't have much sympathy, to say the least. It is the end of the second week, and I'm having pain like never before, in new places, fatigue, headaches, the whole banana. I've gone to the union but haven't gottem much help. I applied for a state advocate and am waiting to hear. They keep saying the schedule is unchangeable. There are more classes to teach and they don't want to hire any more people. I'm afraid if I force the issue, it will screw things up even worse for other teachers who already have the same insane schedule.
I went to the orthopedic doc the other day, and he's calling this polymyalgia.
Does anyone know how/if in what ways this relates to fibromyalgia? Maybe he just doesn't believe in fibro....
Good to be back
coyote

As you know there are no known "test" to prove fibromyalgia, but Polymyalgia is similar but the muscles are inflamed. You also have stiffness in the upper portion of you back, neck etc....You can have both diseases at the same time, but they are both different as the PM causes muscle swelling and FM does not.
Have you tried a low dose of steriods? I fought taking them for years....but for me just 7mg makes all the difference in the world and I can function.
When I go below 7mg....I'm bed ridden with pain, fatigue.
I know taking steriods is hard on your body...but why suffer and have a horrible life when a small dose can really help you.
Pain meds also gives me energy and help my pain level managable enough to be functional.
Hope you find a good solution to this....dont count on sympathy from others, for me it just never happened....even with loved ones....they just dont understand until they face the same mallady.
Blessings, cheryl

Coyote,

I haven't worked in quite a while (years) so I can't relate to the flare you are currently having due to your job. However, I do know how bad I flare even from doing something small like scooping a litterbox, so I can only begin to imagine the type of flare you are having, and I can only hope that it subsides soon.


As crytears said above, I can also say that low-dose steroids have helped me. I take prednisone daily. Usually 5mg, but up to 10mg if it's a bad day. I have been on the pred for over a year, and it has made a huge difference (based on pain journal entries written before pred and written after pred).

Yep, there are side effects, and of course steroids aren't for everyone - But I wanted to chime in and say that I have also had a positive experience with taking low dose steroids to help fibro and autoimmune problems.

By the way - it's good to see both of you again I'm glad you found your way here.

Liz

It's good to be back, and to see familiar names.
I had a really bad reaction to prednisone one time, but I'll talk to my doc about trying a low dose.
I wish some other people would show up at the fibro forum. Maybe in time...

Hi everyone<wave>
I am here,just been posting over in chronic pain and spinal mostly.
I have pain pretty much everyday somewhere.....
I do remember when i was working though-it was even worse!!
I just lost my job as a cook back in june.
I sure do hope you are able to adjust your schedule somehow coyote!
As i remember all too well what it was like to have to run around while i was hurting!!
I would come home from work and just be completely outta energy and hardly be able to take a shower!!
Of course i did though..LOL
After cooking all day i did'nt smell very appealing..LOL
I had my rotater cuff repaired in july so i am waiting for that to heal completely b4 i return.I am going a little crazy just staying home.Yet at the same time-i am dreading going back to work...
I enjoyed my job and the people...just not the pain i had to endure!!
~Kell~

Thanks for the reply. You are welcome here anytime. I'm going to try to make my job a bit easier by asking for help lifting things, especially up and down stairs under the ADA.