At a cross roads regarding my treatment for fibromyalgia, I need some advice please

Hi Angel light,

Welcome to the fibromyalgia forum. I don't know where you live, but I am in Michigan and it has been damp since early September and I have had a lot of pain, so weather might be a factor here. Make sure you keep moving, or you will become imobile. Stretching helps and so does moist heat. Living with fibromyalgia is hard, and a lot of us have other illnesses too. That makes it even worse. I am sure you will get replies from others who understand what you are going through.

I don't take cymbalta, but I do take another medication sort of similar.  It is pristiq.  It does help some, but I find pain medications to work much better for pain for me.

We have a really cool thread called "fibro 101". It is the first thread on the forum. You will find many answers there so do take a look. I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen

I take Tramadol for my pain. It just dulls it because it's considered the mildest of the painkillers. I'm supose to start lyrica in January but I can't afford it.

Have you asked if your acupunture place would do some sort of deal for you? Have you consider going less frequently? I know it won't be best, but at the very least you'll still get some relieve.

Cymbalta is an antidepressant, didn't work for my FMS. I'm on Tramadol as well, which to me is a better pain management drug.

Having FMS is sometimes like a curse, but it's something we have to live with... and it's an expensive one at that. I read somewhere once, that people with FMS spend something like $3,000 a year on health care, compared to < $1,000 for healthy people. It's not fun being sick, but you do need to make sure your needs are being looked after. If acupunture helps, try find a way to continue...

Lupus patients with fibro spend >$5,000 a year. :(

Thank you all so much for sharing your tips on managing this condition.  I so appreciate it!  So often with this condition one can feel isolated and it's such a wonderful feeling to know there is a place to get guidance and support.  Much of what has been shared I have incorporated like important supplements like omega 3s, vitamin D, magnesium, diet, stretching, mediatation and other supplements.  I will also seriously look into other options that were mentioned so thank you for taking the time to reply and share.   A little about me,

I have done my research and try my best to incorporate things that can help.  I juice.  I am glutten free, vegetarian by choice for over 13yrs and have chemical and food sensentivities so I do watch what I eat, yet still find myself at times completely overwhelmed by this condition!  I know I am not alone, but God knows how hard it can be some days!

I have never wanted to take harsh medication, such as what has been prescribed but I have come to find the pain unbearable, and I am tired of suffering.  I have been in pain for so long, many years accepting it as a way of life, always toughing it out the natural way.  I am a natural girl all the way but am realizing that I need to let go any judgement I have about other ways of finding relief.  I don't judge others, but always have felt in my heart that natural was best for me but now I am not so sure.  I have tried many of the natural supplements for pain like SAM-e, Valerian, St. John's wort all gave me side effects that I couldn't tolerate.  Tried bromelin, MSM and many other supplements recommended by a holistic practitioner, found some relief but these supplements do add up and without a job now this will be hard to maintain.  I have a list of other good supplements that are said to help but I am running out of money and quite honestly tired of trying right now.  

I will still do the acupunture when any extra money comes in but I have to come up with a way dealing with the fibro in those in between times now that going every week is not an option.  After reading chouchtater response last night about tramadol, a drug I have at home, tried before twice and got sick, I decided to give it another try because the thought of something dulling the pain as she said, souded so wonderful and so I said this is worth another try as bad as I feel and by the grace of God I didn't get sick, other than feeling very loopy, last time I threw up several times so just feeling High was not too bad.  LOL

It did dull the pain a bit and it was welcomed relief, so thank you all for sharing and making me feel so welcomed!

Have a blessed day!

Hi there! Wanted to share that I spoke too soon! I took the tramadol yesterday during the day, and became so sick, vomiting, body tremors, spliting headache. It was the worst. I was so encouraged by reading how it has helped some of you that I thought it was worth another try. The first time I took it I had these very same symptoms.

My pain has been tolerable today due to soaking my feet and legs in hot water, which was recommended to me by the acupunturist and this is helping to provide some relief from the pain by relaxing the nervous system. For added relaxation, I play soothing music and light candles. I do this in the morning and in the evening, it's worth a try for those of you interested. It can if not take away all the pain at least take the edge off it. I put a folding chair in the tub, fill a waste paper basket with hot water so there is little strain on my arms.

Thank you all again for your support! Wasn't sure if there was a way to relpy to a specific message or not so I am going to do it here. Wanted to also share that I am sorry Couchtater-Joy, that you are unable to pay for the medication Lyrica. I could imagine how challenging this situation is for you. These medicines are so expensive, and the last thing that we should have to worry about with all this pain and disruption in our life is to have come up with money to feel better. You are in my prayers.

Sherrie- what brand of malic acid/magnesium do you buy? I bought source naturals, the pills are huge and the serving is 3 tablets a day but everywhere I have researched it appears as if I would need to take double that amount to get any results. In your opinion how many mgs are you taking of magnesium malate and do you find that to be sufficient? Thank you!

Fibro$ux- Thanks for your suggestion about asking for a discount. I have and he is truly a wonderful person, but even this reduced amount that I have been paying the last couple of months has become a challenge for me but if I can't see him everyweek my hope is to at least see him 1 x month and when I and if I get more money see him more. Thank you for your suggestion I really do appreciate it.

DW- I read about the ATP receptor and was drawn to taking malic acid/magnesium, I stopped but am definetly considering taking it once again, along with buckwheat and figs which my sister-in-law has read is a great source of malic acid for those of us with fibro. As for the IC I am aware of the mast cells
and ATP receptor and magnesium malate also is said to be good for this, thanks for bringing this up and making me more mindfull of this connection. Do you have IC? You mentioned amitrptyline, which was given to me when dianosed with IC, I didn't take it then but would consider it if worse comes to worse. All meds tend to make me so sick so it has always been a struggle for me. I have sever chemical sensitivity. I like that you mentioned that you too were very sensitive to meds but that this one was well tolerated. I will also look at those articles you sighted. Thank you!

Thank you all and have a wonderful holiday!
Serena

Fibromyalgia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Vertigo, Neuropathy, Herinated Discs, Interstitial Cystitis

I can only speak for myself, but my experince with Cymbalta was like an acid trip and then the side effects from stopping the medication, which I had only been on for 5 days lasted for over a month.