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Sort of diagnosed, tons of meds and planned sleep study...

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 3/28/2014 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Where to start..here is my story. I have always been one who needs lots of sleep, way more than the average person and it's always affected my life but I have managed. I have three kids and followed that adage sleep when they sleep, plus I would sleep when dh got home etc and so on. I was always sore and achey but blamed it on poor muscle tone from having kids, caring kids, bad mattress, etc. I had severe migraines and have been seeking treatment for these for 13 years.

I have been on about every preventative under the sun and tried Botox several times. It only caused other muscles to knot up.

Besides my migraines and extreme fatigue my main complaint is constraint pain in my neck shoulders and midd back. My neurologist did the trigger point test for fibro and I had 15 out of 18 but some were just tender. Can this be fibro? Like my knees will not hurt for weeks then flare up bad for a couple of days same with my elbows, my neck and shoulders are the only consistent areas is this normal ? The other parts of my body seem to take turns.

It's frustrating because one day I have the heating pad on joy knee the next on my wrist etc. dh is always saying that there is always something wrong with me :-(. Luckily I guess I don't work and I can still do the things that HAVE to be done. I just am often missing out on everything else because I don't feel well or am too tired.

I also have almost all the other symptoms on the list so the nuero is pretty sure that I have fibro. I am waiting on them to schedule a sleep study. He said hopefully that shows something, if not we will move on to the MRI to check for MS :-( that scared me.

He mentioned that we may want to switch some of my meds that are tailored toward migraine prevention right now, to also help with fibro he mentioned lyrica or cymbalta. I hate the switching from one med to another process.... But if it helps.

So currently I am on the following meds daily 100mg topomax 200 zonegran 40 Prozac 200 provigil ( just started that one today)

And as needed
Imitrex
Loratabs
Flexeril
Relafen
Butalbital

Like I said I started the provigil today. I really hope it helps with the tiredness. Last night was a rough night so I don't know if anything would help me much today...

I typed a novel, and didn't really ask or say much I guess I just wondered if anyone else felt like I do or had taken any of the medicines my doc has me on with any success or failure, and how you took them he just has as needed. I was taking for migraine Pain. but if I am taking for body pain do I take differently?

Sorry I am rambling but I am feeling so lost, and trying to do everything I can think of to feel better. It so hard when my husband goes back and forth between thinking I am dying ( afraid I have cancer or something) and being pissed that I am still laying on the couch at 2 pm. My kids are bringing me food and drinks when I am having a bad spell and taking care of me!!!!!! That is not how it's supposed to be!!!
cry cry
Posted 3/28/2014 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, MrsFish, and welcome! I was just checking out your medications (at drugs.com) and need to inform you about something. It's called Serotonin Syndrome and some of the medications you are taking can possibly cause this problem. You are taking an opiate (Lortabs) and the migraine medication Imitrex. If you take two or more medications that are known to cause Serotonin Syndrome, it makes you more prone to this problem. You also mentioned that your doctor is thinking about giving you Cymbalta. That is an antidepressant called a SSNRI and that also is on the list of drugs that can cause Serotonin Syndrome. Be sure all of your doctors know everything you are taking...even over-the-counter medications and supplements. That is very important.

If you go into Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum...and scan down to #16, you will see good info about Serotonin Syndrome, the medications that can cause this problem, and there are a total of four links about this.

You also are taking a barbiturate, Butalbital and sometimes mixing a barbiturate with an opiate medication can cause problems, too. Google it and you will see.

You mentioned in another thread about taking 800 mg of Advil which is basically ibuprofen...an NSAID. You also are taking Relafen which also is an NSAID so you might be getting too much of this type of drug and it can really hurt your stomach and intestines. I'm not a doctor but this makes sense to me so do pass this by your doctors. Last I heard, the medical community is saying right now that you should not take more than 2,400 mg. of ibuprofen in a 24 hour period.

