Fibro hell!

Bones, joints and muscles
1

My doctor said to me about a month ago that I

Possibly have fibromyalgia but wasn't not willing to give me a firm diagnosis as it was a very difficult

Condition to diagnose.

I'm a certain that it is fibro though because I have

All of the symptoms including; excrutiating muscle pain throughout my body, stiff and sore in the

Mornings, a feeling that iv not slept at all even when I've slept the night through. Constantly fatigued,

Anxiety, depression (I also have BPD)' impaired

Mental function (forgetfulness, confusion)

Headaches, muscle spasms, either too hot or too

Cold...the list goes on.

The problem I have is that I have a long history of

Abuse of prescription pain killers (mainly opioids)

Theirfore both my g.p and my family members think That am not being honest about my symptoms in order to pill seek! This is not the case and I am in genuine agony every minute of every day.

My g.p prescribed me gapapentin 300mg x 3 daily. These are not making much of an impact for the pain. I have been back to the Dr but he is refusing

Prescribe anything further due to my past

Dependence issues, he has however done a pain

Clinic referral (the waiting list is 12 weeks minimum though)!!!

What am I to do on the meantime? Am I just to

Suffer silently and do nothing?

I'm literraly at my wits end!!! Also my Dr said to me

"fibromyalgia is uncomfortable but its not serious,

You will just have to soldier on"

Please please guys any advice would be most

Welcome.

Thanks muchly.

2

Hi there Marc

Sorry to hear your news not good yes it does sound like fibro yes the dr is right its not a seriouse condtion, its a chronic pain condtion with the right treatment and that can be managed its good you have been refferd to a pain clinic your lucky as my waiting list to go there is 6 months , my suggestion to you is bleak hun try to eat healthy move about i know its hard as im in pain constanly so it is very hard but there wil lbe good days as well as bad days your not alone we are all here for you take care cherl

3

Thanks for your reply cherl.

You say it can be managed with the right treatment. What treatments work for you?

4

Hi,

I have suffered for years and drs rarely listened when I mentioned fibro. It wasn't until my new gyn sent my GP a note about my new shoulder pain that she finally sent me to a rhuematologist. Just by looking at my list if symptoms and a brief physical exam that he said I definitely had fibro. He suggested Lexapro antidepressant.  He said it usually helped straighten things out. My GP gave me Cymbalta instead which I had bad reaction To. Right now im taking Meloxicam/Mobic which is an anti-inflammatory that you take daily. Its in the same class ass ibuprophen. It helps a lot. I also was given gabapentin but been scared to take it after the cymbalta incident. Tramadol was also given but only 8 pills because some drs arent allowed to prescribe to much of it. Not sure if its addicting.  Perhaps they will let you try the meloxicam/mobic. Im in the US so not sure if its available where you are.

Good luck.

5

I sympathise with you as fibro can be very painful at times. I do agree with your doctor though that more medication is not the answer. Many people on this site who take lots of medication do not seem to be any better than those taking little or no medication. I have recently seen a rheumatologist who knows a lot about fibro and she advised me that medication is only a very small part of the solution. You definitely don't sit in silence and suffer.

Gentle stretches and gentle exercise for short periods of time help. A lot of people recommend soaking in magnesium flakes in the bath. I havn't tried this yet but a lot of people seem to benefit from it. Other options are Tai Chi, CBT (you may be offered this when you eventually get to the pain clinic), pacing your activities or some type or relaxation or meditation tape - body scans are particularly good as they encourage you to relax all the muscles in your body.

Unfortunately there is no quick fix - it is a bit of trial and error to find out what works for you,

I hope some of these ideas work for you and your appointment at the pain clinic comes through soon.

6

Yes very true, I think if you can initially find one medication that can help take the edge off the pain then get yourself moving and exercising. I also forgot to mention my D3 and B12 were on the low side so my dr has me taking 2000iu of D3 and 2000-5000mcg of B12 along with my magnesium calcium supplement.

The only reason I tried the Cymbalta was because my anxiety was getting worse. But I will stick to increasing my excercise to help with that. 

My pain has got to the point that tylenok and ibuprophen weren't working, which I rarely even like taking those, thats why I am taking meloxicam. My brother said it worked wonders for him.

7

Hi marc, my sympathy goes out to you. I was diagnosed 3 weeks ago and have had the fortnight from hell, i was on the phone to the tel service 111 which is in the uk and a very understanding lady doctor spoke to me and suggested that I try taking 400mg of ibuprofen every couple of hrs, i believe the max you can take in 24hrs is 2400mg. I was quite unsure that this would help but I have to say its been great and I have had some very good pain relief . I know it doesn't sound like its going to do much but you could give it a go, you never know. Good wishes to you. 

8

I have fibro hell for many many years been diagnosed about 8 months ago im only on pregabalin as all pain killers knock me out I been waiting for the pain clinic for 8 months so your not on your own im in pain every single day very low depressed anxiety panic attacks irritable legs the list goes on and on buring skin bad heads and I'm going through the change as well it's hell so Belive me your not alone most fibro suffers are in same boat 💖💖

9

Read and do your best to ingest the info I post here....I do no fibro drugs....otc pain meds and a LOT of needed vitamins our bodies are deficient in.

B6 is critical....

B5 important

B3 important as well

I spend a lot of time and post info on the Alternative board but I'm not the person into drugs for this syndrome.....joy

10

Hello Marc,

Sorry to hear of your predicament, but there's lots of good advice on here, particularly from Denise. I agree with her when she says how many people who are on loads of drugs are no better than people who are on less. I only take Amitriptylene, my doc won't prescribe any more because of the horrible side effects. So,what to do, pacing your self is important, sleep is important and maybe you can find supplements that might help, and some form of gentle exercise you are happy with. Good luck

Take care, Anne

11

Even though your MD may say your thyroid is fine from labs you are given, and it may be fine, but I went 10 long miserable years with a sluggish thyroid and many on health groups claim fibro and hypoT are so connected......

If you suspect thyroid dsyfunction and there are 66 some symptoms to low thyroid and no satisfaction from  your MD, there is always a naturopath MD.    Personally, I don't have a lot of faith in mainstream doctors all from my experiences and some my daughter dealt with and some friends too.    J