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Posted 11/3/2009 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Actualy I've had it a long time just didn't know till I finally went to the doctor in agony and they sent me to see a specialist. My question is , my doctor never mentioned taking any medication for it except he did prescribe Amitriptylin 10mg. This was to help me sleep at night. ( i woke up 5 times last night) I am so exhausted when I get up. If i lay on my back the muscles in my back get so painful it wakes me and if I lay on my side my arms start to ache. Then the muscles in my leg join in the party. I am at wits end, Does it sound like medication wise I am on the right track? I go back to see the doctor on the 24th. Is there any particular questions I should ask? I know i am going on but one more thing, Does fibromyalgia cause shortness of breath? I sure am glad there is a place I can turn too. Thanks
Posted 11/4/2009 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome mafrog!

I too am new, I go to my first rhuemy appt. on the 27th. Your story sounds like me to the letter, even the amitiptylin from my family dr. I don't like meds.....so I have yet to start them I was hoping to wait till I see the rhuemy to start them. I am in pain, the 27th couldn't come fast enough. I have had this for atleast 10 years atleast that was when I was told I had it, I was to busy and 10 years younger to have to slow down, this past summer it stopped me in my tracks. Now I am a believer, I'm 39, you? As far as the shortness of breath, I don,t have that......depending on the severity could it be a little anxiety from being run down and not sleeping and not feeling well. This FM sure has alot of twists and turns to it, Did you have any bloodwork? I did my RF came back abit elevated, so the rhuemy will have to figure out if I also have rhuematoid arthritis as well. I have noticed here, alot of the members are on the amitriptlylin, I am sure once you start getting better sleep you will feel somewhat better.....keep in touch I hope this helped.
Posted 11/4/2009 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks I wouldn't wish this on anyone but it's nice to know your not alone.I believe his diagnosis was based on the pressure points. There is no sure way to diagnose this condition. He did do labs to rule out other things like Lupus and I will get those results when I see him on the 24th. Hope you start to feel better as well.

Posted 11/4/2009 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
mafrog,

I will watch for an update since you go a few days before me, Keep in touch so we can maybe help each other since we are both new.
thanks and hope your appt. goes well.
Posted 11/4/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Fibro DOES cause shortness of breath, by messing up the fibrous tissues in your lungs. I had a lung test and the results came back that I have Carbon dioxide/oxygen exchange issues ... and all this time I thought I was just really really bad at running!
Posted 11/4/2009 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
P.S. For a while I was on Nortryptiline, which is similar to amytriptaline I believe. I discovered that a cup of hot chamomile tea with milk in it does the same job.
Also, for the longest time, I was on 800mg Motrin for the pain, they also gave me Meloxicam, Naproxen, and Tramadol.
As far as muscle relaxers go, I have Robaxin, I believe.
But,
I don't take any of them unless I am in a very stressful situation or my muscles are very stiff ... like traveling all day or something.
Posted 11/4/2009 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Mafrog & Miss CK1,
One of the best things I did when I was dx with fibro was find this forum.. and read, read & more reading of the posts. I looked at everyone's signatures and wrote down what meds they were on. I then took the list to my doctor. He sat with me for 45 minutes going through that list until we figured out which ones to try first.
The first one the list of symptoms for me was a pain med! I was in so much pain I could barely walk.. so it was high priority. But for you.. it might be another symptom. That is why I tried to read as many posts that seemed relevant to the things I had.
I have to say it worked great for me to do it that way. The meds we first chose are mostly the ones I am still on now and are working pretty good. I read so many posts that had people trying so many different kinds of meds, with miss and hit results that I really wanted to inform myself as much as possible so I might not have to go through the same thing. It worked pretty good.
I do think it is because I wrote down all the symptoms that I wanted the doctor to deal with and had one or more meds to look at for almost every symptom. It was a large list but worth it. My doctor then pretty much gave the rains over to me for my course of treatments because I showed him that I am very serious about this and I am trying to look at everything. Right now I have a list for next time I see him.. the med Savella is on it. I have heard some people on here talk about it.. so I will now go to him and see if he thinks its a good one. The best thing you can both do it take charge, and if you don't have a doctor that will do that with you... find a new one.. it is your health.
Hope this helps a bit :0)
Posted 11/4/2009 11:03 AM (GMT 0)

Hi, Mafrog, and welcome!  A lot of members take Amitriptyline and it seems to help them.  I can't lie on my back either so I lie on my side and wedge a pillow behind my back.  That way I can "semi" lie on my back, as well as my side.  This way, it doesn't hurt my arms and shoulder.  Maybe that would help you.

I use ibuprofen with food, extra strength Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements, and vitamin D3 for my pain and fatigue.

Be sure to check out the Fibro 101 thread...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good infor about fibro including links about malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 and how they work in your body.

I'm so glad you found us and joined in!  We have wonderful members that love to help one another and also really do care about each other.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  I'm happy you are here and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sherrine

Posted 11/4/2009 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
I thank you all for your input. What a support group it is fantastic. I will listen to all your advice. And I feel I can go back to the doctors on the 24th a little more informed.    :-)
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