Fibromyalgia Community

Hi, I am sorry for your diagnosis. I am and have been having trouble for many years. I call myself an experimental drug pod (ha,ha). I still have no answers and I have tried many drugs with little help to the point where I will be getting another opinion in a couple weeks. The only advice I have for now is know your body, try your medications long enough to give them a fair chance, and do your best to continue to function normally. Keep track of your changes and keep track of how you were before drugs and how each affect you so you can better find what works for you. I am probably not a good judge because I have found very little relief and therefore believe I am misdiagnosed. This sight is great to help you not be alone.
I will continue to watch for your post and try to be supportive.
Kathi

Thanks so much Kathi!
I'm having trouble adjusting. I work full time and am a single mom(technically because Husband works graveyard and is no help) and am finding it hard to find the time to get myself better. All I hear is to lose weight and excercise. By the time I get home at night I'm so tired it's hard to even play with my Daughter. Just so overwhelmed. Trying to get a handle on it.

Good Evening,
Welcome to the fmily, sorry you need to be here....

To the right under resources is the Members Toolbox, in it you will find many tools to use for help in the pain management game.

I used Motrin for the longest time, and it is still my flare med when I am in trouble. I use Ultracet which is 37.5mg of tramadol with tylenol and it helps fine, along with my muscle relaxant Soma. My best friend is my little savella though (equivelent to your Effexor in theory, only that this works on increasing norepinephrine a bit more and seratonin less.

It was the bow on the box. I also use trigger point injections to control my muscles as I am more CMP then FM. I have no fog and mostly one area of the body.

This is a great fmily, with large shoulders to help during the rough spots. Please come often to share.

Two big things I learned here were WATER to hydrate my muscles and a memory foam mattress on my bed to help sleep. I spent so much time tossing off my trigger points, I had no idea the joy that awaited me with the foam at night.

OK, good luck on this path of 1) trial and error meds and 2) learning to forgive yourself the "new" you that happens and 3)
taking care of yourself and learning about this problem we share.....

All my best, NancyB

P.S: my favorite book : FM and chronic myofascial pain, a survivla manual by; Dr.Devin Starlanyl. Great resource. As is our attending here Dr. Pellegrino's books. Look into the all!

Thanks Nancy!
I am still so overwhelmed. I know that I need to do research and figure out what the best things are going to be for me but having trouble finding when I can possibly do it. I wake up each morning hoping for the best. I get ready for work, get my toddler ready then take her to daycare then go to work full time and then right after work pick her up from daycare and go home, try to make a decent dinner and try not to fall asleep before my daughter. I'm just too exhausted to find the time to fix myself. Hopefully one day my husband will be on a better shift at his job so he can be helpful again. I'm so glad to finally know what is causing my issues. And I'm so glad to have somewhere to go to ask questions!!!

Hi, I hope this day finds you doing ok. After reading and thinking about the things I have written and the things Nancy has written you should realize you have already started taking care of yourself by using this support system. You see the other day I was ready to throw in the towel and call the battle quits all together. Then I stumbled on this site and Caprice moved me up and Nancy has spoke with me a couple times and I started to feel (mentally) a little better. I still am not sure I should be considered FM because no medication has helped me and if it has helped it was for a few months only. I am still searching and will go for a second opinion on June 6th and will inquire about the hysterectomy and possible scar tissue build up. I would say I am 50/50 on my dianosis. Now Savella was a life saver so to speak it sounds like for Nancy but I on the other hand started taking it last Thurs. evening and by mid day Friday I had to leave work. My stomach and back (on the right side only) had so much pain I couldn't hardly move, talk or breathe. The severity subsided some but had been nauseas if ate or drank anything at all untill this morning. You see my Dr. called me back Weds. and said to quit the Savella and restart the Cymbalta which helps some but is better than none. I feel about 50 percent better and oh, I had been crying since I started the Savella, and now I'm not crying today. THANK GOD!!! Remember to know your body and call your Dr. if anything is not feeling right or isn't helping at all.
We are raising our grand daughter now who is 7 and have had her most of her life. I wasn't sick with my kids so I know how you feel. I have learned no matter how tired I am if after she goes to bed I do at the least stretching for at least 10-15 minutes it help unkink my body so maybe I can get a good nights sleep.
I have always used a saying since my first husband was killed in a horrible explosion when I was 32 and I am now 46.
"IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT FAKE IT. BEFORE YOU KNOW YOU WILL BE MAKING IT"
Wishing you wellness
Kathi

Thanks Kathi! I am trying to stay positive about things. I've been trying to make little steps everyday. I watched my mom suffer for years more recently even more sick. To be the same way she was is a surprise for me. I was a healthy kid. I'm hoping with how young my daughter is I can turn things around. It's so helpful to talk to other people who understand what I'm going through. Still trying to get my husband to read about fibro so he can hopefully finally get what I'm dealing with. Daughter just went to sleep so yay! My turn!!