How does FMS affect you & what med helps you the most?

jeanneac

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2009

Posts : 1930

Posted 2/27/2011 11:57 PM (GMT 0)

I think I have fibromyalgia. I have pain and stiffness in my hips, my shoulders and my knees. I also have swelling and stiffness in my hands and extreme fatigue. I have a positive ana and high sed rate but the other more specific tests come back negative for things like RA, scleroderma, lupus etc.......Prednisone helped me but it ran my blood sugar way up, so I had to stop. I think the docs thought it was some AI disease, that's why they went with plaquenil and prednisone. I've been suffering for months now. I am going back to the rheumatologist on Tuesday. The plaquenil is helping the swelling in my hands but that's all it is doing. I have RLS and take mirapex for it. I've had some fatigue and myofascial pain around my neck over the years but it usually stayed there and I never felt quite this bad.

Does this sound like fibromyalgia to you? Would you mind telling me what your fibro feels like?

So, what meds help you the most?

Thanks so much!!!

crazykitty

Veteran Member

Joined : Jul 2009

Posts : 4796

Posted 2/28/2011 12:32 AM (GMT 0)

Jeanneac, I'm sorry that you have have so much going on. Hoping your rheumy will keep an eye on all your clinical symptoms, and bloodwork...it is not uncommon to have fibro along with an autoimmune disease...I do. I see you are on plaquenil, I was on that and it takes 3-4 months or more to build up in your system to really srart working. I don't know if your doctor had you go for a base line eye exam when you first started it, but it is highly recommended that you do and follow up with an eye exam every 6 months...you can google for more info.

My fibro pain is allower pain, affects both sides of my body, above and below my waist. The normal everday pain is flu-like achiness, flare pain is bone-crushing. My bad pain areas can change, most days it allover pain but some days the pain will concentrate on certain areas...legs, forearms, shoulders ...back.

Fatigue has been better since my vitamin D level is back in the normal range. I also take time to exercise and do relaxation therapy. I try to pace myself and keep busy to distract pain and I think it has helped me more than anything. I also try to stay positive and am very proactive in doing research and asking my docs lots of questions.

I take quite a few meds for my other issues...but for fibro I have found Savella to be helpful, use muscle relaxers when needed, and take vitamin D and Vitamin B-12.

Hope that you can get answers and find the relief you need. Do what you can to keep your stress levels down...I take time each day for deep breathing, mental imagery and meditation, and it helps!!!!

Keep us posted:)

hugs, Robin

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