Has anyone ever tried using transcranial electical stimulation? I was reading about it recently and it looked interesting. It's supposed to help with pain, depression/anxiety, and sleep, which sounds...
I took Vicodin for about 18 months (the 5-500s, about 2 a day -- I'd break them in half and take one every 5-6 hours). It stopped working as well: I would take a dose, it would take an hour to work,...
Jabeau, you mentioned that the grandkids often wanted to be supervised while they played in the pool. Are there any older kids/young adults in your neighborhood (or close by) who are lifeguards? You...
Agree with all, but particularly luvzminis...today I might feel okay and make plans with my friend to get together for lunch next week, but I wake up the day of and may feel horrible and have to...
That's so great! I'm so happy for you! I really miss having cats, but my husband and son are allergic :( In terms of declawing, I have to recommend Soft Paws instead of surgery -- they're little...
I get this sometimes when I am overtired. When I was on a high dose of Cymbalta, it got worse....
Good luck, ak angel. I hope you get some relief AND some hope from your epidural! I've had good results in my back and neck (particularly neck) from epidurals. I'm not good with needles/medical...
I think IF you decide to tell them, you should do it after the probationary period. Maybe you could tell them that you could work a little extra IF...doesn't involve...
I swear by the Bali Comfort Revolution wire-free bras. I've worn an underwire all my life (even before I needed one) and had to stop about a year ago because the wire felt like it was digging into my...
Okay so my endocrinologist humored me and gave me a cortisol/ACTH test, and the test came back with BOTH of them low (odd, since they should have an inverse relationship): ACTH Ref. Range 7.2-63.3 my...
The semester I was most successful in college, I scheduled all my courses between 8 and 11 am. I would then go to an early lunch, go back to my room and read for a bit, then go to bed at about 1 pm....
Ouchie! Me, too. I don't know what's up...even more tired and stiff and headachey and tender than usual and I know that not exercising is making it worse but I can't for the life of me picture using...
The "tender points" on my ribs turned out to be costochondritis, which flares when my fibro does....
I, too, have both Hashi's and FM, although the Hashi's was around for 15 years before the Fibro showed up. My endocrinologist and I noticed that when we would increase my Synthroid to counteract a...
I think a lot of us have weird sleep patterns or sleep issues. Have you ever had a sleep study done?...
Just the word "TENS" makes me clench my teeth. They did that in my first 6 weeks of physical therapy after I was diagnosed and the third visit when they tried to put it on, I said, "If you touch me...
I agree with Judy -- you have to give it time. One thing I would recommend, though, after looking at your TSH over time -- make sure to see an endocrinologist. There's a difference between being "in...
Wow, that's frustrating! Did your rheumy even do a tender point exam? I mean, I know that's not the end-all, be-all of diagnosing fibro, but my rheumy goes through the whole head-to-toe exam with me...
Thanks. I noticed yesterday that the lab now has their own patient portal-type thing and will send me an email as soon as the labs are posted -- no waiting for the doc appointment for the magic...
Hi evenkeel -- I'm sorry you're having so much trouble. In terms of exercise, house work and yard work can be really hard. I know I have a much harder time doing yard work than I do walking a mile...
I looked for the answer in the Sticked Info folder at the top already. There is lot of info on ANA testing but I don't see anything on the sub-tests, or at least about the question I have. On my...
I was diagnosed in February 2013. Due to steady deterioration of health and ability to work, less than four weeks later I wound up going out from work on medical leave until August, at which time I...
Rockon, I quit taking it about 2 months before the FDA lowered the CR dose! I've thought about trying it again, but I've gotten decent results with a combo of amitriptyline, muscle relaxants, and the...
Couchtater, I remember when my older son was born and he had his days and nights backward, this is what his pediatrician recommended, so it makes sense that it would work for us, too. Rockon- I think...
I finally finished all of my grading, which is a huge weight off my shoulders (now I just have to complete a graduate course in 10 days...no problem!). Found out that my younger son doesn't need...
Good luck today! I was going to suggest a small memory-foam cushion to sit on, but I'm too late....
