Hi everyone,

I stumbled on this website tonight and am so happy that I found it. I have read so many postings of people who sound like me. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia back in 1996. I am 30 years old and at times feel like I am 90. I hurt all over, arms, neck, shoulders, chest, elbows, hips, legs, knees, just about everywhere. I even hurt when someone touches me in certain spots or if they press on me. I also have heart palpitations, "Fibro fog", headaches, GERD, weight gain...seems like the list goes on and on. This sure has changed my life. Some days I don't even feel like getting out of bed. I began having anxiety and panic attacks several years ago. My life which used to be quite normal is now a mess. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif

Right now Im taking Lexipro, Flexeril, Motrin 800mgs and Xanax. Im not sure that these are the right medications for me to be on since Im still in pain most every day.

It helps to know there are so many people out there with the same problem. My doctor isnt really too knowledgable about Fibro and doesn't seem to know what might work for me. So I just go day by day and hope that I dont have a flare. Those are the days when I can't get out of bed and the pain is overwhelming.

Im thinking about trying for Disability but Im kind of afraid of trying and being denied. I have always worked and it just doesn't feel right to try for Disability. Anyone else here on Disability due to your Fibro? Id love to hear about it.

Thank you all for sharing. It has helped me a lot.


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Stacie

[This message has been edited by HeartOfGold2 (edited 10-09-2003).]

Hi yes it is awful to have this FM, you sound so much like me. Let me tell you I just posted on another post and I want you to know that all the meds you listed I have tried and they are awful, they didn't do good for me at all, I gained a lot of weight from them and they made me more tired and sick. Find a doctor that knows about FM so you can get the help you need, this is a life time thing that you will have to lean to cope with and yes you should try for disability, there are many who have won. I don't have it because I didn't work enough in my life time, mostly a stay at home Mom and hubby has a good job, thank God. Well, Hon I pray that you will find a good doctor or get the help you need in order to deal with this awful condition. My prayers are with you and support. Blessings to you, Rose

Here is what I wrote in the other post:

Hello everyone. I have been dealing with FM for many years and my doctor and I have been through so many medications to find what will help with this extreme pain and stiffness. Exercise always makes it worse for me other then water exercise, which isn't always available to me. Well, I can tell you that I too never had a problem in losing weight before until the FM and boy oh boy now it is awful. I have gained weight and I am not an eater either. I really am not in fact I use to deal with anorexia. So eating is not a big thing with me. But antidepressants made me gain and didn't help at all, and I have tried so many different one that my doctor wanted me to try. Well, the only thing that has helped both with the pain and weight, is Vicodin. It helps my pain and to lose weight as well. I have found it also gives me energy, which is very hard for me to have. energy and tiredness is something that is very bad that comes along with FM. I take one Soma at night to help with sleep. I take 3 vicodin a day. They only thing about the vicodin is that it doesn't last through out the day with the pain, it is short lived. So now my doctor has me trying Methadone along with the Vicodin. I am a bit scared of the Methadone, but I agreed to try it. I take 5 mg in am and 5 mg in the PM. It is supposed to help a great deal with the pain and have a long lasting affect. But I am so afraid that I will gain, although my doctor says I won't but she said that about other meds. I tried. So we will see, I told her that if I start to gain that is it, I'm off of them. I don't take it any more, because weight don't help our situation with FM, it makes all the worse. I am still trying to lose all the weight I gain, it doesn't come off easy like it did, no matter what I do. It's all part of FM. So I do understand and feel for you very much, my prayers are with you. Take good care of your self and listen to your body. Blessings, Rose

Thanks Rose. I am in the process of trying to find a physician in my area who knows something about Fibromyalgia. Its hard since there aren't too many around. These medications are definitely not working for me. And the weight that I have gained is surely not good for my symptoms either. So Im going to keep looking until I find a doctor who will help me or at least try some different medications that have worked for others. Im also going to pursue the disability route since I think it is the best for me right now. I have worked all my life so it seems so hard to admit that I might not be able to work anymore. But its something I have to admit to myself and others now. Thanks for the advice and take care.



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Stacie

Hi Stacie, Have you tired putting in your city and state and typing in Fibromyalgia and doctor on line? You can search for a doctor who does treat FM on line. Also you can do the same with your disability claim. There are a lot of great sites that come up if you just type in the name Fibromyalgia, try it different ways. If you need help let me know I can research for you but I would need to know the state and city your in. Well, I will pray that you will have success in all that you do. Blessings to you, Rose