Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
I have been away for a couple of years and came back for a quick visit to encourage people to try low dose naltrexone; starting at 1.5 and slowly increasing to 3.0 or 4.5). I have been doing GREAT for years on 30 mg of cymbalta and 3.0 mg of naltrexone (must be taken in the morning or at noon, not in the evening).
I have tried decreasing cymbalta and going off of naltrexone (not at the same time) and in both cases have found that symptoms return. Cymbalta treats my pain, depression, and sleep problems. Naltrexone boosts my energy, immune system, and totally treats my lifelong allergies.
I have tried decreasing cymbalta and going off of naltrexone (not at the same time) and in both cases have found that symptoms return. Cymbalta treats my pain, depression, and sleep problems. Naltrexone boosts my energy, immune system, and totally treats my lifelong allergies.
Sure do miss you and your great input on the forum. Wow, Naltrexone, huh. I'll have to talk to my Internist about this. I am looking at changing things up this year as my bursitis/tendinits and overall pain has increased.
You also suggested to me doing tai chi....are you still doing this?
Thanks for stopping by:-) Feels good to see someone with a *success* story about treating FM issues!
Exercise... I have slowly progressed from tai chi and yoga to walking in waist or chest high water to swimming laps and I am now at the gym for about 40 or 45 min 5 times a week. At the gym I do about 15 min of biking with some resistance followed by alternating workout with weights. I am lifting about half the weights for about half the amount of time that I used to pre F days, but I had to start biking and strengthening my thigh muscles because I had fallen and injured a knee, been laid up and had lost so much strength in my thigh muscles that my knee was grinding bone against bone and hurting accordingly. So PT put me on bike and leg exercises... Long explanation for why I have transitioned into gym workouts.
I tried decreasing the Cymbalta because I was doing so well that I thought maybe I didn't need it. Counted pellets and spent months each day taking out pellets. Started taking out a couple of milligrams and slowly increased the amount. About 7 months later was at 23 mg or so No go. Sleep problems, pain.... Wish the pharmaceuticals well because I am stuck for life! :)
Tried decreasing naltrexone because it makes me a bit queasy / nauseous every morning for an hour or two and having coffee on top. Of that made my stomach worse so I had gone off coffee. Life without a morning cup?! No go. After s out two weeks my allergies were back fill force and I got a cold which I had not gotten in years, since naltrexone. One more week and I could hardly drag myself to cook dinner after a day at work and my lunchtime exercise. So, yesterday took naltrexone after lunch and allergies gone within an hour. Was able to function in the evening.
Got to go. More later on a genetics test and nutrition