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new diagnosis + Cymbalta

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Posted 3/28/2013 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I am a new member - was just diagnosed with fibromyalgia today! I am relieved to know that my hunt to figure out what it wrong with me is done (it took six months which seemed like an eternity to me but I know many members on here have had it go unknown for much longer so I sympathize with you!) but I am also disappointed as fibromyalgia as a whole seems absolutely awful. My rheumatologist put me on Cymbalta right away and I was curious to know anyone else's experiences with this. I typically don't experience side effects from drugs but was wondering what people who have been treated with this previously think about its effectivenesss.

Jenny
Posted 3/28/2013 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jenny,
I'm kinda new myself. Lots of good info on here but you have to try out different things to see what works for you. I am very sensitive to many meds so the anti-depressants (Cymbalta etc..) are not good for me cause they all give me migraines. I tried Lyrica over a weekend and I felt high as a kite! I also was on Savella for six weeks and it helped a little especially with pain in legs and ankles at night but after six weeks started getting side effects such as sweating alot, stomach pain, dry heaves, headachy feeling thruout the day. Needless to say I stopped it.
I have been to so many doctors and they have suggested everything from exercise, massage therapy, water therapy, CBT etc.... I have recently found a chiropractic neurologist who is in PA so it is about a two hour drive for me but I think I will try him. He is an expert in Fibro and says that it is a Neurological condition.
I also have many other health issues and waiting to get the clear from my primary to try natural supplements. I also read alot on Fibro..the best book so far...Fibro for Dummies and Healing Fibromyalgia by Dr. Edelberg.
Hope this helps and welcome!
Posted 3/29/2013 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I'm new to this forum. I was diagnosed with Fibro about 6 months ago. My doctor put me on Cymbalta and I could tell within a few days that it worked great! Then, a couple months later, I went away for Christmas and we flew there. Ever since that trip, the Cymbalta doesn't seem to be working as well as it was. My doctor thinks it's the pressure changes from flying that caused my pain to increase. So, he increased my dose by half and I'm starting to feel better again. I'm still taking 30mg less than what is recommended for Fibromyalgia patients. If this dose I'm on now doesn't make me feel much better by the time I have to refill my prescription, he's going to increase me to the maximum dose. Overall, I'd say it definitely has helped. The only side effects I've had from it are excess sweating/hot flashes and was having headaches about twice a week. The headaches have calmed down as I got used to the medication but the sweating/hot flashes are still here. I'd much rather deal with that than the Fibro pain I was in before Cymbalta. Hope it works for you! Nice to meet you.....
Posted 3/29/2013 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Jenny! I'm glad you found us, but sorry you had to, if that makes sense.

Check out Fibro 101, top of the page.

I am glad you got a relatively speedy diagnosis. Knowing is always better than not.

I was on Cymbalta for 7 months or so, about three years ago. It didn't sit well with me, too many side effects, and not enough pain reduction to be able to sit it out. But it does help many others, so
give a try and see what happens. You have to give it time to build up. Some will try it, and give up very quickly. Let your body get used to it for a month, and then see.

Everybody is different! Find what works best for you.
Posted 3/29/2013 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Adamzmom, welcome to you too!

You might want to start a new thread so that the oldies can greet you properly.

Sounds as if you are going about your trial on Cymbalta efffectively. There is a honeymoon period or a nightmare period, as the body adapts to new stuff. See what happens.
Posted 3/29/2013 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your input! It's really nice to find a place with such a fantastic support system. I've found through this ordeal that many people don't understand the symptoms very well and tell me that it's "all in my head" (including doctors... how frustrating is this!) so I really appreciate being heard here.

Typically I try not to take medication unless I need to, which is why I was wondering about everyone's experiences. Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella seem to be the go-to meds and my doctor proposed a trial-and-error type of experiment with them - seems like that's all that can be done!

linchu13: Thank you for your help! My mom has MS and takes Lyrica occasionally and has the same problem - she said she feels drugged. I wish you the best at your new chiropractic neurologist!

Adamzmom: I am going on vacation on Monday and am flying! I am really nervous to go on a plane because I've heard that fibromyalgia patients can have a really hard time, either because of the cabin pressure or oxygen levels.

Myself09: I checked out the Fibro101 post and was amazed at how many symptoms I had on the "big list." Some of them I never even mentioned to anyone because I honest to god thought that I belonged in an asylum. So many are completely unrelated to each other!
Posted 3/29/2013 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Yah, I was lucky, I guess, because my big sister had been diagnosed with Fibro in the early-nineties. I was at least semi-educated when all of a sudden, though I was sleeping, I was in pain, and foggy, and achy, and exhausted. At least, I knew what steps to take.

I use medications, but finding the right balance can be challenging for many people. We all have different lifestyles, bodies, conditions, needs, etc. It's so very personalized, which can sometimes be a pain in the rear. Sometimes, I wish there was one thing that cured me.
Posted 3/29/2013 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Jennygum, and welcome!  I don't take those medications.  I don't want to deal with side effects and I do get them frequently.  I have used ibuprofen with food, extra strength Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements, and vitamin D3 supplements to help me with pain and fatigue.  The only prescription medication I take for fibro is a muscle relaxer and it has helpe me considerably.  I sleep better, too.

 

Yes, they are thinking this is a neurological illness.  If you read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum...the first two links are about this.  Other good starting links are Symptoms and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia.  You just might see yourself there. 

 

Also, gentle exercise daily...things like walking or swimming...do help a lot.  Gentle stretching is good, too, along with pacing yourself.  I also get monthly gentle massages and they help me too.  I rather go a more natural way with handling fibro and all of this does help me.

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

Posted 3/29/2013 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Adamzmom, and welcome!  You might want to start your own introductory thread.  This way our members will know you are here.  This forum is very busy and we don't always read every thread so the introductory thread works great. 

 

By the way, all that I mentioned to Jennygum goes for you, too.  You will find a wealth of info in Fibro 101 and that's a great place to start on this forum. 

 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you, too!  I think you will like it here.

 

Sherrine

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