Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

[crusader1492]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

To be honest, I've done everything I could.

I spoke to my doctor a few months ago and asked him if I could increase my dosage from 0.6mg to 1mg and he advised against it. I ended up doing so anyway and that's helped me a little bit.

As I said, nobody in my family gets it as often as I do. I get them very frequently and it lasts much longer than anyone else. After years of trying, there's not much more I can do but thanks.

I'm sorry to hear that. I really hope your condition gets better. Hopefully, as you age, the attacks will happen less often with less intensity...I hear this is the case for many people who suffer from FMF.

Anyway, keep taking the cholchicine and maybe get a second opinion.

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

Unbelievable.

I got another attack today. I've been getting it every two weeks for the past month and a half. This is ridiculous. It's causing problems in my home, my mother doesn't even know what to do with it anymore.

They're all assuming it's because of stress, which is a number one reason for these attacks. My only "stress" comes from a film I'm working on, which I'm editing now. Other than that, I don't have anything to stress over. School is fairly easy this semester. I just get "annoyed" real easily which is why this film I'm working on has taken a toll over me. I guess last night I really got bothered while editing because the attacks happened within a few minutes.

By the way, today's pain was the worst I've ever felt. I'm convincing myself I'm good now, because I can't miss school anymore. I have an important project coming up for Cinema class, plus a Math exam for next Monday. I must have took 10+ pills today.

[jgk3]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

This is very sad to hear One Way, I do pray that you get better overtime from this condition. I haven't heard of this condition before either and I'd like to learn about it, other than wikipedia, where can I look for reading?

[Federate]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

Might not be very useful info but i'll post it anyway. I asked my uncle, who's been around, about this after reading the posts here and he said it's common in Lebanon. There they call it "Haykakan Hivandutyun" (Հայկական Հիւանդութիւն) but he criticized the name saying it's wrongly associated with us only because it's not only Armenians who get it and that J3ws get it even more and so do Arabs, Kurds, Iranians etc. He said his son had it when he was much younger but it gradually disappeared. He described it as pains that are so unbearable that you can barely move.

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

That's what we call it too.

Try Google, jgk3. I found a blog, actually, where many people contributed comments. It was a very interested read, I'll try to find it again.

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

I was going to make a separate thread but I rather not.

I got another attack today. Can anyone believe this? I got it three times in the past six weeks, and the last time I had it was MONDAY... I just got it again TODAY.

I can't believe this. I honestly feel like I can't even live anymore. Every week, better yet, every day feels like it's impossible to live through. I'm at work right now, I just can't even move. Something falls on the floor and I feel like I'm about to die, because that's what it feels like when I have to pick it up. Getting up and down from my seat feels like the end of the world.

I can't live my life knowing every week, or every two weeks, or even every month, I'm going to experience this. I drink all my pills, I do what I have to -- so what?? Is this how it's going to be for the rest of my life? Doctors don't know anything and nothing helps. I become bedridden and miss out on work/school and my own life because of this. I feel like I can't do anything anymore. All I hear is:

"Armen, don't eat sunflower seeds, they'll hurt your stomach" or "Armen, don't go outside, it'll hurt your stomach." So what do I do? I am dead serious, I can't take this anymore.

[crusader1492]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

Armen,

Please hang in there. You are young and over-time, as you age, your FMF attacks will become less and less.
I know this is very hard for you, but you have to be strong not only for yourself, but also your family who I'm sure, are suffering mentally at having to whiteness your pain.
Also Armen, live your life to the fullest in between these attacks..Try not to think about having another attack and perhaps it might not come...you said yourself that stress stress can cause an attack.
Lastly, the person I know who also has FMF suggested that perhaps you can contact Israeli medical organizations that specialize in this disorder. As you know, the xxxish population has a high rate of FMF...they may be better equipped to help you.

I'll look online to help you find out more on that.

I'm not a religious man, but I'll say a prayer for you to get better. I suggest everyone else on this forum do the same.

[crusader1492]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

Coping with FMF:

http://www.fmfmontreal.org/coping.htm

[One-Way]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

Armen,

Please hang in there. You are young and over-time, as you age, your FMF attacks will become less and less.
I know this is very hard for you, but you have to be strong not only for yourself, but also your family who I'm sure, are suffering mentally at having to whiteness your pain.
Also Armen, live your life to the fullest in between these attacks..Try not to think about having another attack and perhaps it might not come...you said yourself that stress stress can cause an attack.
Lastly, the person I know who also has FMF suggested that perhaps you can contact Israeli medical organizations that specialize in this disorder. As you know, the xxxish population has a high rate of FMF...they may be better equipped to help you.

I'll look online to help you find out more on that.

I'm not a religious man, but I'll say a prayer for you to get better. I suggest everyone else on this forum do the same.

I really appreciate everything.

You don't know me or FMF, but I can tell you really care. Sometimes, I feel as if my family can't care anymore. I feel like they get mad when I get another attack because they claim I don't take care of myself. They tell me I stress too much, and maybe I do, but I don't stress anymore than some of you. It's not fair.

You know, it keeps getting worse. I usually feel like throwing up when I get these attacks and right now, it's horrible. I feel like any minute, I'll pass out. The pains are growing so intense, I can't hide it in. For once, I feel like walking because as I keep sitting down, I feel the pains "settling in." For some reason, when I'm walking, I feel better. But I can't leave work and go for a walk...

As far as living it up, you're right. Whenever I get an attack, I say to myself, "The second I'm better, I'm doing this and that" and my girlfriend just smiles. But before you know it, I'm sick again. On a serious note, my father couldn't study to become an architect because of these attacks. He ended up getting another degree because he knew it would be impossible for him.

The sad thing is, I keep hearing this about me. My family is wondering if I can even continue my school. Like this, I can't, but I won't let it stop me. It's true, as you get older, the attacks get less frequent. Maybe I'm at a "bad age" right now. I'll check your link but I've checked so many, it's ridiculous. I have such an important Math exam on Monday and I get so depressed when I think of that. When am I going to study?

[crusader1492]

Re: Does anyone out there have Mediterranean fever?

I think your condition warrants that you don't work when you're having an attack. That might be easy for me to say (I don't know your financial situation), but I've seen how intense the pain can be and it seems you should be home resting.

I'm sure you're already aware of this but, it does not hurt to reinforce it:
Take care of yourself...exercise and get enough sleep (it's the best medicine in the world).

Also, as far as your schooling is concerned...don't rush. Take fewer classes per semester. That should help relieve some stress. So what if it takes a little longer to get a degree. If that helps your quality of life, it is so worth it.