Fibromyalgia Questions

So I'm not new to fibromyalgia. I've been sick for 4 years. I could call it chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or Post Lyme disease syndrome. (I've been dealing with Lyme and co. for most of that time but nothing ever happened. I never felt any better.) But either way, I seem stuck with debilitating symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, bone/joint/muscle pain, etc. I can't work. I can't finish college. I'm 22 and I only finished one year of college. I go to the grocery store and halfway through I'm exhausted and hurting and so out of it I can't think straight.
I've been on Zoloft for 4 months and gabapentin for only two weeks. So I need to try a lot of other drugs still. But my family seems to think that one day I'll "feel well" and it'll be fine and I'll go to college and have a "normal life." It doesn't help that some family members think this is in my head and I'm "stressing myself out." My mother is supportive but she seems to think they're is a miracle pill out there or something.
I'm very sensitive to psychiatric drugs. Xanax nearly drove me out of my mind. "Stimulants" like Concerta, etc. (I forget the names) , make me irritable, jittery, I crash, and become very depressed and in lots of pain. When I excercise I sometimes feel okay while doing it (but mostly don't) and then I am worse than I when I started. I just don't know what to do. I'm not feeling sorry for myself when I say I'm not sure going back to college is in the cards for me...I just am trying to be realistic about my life and the plan I have before pre-illness isn't going to work now. I'm not the same person and "willpower" (Ha!) won't make me "normal" again.

Hi, Violet, and welcome! You got some excellent advice from Puppylover. Gentle exercise is good for fibro. I know I couldn't go to a gym. They would be carrying me out on a stretcher but I do walk daily as a form of gentle exercise. Yoga and swimming are both good also.

I didn't want to take all the heavy duty prescription medications because I too had some reactions in the past. So i tried over the counter meds and they worked. I use ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, magnesium malate, vitaminD3, and I do take a prescription muscle relaxer called Robaxin that has made a significant difference in my pain. The prescription says to take two tablets four times a day but I only take one tablet twice a day. This way I don't get side effects from the medication and it sure works for me.

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum. There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot there. There are links about the magnesium and vitamin D and how they work in the body. Deficiencies in these do cause more pain. There is also a great link to how to maintain a positive attitude when you have chronic pain. My positive attitude has helped me almost as much as medication. I don't suffer from depression either. It really does help a lot.

Violet, don't project yourself in the future. No one knows what the future holds. Take one day at a time. Expect that day to be a good one and if it isn't, you can surely deal with one day. Your mind is very powerful. If you think you are going to be miserable, your body will accommodate you. This happened to me. I used to read medical books and thought I had various illnesses. Once I thought I might have a certain illness, my body took on some of the symptoms! Weird, huh? I always tell members to do not use "Dr. Google". Anyway, expect each new day to be good.

Once you get in control of the pain you will do much better. It's a trial and error type thing. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. If you sit or lay too much, you will be stiff as a board and have more pain so do keep moving and do at least walk daily. I think you will see a difference. Walking not only helps with my pain but it also gives me more energy!

Pace yourself when doing things. That helps too. Get on a sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up the same times every day. This will help you sleep because your body realizes that when you go to bed you are to sleep. I have to have a TV on to go to sleep. I know they say not to do that but I'm usually asleep in a few minutes when I have the TV on. I turn it off in the middle of the night when I get up to use the bathroom. Most TV's have sleep timers too that you could use.

I do hope some of this helps you. Don't give up! Don't let fibro run your life. Don't say you can't do something. Always try. You will be surprised what you can do! I've had fibro for 30 years and have had a full and enjoyable life in spite of it. We have had young members go through college with fibro and we do have members working. I raised three children with fibro plus numerous other illnesses so don't give up! Find what helps you get in control of the pain and do enjoy the life you have.

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