Anyone suffer with JUST Fibro

I see so many folks on here have different health issues along with their Fibro.  I was wondering if there is anyone on this forum whose only health problem is Fibro and how you are being treated.  I have Crohns Disease, Fibro, and Osteoarthritis myself, so was curious about anyone with just Fibro.  I only take 1/2 tab of Percoset 2x's a day for any of my pain and that is sufficient.  And I have alot of pain.

I have a 30 year old daughter whose only health complaint is Fibro.  She was in two car wrecks in her life that caused some soft tissue injuries, which I think caused the Fibro.

I know we are all different, but I have some concerns with how my daughter is/was being treated.  She WAS on a ridiculousy high dosage of Methadone with Vicodin 10 for breakthru pain, and I personally think that was overkill for just her Fibro.

She is having some legal issues now because of the stupid doctor just feeding her these heavy medications and need to know if anyone of you has no other health complaint but Fibro and how you are treated.

Thanks for your time and thoughts.

God Bless

Gail *Nanners*

Gennie,

Thanks for your quick response. Do you have pain every single day? I have pain almost everyday but most of it is from my other health issues. My fibro pain acts up a few days a week. I can tell the difference between my arthritis pain and the fibro. The fibro is a burning pain and the arthritis is an achy pain.

I have been trying to get my daughter to try Lyrica or Nuerontin or even the malic acid/magnesium, but she has a problem and only wants narcotics and now is in trouble because of it. I know she is depressed and was taking Zoloft, but for some reason unknown to me stopped taking it. I am just so worried about her. If you don't mind me asking, how strong of a dose of methadone were you taking? Thanks for your help.

Gail *Nanners*

Did the Cymbalta help or did it just work for a short time and then the pain returned? How are you treating your Fibro now? Thanks for your help.

I just have fibro (and all the overlap syndromes/problems that go along with it). I take tramadol for pain, I take sinemet for RLS. I use Salan Pas pain pads (otc) and have started the malic acid and magnesium regimine a few months ago. I have been on lots of different meds since the dx, but the tramadol and sinemet have worked so I have continued to take them.

I do have pain every single day. even on my good days there is some pain and some soreness and exhaustion. on my flare days things are unbearable. the good days are not painfree but I can maintain and live my life on good days. on flare days I don't function very well at all.

good luck to both of you!

kellie

Hi Nanners,

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. I just have fibro and I was diagnosed a year ago.  I take  150 mg of Lyrica at night to help with sleep and the burning sensation in my neck.  For pain I take 2 oxycontin at 10mg, and 1/2 tablet of percocet twice a day.  I just recently started taking Tramadol twice a day at 50 mg because the achyness was getting too much to handle.  Since taking the Tramadol, I no longer need to take the percocet. 

hugs

Scootermae

Hi Gail,

My only diagnosis is Fibro...well I guess thats not true, also reynauds phenom, but that is very minor.

I am not taking any perscriptions. I take tylenol or aleve for pain, which honestly does not make it go away, but makes it more bareable. I would say that it does sound like what your daughter was perscribed was overkill, but everyones pain levels are different...

from what you have mentioned it seems like your daughter is has got an addiction. please do not take any offense to anything I say, but addiction to these drugs ( and any drug...or substance for that matter) needs to be treated like a brain disease. by taking high doses of drugs, ones brain becomes rewired. addiction should be treated like any other curable disease. people who take drugs do not set out trying to become addicts....and it seems as if your daughter ( with the care wrecks you mentioned) was probably just trying to find something to stop the pain, and on the way fell into the cycle that many people can, and do.

I am no expert, but I think she should seek medical help to get off of the drugs she is on, and find something else to manage her pain.

Well I currently have all the conditions that are listed in my signature. The only prescriptions I'm currently taking are Necon for the PCOS and Albuterol as needed for the asthma. I'm in pain everyday from the fibro, but I usually don't take anything for it unless the pain is severe. Sometimes I'll take a couple of ibuprofen, but usually I take ginger root extract for the pain. I recently started trying malic acid/magnesium supplements but haven't been on them long enough to see an improvement. Hopefully I'll be able to wean myself up to a higher dose if the side effects go away.