I guess since my first chronic illness was autoimmune thyroid (Hashi's) and I have to take a pill every day for THAT, I got used to the idea that sometimes our bodies just don't make what we need,...
I have a handicapped hang-tag, which my rheumatologist approved for me (they have a giant stack of pre-filled-out copies of the request forms at their office!) for work. Since I have an adapted...
Azgram -- I have recently fallen in love with the Sketchers Go-Getters (memory foam, slide-on shoes). No bending, no tying, and putting them on feels like I am wearing slippers. I wear them around...
I cannot crash until Wednesday. I cannot crash until Wednesday. I cannot crash until Wednesday. I cannot crash until Wednesday. Maybe the more I say it, the more likely it will be true? I know can...
I love how we all can remember specific information, but when we try to find it again, it becomes "some article we read somewhere at some point." Most other forums, people think it's odd that we...
I think my general pain tolerance is greater -- by which I mean what I used to consider a 3 (B.F. - before Fibro) now feels like a 1, and what I used to consider a B.F. 7 is now a 5 or 6. Everyone...
Good for you! Can't believe how poorly they treated you, both humanly and medically! It's hard to fire doctors - I know I always feel guilty (I have to fire my sleep neuro soon and I dread finding a...
I did a trial of Savella last year. I saw no difference at all in symptoms - no side effects to speak of, but no positives either. Lyrica worked okay for pain, but it made me so dizzy and nauseated...
I take Duexis twice a day, every other day (800 mg ibuprofen with a coating of Famotidine/Pepcid to protect against stomach upset). It's the only thing that seems to help my muscle pain at all - I...
Yep, 60 to 80 degrees and low humidity, that's the "sweet spot" for me. "Pop-up" thunderstorms don't bother me much, but big low pressure systems moving west to east feel like they're pushing me out...
I use both a morning pill box (clear) and an evening pill box (blue). I also take meds with dinner, but my husband does, too, so we keep those meds in the kitchen and make it part of our evening...
Hi folks, thanks for your answers and support. I got my blood test results in the mail today. At least my liver and thyroid numbers are normal! ANA still positive at 1:160, now just speckled (no...
Hi all, I'm new-ish here (mostly lurking, posted a few times in various forums) and I know you guys are really good at answering questions or guiding to places with answers. I'm kind of worried about...
I've seen ads for it and wondered if it worked. I've never heard of or tried m.e.n.s. Years and years ago (B.F. - before fibro), I had a portable unit for a back sprain and it helped a lot, so I was...
I had a herniated disc in my back in October 2011. A few months later, I started noticing the first symptoms (additional pain, sleep problems, migraines). They gradually worsened until by March of...
I've started carrying a binder with me to all my appointments, with sections dedicated to each doctor / specialist, so during my appointment I can reference test results, last appointment date, etc....
Yep, happens to me all the time. I step up to the counter at Starbucks to order the same thing I order every day and I say, "I want...um...the small one, you know, of....that thing with the...maybe...
Don't be afraid to be demand what's yours -- and those records are YOURS. The doctor is holding on to them for you. They cannot, by law, keep the records a secret from you. If you have the...
That's what my costo was like when I was dx'd. Included an ambulance trip to the ER because when one is over 40, has crushing pain and pressure on the chest and upper back, and pain/numbness in the...
Azgram: Have you tried wearing something thin but soft *underneath* the bra, like a slip or camisole? Is it the pressure of the strap, or that the strap itself is tight? DianeB: I have those bad...
I have trouble with humidity in the summer, but also have trouble with storms in the winter (any lows tracking West to East, but oddly enough, not South to North, so Nor'easters don't bother me at...
One of the books I read when I was first diagnosed suggested that when you're having a better day, make a list of things that make you feel better, physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. That way,...
I'm a die-hard fan of Bali Comfort Revolution bras. After a lifetime of wearing underwires, I had to stop because of the chest pain and irritation that came with my Fibro. It took me several grueling...
My "background pain" level is probably an achey 3-4 most days, which isn't screaming pain, it's inconvenient pain. But if I don't respect it, it jumps to 5-6, and then jumps to 7, 8, 9.....for me,...