for taking the gloves off from time to time.

know that.  i have known people who have suffered with this and shared your worries.  yes - everyone lives with pain, hey we are all human right? - but not like you do.

chin up.

Yes, I believe that I understand how you feel as I live with Constant Neuropathic pain on a daily basis, throw in some Arthritis too.

My advice is to keep your mind as busy as possible..blog and believe that you can conquer what seems impossible to conquer..and never give up.

All my Best ;-)

My mother has battled with fibromyalgia since about 1977 (when my middle, younger brother was born).  Back then, they had no name for it.  She's been through the "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" label, the "non-specific myopathy" label (handed out by the Mayo Clinic), several times she's been told she has MS (and that's still a possibility, but for insurance reasons she won't get tested). Her problems have been labeled psychosomatic, she's been called a hypochondriac, etc. etc.  It's not been a fun ride for her.  So, I feel for you.  The one thing I'd say for sure is that it isn't just in your head.  Of course, from my point of view, even if it were, what the hell difference would that make?  SSRI anti-depressants may help somewhat, but they aren't a cureall.

I would try to get a referral to an acupuncturist with experience treating fibromyalgia.

What have you got to lose? It might help more than meds.

It's definitely not all in your hed. When my wife was working 40 hour weeks, she'd be cane-bound after a full day. Her rheumatologist warned her against overdoing it; he said it could permanently exacerbate her condition. Now she can only work a few hours a day, but I haven't seen the cane in months.

I hope you get better. The key to my wife retaining the little mobility she has was finding an excellent specialist to treat her. She had to wait almost six months for her first appointment, but it was well worth it.

Ellie, you're not alone.  I have fibro to the point of disability. My Dr thinks it is due to a series of traumas to the head, neck and spine. Chronic pain is my constant companion. Fibro pain is all over... chest muscles that make breathing tough; skin hurts to the touch, like a virus; muscular pain all over... everywhere.  Then, there's the spinal pain from injuries and arthritis. I'm on lyrica, morphine and vicodin. I'm on an anti-depressant. Depression comes with the territory. At first I flocked to the chronic pain boards, but found that I focused too much on my own pain and gravitated away from them. There are "cures" galore to be found on the net... I don't trust most of them.  

My Doctor tells me to fight it whenever I can. I know that sitting and giving in to the pain is easier, but how fast the human body atrophies with no activity! He says my pressure points are gradually decreasing. To tell the truth, I can't tell. But when I feel kind of ok, I go at things like gangbusters. I fight it. There's always the subsequent time when I have to pay dearly for overdoing it. Or just barely doing it. Or sometimes just trying it.

The depression is palpable and I suppose unavoidable. But my glass has always been half full and I'm not just a basket case who's always depressed. I wish I knew some secret formula to tell you will work. All I can say is that I understand and sympathize with your troubles.  

    My Mom had fibro in her face and neck. She couldn't take many meds, but acupuncture helped her a lot.

Even though I have no advice for you, just wanted to say I understand what you are going through.

My mother told me something once that applies here.  She said "Never go to work when you are sick.  Once you are there, nobody will appreciate what a sacrifice you are making just to show up.  They will expect you to do your job as usual."

That's the problem with a chronic condition.  You have to bite the bullet and go in when you are hurting.