Posted 9/29/2017 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
After a long time of suffering and only taking OCD about a year ago I caved and started taking time released tramadol. The doctor originally prescribed me 300 a day, but I was a zombie and could barely function, so he lowered it to 200. I tried to give it some time, and it may help a little, but I don't find much pain difference from 100 to 200, so only take 100 most of the time. Of course, now I am physically dependent on it and can't tell if its withdrawal when I try to stop or if it was just helping and I forgot how bad the pain really was without it. Anyways, I will deal with that in due time, but this is my real issue:
I am so exhausted all the time my quality of life feels pretty poor. I work as often as I can, but once I get home I can't be productive and pass out. My poor child has gotten used to being cared for by the Xbox after school. I know I don't sleep well, but could sleep all day (and have!) when given the chance. I walk around in a fog most of the time and have to do things like talk to myself out loud when driving to make sure I know what is going on around me ("the light is green" or "the light is red - brake", things like that.
I have discussed this with my doctor many times, but he says that it's just par and parcel for fibro, and offered me more drugs. I declined up until about 2 months ago, and agreed to try Cymbalta. I did notice a real decline in pain (like when the cat jumped on my lap, I didn't scream) but it knocked me out cold. I was on the lowest dose (can't recall what it was) but it took me from pure exhaustion to practically comatose. I gave it a month to see if my body would adapt, but it didn't, so the doctor told me to stop it and try Lyrica. The first few days on Lyrica I felt a noticeable increase in energy and even thought the pain was getting worse again, I was happy to rejoin the land of the living. But the energy side effect was short lived and in less than 2 weeks I was back to where I started, both in exhaustion and pain. It has been 3 weeks now and I am still giving the Lyrica a shot, but am not too optimistic.
So, after all that, my question is has anyone taken anything like Cymbalta that does not make you tired? Or anything that else for energy?? My doctor will not prescribe any kind of "speed" like Nuvigil (sp?) and said energy drinks and caffeine are they way to go, and I drink both everyday, but they barely help.
I'm not asking for medical advise, just curious if anyone has any experience to share as maybe there is something that could help that my doctor has not thought of yet. I will be going back in the next few weeks to see him, and would prefer to go somewhat prepared.
Thanks so much!