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Posted 3/17/2010 8:00 AM (GMT 0)

I've had Fibro for about 10 yrs. now. I'm in my 40's and I am experiencing the worst amount of pain that I ever had.  I have a 3 year old daughter and am a stay at home mom.  I cannot do exercise such as walking because my pain increases a lot!  I take Zoloft and IB 600mg.  I can hardly climb our stairs and I endure the pain to do so.  I feel sluggish, sad, and irritable all the time.  My hair is falling out by the handfulls and I don't know why.  I want to do more to help myself but we have no money for PT, more prescriptions, swimming, or anything.  I feel like I just need to talk to people who understand my pain and problems that I experience everyday. My body aches so badly when I wake up in the morning.  My hips give me the most pain.  Please give any words of advice that you can!  Thanks so much for listening!

Posted 3/17/2010 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble. I too experience more pain when I walk or do a lot of exercise but I have 3 kids and I work so I must get up and do the things that need to be done. I know you said you don't have money for more meds but have you talked to your doctor about depression,it sounds like you could be experiencing some and the zoloft is not helping much.

When I am hurting and can't do much I try to at least do some light stetches and hot showers or baths also seem to work. Sometimes just having a good attitude about the day will help(I know it is hard).I try to start my days by saying that I am not going to let this get me down today, I am going to have a good day with my family.

I don't know if this will help you out any but I wish you all the best and hope you find some way to help you combat your pain.At least you know you can come on here and find a sympathetic and understanding ear,maybe that will give you some comfort.

Posted 3/17/2010 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Have you asked your doctor for samples of medications maybe they would be willing to give you samples so you wouldn't have to pay for them. Some times the Pharm. Co. have applications for extra help you could try that. Just a thought.
Posted 3/17/2010 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, sorry you are feeling so blue smurf .  I don't know what mg of zoloft you are taking but the dose does need to be bumped up after time.  I also take zoloft and mine had to get bumped.  Almost all Dr's offices have tons of samples.  Mine gave my hubby his blood pressure meds for at least a year cause our ins did not cover it.

I feel your pain about the stairs.....There are 2 sets in my house--go up to go to bed and go down to leave the house and about 25 trips thru the day taking care of my puppers.

The Bed Buddy that you put in the microwave has been a Godsend.  I have 2, one for the neck and another larger one that works great for the upper back or on the hips.  You can even fill a sock with rice or even be more creative so it doesn't look chutzkie, but a plain ole sock will do. 

Good luck and I hope you find some relief

Posted 3/17/2010 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jouney and welcome. I'm sorry your hurting so badly. This time of year seems to be bad for a lot of people with the seasons changing.

 

Feeling bad can be depressing and maybe you do need a med change. The bed buddies made out of socks is very easy and cheap to make. Take a long men's tube sock and fill it with uncooked rice, leave enough room to tie it shut, and put it in the microwave for a few minutes and it gives off moist heat which is very good for us in any form. I have a pulsing showerhead that I love or a soak in the tub. They also have moist heating pads.

 

This is a great forum and we try to keep each other up when we are down and listen when someone needs to vent and get it all out. Sometimes just having a place to go where everyone understands how you feel makes us feel better.

 

Check out the fibro 101 thread, second on first page, it contains a lot of great info.

 

We have to keep moving even when we don't feel like it or the pain does get worse. You will learn a lot on here.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 3/17/2010 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Have you had any blood work done recently? The reason I'm asking is a couple of years ago my fibro seemed to get intensely worse, and my hair started falling out too. It turns out that I was anemic. Once I started taking iron, I felt somewhat better. I still have the fibro pain, of course, but getting the anemia taken care of helped.

There are lots of metabolic deficiencies/disorders that can make the pain and fatigue worse and can make your hair fall out. I just had some blood work done yesterday (don't have the results back yet) because my doc. was concerned about my blood calcium levels (too high), and he said that could increase my pain.

Just a thought. Some blood tests, such as testing for anemia, aren't too terribly expensive.

I hope you feel better soon.

Hugs - Austen
Posted 3/17/2010 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for all your compassion, support, ideas, and advice. I really appreciate it all! I think I will go to the doctor and get some tests done. I have been anemic in the past. I may need to change my antidepressant as I am already at 150mg. I have been having a good attitude about everything, but now I am getting worn down after months of stress and pain. Finances are very difficult right now- as it is with most everyone now. I have to think harder to make our money stretch! I love the idea of the rice socks! I think I will make several of them! Thanks so much for that idea! :) I have looked at Fibro 101 and I think it is a wonderful resource! I am so thankful that it is there! My doctor's office doesn't get samples for some reason.

