Fibromyalgia after hysterectomy?

It seems that fibromyalgia is quite common in women with endo/adeno. I was just wondering if anyone here has had fibromyalgia, and if it went away after hysterectomy?

I don't have fibromyalgia, but there are members around here who do. You aren't alone. You might like to do a search in the Google box on the right side of the page to read older threads about fibromyalgia and hysterectomy as a part of your research. Hopefully, someone who has a personal experience to share will be along soon! I wish you the very best!



Deb

Thanks Deb. I'm really hoping it will be one of the problems that disappears after my hyster.

I was diagnosed w/ fibro @6 months after my hysterectomy but was showing symptoms for a couple years beforehand. I went to a few different doctors before I found one that would listen to me and test me. My mother had it for quite a few years before me also. The hard part was finding a doctor that didnt call you crazy and say it was a 'garbage can diagnosis' And from everything Ive read on the subject, fibro doesnt go away but for some people it can improve. Unfortunatley Im not one of those ppl. I have a few websites Ive found and also books on the subject. Id be glad to share the names of them with you if you'd like.

I was just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 6 weeks ago. I continued with my sleep problem well after my Hyster. I started to develop pain in my hips, back, neck, arms and joints. Even my toes! This went on for almost 2 years before I was diagnosed. But finally my doctor referred me to a Rheumatology Doc. In the mean time I had to quit my job, I was tired all the time and I hurt. I am just starting to sleep better and the pain in some what better. I have good and bad days and try to keep positive about it. I stay very active and exersice to keep the euphoria up which also helps with pain. It's very difficult to diagnose and I had many different blood tests. I would ask to be seen by a RA doctor. I would have never thought to ask if my doctor didn't finally get to wondering what was going on with me.

I have had Fibro symptoms and difficult periods most of my life. I can totally relate to the statement about doctors not listening. I had been trying to tell my MD that my problems were fibro related for years, but he would not listen or give me a diagnosis until I finally demanded a referral to a pain specialist about a year ago. At that time, he also started taking my problems with my periods more seriously, and referred me to the gynocologist who finally did my hysterectomy. This was only after several years of his treating me for anemia, and my complaining of heavy periods.

For about a year prior to my hysterectomy, my Fibro pain and fatigue were almost unbearable. The pain was particularly bad in my neck, back, arms, and hands. The fatigue was so bad that I on several occasions, I slept for days, only getting up for meals and trips to the restroom. I was literally "tired to the bones!" After having the hysterectomy 4 months ago, I noticed an immediate improvement in the pain levels. Although it is still there, I don't believe that it is nearly as bad as before. I was very fatigued for several weeks following the surgery, but this has been slowly improving with time. My sleep-wake I think that I have read that anyone feels their best after about 6 months post-op. I know that I can now tolerate much more physical exertion than before.

I have read several articles that have speculated that Fibro symptoms may be related to Adenomyosis and surplus estrogen. If this is the case, there may be hope for us!

For some, yes. Unfortunately mine just gets worse. Im on 5 different meds for it not counting Ativan for anxiety. Mine is mostly my back, hips, pelvis and legs. The pain and discomfort from this cyst is making things worse right now. Didnt realize one little cyst could make me so uncomfortable!! Anyway, Im hoping that some of it improves once I recover from the oopharectomies.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Veenus It seems that fibromyalgia is quite common in women with endo/adeno. I was just wondering if anyone here has had fibromyalgia, and if it went away after hysterectomy?

Because fibro involves the alteration of your neurochemicals, removing the initial pain instigator won't make it go away. However, it may make treatment for fibro more successful. Mine has flared up several times since the operation.

I would also like to add that anyone with fibro symptoms that don't improve needs to find out if they actually have chronic myofascial pain syndrome. It commonly co-occurs and many doctors think that the trigger points in the muscle are actually the fibro "tender points" and they are not. Trigger points are physical, actual bands of muscle fibers that are severely contracted forming either a lump or a long band of super-tight fibers that can cause pain locally or refer pain to other areas. Only physical therapy can really eliminate the trigger points. Fibro treatment alone cannot help myofascial pain. In fact, I was diagnosed with MPS only after my yoga and walking made my pain markedly worse. You CANNOT exercise a muscle or stretch it when it has an active trigger point. You have to "deactivate" the trigger point first, which you can learn to do on your own. Once the trigger points get better, the fibro treatments tend to work better too.

True and I wish that were true for me. Been checked for that already. I actually did therapy for 6 wks after I hurt my back at work ( transferring a resident who dropped their weight) and it helped a great deal. Unfortunately, I couldnt continue due to insurance issues.

I have good days and bad days. Level of activity, weather, illness and stress all contribute. For me anyway. The more I have to lift, pull, push, reposition, ect at work (worsens when we are shorthanded - my residents can go from 8 to 15). Some days I can barely climb out of bed let alone walk, some days I wake up stiff and hurting but that improves after I move around a bit and take my meds.

Just like I saw on a forum for parents of diabetics, I believe that YFMV ( your fibro may vary) - borrowed from YDMV - your diabetes may vary.

Everyone seems to be different regarding the fibro. My symptoms change on a daily basis. Some days I hurt for the first few hours of the day then I feel I can take on the world. The next day it can all change and I feel I have been run over by a train. I have been going to Yoga and Zumba 3-4 days a week. Seems to help as I am at the peak of the endorphins. The next day I feel terrible. It's hard to know what to do for yourself. I keep thinking if I keep moving it will help. I wish doctors knew more about fibro. This could have started before my Hysterectomy but I was always in pain and I was most concerned regarding the bleeding and being so tired. It's interesting to hear that some are hoping the pain will go away after the Hyster. I did not get diagnosed until well after my surgery.