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Managing fibromyalgia
Hello everyone, I am looking for anyone who suffers from fibromyalgia and can suggest healing methods, medication and I would like to compare symptoms. Mine feels as if I had the flu, headache, joint aches, terribly tired, pain around the glands, stomach pain, low back. If lyou can please write with any comment or suggestion for relief, or any idea what causes it I will appreciate it thank you.
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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.
In reply to beatricefay, who wrote - 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.
I take three 15 mg. pills of temezapam about an hour before going to bed. My pain levels drop so I usually fall asleep without too much trouble and I stay asleep between four and seven hours.
In reply to cila, who wrote - 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.
There is really only one doctor in my area (Quad Cities - Iowa and Illinois) who handles sleep issues, usually sleep apnea. My GP referred me to him and he has been nothing short of excellent. If you can sleep without pills, so much the better. I wish I could and have tried to do so from time to time, but I can't get to sleep and when I do it is very light.