MonicaK

Close Fibromyalgia

Diagnosed w/Fibro almost ten yrs, had to retire on disability. Daily struggle. I'm focusing on writing now.

Treatments

Acupuncture Working / Worked

I have weekly txs for months at a time, very helpful. Found someone who knows how to put needles in without pain.

Duragesic Patch Somewhat Helpful

It helps w/pain but very drowsy. Also I have issues with patch falling off, then there is withdrawal. If I want to bathe or shower, the thing falls off. It's summer and I sweat, it falls off. I know they're not supposed to but the truth is that they do, and you don't get 'extras' (God forbid) so there you are withdrawing in more pain than you were before you started. I take fentanyl but on a stick called Actiq. I read about fatal accidents w/patches made defective so that is another issue.

Effexor Not Working

Yrs ago was on this. I felt foreign to myself on this drug. Didn't help. Stopped taking.

Gabitril Somewhat Helpful

I stopped taking, was too drowsy and it didn't do that much.

Guaifenesin Somewhat Helpful

I took this and I think there is something to it, but I stopped because couldn't avoid salicylates, and I started Lyrica at the same time, so I decided to try again another time since it wasn't a tremendous difference. Maybe if I had taken it longer.

Heat Working / Worked

I have a home heat pack, and I also purchase those ones people can wear all day. Very helpful.

Lyrica Working / Worked

Helps tremendously w/pain and w/energy. But these damn side effects. I hate the weight gain. But I want to meet with a nutritionist to start a proper diet. Weight loss groups too general for me w/ all my health issues and food allergies. Just got a name and number from my GP.

Neurontin Somewhat Helpful

Powerful but I was just too drowsy to function so I stopped.

TENS Somewhat Helpful

I was too sensitive to the stim. We fibromyalgics know about this hypersensitivity. Just uncomfortable.

Ultram Working / Worked

This is a great drug but side effect is temporary hearing loss while on it. I'm already very hearing impaired so that was a problem for me, I'm deaf enough so I stopped it. But it's good for pain and energy, good stuff.

Vitamin B12 Working / Worked

My doc gave me shots for a while and helped with energy, definitely. This was when I was still working.

Close Meniere's Disease

I have Meniere's Disease and already participate in Fibromyalgia support group her on DS, thought this might help me with support and insight into the illness here too.