This is Sparkey's Story...

When I was 19 or 20, I was in a very serious car accident that has left me with lower back pain and neck pain and arthritis. Although I dealt with that for many years, (I am now 50) I pretty much functioned alright,still remaining very agile and active. I didn't run into trouble until I had a hysterectomy, in 1999. I had to have the surgery,due to uterine fibroids that caused severe bleeding that was non-stop. I got so bad,I could notleave the house anymore. I had the surgery and it went well. I would say,within a month or two of having the surgery, I started to experience this very uncomfortable burning sensation in my body.It would travel from place to place and it hurt. I dismissed it of course and figured it would just pass.

When a woman looses her ovaries---instantly, her entire endocrine system has been compromised.Although I gave my GYN strict instructions,that I was to be started on hormone replacement therapy immediately after surgery. She did as I asked,I take natural progesterone,testosterone and estrogens.NO pills can replace nature,not even those obtained from the compounding pharmacies. I strongly believe that all of my trouble stemmed from the endocrine system being shocked and now incomplete,along with the trauma of the surgery itself. By the time I was at the 3-4 month mark,after my surgery, I had the burning,moving pains and I now had pounding severe pain that would move all over my body. I had such stiffness,that I was now acting and looking very much like a person that was at least 75!!!

I have no medical insurance and no money,so I could not go to the Doctor about all of this. I went back to work (I am a cook). At that point,I would have good and bad days. I would go for 3 weeks without having to stay out of work,and then the S**t would hit the fan and I would have a flare up and be good for nothing. I went on like that for quite a while.Then,I started loosing more and more work time. Finally,it got so bad that the pain was ALWAYS there.

There were no more good days,like before.....only so so or not good or awful. I now can't work at all. I would like to add,that I am an alcoholic,who has been sober now for 18 years,so I can't risk taking any opiates,I would end up eating them like candy. I spent most of my time at home on the computer,doing medical research and I finally diagnosed myself with fibromyalgia.Everything fit,it fit like a glove. I take natural remedies for this,but I can't afford things like super blue stuff and the MSM and glucosamine and chondroitin and things like that. While I was still working,there was a free analysis with a chiropractor. I filled out a long long questionaire and kept quiet,cause I didn't want to give the Dr any hints. At the end of it all he said....you have fibromyalgia and arthritis....it was a great feeling. I went to my medical Dr and he said the same thing. I have not had any of the tests they do to rule out other syndromes. I have not had the tender point exam. I also joined some support groups and talked to alot of FMS sufferers,alot of them are medical professionals. Along with the pain and stiffness and burning,I also have alot of the FMS symptoms. I used to have a bad memory....now it is 100 times worse. I would like to try some of the prescription meds that are non-narcotic,but I can barely afford the ones I already take. I want to state this,since it may help some other women...I have been in touch with alot of important people in the field of researching the correlation between hysterectomy and fibromyalgia,and the hormonal influence is just amazing.At the present time,I am still not able to work. I am really barely able to exist.The pain is so bad and it just knocks me over. I feel like a cripple. Yet,when people ask what is wrong with me,I get these looks that makes me feel like they are thinking.....but you look fine!!!!!!! I will have to try and apply for some kind of disability,since it hurts to lie down,it hurts to stand it hurts to sit, it hurts while I am being intimate with my husband,and gets in the way with just everything. I also have trouble with sciatic nerve pain and that is awful to tolerate,that,along with the fibromyalgia and the arthritis,is a challenge that no one should have to bear. Like I stated before,I am sober for 18 years and when you are clean and sober,you do not take any drugs!!!!!!! At least not the ones that are MORE than potentially addictive. I can't risk losing my sobriety by playing with narcotics. I never was a person that took naps,but now,I am just plain exhausted. I wake up exhausted. People just don't understand what it is like to have to live like this. I am blessed with a husband that totally understands what I go through every day. My Doctor understands,too and he knows how much research I have done on FMS. He trusts me in that area and has never treated me like it's all in my head.He has told me that whatever I decide I want to try as far as medications go,he is more than willing to prescribe them for me.He also looked at me,as if to say......if you change your mind and want something stronger for the pain,I will give you that,too,but he knows how I am about the narcotics,he knows me now for about 20 years. If I had insurance,I would be going to the chiropractor and for massage and I would be on a very large regimen of supplements,along with some prescription meds. I am never pain-free anymore---NEVER!! I sit in agony,when I should be ever so comfortable. It is very frustrating for me,since I am used to being able to move like lightening and twist myself up like a pretzel.I forgot to add,that if I had insurance,I would have my hormone replacement therapy compounded and tailored,just for me.I can't stand being like this,and I am determined to fight it. I know I can't cure it,but I hope that I can at least lessen the pain by some. I hope I have helped someone in some small way. I wish you all pain free days and nights!!!

Love,Sparkey