Hi Kate - I'm a 67 year old male and have suffered with fibromyalgia since I was 37 years old. I've been to many, many doctors and even went so far as to see a world renowned specialist in Boston, Massachusetts. I've tried every pain killer, every anti depressant offered and various herbal forumulas that were nothing but gimics.
Because Fibromyalgia is thought to be a lack of a brain chemical or a combination of brain chemicals, anti depressants are offered to heighten the serotonin level in the brain. I can't take anti depressants. There wasn't one that worked for me. The only med I take at bedtime to get a night's sleep is xanax and I take that very conservatively at 0.5 mgs nightly.
In all my years experience with Fibromyalgia, I think you have to realize that it won't kill you. It may make you a bit crazy but it won't kill you. I think the problem most people make with Fibromyalgia, is they give up on themselves and label themselves, as terminally ill. The trick is, to try your hardest to exercise and live a normal life. Because there's so much unknown about Fibromyalgia, what may work for you and what works for me, may be light years apart. I'm only trying to share my experience and hope you might be able to extract one thing that helps you out. I know when I have a fibromyalgia flare, everything goes haywire from my ears to my toes. I even lose some hearing and suffer miserably with tinnitus, which I believe is part of fibromyalgia.
Cognitive issues that you describe are not very uncommon and really come witht the territory, especially during a fibromyalgia flare. I know with my symptoms, I suffer more during the change of the seasons than any other time during the year. My body is very sensitive to drafts, air conditioning, driving a car with the window open and I would go so far as to say, even some foods, which I cannot identify even after all this time.
What would I ask my doctor? I would ask my doctor if there were any pain management clinics to help you through this? You are most likely at a peak stage in your FMS and I think you will feel better as time passes. I know now, 30 years later, I continue to suffer, but not as much as I did back in 1987 when I first was diagnosed. Back then, I couldn't even move my neck to see if traffic was coming when I pulled out an intersection.
I am not sure what the new meds are offering.. Lyrica and the rest of them seem to be working for some people but I have no testimony to give you. Some people have great luck with Neurontin or Gabapentin. I cannot take either (Gab being the generic of Neuro) and I'm very medication sensitve. I usually use alleve but because fibromyalgia comes with a lot of IBS issues, alleve is never an OTC you can take regularly. The stomach just won't tolerate it. At least for me.
I am not sure if you've been to a rheumotologist or not.. Not sure if you've had a complete work up, especially a CBC but you might want to get a separate opinion on all these symptoms you're experiencing. It could be possible you're dealing with more than just fibromyalgia and early detection is key with any medical issue. I can totally understand your reluctance with anti-depressants. I don't tolerate them at all but some people have great success with that family of meds when dealing with fibromyalgia.
Sleep is so important in aiding fibromyalgia and you're not getting the proper sleep which makes coping with the issue twice as hard. Again, I urge you to get a second opinion and also check out a pain clinic or physiologist that specializes in pain management resulting from fibromyalgia. I have never felt over-thirsty from fibromyalgia, but like I said, everyone is so different. I realize I am a male and the vast majority of Fibromyalgia sufferers are female but most everything you described, minus the thirstiness, I have suffered from at one point or the other.
Please try to stay active, eat a healthy diet and don't give up.. I honestly believe a 2nd opinion is due here based on what you're saying. I believe your last doctor visit, the doctor was sensing you were not only suffering from fibromyalgia but depression, thus he wanted to treat one to assist the other. Again, there's really been very little discovery in the proper way to treat fibromyalgia.
I wish you luck and hope your symptoms get better. I have suffered with it for over half of my living life now and it's not a picnic. When it takes a hold of your body, you feel out of control and defenseless. I would be happy if my tinnitus went away. That seems to be directly related to fibromyalgia along with chronic fatgue, irritable bowel and bladder, forgetfulness or cognitive issues and a variety of other problems. Again, none life threatening.
I wish you the very best..... Please keep us posted and I honestly hope you feel better and get your life back.