Thursday, October 16, 2008

You Know You Have Fibromyalgia When . . .

you have a multiplicity of odd and/or painful symptoms that cannot be explained. Such as:

  • Muscle aches everywhere, always.
  • Shaky leg syndrome.
  • You're tired. Really tired. All the time. Simply blowdrying your hair wipes you out.
  • You can't sleep.
  • Unexplained pain. Today it's in your shoulders. Next day it's in your calves. Who knows where it will be the day after that.
  • Headaches. Oh, the headaches.
  • Tender pressure points. Not just tender, but like "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME THERE, YOU INSENSITIVE, HORRIBLE SADIST?"
  • IBS. If you know what that stands for, then you probably have it and I'm sorry. If you don't, well then, lucky you.
  • Various and sundry other symptoms that are strange and not easily catalogued.
I'm not trying to complain here, and usually I don't even like to discuss my health with anyone other than my mother or sister. But I'm now experiencing a new symptom that is rather strange, and I feel the need to share. Strange symptoms are par for the course when you have FMS, but this is something other. Something is going on here. I'm not sure what.

My sister who also has FMS has an uncanny talent for describing our symptoms with almost poetic accuracy. I wish you could hear some of her descriptions. This new development I doubt she has experienced, so I'll do my best to describe it without her assistance. Emma, if you know what I'm talking about, please let me know so I don't think I'm going crazy.

Everything I eat tastes like eucalyptus. Well, I guess it doesn't taste like that, but it feels like it's been infused with a few drops of eucalyptus oil. I still register the regular flavor of my meal, but mixed with it is an aromatic, methol-like freshness. Normally I really like eucalyptus and menthol, but not when I'm eating salmon and quinoa pilaf. The refreshing tingling sensation should be reserved for brushing your teeth and chewing mint gum.

Actually, these vapors seem present in my mouth and sinuses all the time, but at first I just thought it was my lip balm. It's pretty normal to feel that after applying, but it feels like it's on my tongue too. And it doesn't go away. Not when the balm rubs off during the course of the day. Not when I eat. Not when I chew the skin off my lips because they are leperous. (Anyone ever felt like they had leperous lips before, or is it just me?)

It's not exactly unpleasant, but it is odd. Just one more thing to add to the list, I suppose.

6 comments:

Emily said...

'maybe you're pregnant!' oh, if i had a nickel...

excellent description of tender points.

Cammy said...

Okay I find it funny that your sister brought up the whole pregnant thing because honestly that happens to me when I am pregnant. Unfortunately the taste is not as pleasant as eucalyptus (although, I like you would probably find it quite unpleasant if I were tasting it all the time). Anyway just sending some support your way because it isn't fun when when your body does things for unexplained reasons.

Cammy

Menner said...

I thought about the pregnant thing too. However, I probably just jumped to that because I want to be pregnant, so I'm seeing symptoms of it in myself simply out of wishful thinking. I mean, what else could explain the irritability, moodiness, & lack of appetite? Again, probably just wishful thinking.

Jennifer said...

I'm so sorry...I didn't even know you had the previous symptoms going on. I hope you're pregnant, but what a weird symptom!

shelley said...

LOL at the sadist comment. I'm glad you can have a bit of humor in the midst of such suffering. I've had tastes in my mouth that I can't explain, never as nice as lip balm. Not sure what to tell you about that.

Lissa said...

I'm sorry to hear that you have fibromyalgia. I tried Lyrica a few months ago, and it made an amazing difference in my pain, but I could not shake the awful side effects. Some people don't get the side effects, so maybe it would help you. It's a little scary though because it causes birth defects, so I plan to try it again in a few years when I'm done having babies. Hopefully they will have thought of something better by then!