In addition to the conditions listed in my signature, I also used to have hypothyroidism and acid reflux. Turned out the hypothyroidism was caused by an iodine deficiency so I cured it with iodine supplements and now I just make sure I use multivitamins with iodine in them. Still have some issues with acid reflux but not nearly as bad as it used to be and I just take Tums when I get heartburn.

Greensleeves,

I wasn't sure if you were aware or not, but there is something you might want to look into. If you are out of work and can provide medical documentation that your ability to work is being limited or completely eliminated all together. The federal government has now declared fibromyalgia as a condition that is covered under the disability guidline rules. Many people with long term diagnosed fibromyalgia have been awarded disabilty support payments monthly as well as being covered under the medicare health insurance program. I am sure you could contact the local disabilty office in your town to find out the acceptance criteria in your area. It may be something to provide assistance so you can at least be able to ensure you are able to continue with your medical care. This is not a disease you wanna mess with as it could end up causing more damage in the long run some examples are nerve damage due to pressure from muscle tension penching the nerves, muscular displacia, muscular oxidative damage from the muscles being in a constant state of flex depriving the muscle of oxygen ect. I hate to see when fibro patients try to self treat and end up causing more damage due to not having coverage due to financial situations caused by not being able to work. I work in the health care field and also have fibro and I see people in your situation frequently.

Still_Kickin_30

Fibromyalgia, ADHD, PTSD, Carpal tunnel, Arthritis
Methocarbamol 750MG, Adderall 10MG, Motrin 800MG, Tramadol alternating with Hydrocodone

Post Edited (still_kickin_30) : 9/10/2008 9:39:08 PM (GMT-6)

I am not so sure about your daughter.

Many people with fibromyalgia only need narcotic pain relievers. to others we might seem addicted but, without meds, we are at a severe dysfunction.

I am not there to see if she is really addicted. I just wanted to note that your daughter is not the first person with fibromyalgia who was accused of being an addict by a relative. In many cases this diagnosis is wrong.

It is unfair to assume addiction. Please speak to a counselor so that you can get help for yourself. If she is addicted, you need help also.

Donnaeil

Nanners~

I am one who only has fibro.  I'm 40 and have had it for 6 years.  No depression and no meds, I just deal with it and try to stay as happy and bubbly as I ususally am.

Like your daughter, I was in 2 auto accident where my vehicle was totalled both times.  Both accidents were not my fault but WOW did I get hurt.  Even though they were years ago, when I was 16 and 24 I think that may be how I got fibro.

Everyone deals with this differently.  Prayers to your daughter!!!  I think that is why I'm trying to work through this without any meds - I just don't want to depend on anything.

She is very lucky to have you and your DH!!

Nanners. I will keep your daughter in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck to your family.
I am not against narcotic pain management. But some will abuse it. Unfortunately, this is what makes it hard for people who do not abuse it to get it. Dr.'s are reluctant to prescribe it out of fear. A diabetic needs insulin but that does not make them an addict. People on heart meds need their pills and they aren't addicted. They are dependent on them to lead a normal, healthy life. Addiction and dependence are two different things. If narcotic pain relief is the only route of relief for some that doesn't mean they will ever get addicted....they will depend on these drugs to live a normal life. What works for some doesn't work for others. Someone in severe chronic pain often has no choice and if it relieves their pain and doesn't make them feel funny (high to a certain degree) then it was explained to me that the meds are targeting the true pain and the person needs them. I had a hard time for awhile figuring out the difference between a person becoming addicted versus dependent and when the Dr.'s took the time to explain it to me I finally understood. Again, best of luck to your daughter. :)

Nanners I hope your daughter can beat this. I have a family member that became addicted to pain meds after a fall. Like your daughter she got into trouble with the law over her addiction. It is a terrible thing that can ruin many lives. As far as I know this woman has been clean for many years.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee