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Posted 1/30/2015 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all!

While new to this forum, I am not new to Healing Well forums. I used to frequent the Crohns forum prior to gaining a better foothold over those issues. I was doing so well for so long, but then (as I am sure many of you understand) it all went downhill.

I was diagnosed today after 15 years of pain. I've struggled since 10-ish years old with neck pain, headaches, back pain, and myriad other issues. Finally, my back pain was so severe that my new GP realized something was very, very wrong. I've now seen the rheumatologist twice, and the final diagnosis (for now) is fibromyalgia. I currently am taking escitalopram for anxiety/depression, so they will be weaning me off that over the next few weeks, and I will begin taking Cymbalta on Monday.

I've already begun reading through old posts, and appreciate everyone's comments I've read so far. It's great to have a community to turn to, as things aren't doing so great right now.
Posted 1/31/2015 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the Fibro board, as you probably already know being you've been on HW it is a great forum with lots of support. You are for sure not alone, look forward to getting to know you. Again, Welcome!!!
Posted 1/31/2015 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, welcome..i too had this since childhood, although it seemed to really activate in my 30's...

Are you affected by the weather? A lot of us do worse with the winter weather..

Lj
Posted 1/31/2015 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, AngelLisa! I look forward to getting to know everyone here as well. :) HW is the best out there!

Thank you, Lj! Yes. This wintery weather and I do not get along. My knees feel terrible any time I go outside in the cold. I am hoping to feel better in the summer this year!
Posted 1/31/2015 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Girlzilla
Welcome! Sorry to hear of all your pain. I see that you saw a rheumatologist. I'm assuming you've had xrays of your back and neck to rule at other things such as arthritis and the such. Fibro is not a diagnosis anyone wants because it's tricky to treat and no medication to totally control it.

Things that will make it worse are stress and anxiety. It bothers me that you have anxiety and depression but yet they are going to wean you off those meds. I'm a huge believer that if an anxiety disorder is controlled then you will have better control over your pain. It's a vicious cycle. The anxiety makes the pain increase and more pain causes more anxiety. At some point you need to be able to step outside of that circle. Sometimes we need a mild anxiety medication to get us through the difficult times. If you have a clear head then you can focus on things to help control your pain.

Controlling fibro is going to require a multi disciplinary approach. Possible mild pain meds, mild exercise, stretching, meditation, positive self talk and most importantly a belief that you can and will feel better than you do now, because you can.

I've between dealing with this for 15 years and it takes a lot of work on our part to Feel better. I work full time and still stay active despite this crazy painful condition.

So work with your Dr. Try the meds and don't give up till you find one that helps take the edge off of the pain. With fibro you will have pain everyday. The idea is to find what helps you push it in the background so it's not constantly screaming in your face. Read fibro 101 the first thread if you haven't already, lots of great info there.

Know you are not alone. We all face the challenge together everyday in some way, so we truly understand.

Keep posting and let us know how you're doing, because we really do care.

Take care
Michael
Posted 1/31/2015 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. Girlzilla, and welcome! I have Crohn's too but it is under control. I also have other underlying conditions and one of them is ankylosing spondylitis. It's a disease of the spine and the fact I have Crohn's helped my rheumy make the diagnosis. My back was getting worse and worse and fibro isn't considered a progressive illness so I got checked out and received this diagnosis. But ibuprofen with food and a muscle relaxer called Robaxin have helped me immensely. I mentioned this since you mentioned a lot of back pain.

Cymbalta is one of the main drugs used for fibro. I have never suffered from depression so I wasn't willing to take it but quite a few have had success on this medication. I do understand Michael's concern but perhaps your anxiety med would interact with Cymbalta. Also, you shouldn't take certain medications together because of something called Serotonin Syndrome. So perhaps that's why he is weaning you off your other medication. Just guessing here. :-) I hope the Cymbalta helps you a lot.

I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, magnesium malate, vitamin D3, and the Robaxin to control my pain. I also do gentle stretching exercises and pace myself when doing things. All of the above helps me be in control of the pain and I've lived a full and enjoyable life in spite of this illness.

I see that Michael directed you to Fibro 101. There is a wealth of information there about fibro. Good starting links for you would be Symptoms and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia. There are also links about the supplements I mentioned above and how they work in the body and also a link about Serotonin Syndrome. All of Fibro 101 is good so do read it.

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 2/1/2015 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michael!

Thank you so much for your response :)

I have had quite a few back x-rays. They were going to repeat them, but my GP spoke up and said skip them and do an MRI. The MRI actually showed that other than mild scoliosis, I am in excellent health (spine-wise). Nothing extraordinary (for once!). I do have mild osteoarthritis, but the spinal doctor said that at my age, that is actually quite normal, and that 25 is usually the start of degeneration in the spine.

