Zero V
Well-known member
Let me open with I used to be on here a lot. Verifiable by the info to the left lol. Used to be in the gym non-stop, used to be a supplement rep. Then life became hectic, I sprained my spinal cord snowboarding, work took over, etc. We all know the story.
Beginning of this year though suddenly I found myself in and out of the hospital non-stop for 3 months feeling like it was the end. Pounding migraines, complete body weakness, unique pain sensations, vocal cord dysfunction, neuropathy of my hands and feet, and many other issues. I went from seemingly normal and healthy to having to file for FMLA at work to keep my job.
I had a severe allergic reaction to a prescription of prednisone. I was already having some issues(a choking sensation that would later come to be identified as a vocal cord dysfunction) and some flu like symptoms. But after that reaction I was living in hell. Sitting on the couch unable to move in pain I didn't know existed while at the same time not being able to feel my hands or feet with doctors telling me they don't know how to help.
Several specialists later and I was provided help by a combination of a neurologist and a rheumatologist. I take Gabapentin nightly now and generally muscle relaxers as well as high dose Vitamin D because apparently I can't keep my levels up with that and it contributes to some serious illnesses and side effects. In fact from personal experimentation I am pretty sure it was the cause of my vocal cord issues as keeping up on it keeps the choking at bay. Diagnosis is fibromyalgia. I am one of the lucky few dudes who end up with it.
I literally was 30 years old for 1 month before I came down sick at the end of 2016. By the start of 2017 I was not sure if I was going to live, or if I even wanted to live anymore if the issues I had were never going to get better(most of that came from the allergic reaction). I am just now getting back into the gym. I do physical therapy for my neck as I have a clicking sound at the base of my skull and severe neck tension.
Instead of the good old DOMS I remember I get severe pain for almost a week from gym time. And I am so out of shape from being in this condition I put on 30 lbs in the last 10 months. This is not me, this is not what I am used to. Being out of breath climbing stairs? WTF?
So now I have to start all over, and it is going to hurt more than it has ever before. I am now extremely prone to muscle tension, tension headaches, and my muscles locking up around my neck, jaw, and head. Most of that I think is stress related and being in management means I get a good deal of that.
My saving grace is my girlfriend who I was with for only a month before my life went to ****. She has done nothing but support me and sacrifice for me. It is insane, I lucked out right before I ran out of luck lol. My brother also put time into keeping my mind stable when I was getting close to the point where I wasn't sure life was worth it. So I plan to hang around here again. I was looking for a better multi-vitamin to mix in as I think I have low potassium(probably the ONLY thing I haven't had blood work done on lol) due to the charlie horses in my feet lately and this place came to mind.
My question is has anyone else had their life turned upside down and found a way to deal with it? What kind of support structures did you build? How do you deal with the fear? In the begging I was told it might be MS or Lupus, fibro is a light diagnosis in comparison to those things so I am thankful for that while at the same time afraid that this might be something worse. Some days I have weird headaches and I am not sure if it is a passing tension headache or a damn aneurysm or stroke. I wake up and don't know if I will go to work and be normal or have to down meds and sleep for 4 more hours and drag into work using FMLA time and deal with my bosses looks. I mean Christ I have to turn down sex because I feel like **** half the time. I wen't from a healthy, go anytime all the time guy to "sorry I can't tonight". It makes you feel like less of a man.
Beginning of this year though suddenly I found myself in and out of the hospital non-stop for 3 months feeling like it was the end. Pounding migraines, complete body weakness, unique pain sensations, vocal cord dysfunction, neuropathy of my hands and feet, and many other issues. I went from seemingly normal and healthy to having to file for FMLA at work to keep my job.
I had a severe allergic reaction to a prescription of prednisone. I was already having some issues(a choking sensation that would later come to be identified as a vocal cord dysfunction) and some flu like symptoms. But after that reaction I was living in hell. Sitting on the couch unable to move in pain I didn't know existed while at the same time not being able to feel my hands or feet with doctors telling me they don't know how to help.
Several specialists later and I was provided help by a combination of a neurologist and a rheumatologist. I take Gabapentin nightly now and generally muscle relaxers as well as high dose Vitamin D because apparently I can't keep my levels up with that and it contributes to some serious illnesses and side effects. In fact from personal experimentation I am pretty sure it was the cause of my vocal cord issues as keeping up on it keeps the choking at bay. Diagnosis is fibromyalgia. I am one of the lucky few dudes who end up with it.
I literally was 30 years old for 1 month before I came down sick at the end of 2016. By the start of 2017 I was not sure if I was going to live, or if I even wanted to live anymore if the issues I had were never going to get better(most of that came from the allergic reaction). I am just now getting back into the gym. I do physical therapy for my neck as I have a clicking sound at the base of my skull and severe neck tension.
Instead of the good old DOMS I remember I get severe pain for almost a week from gym time. And I am so out of shape from being in this condition I put on 30 lbs in the last 10 months. This is not me, this is not what I am used to. Being out of breath climbing stairs? WTF?
So now I have to start all over, and it is going to hurt more than it has ever before. I am now extremely prone to muscle tension, tension headaches, and my muscles locking up around my neck, jaw, and head. Most of that I think is stress related and being in management means I get a good deal of that.
My saving grace is my girlfriend who I was with for only a month before my life went to ****. She has done nothing but support me and sacrifice for me. It is insane, I lucked out right before I ran out of luck lol. My brother also put time into keeping my mind stable when I was getting close to the point where I wasn't sure life was worth it. So I plan to hang around here again. I was looking for a better multi-vitamin to mix in as I think I have low potassium(probably the ONLY thing I haven't had blood work done on lol) due to the charlie horses in my feet lately and this place came to mind.
My question is has anyone else had their life turned upside down and found a way to deal with it? What kind of support structures did you build? How do you deal with the fear? In the begging I was told it might be MS or Lupus, fibro is a light diagnosis in comparison to those things so I am thankful for that while at the same time afraid that this might be something worse. Some days I have weird headaches and I am not sure if it is a passing tension headache or a damn aneurysm or stroke. I wake up and don't know if I will go to work and be normal or have to down meds and sleep for 4 more hours and drag into work using FMLA time and deal with my bosses looks. I mean Christ I have to turn down sex because I feel like **** half the time. I wen't from a healthy, go anytime all the time guy to "sorry I can't tonight". It makes you feel like less of a man.