I was wondering, what kind of doctors do you see? I just see a family doctor. I was thinking maybe I need to see an internist or some kind of specialist.
Posted 3/17/2010 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I think Austenfan is right...you should have some blood work done. I think I read somewhere that vitamin B deficiency can cause your hair to fall out or thyroid problems can also. That should show up in your bloodwork I would think.
Posted 3/17/2010 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our family. You have recieved some great advice, that is why this forum
works, the understanding you get here is real. We all live with the ups and downs of this
crazy disorder. As you already read, heat is a fibromites friend and excersise is important.

I see a rheumatoligist who is great! He is very knowledgeable, caring and understanding.
My rheumy was referred to me by my PCP.

Take one day at a time. I'm glad you joined us JourneyOn !!!

hugs, Robin
Posted 3/18/2010 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry you're having more pain. So am I - and I'm sick of it!! (Had fibro for 20 years.) Just trying a different (additional) antidepressant, effexor. What fun.

My doctor is an allergist/internest, and he treats me for fibro. I have great trust in him, partly because he listens and really believes me, and checks everything out carefully. But it took me years to find him.

Good luck!
Posted 3/18/2010 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you are feeling so bad. One thing you said caught my eye. Many years ago I was tired, depressed, sluggish,etc. But what made me go to the doctor was that my hair was falling out. The person who did my hair told me I needed to see my doctor. My doctor tested my thyroid. It was in the normal range but at the very lowest level . He said for some people this is too low. I have been on Synthroid for my thyroid ever since. My hair stopped falling out, my mood improved too. I did not notice any difference in the pain I was having but I did have more energy to get back to an exercise routine.

I am not a doctor but I think hair falling out is a good reason for you to seek medical help. I hope you can see your doctor soon.

Gentle hugs.
Posted 3/19/2010 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone,

New here, and I have had Fibro for 10 years now, but I have had pain off and on and have studied frbro a lot, but today it hit me with a TON of bricks, I am on more pain meds than most cancer people use, ie: 100mg of fentanal, 80mg of Vicidon a day, Lyrica 200mg, 3 anti dep., I take 30+ pills a day, over 1000 a month and SOOO Tired of it, but I have had 17 Surgerys and more authritis than I can stand, I am a 55 year old male with my loving wife and our 15 month old granddaughter from our youngest daughter, my 9th.  I guess I was wanting a shoulder to cry on, I am so depressed today and know how nice everyone is with fibro, well my arems are hurting so bad now got to stop for a minute but wanted to say Hi....Kim  turn

Posted 3/19/2010 9:01 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Kim,
Welcome to this forum and threads. I feel exactly the same way! I need a sholder to cry on. Everyone thinks I am so strong because I do and do and do. When I go places and people see me, I am loaded on pain medicine and appear fine, but i am soooooooo hurting! The pain CAN be just as bad as a cancer patients! I am so stiff in the mornings that I can hardly scrape myself out of bed! And I have a 3 year old who begs me to get up and come downstairs. Yes, that's right, we have stairs. Bedrooms upstairs and kitchen and living area downstairs. It's hard for me to do stairs first thing in the morning. 21 of them and they're steep! Ihope you find good friends, help, and support here. So far, I am finding the info and people very helpful, caring, and supportive.
Posted 3/19/2010 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Journeyon

Boy, all those steps, that must be a job.  I know the people here are nice, I belong to a coin forum (Coin Talk) and they are great there, I am doing a touch better this morning. I usually do when I sleep out in the living room in my recliner, I have been in it fro the last three years eyes with most of my neck fused it help to be more upright than laying down.

 

Have a great day....

 

Kim

Posted 3/19/2010 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
FM is an unforgiving, painful condition most docs don;t believe exists. First thing they say for females? "It's in your head." Not so. Find a Naturopathic doc (ND) who does soft tissue therapy & nutrition. He'll work with your finances, too. You can start doing EZ Tai Chi at home yourself (ask your librarian). The kids can have fun with you, doing it. See:

 

Please read our forum rules.

Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 3/19/2010 3:43:03 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/19/2010 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
GO get yu thyroid checked. I will lay money on the fact that your free Thyroxine is very low and your THS is very high. Run. Don't walk to doc for full thyroid work-up. Been there, burned the shirt. Cheers.
Posted 3/19/2010 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
sorry to hear you are so sore and having a tough time. I agree labwork is in order. Afew things I would suggest to get tested for would be your thyroid,
B12, levels and vit D levels. and glucose.I would also get tested for lyme disease.

I have lyme disease and your symptoms are very familliar, but they can overlap with fibro and other illnesses. I also had normal thryoid levels, but very low end. been on thyroid meds and been a lot better. my hair no longer falls out.

I would also go see a pian specialist if you can. they can manage your pain really well.

hugs,

melissa
Posted 3/20/2010 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hair can also fall out due to too much mercury, if you eat a lot of fish or take Cod Liver oil tablets and your body cannot handle it. One thing I have found that helps me is these hot wax treatments that heat up to a low temperature and you dip your hand or feet into it, and let the hot wax soak the warmth into your muscles and bones! It sounds painful, it isn't, the wax doesn't get that hot. Kind of like the stuff you see at kids carnivals when they make wax hands. Hang in there, sweetie.
Posted 3/20/2010 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Kim, you are not seeing the right doctor. Too many wrong pills. Find an Internal Medicine MD (preferably female, who'll listen) who will work with an ND (Naturopathic Physician), who does soft tissue work and can provide proper natural support. You definitely need good sleep every nite--- vicodin should only be used as a 'backup' for pain. Ask the doc to try you on Neurontin at higher doses; legs and body will ache far less and you will have deeper sleep without pain. You should definitely be on special vitamins (proper ones will help), eat foods that don't cause pain, and do daily body movements that are not harmful or hurt. There is help and on far fewer drugs.
Posted 3/20/2010 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
It's obvious to me you are trying to get around the rules here. We do NOT play doctor on here by telling other members what they should and should not be doing. We can suggest things that work for us and that is it. From your post on other forums I do not believe that is your intention here, just my opinion.

Marlee


 
Posted 3/20/2010 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Journey - I hope you can get to the doctor and get some bloodwork! Maybe find an easy fix to part of your problem. It is just a neverending circle - you feel bad, your mood gets worse, which makes you feel worse and on and on.

I don't know how you do it with a three year old! My youngest was five when I developed fibro and didn't need as much carrying and help. Now he and his brother are the ones helping me! My twelve year old is already four inches taller than me and great at reaching things for me :)

Hope you feel better!
Posted 3/20/2010 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Wahoo! I apologiize to Moderator and all members. Just trying to help FM sufferers. Please discontinue my membership; don't wish to offend. Good luck to all!
Posted 3/20/2010 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, JourneyOn, and welcome!  I visit my son frequently and he lives in a third floor apartment.  I live in a ranch house.  I'm practically pulling myself up the stairs when I go to his home.  You do need to keep moving with fibro or your muscles will lose their tone and it just makes things harder.

 

I bet you can walk but you probably tried walking too far and that caused pain.  When I started walking, I could only go four houses down and had to turn around and come back home.  But I kept it up and every day I could go a little further.  Now, I start my day by walking my dog for at least one mile.  I walk a lot in my home, too.  I feel soooo much better now and I have more energy, too!  So, give it a try again but start out slowly.  You have to do that with fibro, if you haven't done something in a while.  You need to keep those muscles as strong as possible.

 

Have you had a chance to check out Fibro 101 yet?  There are links to good info about fibro there and you will learn a lot.  Don't hesitate to ask questions either.  We are here to help.

 

I'm so glad you joined our fibro family!  I hope to hear more from  you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 3/26/2010 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everybody,
Today I saw a NP at a wellness center. Has both holistic and medical care all under one roof- like MD, soft tissue therapists, NPs, and Chiropractor. Pretty neat, huh? Anyhow, the NP that I saw to be my PCP ordered TONS of tests for me! She said she ordered so many that after insurance, I will still probably have to pay a couple hundred, but it is worth it to me! I told her about all my symptoms and pain. She listened very well. I told her all the ideas and suggestions that all of you have told me. She said it was very good information- so thank you! However, she cautioned me about "internet medical info", which I already know to be careful and not believe everything I hear. I have to do fasting tests tomorrow am (Fri) and then I have an appt. for the results in 2 weeks. She said she would test for RA and Lupus too. I hope to have some answers and I hope to feel better in about a month.
Posted 3/26/2010 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
FAntastic!!!!!!!!!! So glad to hear it.

please keep us posted.


melissa
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