I appreciate your concern about the anxiety/depression medication, and it was certainly something I considered, but I recently wrapped up around a year of cognitive behavioral therapy, and feel quite confident in my abilities to control my anxiety. My depression is definitely more why I was on it, so I think I will manage well with Cymbalta. If not, my counselor will be getting a call!

I think the thing I will struggle with the most is the positivity. While I am generally a positive person, this diagnosis has really thrown me for a loop. I was working two part-time jobs and going to school, but now I don't know how my life will turn out when it comes to all those things. It is going to be a learning experience. Good, and bad.

I appreciate all of your advice and kind words. It has been a difficult weekend with this diagnosis, but everyone here has made it so much easier.

Kate
Posted 2/1/2015 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherrine!

Thanks for the warm welcome :) Thankfully, we managed to get the IBD under control right before this all began happening, which was amazing timing. I was tested/checked for both RA and AS, and both are negative (at this time).

You are correct in that escitalopram and cymbalta can't be mixed, so that is why I am tapering right now. I am okay with changing over, as I feel that a lot of my issues will also be solved by a reduction in pain!

I truly appreciate all of your advice and everyone else's advice I have been reading. It has made me feel so much better already, even though right now I feel like garbage!

Kate
Posted 2/1/2015 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
If you have been working two jobs and going to school, I really don't think that you will lose the ability to do so. Keep that positive attitude going, it will help you so much. I find distraction from the pain really helps.

Best wishes!!!

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/1/2015 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kate:

Welcome.

I am much older than you at 61. I have been living with chronic pain for over 12 years. I used to get pain coming and going before but it is chronic headaches that have never gone away for the past 12 years.

I have had stomach problems all my life but the most serious in my adult years was from acute colitis with rectal bleeding. I was infected with C. Diff and it, despite a number of tests, was not diagnosed by the Gastroenterologist. I still have I.B. I have found Magnesium supplements to be a help for my stomach. I use Magnesium Glycinate in the afternoon and I take Magnesium Calm at bedtime, along with Baclofen (muscle relaxer) and Nortriptyline (Anti-Depressant). The Nortriptyline was prescribed for Neuralgia. I was told that my jaw pain is from Neuralgia. I do see a Headache and Pain Relief Doctor who gives me nerve blocks for the headaches.

I do have Osteoarthritis in my neck, neck to collarbone, collarbone to shoulder blade, wrists (and carpel tunnel), lower back, knees and foot articulations. Many are still mild. I am on the NSAID Naproxen for the OA.

I do use pain creams but I am not on pain meds. Have tried a few with not favorable results. I use ice and heat. I need a lot of rest breaks to get through the day but I do keep moving, stretching and do exercises that have been taught by Physiotherapists.

I hope you are sleeping well. It is a problem for many people with Fibromyalgia. I find the bedtime meds and Magnesium put me into a deeper sleep. I am some days very tired still in the morning. I get immense relief from head pain when I go to bed.

I have not been on Cymbalta. I did try Elavil for awhile but it impacted my stomach in the end. I was on Lyrica for a couple years. It did not cause any stomach problems and I really didn't have terribly bad side effects. I could, however, feel my nerves a buzz on windy days. It didn't stop all the pain but when I came off I knew it helped some. Taken off due to weight gain. You must come off Lyrica slowly. I was taking the full dose in the end. I did have some withdrawal symptoms. I have been having some trouble with constipation, perhaps due to Nortriptyline, but the Magnesium Calm is helping that.

Take care.

Loring

Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...

Post Edited (Loring) : 1/31/2015 7:29:49 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/1/2015 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Kate , there is much self help you can do, along with than meds

Often heat helps our pain, keeping our muscles stretched out really helps, so gentle exercise is great...some topical pain relievers help.

I study acupressure points online and using them can bring my pain down a few points quickly.just knowing i can do that helps calm me.

When you find just the right combo of things that work for you, you can feel much better!
Posted 2/3/2015 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
I sure hope that ends up being the case, getting by. Unfortunately, I have been out of work for almost two months at one job due to the issues I have been having. :( It's a struggle right now, but I am hoping the medicine works quickly!
Posted 2/3/2015 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Loring, for all of your advice. :)

I have struggled with chronic headaches on and off for years as well, and can no longer use Tylenol due to the headaches. I take Naproxen as rarely as possible. I am hoping the Cymbalta helps with the headaches!

I will have to look into seeing a physiotherapist, as I definitely need to get moving more. Thank you!

Unfortunately, I am not sleeping well, and haven't for most of my life. I've been struggling with chronic pain for around 15 years now, and this is the first time it is being acknowledged as a real thing! Hopefully soon I will be able to get a decent night of sleep!

Thank you again,
Kate
Posted 2/3/2015 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome girlzilla!

Just wanted to say hi.. glad you are here..
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