sick of this and sick of "doctors"

Some people go with marijuana, although I suppose if you're not in a state that has legalized it, you're taking chance there. But really, all you're saying here is what we all say. Modern medicine is no longer about healing, it's about managed care, and who will pay what, and how much. This is not a good field to look for a healer in.

No.. Not seeing a therapist. One more doctor to see is the last thing I want right now lol. I've switched doctors twice this year already and its not easy to do, I'm not even sure insurance will allow it.

I know my insurance did not cover aqua theray which was highly recommended following an accident i had years ago..now if they had recommended a much more expensive surgery , it would be covered.

So insurance is a verry think inside the box for a disease that needs outside the box help.

It is frustrating trying to bet the help you need.. All we can do is keep trying..

I understand what you are going through. I think I am thinking much the same right now. I saw my Rheumatologist today and they wouldn't even look at what I was discussing with them. I am nearly twice your age, but I don't like it either. I was particularly irritated to note that there office was covered with posters that say things like "You don't have to live with the pain" and "your doctor can help you improve your quality of life". Set my teeth on edge. They nearly told me "don't let the door hit you on the way out" and seemed horribly pleased that my pain doc was willing to take on my Lyrica prescription.

My PCP just retired his practice due to illness. The person they assigned to replace him doesn't like to talk much or explain anything.

I agree they don't want to have us have habit forming drugs. But when they prescribe without touching you or even looking at the area you tell them has pain, how do they expect us to find another way? When was the last time any of these people recommended alternatives to the habit forming drugs or even tried to figure out why the pain is happening so you could prevent it?

Speaking for myself, I have gone through that grief cycle and gotten to my acceptance that there is no cure and that this will be something I am working with for the rest of my life.

I have had chronic arthritis and insomnia since my early teens. Since it is worsened over the last few years, I need to change something about my regimen. Long before I had fibromyalgia I tried every homeopathic solution I could find for this. I did this because no one believed me about the pain.

My pain doc prescribed Meloxicam a few years ago and that helped significantly lower the pain. It has since stopped working, and so I asked my rheumatologist about that pain. My concern is that she did not even look at my fingers. She is a specialist for whom arthritic conditions are the large part of her practice. One would assume that she would have some concept of what kind of arthritis I had by even looking at my fingers. That is the problem I have with this. It is not that she didnt give me more meds. If you have a name for something, it can help direct your search for a cure. My pain doc is not trained in all arthritic conditions. It shouldnt be her job to diagnose. Particularly when I was referred to that doc by my PCP for pain in my hands that she thought was R.A.

I never go to the doctor lightly. It cost me $40 every time I see someone who is not my primary care physician. I started seeing a clinical therapist to deal with the anger and frustration I have from this being a long permanent problem. I have a long list of supplements and a very terrific massage therapist that I see. I also spend quite a lot of time with my tens unit. They are all very helpful, but they don't solve the part of my life that is curled up in a chair under heated blanket unable to move because the cold has affected my pain so much that life has to stop. Or in other words, it is January again.

I disagree with the idea that all drugs are toxic. I have found Lyrica to be extremely helpful for me. Until I took Ambien, it had been almost 15 years since I had had a full night of sleep. Fibro Fog was killing my job performance and concentration before I had Modafinil. I went through CPAP, which was helpful but did not resolve my insomnia, and every homeopathic remedy for sleeping that is out there. They sometimes helped a little, but never let me sleep or function.

However, I do believe we should be taking note of all symptoms and tracking each drug and it's effectiveness in our lives. We shouldn't think that because the doctor gave us a drug that it is going to be the fix. I think we have to partner with our doctors and provide feedback and work towards the best solution. We can research and we can work to understand, but we are not diagnosticians. A good pain doc will look at alternatives to narcotics. Mine lowered my pain significantly by adjusting my blood pressure meds. My PCP recommended cranberry juice for my IBS (I have bad reactions to fiber) and with a glass a day, my IBS is largely under control.

It sounds like nooneknows has a crappy doctor who is just going through the motions. I have a couple of those right now. I am still trying to figure out how to pick a new PCP. It just sucks that that means more months of waiting.

Firefly, I researched that modafinil and it sounds like exactly what I need for my fatigue! I read a few reviews and I really really want to try it.. I'm going to ask my doctor about it tomorrow at my appointment. Is it expensive? Thanks!

Speaking of tens units, walmart sells on called omicron for $30. I love mine and use it on my sore spots.

There is no way in hell my doctor would prescribe me adderall or anything similar to it. It's already next to impossible to get the little amount of pain medication I do get from her. She took me off my nightly xanax (.25mg!) like 6 months ago for my anxiety and made me try klonopin.. It worked but lasted way too long and I woke up very tired from it..so I haven't taken it in months.

I have an appointment with her today and need some pointers on how to get my pain meds increased to at least 3 times a day..what do I need to do to show her that I really need them?

Thanks for all the help Karen! I took that low dose for years and that was the best sleep I've ever gotten. It put me to bed very fast and I woke up great. Last night I didn't fall asleep til almost midnight and had to wake up at 4 am for work :(

Just some thoughts: drugs, well some drugs can, I believe, help people with pain for some periods of time. There is always a cost to taking any drug as it blocks natural as well as unnatural symptoms and processes in the body. Many are percieved by the body as toxic. Natural remedies and holistic medications and treatments often seem less costly and harmful to body systems. Guaifenisen and magnesium with malic acid have certainly helped me greatly with fibro pain but not eliminated it. Also I have taken a small amount of prescription sleeping medication for more than 15 years with pretty good results, and seemingly small side effects and I am thankful for it. Personally I believe that doctors and prescription medications can be used as resources by informed patients, sometimes with good results. However, it is the sufferer myself who must address the deeper root causes of my illness. The symptoms are perhaps pointers that can help direct me to look at areas in my thinking and behaviours that need changing, that are habitual, that hurt me. Its about self- awareness. If we are much more than our bodies, and not just material stuff then maybe the mind is the area that needs working on most. No one can do this for another, its about being one hundred percent self=responible. The word re=sponse is a clue and perhaps mind is the cause and the response of pain in the body is just the effect. If I only try to change the effect it is hopeless, I will just treat symptoms forever. I am searching for the answer where the answer isn't, endless doctors, drugs, therapies and its literally soul-destroying and expensive. However, changing the thoughts about pain and suffering can lessen physical symptoms dramatically. This can sound like cheap idle talk to someone who( believes) that they are having agonising physical pain (I've been there more than a few times). But I did get sick of chasing after someone who would hear, understand, and save me, they didn't exist. It took a lot of time and failures and loss of hope to finally admit to myself that this other person, drug, cure doesn't exist...( though some things definitely can help temporarily) It seemed like the worst news but it was the best because all I was left with was me, no other choices, just me, and it is me, I had to give up, surrender. I am it! I am the one who must wakeup, take charge of my ultimate re-spond-aibility and, however I chose to do it, heal myself. Its my journey. The real power is my own thoughts and actions. Well, I am still working on this and I still have some pain and if my experience helps some one else, thats good, for when I am healed I am not healed alone. Blessings

NoOneKnows...

Truly sorry to hear the frustration, pain, fatigue you are experiencing at this moment.

I was diagnosed last year (6 mos ago) with Fibro. Funny... I have been suffering from it since I was 8 years old. Through the decades the symptoms have varied. Last year I got what is commonly called a flare. Multiple aches pains all over the body + mind blowing fatigue. My PCP sent me to a Rheumatologist who recommended magnesium supplements and vitamin d and CYMBALTA. All my tests were negative. Fibro does not show up on film. Crazy right? So one explanation is we folks have over-active nerves. Through the years I used antidepressants for my fatigue/depression... but the whole time it was Fibro/fatigue. I chose an alternate route. A friend of mine distributes health products and one of them is and herbal/mineral health tonice called JC TONIC. You can google it yourself. It's not a cure but brings the body back to balance. Within 32 hours of taking the tonic my "fatigue switch" was completely turned off. I could not believe what it felt like when it happened. I had not felt this great in a really long time. The tonic contains magnesium and I showed the product to my PCP and he supported me taking the tonic as opposed to the antidepressants. I am not against antidepressants because they've helped me in the past. This time I chose a a different way to treat this. Without the fatigue i can now focus on the aches and pains of fibro. Aleve helps me along with a muslce relaxer called cyclobenzaprine... when taken judiciously commensurate with the pain level I have it helps me sleep so that I can rest... I try to take the minimum dosage possible because the maximum dosage gives me the feeling of an alcohol hangover that takes a while for me to clear up.

I can truly sympathize with your anger and at wit's end feeling.. but there is life despite Fibro. Find what works for you. Find a caring PCP that listens. I too was about to take pain management injections be a kind pain mgmt doctor who offered it for one time. I declined. The reason I was there was because Fibro had landed me in the doctor office and ER that mimicked gall bladder/kidney/ribcage pain. All tests were negative. I was baffled. But there is light at the end of this Fibro tunnel. Find a friend to talk too. The forum folks here helped me immensely!

Good health to you and your search for relief!

Fifth E.
- 49 yo male

Frankly, the Dr's don't know what to do for us. They throw whatever Rx at you hoping to make you go away. I, like CountingMySpoons, have had the greatest relief from CBD's (rub and capsules) as well as acupuncture and massage. Also, it doesn't hurt to take hemp oil by spoon or in your smoothies.