Living with Fibromyalgia: Introduce yourself & meet others

I am new to both this site and Fibro. I am 76 years old, and female. I've been in much pain and have tried Naproxen, Meloxicam and Diclofenac to no avail. Lately, I've been taking LYRICA, which has been hailed as a new treatment. It doesn't work for me. I've been on CYMBALTA for many years for depression, and it obviously doesn't work, either. I have been under tremendous stress, which I believe caused the disease and has exacerbated it. The big problem is that my husband is on oxygen and can do nothing, so I've sort of taken over chores and things he used to be able to do. And it's killing me. Some days I can hardly walk, am exhausted and very irritable. I've got to find something that alleviates the pain!
I am a Mayo patient for years but have yet to see a specialist as I spend winters in Florida and summers in Illinois (which is closer to the clinic). I intend to get appointment this summer, but I have to function till then. I am excited to perhaps learn some coping strategies from you people!

Iam73 yrs old. I am 5'8'' , 135 pounds. i go to trainer 2 times per week and do cardio at home. had car accident, fely pain all over for couple days. then had tramatic stress event that resulted in full fibro now more than 15 yrs. ago. I have more than a dozen tender points on my body, which don't bother me. when I have a flair up the pain type varies, burning, sharp, achy. I also have places of pain that linger, like left rib area, etc. I feel fatigue that is'nt helped with my meds, I get urinary frequency from feeling of urgency, my sleep is interrupted, I get a feeling of depression, Have bad brain fog with bad flair up,, have modified my activities due to less stamina, stopped going to meetings at night, don't like to be out passed 9:30 which has caused a major problem of worrying if I will have energy for daily activities, I try not to talk about my pain and get upset if husband asks? Who wants to have a partner like that! I have found cardio will help me feel better, unless bad flair up. I have headaches and sinus problems. intermitent IBS . Sounds like classic case. I havr tried, savella, gabapentin, lyrica, cymbalta which did not change symptom pattern. I was given adderal which helps me focus better and will give me energy to live, unless bad flair, then I try cardio when that doesnt offer relief I nap. IN the beginning I was in bed alot until I felt like this is what a dying person does so I started looking for treatment. Now I know at this point there is no tratment. They don't know what it is or the causes I do a lot of research. I know if I am worried, or over work it flairs. I take 2-4 tylenol every day, evening brings worse pain. I don't want to get addicted to pain meds so I use them sparingly and never take a full dose. I have tried ice baths, accupuncture, meditation, etc. etc. , just bought accu mat so I don't know, but it doesn't relivev tender points.
Went on blog once but everyone was so down I stopped... Good luck to everyone and I just reccomend being in tune...

Iam73 yrs old. I am 5'8'' , 135 pounds. i go to trainer 2 times per week and do cardio at home. had car accident, fely pain all over for couple days. then had tramatic stress event that resulted in full fibro now more than 15 yrs. ago. I have more than a dozen tender points on my body, which don't bother me. when I have a flair up the pain type varies, burning, sharp, achy. I also have places of pain that linger, like left rib area, etc. I feel fatigue that is'nt helped with my meds, I get urinary frequency from feeling of urgency, my sleep is interrupted, I get a feeling of depression, Have bad brain fog with bad flair up,, have modified my activities due to less stamina, stopped going to meetings at night, don't like to be out passed 9:30 which has caused a major problem of worrying if I will have energy for daily activities, I try not to talk about my pain and get upset if husband asks? Who wants to have a partner like that! I have found cardio will help me feel better, unless bad flair up. I have headaches and sinus problems. intermitent IBS . Sounds like classic case. I havr tried, savella, gabapentin, lyrica, cymbalta which did not change symptom pattern. I was given adderal which helps me focus better and will give me energy to live, unless bad flair, then I try cardio when that doesnt offer relief I nap. IN the beginning I was in bed alot until I felt like this is what a dying person does so I started looking for treatment. Now I know at this point there is no tratment. They don't know what it is or the causes I do a lot of research. I know if I am worried, or over work it flairs. I take 2-4 tylenol every day, evening brings worse pain. I don't want to get addicted to pain meds so I use them sparingly and never take a full dose. I have tried ice baths, accupuncture, meditation, etc. etc. , just bought accu mat so I don't know, but it doesn't relivev tender points.
Went on blog once but everyone was so down I stopped... Good luck to everyone and I just reccomend being in tune...

Hi. I am nu to this site! Im sooo releived 2 hav a group wif sum 1 like mee. I waz en a car acksident a wile bak so pleez 4giv me spelin i reellee kant help it. So than u 4 Ur understandin:} If u du not understan wat im tyoin pleez jus ask I will du mi best 2 cleer it up. I hav a brain enguree, fibro,, Ijus shake sum timez, pain all tha time, drpreeshun I get reelleecold whin a drink sumthin cold (Brrrr)< sumtimez it iz hard for mee 2 undrstand, i kant sit tooo long, mi bonez hert, mi skin b so sensitive I kant evan stan 2 b touch bi anee thain, anee bodee or mi self & sum othor thingz. i do hav aself kleenin vacuum tii help mee. Gosh mi flarez last 2 to 3 weekz at a time!!! Thay ware mee ot! im jus kummin off 1 now. but im a fighter. In not gonna let Fibro WIN!! I think i need 2 swich dr1

@kimmee Welcome to MayoClinnicConnect! I’m glad that you found the site. It took me a few minutes to understand what you were writing, but once I got it, it was a breeze. I understood everything! Do doctors know about your flares and how long they last and the pain? Have they prescribed anything? I always ask too many questions so now I’ll let the members share their experiences.

@kimmee Welcome to MayoClinnicConnect! I’m glad that you found the site. It took me a few minutes to understand what you were writing, but once I got it, it was a breeze. I understood everything! Do doctors know about your flares and how long they last and the pain? Have they prescribed anything? I always ask too many questions so now I’ll let the members share their experiences.