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Posted 5/11/2013 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I have posted here a few times with questions about my wife's Fibromyalgia and I have
another one. Magggie watched a tv show last night that featured a woman who claimed her Fibo was exacerbated after she moved into a house. So, since Maggie's Fibro is much worse now than it was before 10/11, when we moved into our house, she is wondering if this could be real? Coincidentally, she is under more stress now, her ride to work is now 45 mins each way and because she suffers from severe Fibro related insomnia, I drive her to and from work making the 45 min. trip 4 times a day to try to help her out. (sorry if I rambling, it is 5am). Anyway besides her increased stress from a lack of sleep, she is in constant pain and you all are familiar with that. So could her exacerbation be due to her increased stress level or could it indeed be caused by our house? I am struggling to find some answer, some relief from her horrible suffering, please help if you have any ideas. Thank you in advance!
Chuck smhair
Posted 5/11/2013 10:09 AM (GMT 0)
I'd place it on the stress. Stress is proven to cause fibromyalgia flares. Try getting some cushions for her to pad her bottom and back. Stop for breaks and let her move around.

To chat the insomnia try to set a routine. A nice hot bath to lessen her muscles or time with a heating pad. I don't know what medications she has but if she doesn't have a muscle relaxer that would be a great one to ask for. Once she has her routine make sure nothing intrudes.

A chat with her doctor could be helpful, too. Her doctor may have more suggestions ( as will other members). The biggest thing is she's going to have to learn how to not let things stress her so much.
Posted 5/11/2013 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chuck,

Sorry to hear about your wife having a difficult time. Some things that come to mind are it's possible your new place is affecting her. I have multiple chemical sensitivity and I have to be very careful concerning my environment. Here's a couple links that might be helpful:

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_multiple_chemical.html

http://www.multiplechemicalsensitivity.org/multiple-chemical-sensitivity-3.php

Yes, stress can play a big part and overdoing. Would your wife feel better traveling in the car with pillows? If she has a sit down job, maybe a nice seat cushion for her chair?

Sleep is so very important for us. Has she tried sleep supplements? I was tried on a variety of sleeping pills and none worked well for me. Eating a healthy diet can help too and getting a good massage will also help if it's done right.

Good luck to you and your wife.
Posted 5/11/2013 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
Moving house is stressful for healthy individual. It's at least 3X worse for people with FMS. That itself would have increase her stress level.

Getting acquinted with her new environment may also add new stress to herself, it may be subconciously but it sure make people more anxious when they are in a new place. You've got new neighbour, new shops, everything is new. This can be stressful for anyone.

If you're moving further out from her work place, that may also increase her stress level as well. Even if she's not the driving, sitting in the car and pain doesn't go hand in hand. They are very tiring. I had to drive 30 mins to work daily, and I get tired just thinking about doing it.

As almost medfree said, there could be other environmental factors like chemicals or noise, anything that is different from what she was used to.

It'll take time for her to get her flares in control. Give her some time, she needs more rests. Help out with chores, unpacking, etc. Sleeping aid may help. Call in for a couple of sick days will probably accelerate the healing process. However, don't use the sick days to do house chores, it will defeat the purpose of resting. Send her to a spa or some place relaxing, she needs to clear her mind.

Hope this help.
Posted 5/11/2013 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Right now she is taking Savella 1x daily, if she takes 2, her nausea and headache is unbearable. She also take Roserum (sp?), for insomnia and it is not working. She has tried all the OTC stuff to no avail. She also tried Hydroxizine, did not work. She takes a BP med and a cholesterol med. She was taking Zinc and Magnesium but stopped because she was starting to itch. Our move was in 10/2011, but the stress of work and the trip everyday really bugs her, plus we have normal daily stress. I will try the pillows in the car. Her dr is never available to chat, she calls him and it takes a week for them to return her call, I am not very happy with him and he is a Rheumatologist, he is supposed to be "on the ball"!
Posted 5/11/2013 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
I agree about the stress being a factor. But a new environment could be a culprit too. I am thinking after the newness is over and things settle down, it will be easier for you both to determine what is going on.

Possibly a new doctor is in order. One who can be reached when needed. It sounds like your wife is under a great deal of stress right now. I like the suggestions for the pillows and something comfortable. I take ambien and it really helps me sleep. Has she tried melatonin? That works for me when I want an ambien holiday. It only helps me for a few days though. I don't know why. There is something called calms forte' that helps with sleep. And sleepytime tea helped me when I was younger.

I wish you and your wife the best. Thanks for posting. It really shows how much you care about her.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 5/11/2013 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Ctc,

Environmental things come to mind..was there new carpet in the house? Mold? Different trees effecting her allergies? Did you buy new furniture?

ANY of these things can contribute to her flares being so cinstant, along iwth the stress..kudos to you for driving her :)
That is very supportive of you~!

And finding a new doc that is a bit more helpful would certainly not be bad either.
Best of luck!
Posted 5/12/2013 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
Ctc- I wish I had you as a husband. The caring and support you give is great. I would say from experience that the stress she is under will cause her fibro to constantly flare. I use to have a very stressful job and now that I am not working I rarely have a flare. Insomnia just compounds the problem. I take remron for sleep and as an antidepressent. It helps with racing thoughts at night. It helps me sleep solid hours.

She will probably having lots of pain until you get her stress levels down and sleep issues taking care of. I would probably look for another Dr. if you don't get your needs met there. The longest wait should only be 48 hrs. I am not sure if she has tried a muscle relaxer at night. Many people have good results with this. I use magnesium by itself and have good results. Since I started the magnesium, I have less muscle spasms. I don't take any muscle relaxers.

Try not to get discourage. Finding the right meds and treatments take time. I finally had to take disability and it has given my life back to me. I know everybody can't stop work, but it really saved my life.
Posted 5/12/2013 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
I would really love for her to go on disability, we really enjoy each other's company, but she would loose her health insurance for two years, until she qualified for medicare. As it is, I don't have health insurance because I am on Disability. My two year waiting period ends in October, so I will automatically be enrolled in medicare and I'm only 61! For now I am trying to keep her happy and calm, it's tough, her lack of sleep really affects her mood sometimes, but I know that and I just keep my mouth shut sometimes and let her talk. I do love her so much, I wish I could take the pain away from her and accept it myself. . .anyway, thank you all for the help once again. Oh and Happy Mother's Day to all!!!
Chuck
Posted 5/13/2013 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Has she tried to spilt the savella up? I had to do that in the beginning, took half my dose in am and half in pm. I have to take it with food. My Dr said to keep it in your system you should take a close every 12 Hours, for it to work well. And if I forget I have issues.
Posted 5/13/2013 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with the others that a new RA doctor for at least a consult, a RA doctor should be trying to help better with her pain too, and look into getting her a ergo chair for her at work it will be more expensive but they are worth it to have a comfy chair and maybe even a foot rest. and a moist heating pad can help at home...
Many well wishes and sure hope your wife is doing better soon...
Posted 5/24/2013 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Okay, we have found a new RA Dr. for Maggie and she has agreed to ask for the REMERON, but one of the side effects is craving sugar and being a type 2 Diabetic, this is of concern to us both. Any feedback? Oh and Thank You all for the help so far, this is a very challenging disease!!!
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