Health Issues - What Ails Me

Dercum's Disease

First described in 1892 by the American neurologist Francis Xavier Dercum at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dercum disease (adiposis dolorosa) is an unusual progressive syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by multiple painful lipomas.

These remain the standard for diagnosis of Dercum's disease:

• Multiple, painful, fatty masses
• Generalized obesity, under upper arms, hips, inner thighs, gut
• Asthenia (Loss or lack of bodily strength; weakness; debility)
• Neuropsychiatric disturbances, including emotional instability,   depression, confusion, and dementia
• Chronic pain in the adipose tissue

Associated conditions (which I suffer from as well):

• slight-to-moderate dryness of the eyes and the mouth, with a gritty feeling in the eyes in spite of normal tear production
• an irritable bowel
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tietze syndrome which is an inflammatory disorder characterized by chest pain and swelling of the cartilage of one or more of the upper ribs (for me, the chest pain is not constant but comes and goes)
• chondromalacia patellae (knee pain caused by the erosion of cartilage)
• thyroid malfunction
• localized tendonitis
• onset of fibromyalgia.

My diagnosis includes fibromyalgia, not just the 'onset' of.

This condition I have learned to 'live with' over the years.
The depression went away after I accepted my lot in life and began to give up various activities and chores, work, hobbies etc...  that brought on the excruciating pain that would have me bed ridden for three days.  

I was seen and treated by different doctors, none of which seem really interested in my condition. That was as frustrating as the pain.

Now I have plenty of time to study the Word of our Creator and I am thankful!