Plaquenil and Fibromyalgia

I have never taken the steroids for fibromyalgia. Though it seems to me others have. I hope that the plaquenil works for you. Let us know how it goes.

I am sorry to hear that you may have lupus. I hope that is not the case. Fibromyalgia can mimic other illnesses. Let us know what the doc says about that.

Good luck with the steroids. I, myself, have taken different ones for other issues. Did not like them.

Hugs, Karen...

I have lupus and fibromyalgia. It's hard to tell which one is hurting me when I'm in pain.
I picture Fibromyalgia as a sneak attack. It hits and runs in different places all through the day.
The Lupus is like an explosion. A huge bomb dropped on me. It can take months to recover from a flare. Also it is an all over attack.

@Joy - I have a couple different types of pain. When I was first put on the steroid in July, the pain I had in my shoulders went down, but the hips increased. Now they are all hurting. It seems that the shoulder pain is like a dull ache and the pain in my hips is more sharp and hurts more with different movements than the shoulder does. I also noticed that the pain in both increases as the day goes on. By this time at night, I am hurting pretty badly. I am trying to see if I can go without the Vicodin tonight, but I don't think I am going to hold out. I will say that I am figuring out that the sun does affect me. I don't rash (I don't think), but I become sick, nauseous and head-achey. I was outside talking to someone and realized that I really was not well. I went home and after a short errand, I had to go to bed. I have been really off since then. Until I had my first rhuemy appointment at this practice, I just thought that it is how people get in the sun.

@Robin - I am taking the steroid taper (Methloprednisolone?). about the pain, honestly, I am no sure to think about what is what. It seems that as one pain is getting better, another one is getting worse. I told the doctor today that I was so afraid of someone telling me that I didn't know what I was *really* feeling, or that I was faking it. She empathized. One thing she told me about fibro is that most (some?) people with it are hypersensitive to pain. It makes so much sense to me! I have always complained about pain that most others sluff off as nothing. I also seem to have pains that send me to the ER that make the docs wonder about me.

about the eyes, I actually had to get an okay from my Ophthalmologist before they would start me on this. I have weak spots in my retina, and recently had surgery to remove a large amount of floaters caused by a hole in my retina. They tacked it down with a laser as well because they could see the start of detachment. This is an actual retina ophthalmologist that I see, so I think I trust his word. :) I do worry about it though.

@Karen - Thanks! I do not like steroids. They make me feel not well in a different way than the pain. At this point though, I am willing to do whatever it takes to make the pain go away. I hate it. RE: Lupus, I will tell you what I told my mom when she told me "You do not want to have Lupus" as if me wanting it would change what it is or is not. I look at it this way. I have *something* going on. I just want to know what it is. I have been in oblivion for far too long, and this, whatever it is, is going to be around - name or not. I do appreciate the well wished though :)

Try to cover up in the sun. I use sunscreen, UV protective clothing and a UV protective hat. I found them at Cooliebar. There are other available on the web.
The sun and fluorescent lights make me feel terrible. I almost pass out under halogen lighting.