Lastly, the Lortabs have acetaminophen (Tylenol) in them and possibly your Butalbital has acetaminophen in it also. I'm not sure but anyway be sure to watch the amount you take because too much actaminophen can cause problems with the liver. Many of the over-the-counter medications contain this, too, so always read labels. That is very important.

I used to take Vicodin which is like Lortabs but it didn't touch my pain. I now take ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, magnesium malate, vitamin D3, and a prescription muscle relaxer called Robaxin and these help with pain and fatigue for me. I also walk and/or swim daily and pace myself when doing things. Massage has helped me too but do make sure you have a massage therapist that has studied how to massage fibro and myofacial pain syndrome clients.

I mentioned Fibro 101 above. Do read that. There are good links about fibro and you will learn a lot there. There are links about the supplements I mentioned above and how they work in the body. We do have to be our own advocates with this illness so knowledge is power.

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 3/28/2014 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the welcome,
Wow so a lot of my meds can interact. They are all prescribed by the same dr. Grrr.. My neuro. I am aware of the serotonin syndrome. Almost all the migraine meds can possible interact with other meds to cause that so I have been warned of it, but if I remember correctly, there wasn't a huge concern, just something to watch for? And I believe that was with the Imitrex and Prozac...l nobody sId anything about the others.. I just assumed since all my meds were through the same dr they wouldn't be prescribing me stuff that would interact. I even have to drag it all with me to ever visit. And they give me a print out when I leave, so it's it like they aren't aware.....
Posted 3/28/2014 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted you to have a heads up and be aware. If your doctor isn't that concerned I would still watch for symptoms...just in case. I had never heard of Serotonin Syndrome until about four years ago so I wanted to make sure you were aware of this. We have a member that got very sick this way.

By the way have you ever been checked for diabetes? I'm diabetic and if I eat too many carbs I can't keep my eyes open. It's like someone drained the energy out of me. Just a thought...

Sherrine
Posted 3/29/2014 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I have had a fasting blood test done every year and don't have any signs of diabetes. I appear to be very healthy according to my bloodwork. I am youngish late 30's and at my optimum weight or a little below.

I am reading up on the serotonin syndrome now, and checking the interactions of my meds now. I never take all of them at once. Or even more than one or two of the ones on the bottom list except for on a really bad day..... But I guess it on,y takes one time. The whole bottom list is as needed, but I would like to know how to take them safely. Today I started a new med and felt horrible, not sure if it was the meds side effects or just a bad day, but it just suffered through it because I was afraid of what I should take or not take....
Posted 3/29/2014 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Mrs. Fish welcome to the forum! It sounds like your neuro Dr. Might be headed down the right direction. Many of your symptoms are similiar to fibro, but it's important to check things like MS. If you look up MS the symptoms are very similar too. So this is good your Dr.is doing the right thing by ordering all these test. I just finished a sleep study and I failed it big time. I just got my cpap and I already starting to feel some better. I have had it 1 month only. I use to want to sleep anywhere I would sit. Lol I am waiting for my results of my MRI too. I have had a few, but never showing MS. I really don't think they will find it either. Sometimes you think you have a muscle disease because the crazy symptoms of fibro.

I see you mention your meds in the previous post. It's good to mention to your Dr. about your concerns on serotonin syndrom, too much Tylenol and drugs overlapping each other. I have had Dr's not aware of these things, but was ordering them. I did suffer serotonin syndrom on Cymbalta. I just assumed they knew what they were ordering or the pharmacy would catch it. So I think that is why Sherrine is concerned.

If you do get the diagnoses of fibro it might be relief to know that its real and you can call it a name. Then you can start your process of learning how to treat the fibro. Educating yourself on fibro is a valuable tool to get started. This forum is wonderful site to help you learn.

Please let us know on your test and diagnoses. This is a great place for support. I hope to see you around the forum.

Post Edited (ak angel) : 3/28/2014 11:46:37 PM (GMT-6)

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