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Posted 10/12/2011 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I'm new to the forum and being dx with fibromyalgia. I have hit a road block and need suggestions. I have been on every medicine out there with regards to depression and found one that works. This seems to be the doctors approach to easing the pain for this affliction. I have tried Lyrica and Nurontin for my fibromyalgia at very low doses and have had horrible side effects. My GP says those are all the "tricks" he has up his sleeve and is referring me to a Rheumatoid Arthritis Dr. I guess my question is, is this it? SSRI's, Tricyclics, anti-psychotics? And will a trip to see a RA doctor have any other advice? I feel completely hopeless. If anyone can offer suggestions I am open to them.
Thank you
Posted 10/13/2011 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Regular exercise helps many. I know it helps me.

I, too, have a low-tolerance for mess. The thing that has helped me the most is sleeping pills.
Posted 10/13/2011 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
I was exercising every day until the pain got so bad and went to the doctor. After this trial and error of Lyrica and Nurontin I couldn't move to exercise. Still getting it out of my system, so I have not started back, I plan to as I am off these meds now and hope to feel better very soon. I have no problem with sleep. I can sleep whenever, wherever and still need more.
Thank you for talking Myself 09
Posted 10/13/2011 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
After many years with fibro, I am finally stable. I think the answer was getting on disability. I can rest when I need to, less stress, excercise in small amounts daily, supplements, anti- depressent, therapy, and heat. I still get flares, but I am to control them better. If I feel tired that day, I try to listen to my body and do less activities.
Posted 10/13/2011 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
ak angel,

Thank you for your response. I am feeling disability may be my way out of this living hell. I have all the nurontin out of my system, and I don't know if you read the "spoon theory" but that is applying to me today. I even made plans to meet a friend for coffee that I know I'm going to have to cancel as I can feel the pain creeping in. Do you have any resources that I can read in to? I do not even know where to begin to start filing for disability.
Thank you
Posted 10/13/2011 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Low-impact exercise can be done daily, and helps significantly with the pain. More strenuous exercise I can only do every other day, or else it wipes me out.

Is your sleep good sleep, deep sleep? One of the problems is that, despite sleeping, the body continues to move, which increases pain and stiffness. This is one of the things I went to the doc about when I was diagnosed was. I would sleep nine hours, and feel worse. Now, the sleeping aid shuts my body down so it can heal. It is the one thing I do not do without,no matter how busy I get.

Sorry, I know nothing about disability, but I am sure someone will come along who does
Posted 10/13/2011 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Myself 09,
I'm not sure if I am getting deep sleep. I don't wake up and I have no problems going to sleep. I just want to sleep. Period. I'm always exhausted. Plus the pain...I just feel like I am pushing myself from one task to the next which is also exhausting.
I'm glad I found this site however because everyone around me is tired of asking and hearing about it and that alone is making me depressed again. I don't know why I have to be afflicted with diseases that you can't see. I had a gentleman yesterday say "you don't look sick". sad
Posted 10/14/2011 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Izzy. Unfortunately that's one of the things we all have to deal with -- we don't look sick, but boy do our bodies tell us a different message inside. For years I've gone through the teasing about not being able to get up -- inferences that I am lazy, that my husband does everything,blah blah blah. I tried to laugh along for awhile, but at a point it simply gets hurtful.

When I was first diagnosed with fibro, a few people in my family tried to 'educate' themselves -- but for the most part everyone is ignorant and they still don't have a clue what we go through. Last month I was at a weekend baby shower. After Friday nite I was already tired, so I slept in the next morning while the rest of the group went shopping. I knew I wouldn't be able to 'hold up', so I just joined up with them later. That evening my sister made some dumb remark about "it sure was a long day -- well, for those of us who got up this morning." It made me sad to think that she could be so insensitive after being told on more than one occasion what it's like to live with this pain/fatigue.

I've truly tried to learn how to live within my limitations -- to listen to my body -- and that's why I do miss out on things, but it's a lot better than doing too much and paying the price the next day. We've all been there...
Posted 10/14/2011 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Izzy, and welcome!  I'm so sorry you are going through all of this.  Yes, doctors do prescribe the SSRI's and also Lyrica and Savella for fibro.  Some need other pain medications, too.  I won't take them.  I'm a stubborn person and try other things.

 

I use some supplements.  They are malic acid/magnesium and vitamin D3.  I also use extra strength Tylenol.  I was using ibuprofen with food but developed a bleeding ulcer so I can't take that right now.  I also to gentle stretching exercises and gentle daily exercise.  I walk or swim as my exercise.  I could never go to a gym or anything like that because they would be carrying me out on a stretcher!  You need to do gentle exercises.

 

I also pace myself when doing things.  Everything gets done but in a different time frame.  Lastly, I get gentle massages and that helps me too.  I'm not pain-free by any stretch of the imagination but I have the pain under control and can live a good life.  That's what we all aim for. 

 

Be sure to read Fibro 101...the second thread on the forum.  There are links to good information about fibro and you will learn a lot there.  Good starting links are called Symptoms and A Thorough Explanation of Fibromyalgia.  All of the links are good and you will learn a lot there.  There are links to the gentle stretching exercises, the malic acid/magnesium supplements, and the vitamin D3 supplements that I mentioned above.

 

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 10/15/2011 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hello I am new here too. I feel bad that you are being sent to a RA DR. Do you have RA?
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