Fibromyalgia

[Joann Randich]

Hi anyone, I have Fibromyalgia and now taking Lyrica, I have had some relief but I still have alot of pain some days. Does anyone take Lyrica and could tell me thier situation?
This is new to me and have only known about it for 8 months. I just thought it was bad arthritis, it scares me that I could get worse. Thanks, Joann Randich

[The Well Dressed Cook]

Hi Leisa
I read you info and was surprised to see you also suffer from psoriatic arthritis I was starting to think I was alone in my misery of fibrmyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. I am on every treatment for the arthritis including remicade drip every eight weeks. I was on an anti depressant for the fibrmyalgia until recently my Dr recomended I try an OTC called 5htp I have been using this for about 5 months and it works just as well for sleep as the anti depressant



























.

[Robin]

Hi, I don't have this disease but I do have a close girlfriend/neighbor that does. I know that she takes this medicine daily and she experiences pain on some days as well. Basically shes been diagnosed with this disease for over a year now, and most medicines have not helped her, however this one seems to be doing an OK job so far. This disease is takes over your entire life and for most people it doesn't get any better. You really just have to do your research on it, and go with to your doctor on what works best for you! I have done so much research for my neighbor and pass it along to her. There are days that she sleeps all day long and then shes up all night long because the pain is unbearable for her. I really hope that you get what you need in your life to survive with this and may god bless you!

Robin

[Mary Warren]

Hi Joann -

I'm sorry you have received the fibro diagnosis as it is discouraging in many ways but you probably have had varying symptoms for much longer than the 8 months.

I have had health issues since the age of 7 - I am now 45 & it took my doctor meeting my older sister & learning of her diagnosis years ago before the thought occurred to him that fibro is my problem. I had been diagnosed in 1994 with Chronic Fatigue which had me unable to work for about 8 months. I returned to work very slowly & actually had the best ten years of my life after that! Unfortunately, other health problems (kidney stones, bronchitis, etc.) kept hitting me hard & I continued to push push push myself until I couldn't push anymore. CRASH!! It has now been about 4 1/2 years that I have been unable to work. I have other issues still as well (including degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis throughout my spine and inflammatory arthritis in my hands, gastric ulcer, myofascial pain - trigger points - etc...). I have not yet tried Lyrica as my insurance doesn't cover it & I cannot afford it.

The best help I have found so far is a website: fibrohugs.org

It was created over ten years ago by a man with fibro & his wife as a place where people with fibro, lupus, MS, etc., could go for support. Their friends & family are welcome as well. His wife died several years ago but he has kept the site running. There are wonderful people from all over the world - from the newly diagnosed to those diagnosed years ago. We all have different stories & have found different ways to deal. Life is not over. Some have been able to deal with the pain & get away from narcotics others have non-traditional methods that help. It is a wonderful place to educate, vent, laugh, cry, learn, inquire...whatever you need. You are welcome to 'lurk' & read all the posts or join in. There is also a chatroom as well as a trivia & games forum. If you have experienced what they call 'fibrofog' I'm sure you can understand the benefit of the games to make us think without feeling bad if we're not right.

I am MaryElf there, with the same Avatar...hope to see you there!

[Joann Randich]

Mary Warren said:

Hi Joann -

I'm sorry you have received the fibro diagnosis as it is discouraging in many ways but you probably have had varying symptoms for much longer than the 8 months.

I have had health issues since the age of 7 - I am now 45 & it took my doctor meeting my older sister & learning of her diagnosis years ago before the thought occurred to him that fibro is my problem. I had been diagnosed in 1994 with Chronic Fatigue which had me unable to work for about 8 months. I returned to work very slowly & actually had the best ten years of my life after that! Unfortunately, other health problems (kidney stones, bronchitis, etc.) kept hitting me hard & I continued to push push push myself until I couldn't push anymore. CRASH!! It has now been about 4 1/2 years that I have been unable to work. I have other issues still as well (including degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis throughout my spine and inflammatory arthritis in my hands, gastric ulcer, myofascial pain - trigger points - etc...). I have not yet tried Lyrica as my insurance doesn't cover it & I cannot afford it.

The best help I have found so far is a website: fibrohugs.org

It was created over ten years ago by a man with fibro & his wife as a place where people with fibro, lupus, MS, etc., could go for support. Their friends & family are welcome as well. His wife died several years ago but he has kept the site running. There are wonderful people from all over the world - from the newly diagnosed to those diagnosed years ago. We all have different stories & have found different ways to deal. Life is not over. Some have been able to deal with the pain & get away from narcotics others have non-traditional methods that help. It is a wonderful place to educate, vent, laugh, cry, learn, inquire...whatever you need. You are welcome to 'lurk' & read all the posts or join in. There is also a chatroom as well as a trivia & games forum. If you have experienced what they call 'fibrofog' I'm sure you can understand the benefit of the games to make us think without feeling bad if we're not right.

