After undergoing many medical tests, my sister-in-law was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Like mental illness, fibromyalgia is invisible and can be just as debilitating.

May 12 has been designated National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Please take time to click on the banner above to learn more about this syndrome that affects millions of people between the ages of 20 – 50. Both my sister-in-law and I very much appreciate it. Thank you!

• Pristiq Side Effects: Apparently I was supposed to up my dose to 100 mg after 2 weeks, which I didn’t realize until my pdoc told me. I did, which was a mistake. I went through the side effects all over again and this time they didn’t go away. He said to go back down to 50 mg. The weakness left, but I was still tired and my mood was worse.
• Allergies: I hear they’re really bad this year for everyone. I am now on a 10-day course of prednisone, that’s how bad they are. Brian came home one day and thought someone punched me because one of my eyes was nearly swollen shut! This better help.
• Inexplicable Rashes: And these have nothing to do with my allergies. None of my prescription creams (I’ve had mild eczema in the past) or OTC ointments are helping. Hopefully the prednisone will take care of this, too, but if not, it’s off to a dermatologist for me. This is getting ridiculous; I have a different doctor for different parts of my body. (Ironically, Hopper recently had a similar steroid injection for her allergies!)

Needless to say, I have not been the easiest person to be around and I haven’t wanted to whine about all of this on my blog. Admittedly, as many of you know, I’ve withdrawn from friends and family. I just want all of this to be over with so I can go on with my life.

To combat my impatience and annoyance, I have been reading tons of Star Wars books and losing myself in that universe. I’ve also been watching Law & Order (original, SVU, and Criminal Intent) DVDs. In addition, my mother-in-law has been sending me cards at least once a week to cheer me up. As efficient as e-mail is, it’s really nice to receive something tangible.

I am now, with my pdoc’s approval and supervision, being slowly weaned off all of my psych meds. If I thrived while not on any meds during my senior year of college, well, hopefully I will thrive again, on meds or off. I am no longer on trazodone, a sleep aid I’ve relied on for years. Although I’m not sleeping as soundly, having Angelo snuggle next to me like a stuffed animal helps.