I'm new here. 34 year old man. I think I have fibro, but can't find a doctor to confirm. they all just want to put me on anti-depressants.

Symptoms are, constant pain, all over, constantly fatigued, depressed, lethargic.

I was on AD's for two years. never really made any difference. I just need some help. I don't want to be on any more drugs.

Hi Lovnhubby,

I'm with you on the anti-depressants. I won't take them either. Although I'm sure that they work for some people just fine, and there are some that really need them, I can't deal with the side effects. Most Drs. swear that it's a chemical thing and that's why we need the AD's. My opinion on that is, if they truly knew what it was and how to treat it, there wouldn't be so many of us in contant pain regardless of the AD's.

Chart your symptoms and ask your PCP to send you to a rheumatologist. It could be a few things that have the same symptoms as Fibro. You should have some tests done. Explain that you don't want to do the anti-depressants and ask for alternatives. Right now, I do mostly PT, massage, ice/heat and Ibuprofen 600. I have some good days, ok days, and horrible days but at least I'm not zombied out. I am starting to learn what makes it better and what makes it worse and hopefully soon I'll have more good days.

Unfortunately with Fibro, there are many things that work differently for many people. It's trial and error.

Good Luck and Hang in there
Chris

What is it with drs and the anti depressants, that was first drug they put me on, was on three different ones with no help. Finally my G/P put me on anti- anxiety med. and that helped with the anxiety. Some fmers have a low tolerance to meds and I am one, I get every side effect in the book plus more, tried so many pain meds. with horrific reactions and now am afraid to take anything. I use my gel packs and those thermo care heat patches, the large size, see a chiro and this is my course of treatment. Believe me, some days I wish I had some meds. that would just knock me out.

Welcome to our group, Linda

It seems that many doctors are following the belief that FMS is can be controlled by balancing the serotonin and/or dopamine concentration in the brain. Most anti-depressants play with these. The doctors are trying to find just the right combination that is right for you. From my experience with our daughters it is either an incorrection assumption or the balance is so difficult to find that it is only in the relm of luck that it happens for one patient and can't be preformed again on another person.

Thanx all for the responses. It's good to know there are people who understand. I have tried massage with some success, but the expense makes it difficult. Pain killers do nothing at all. I can try the hot compress idea.

What about a connection between fibro, and sleep disorder. My wife says I snore quite badly, and suspects sleep apnea. Anybody with same experience?

<<<<<deleted>>>>>

Lvn hubby, sorry you are dealing with your symptoms. When I was first diagnosed they initially did the AD thing with me as well. It never really helped me much. But in the last year it did. As the others said what works for one doesn't work for all. And it's a trial and error with the ADs because they are all different and work different for everybody.

If you and your wife suspect sleep apnea I would get that checked out. Sleep can make a huge difference. Welcome.

I'm not saying you have fibro for sure.

You've come to a good group for info and support. - Andy

Maybe you should go to a sleep clinic and have this checked out. You should not jump to conclusions about what you have until this is checked. I have heard of people that have had sleep apnea treated and feel 100 percent better. Since your wife brought it up, this may be a clue to what is wrong.

I'm new here. 34 year old man. I think I have fibro, but can't find a doctor to confirm. they all just want to put me on anti-depressants.

Symptoms are, constant pain, all over, constantly fatigued, depressed, lethargic.

I was on AD's for two years. never really made any difference. I just need some help. I don't want to be on any more drugs.

I know how you feel, antidepressents do help you deal better with the pain along with other therapies. I have had this disease for a year and have tried a muriad of them. I take a low dose of Zoloft in the morning to wake me up and then medication for the pain.

I wanted to help because I was diagnosed with CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROM and I was a sufferer.
I was called lazy, my family treated me like crap. You can click on my name and then click see all post by italys_finest18. Then look up "A nightmare, Nope just my life" Thats my story of a 20 year old girl who no one would listen to and finally got diagnosed right with Lyme disease. I suffered with a diagnoses that the doctors told me to stop looking and try to live with it. And I kept looking and I found my answer. I have a 11 month old baby to live for and I could of ended up in serious trouble if no one told me to keep looking!

ok do you know that the normal Lyme disease test you take in the hopital gives you a 70% chance of geting a negative when you have a full blown positive. Its been in my blood for 12 years and even when I take the hopital test it comes out negative. I have to take a test all the way out in Califonia to actually get right results. It's called the weastern blot test. It has the most chance of an accurate result and thats only a 60% chance.

I am not here to argue with you about lymes, but lymes has many different symtoms than fm, altough they are a lot alike. The lymes test can also come back positive and is actually negative.
Linda

FYI, some facts:
FM (and Chronic Fatigue) is real and is a recognized syndrome/disorder, but it is not in itself considered to be a disease: it is a list of symptoms with a name. The source of the symptoms is still unknown, and can vary from person to person. Saying these facts do not imply that the pain and suffering is not real. It is very real.

There is always an underlying cause for FM, whether it is discovered and treated, or not. That is why different treatments may help different people, and some don't help at all.

Many have found the cause of their FM due to persistence and returned to this board to share what they found. If it does not pertain to your individual case, move on to other posts. But do not presume to tell other members how or what to post. :nono:

If you feel someone is being abusive in their sharing, click Report Bad Post, do not react on the boards and cause us more clean up work. Please review the Posting Rules. They apply to everyone.

Remember: Agree to disagree agreeably!

*