Managing fibromyalgia

@1langla I get these msgs on my gmail and do not know who you were<br>responding to. I try to write person I a sending to and then say who I<br>am. But I will say a rheumatologist some 20 years ago pressed on the<br>points they know mean fibro - cannot remember whether it was 12 or 18<br>points on the body (one can look it up) and told me early on, but since I<br>have so much back trouble I did not believe the dr. Several more told me<br>also thru the years so had to believe I also have fibromyalgia, but I still<br>maintain I cannot tell - do not have the usual symptoms, bec I hurt so much<br>with many back symptoms. But there are trigger points they can press.<br> from @ladyjane85<br><br>

@disgusted from ladyjane85 I am now 86 and for the last 4 years I<br>moved to a continuing care facility bec it was impossible to do housework<br>and could only stand 10 min before pain was so bad that hard to cook. Had<br>been looking into facilities for 3 years on line and visiting nearby ones.<br>Only one in my county was a licensed continuing care. No family nearby.<br>Daughter did move down to Tampa whereas I am on the Atlantic coast of Fl so<br>she only comes when I land in hospital. At this age one has many health<br>problems though I look young. She has a family and works so cannot come<br>often so do not call on her unless hospital lets her know. Have one<br>bedroom and living room, sm kitchen. Light housekeeping done for you and a<br>meal in formal dining room. CC living is expensive however, but they can<br>never throw you out even if you run out of money...<br><br>

I also had the added difficulty that as a man they did not think that I<br>could have fibromyalgia because they think it is a "woman's problem". I<br>also had intense back pain and my doctor ran me through a complete cycle of<br>tests for other things, all of which came up negative. At that point I was<br>hoping that I would have a fatal illness that would at least end the pain.<br>When he applied pressure on the tender points and I responded he determined<br>that i had fibromyalgia.<br><br>Then it got amusing. He asked me if I had any ideas as to how to proceed.<br>I did not know much other than Lyrica was being advertised, so he started<br>me on that. After a couple of days (it was Mother's Day and I was out of<br>town with my family) I broke out in hives, so that ended Lyrica. Then I<br>suggested gabapentin and he started me on that. I began to get relief from<br>the pain when I got into megadoses of it and it has been working for me<br>since then. The side effects have not been too bad for me, so I have been<br>a happy camper, counting myself extremely fortunate, and hoping and praying<br>for other fellow sufferers.<br>

I know exactly how you feel. I was at that point myself. I had to hire<br>folks to come into my home and care for me. I was only 55 and looked at<br>least ten years younger. My mother, who was in her late 80's at the time<br>simply could not fathom my idiocy and mocked me for wasting my money. I am<br>functioning normally now, although things tend to take longer for me to<br>do. My neighbors probably think I am pathetic because I don't mow my lawn<br>weekly like they do. I am glad my lawn is heavily shaded so that the grass<br>grows very slowly. I rebuilt my garage, which was falling apart and put in<br>a heated driveway. I live in Iowa and we have snowy winters. I am so glad<br>I don't need to get out and shovel the snow.<br>​<br>

@disgusted from ladyjane85 That is right, they tend to think fibro as<br>a female ailment, but common among men also. Lycra was very bad for me.<br>Gabapentin - I have tried 2 x's thru the years, never in megadoses bec also<br>side effects. Tthank you for your good note, The best to you.<br><br>

Well there are people here pulling for you. Do you have any sources of diversion such as reading, watching some favorite programs?

Responding to ladyjane85 who wrote - That is right, they tend to think fibro as
a female ailment, but common among men also. Lycra was very bad for me.
Gabapentin - I have tried 2 x's thru the years, never in megadoses bec also
side effects. Tthank you for your good note, The best to you.

The best to you, as well.

Thanks!Hopefully,that means praying 4 me 2.Huh?I do read&watch tv.

What did your doctor give you for sleep? My sleep is awful after a knee replacement. Focusing on the pain with different meds (percoset, gabapentin, acetaminophen), but still up every 2 hours. Beatricefay<br>

Hello, where did you find the Dr. that help you for sleeping? I myself have hard time sleeping, I only get 3 or 4 hrs.I have been taking sleeping pills for a long time and I don't to use them anymore. Thanks for the info.