I am MaryElf there, with the same Avatar...hope to see you there!

[Joann Randich]

Thank you so much for the information for another website about Fibromyalgia.

[LOLA GREENGUSH]

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FMS 17 YEARS AGO. FOR PAIN I HAVE FOUND A REGIMINE OF MYOFACIAL RELEASE. (MASSAGE) .HAS BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE IN RELIEVING PAIN. I STARTED WITH 3 SESSIONS A WEEK FOR 3 WEEEKS, THEN TWICE A WEEK, THEN ONCE A WEEK, THEN ONCE EVERY OTHER WEEK, THEN ONCE A MONTH. NOW ONCE A MONTH WILL KEEP ME RELATIVLY PAIN FREE. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR THIS, SO IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT COST YOU MIGHT CHECK IT OUT. NONETHE LESS, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, THE LACK OF PAIN IS WORTH IT.
A VERY HOT EPSOM SALT BATH BEFOR BED WILL REALLY TAKE THE PAIN OUT & ALLOWS ME TO SLEEP. YOU HAVE TO GET THE WATER AS HOT AS YOU CAN STAND, & SOAK FOR AT LEAST 20 MIN. WITHOUT ADDING ANY THING ELSE TO THE WATER.
REGULAR EXERCISE IS THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO TO KEEP PAIN AWAY. NO AEROBICS, WHERE YOU POUND, BUT YOGA, WALKING & WEIGHT LIFTING HAVE PROVEN VERY HELPFUL.
I TAKE CYMBALTA, WICH SEEMS TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PAIN, BUT KEEPS ME OUT OF TROUBLE WITH DEPRESSION.
BE SURE TO KEEP UP ON YOU MAGNESIUM & B VITAMIN SUPLIMENTS.
I WOULD RECOMEND RESEARCHING DIET. I AM NOT GOOD AT THAT, BUT I DO BELIEVE EVERY THING WE CAN DO FOR OUR SELVES WITHOUT THE AIDE OF DRUGS WILL BE THE BEST & SAFEST APPROACH. I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY PEOPLE MESSED UP WITH DRUGS. ESPICALLY PAIN DRUGS.
I WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR JOURNEY. THERE ARE VERY MANY THINGS YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF & OTHERES ALONG THE WAY. IT IS A CURSE, FOR SURE, BUT THERE IS A BLESSING IN EVERYTHING. GOD BLESS YOU.

[Judy Smith]

When you type in CAPS it is considered "yelling" in computer language. It's actually more difficult to run as well.

[Judy Smith]

I meant "to read"

[kelli]

I'm sorry you are in pain. I hope you find relief. I'll pray for you

[June Gainer]

I have been on chemo therapy for almos t3 years and thought I was suffering from peripheral neuropathy. I take Cymbalta for that and was told that Lyrica might work better. I actually think I have Fibromyalgia also, but I am not sure of the symptoms. I have terrible muscle pains in my legs and have difficulty walking and standing. It feels like the muscles in the back of my legs keep going into painful spasms. What are your symptoms?
June Gainer,Albany NY

[Michelle Ann]

Hi June,
I just finished chemo treatments.. my leg muscles began to spasm after my treatment. I have fibromyalgia the chemo set me into a fibro attack. I go for massage therapy twice a week and drink plenty of water and walk
1 mile 4-5 days per week. I am getting better, now that I asked for some muscle relaxers to help get things in control.

[Norma Bundick]

Hi, Joann. I have had fibromyalgia for about 20 years. I also have lupus. I was on prednisone for about 10 years and am on plaquenil. I had alot of pain at first then it seemed to get better for many years. I have recently started having more pain. I am taking neurontin which is similar to the Lyrica & Cymbalta. I have not noticed much help with that. I have heard that the Lyrica is helpful. I am going to a pain management doctor at this point. I do have many other issues going on so it is hard to say which is the fibromyalgia or other problems. I hope you have good luck with the Lyrica. I was always told to exercise and it would relieve the pain, but, I am not much on the exercise and with the pain it seemed to hard. I now have a swimming pool and enjoy it during the summer months to get some exercise.is disease can be hard to deal with because you may seem and look very health and others including family members can not understand the pain you are going through. It seems like every touch is bruising you. My kids would come up and touch me and I would want to yell out in pain. They really thought it was funny then but, now they are a little more understanding. My girls are showing some of the early signs and I just pray they do not get this or the Lupus.
Please keep your spirits up and know you are not alone in this.
Norma Bundick