For the past few months I have taken phentermine (a perscription weight loss medication) but I have taken it sporatically. My husband kept pointing out that I seemed to feel so much better when I had taken it. I would argue that I probably felt better because I was not drinking soft drinks or eating badly when I had a diet pill. Last week I had one of my worst flare up's ever. The fatigue was overwhelming and my legs felt like I was wearing tight elastic from my knees down to my toes. I ached and I was so depressed because I knew I would feel just as flu like the next day and the next.

I took a phentermine the next day but I went ahead and ate and drank what ever I wanted but I still felt total relief from those symtoms. The next day I did the same. By the third day I was convinced that it was the phentermine that was having such an amazing affect on my symptoms.

Yesterday I had ANOTHER long talk with my Dr. I had mentioned the pentermine affect on my pain but she had paid little attention. This time she was really hearing me. She gave me a two month perscription and by the time I have taken all of it I will have seen the specialist.

I did a computer search and found some others who are being treated with phentermine. I take a low dose and honestly it makes me feel "normal" :)
I don't know why it would make such a huge difference in how I feel but I know it does. I don't feel hopeless now.

This is a perscription medication and in the beginning it makes you feel a bit icky but if you think it might help you perhaps you could talk to your Dr. about trying it for your pain and fatigue

I have no medical training and certainly no stake in this particular medication but I know I felt like people thought I must be lazy or a hypochondriac or just heavy and whiny. I knew the truth, that felt like I couldn't hardly stand waking up as tired as I had been when I went to bed and hurting so bad just sitting on a couch. The depression that comes with feeling in pain and without hope was awful. This affect I am having from phentermine may go away. I sure hope not but since I don't know why it helps I don't know what will happen in the future. Right now I am just soaking up the joy of being able to paint a room or walk my dog without exhaustion and pain.

I also read an article recently about using phentermine to help with fibro. I called my doc and she said no way would she prescribe it. She said it had too many side effects, including blood pressure problems, addiction, etc. I was SO disappointed. I was hoping for something to make me feel better so that I could exercise again and lose some weight. Now I'm wondering if I should find a different doc!

There are of course many side effects to any drug given. For an example I take prednisone and we all know how bad the side effects of that can be. Mood swings, aggressivness, weight gain, the list goes on. I however don't have any of those side effects, I have actually lost some weight while taking prednisone and I can tell you I am much nicer to be around cause I don't hurt as much. My rheumy stopped asking me about mood swings, he knows the answer by now. When I was taking plaquenil and methotrexate however I had all kinds of side effects. My point is if you don't try medications that may be helpful you will never know if that could be the one drug that works great for you.

Lynn, I think with with a little research in hand maybe you could have an open minded discussion with your doc. He/She could explain what they are worried about as pertains to you and you could explain why you would like to try the medication. One of you will convince the other and if not maybe a new doc is in order. Especially if this doc isn't doing anything to help you.

Shaysmom, thanks for the inside information. I hope this continues to work for you and you don't have any side effects. We never know what will work the best and for how long that will be, that is another odditie of this disease.

Glojer

I had forgotten what it felt like to feel good. I am under a lot of stress right now with out of state company, five grandkids visiting and puppy sitting so if I were going to be having the severe fatigue and pain I was having last week I would think it would be now...but I feel super. :D:D:D:D

I too have taking the drug for weight lost. At, the time it was not for RA or Fibro. But, when I took it I did not hurt. I hope more research is done on this possible med for fibro.;)

Research indeed. If relieving the pain and fatigue is possible then this needs to be looked into.