Still miserable after almost four months

Well I am fairly new to this forum but not new to Fibro. I am a 66 year old lady and had been in remission from this disease for a while when I suffered a terrible flare when my husband of 46 years passed away
in January. Since then I have been suffering with terrible rib and back pain. All started in the neck and shoulders and worked it's way down. Actually went to the ER Saturday night with diarhea problems and was diagnosed with diverticulitus and placed on an antibiotic. The only time I am pain free is when I am lying down, but I refuse to do that. I have a part time job and a house and land to take care of and I refuse to let this monster take over my house. I also have an 89 year old Mother that I take care of her
house and land also. I thought at first I had Costochondritis, but now I am not sure as it seems to be
getting worse. I will only take one hydrocodone pill 500 mg. a day cut in half as I don't want to cause
liver damage. I also am taking 100 mg of lyrica twice a day and when that is run out I don't know what I will do as Cymbalta is the only med that helped me and I got it free from the clinic's drug assistance program and they discontinued it. Dummy me didn't sign up for Medicare part D this year and now I have to wait until October to sign up for it. Does anyone out there have continual rib and back pain? mine started on left side and then went to right side and now both sides hurt equally. My sternum is sore but not terribly so I am wondering if you can have rib and back pain without having costo. This is the first time I have had pain in this area. All advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, Trama fibro.


I'm sorry you're having so many problems (I just read your other threads, too) - you are certainly overloaded right now. My condolences, too, on the loss of your husband. You have so much to take care of, not to mention your grief....it really sounds to me like you're trying to do too much!


I was my parents' only helper for several years....it was like I was running a marathon that never ended. I tried as hard as I could to maintain some quality of life for them through the whole brutal process of declining health, moving and moving again, and eventually, nursing homes and dying. It took a big toll on me, physically and emotionally. I wish I had had the presence of mind to try harder to round up more help - but you know how hindsight is 20/20. Strategizing doesn't come naturally to me - I tend to just put one foot in front of the other and do whatever needs to be done, and analyze it later.


Since you mentioned cartoons (I do remember that guy in Lil' Abner, but not his name!) think of the ones where a character, usually the Roadrunner, would be walking along in thin air, high above the canyon floor; he'd be doing fine until he realized where he was and looked down. Then he'd fall. I think that's how it is with us sometimes: we keep going on our own stubbornness and willpower and momentum, ignoring our bodies' warnings, and it isn't until we stop or slow down that we feel whatever is going on.


Of course, we can't listen to every little complaint, or we'd never do anything. Our bodies are always complaining! There's such a fine line between healthy pushing and overdoing it. We each have to negotiate our own way with this crazy condition. I just hope you aren't being too hard on yourself.


Good luck with the rib and back pain - I've had lots of experience with the back stuff, but not the ribs...I'm sure you'll get more answers from people who have. Nice to have you aboard!


Debbie

Trama fibro welcome! You sound like a hard working and tuff women. I take my hat off to you for working still and caring for an elder. Wow!
I don't know how you do all that. I was wondering if you have been to the Dr. Lately to get that pain checked out? Yes, the symptoms you describe can be fibro, but it's always good to make sure that is what it is. Are you lifting any significant weight?

If your not being relieved with your usual pain med, I would go to see the Dr. If things turn out to be fibro alone, you might need to reevaluate your work and daily activities. I learn a valuable tool here from others on this forum. I will pass it on to you. Do things in moderation. If I don't I will cause myself pain!

I hope you can learn some new tools that will be helpful to your fibro treatment. Please let us know how your doing.