As mentioned before, I went to see my rheumatologist yesterday and he basically confirmed that I have a textbook case of fibromyalgia easy to diagnose and with all the signs and symptoms that accompany it. As I read out the list of things that are wrong with me he just smiled and nodded and said ‘good’ which in turn made me smile and say ‘not good’. So, all in all the appointment went very well.
We had trouble finding the right room at first because rheumatology had been relocated from an old side building to the main hospital and the appointment confirmation letter had stated a different building althogether but apparently we weren’t the only ones. The building we were sent to was actually still under construction and there were workers milling about like bees in a hive.
We decided to crank up the Amitriptyline again, meaning that I now take 75mg every night. Overall I hadn’t felt any effect from the 50mg, whether good or bad. The consultant was mildly surprised that I haven’t had any side effects but at least this shows that I am tolerating the drug very well.
He also asked me if he should put my name down for a pain management course that’s being held in the city and I said yes. I think it’ll do me good to be able to talk to nurses and people who are also suffering from a chronic disease. It’s not fibro specific but that doesn’t matter – pain is pain. The course is on for 1 night a week for 6 weeks.
We talked about my painful foot and came to the conclusion that this is probably not fibromyalgia related but more an onset of osteoarthritis because the knuckels hurt in the exact spot where I’ve broken them in a skateboarding accident 20 years ago. Yes, you heard right, I was one of the few skateboarding girls when I was younger (but not a very good one!).
I now need to make an appointment at the shoe clinic (orthotist) to get supporting shoe inserts which will hopefully help relieve the pain. It doesn’t help that it’s currently winter in New Zealand, hehe.
As mentioned before, I went to see my rheumatologist yesterday and he basically confirmed that I have a textbook case of fibromyalgia
easy to diagnose and with all the signs and symptoms that accompany it. 
As I read out the list of things that are wrong with me he just smiled and nodded and said ‘good’ which in turn made me smile and say ‘not good’. 
So, all in all the appointment went very well.
We had trouble finding the right room at first because rheumatology had been relocated from an old side building to the main hospital and the appointment confirmation letter had stated a different building althogether but apparently we weren’t the only ones. The building we were sent to was actually still under construction and there were workers milling about like bees in a hive.
We decided to crank up the Amitriptyline again, meaning that I now take 75mg every night. Overall I hadn’t felt any effect from the 50mg, whether good or bad. The consultant was mildly surprised that I haven’t had any side effects but at least this shows that I am tolerating the drug very well.
He also asked me if he should put my name down for a pain management course that’s being held in the city and I said yes. I think it’ll do me good to be able to talk to nurses and people who are also suffering from a chronic disease. It’s not fibro specific but that doesn’t matter – pain is pain. The course is on for 1 night a week for 6 weeks.
We talked about my painful foot and came to the conclusion that this is probably not fibromyalgia related but more an onset of osteoarthritis because the knuckels hurt in the exact spot where I’ve broken them in a skateboarding accident 20 years ago. Yes, you heard right, I was one of the few skateboarding girls when I was younger
(but not a very good one!).
I now need to make an appointment at the shoe clinic (orthotist) to get supporting shoe inserts which will hopefully help relieve the pain. It doesn’t help that it’s currently winter in New Zealand, hehe.