Fellow FMS suffers please respond!!! I need your help!!! - Fibromyalgia Message Board

sTaR_cHyLd · 10-29-2003, 06:33 AM

I was diagnosed with my fibro one week ago , but have been suffering over a year. I am finding a very hard time coping with the pain, and cannot seem to find anything that controls the pain. I am in pain 24/7 and it never ends. Any ideas of something that offers "constant" relief?? My boss is already threatening to release me from my job, due to me not functioning and thinking clearly due to the pain, I cannot afford to lose my job. I cry myself to sleep every night. Here is the list of meds I have tried, Elavil, Flexeril, Soma with and without codeine, Ultracet, Ultram, Darvocet, Lexapro, clanazoprine, Wellbutrin, Vicodin, Celebrex, Vioxx, Amitriptyline, Ambien, Naprosyn, Tylenol 8 hour and arthritis, and Percocet. Nothing is helping me sleep and with the pain? Any ideas of something that will help around the clock? My other problem is my husband is not being supportive at all, he is saying it is all in my head, and im just addicted to medicine. i tried to tell him that if he felt the pain I did he would understand. I just don't know where to go anymore, I go for two more MRI's today, as well as an appt with my fibro doctors, please help fellow suffers, Im open to all the suggestions you have.
Sincerely
Suffering in pain )=

dayton · 10-29-2003, 07:01 AM

I really sympthasize with you. I'm in the exact same boat -- absolutely no support at home although I get the vicious comments!! He tells me I'm doctor shopping to get attention (and that's one of the milder ones!).

I've been diagnosed with rsd but still do not believe it because I have almost all of the fibro symptoms and a rheumatologist diagnosed me with "chronic and severe" fibro.. I do have the burning type pain but again, you can have that with fibro.

I've tried so many meds too, one sent my blood pressure to 167 over 143. thought i was having a heart attack!! scared me and doctor to death -- it was topomax. I've tried all the anti-depresants , ugh, flexeril, made me really spacey. parafon forte is supposed to help with muscle spasms but didn't really help a lot.

neurotin causes weight gain (another reason my husband is griping). it does help me with the burning pain right now and i take it with elavil and it will put you right out -- at least it did me.

keep in touch and let me know how you're doing. this ain't no fun is it???

debabc · 10-29-2003, 03:03 PM

I've recently started taking klonapin at night and that helps me sleep a lot. Also, are you doing any kind of aerobic exercise? I know you don't feel like it, but if you can force yourself, I have found that to be more effective or as much so as the drugs, although I take the meds, too. I've had so many problems because my foot or knee would flare whenever I started to exercise, so I didn't exercise for a long time. Bad idea: now I have a herniated disk to add to my misery. But I have started physical therapy, and it is so great, because it's like having a personal trainer who knows how to work around the fibro. The PT place has a small warm water pool, so I do half my exercises there, and get strectched out really well, then do half in the gym. Easter Seals has warm water pools available to use if you have a prescription; my town also has about 10 other warm water pools for people like us. You are under so much stress with your family and work not being supportive and the exercise will alleviate the stress as well. There is a very good book about fibromyalgia put out by the arthritis foundation that maybe you could get some of your non-believers to read. There are also other good books out there; I have found many at the library. Also read the article posted above about depression and fibro. Don't let anyone tell you this is all in your head, or that you are trying to get attention. I wish people like that could experience just one day of what we go through every minute for what will probably be the rest of our lives. It is so overwhelming and scary. Maybe you could find a support group in your area so you could have some face to face support for what you are going through. (Maybe your husband could attend, too.

As for your boss, can you get disability for a while until you can find some relief? My doctor wouldn't do it for me when I was having problems a few years ago, so I went to a psychiatrist and got temporary disability for stress and depression. It kind of hurt my pride, but it worked, and I was desperate. Now I'm on temporary disability for the herniated disk. It's amazing how differently you are treated when you have a "real" medical problem (meaning one that shows up on an MRI, apparently).I hope I gave you some ideas. I've been dealing with this for 30 years, so there's probably not much I haven't tried. One other thing, see if you can find a device called a theracane or a backnobber. It allows you to release trigger points on your own back, and you can also massage yourself with it. It's low-tech, but it is inexpensive, and it has made a really big difference for me. Finally, I can reach those spots myself instead of trying to direct a reluctant husband to massage the right spots...."a little to the left, no too far, too hard, not hard enough, a little longer please?")...no more! Best of luck to you. Know that you are not alone. And if your doctor can't or won't help you, find another doctor.

hartbis · 11-08-2003, 03:18 PM

For whatever it is worth, I have been reading the ************* board on Fibromyalgia and some of the best information I have seen is to first examine your diet, go for a high protein, lower carb, no sugar, alcohol. Lots of water. Hot bath with 3 cups of epsom salts and 3 large bottles of peroxide. (The Epsom opens your pores and the peroxide is Oxygen.) This can be purchased really cheap at Costco or Sams Club. This bath is used occasionally. I tried it and liked it. Try to eliminate as much stress as possible. You mentioned your husband said you were addicted to your pills. Do you think this could be true. I have heard pain meds can have a rebound effect and cause more pain. You might want to visit a doctor who is a pain specialist.

Singers · 11-08-2003, 11:12 PM

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I have been reading a lot about Fibromyalgia lately because I have a good friend who suffers from it. I believe it would be good for everyone to have their thyroid tested because I have read about a Dr. who believes that many of the women who have Fibromyalgia also have a thyroid problem & that is what is making the Fibro worse. This Dr. has presented research papers on this in France & written articles about it here in the states. Might be something to have your Dr. check. Even if your thyroid tests are normal, this Dr. says that many women still have a thyroid problem and would benefit from medication. It pains me to read of all the medication being taken by Fibro sufferers and nothing helps them. I guess I can't tell you the Drs. name, (against the rules) but do a search on fibromyalgia & you might find the info. That's how I came across it.