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 like to post this for newbies...
The first three go-to meds for fibro are Cymbalta, Savella, and Lyrica. I have had great success with Cymbalta and with a low dose of naltrexone (3mg) which boosts energy and the immune system. It can take Cymbalta and Savella 3 or 4 months to start working on the pain ( I don't know about Lyrics). This means that if the dose is increased before three months, the person might get side effects before they start to get benefis, discontinue the med, and lose out on a possible helpful treatment. I would choose Cymbalta over Lyrica because a lot of people gain weight on Lyrica. Cymbalta has helped me keep my weight down.
I have also undertaken lots of lifestyle changes tailored to my symptoms. I think it is extremely important to treat all symptoms. Think of your body as a "terrible two-year-old" who is having a dreadful tantrum. It is not going to listen to reason and start to become agreeable until it has calmed down. Don't force it.
The three lifestyle changes that I think are likely applicable to most people are:
1) aqua-therapy,
2) vitamin supplements, all, plus as needed to get average or high blood levels of b12 and D, and
3) anti inflammatory diet that is gluten, dairy, and additive free (except for Greek yogurt).
I strongly urge people to read up as much as possible, such as the fibro for dummies book. Here are two files that have very good information.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sbsl6juz0jo1wrg/What%20Primary%20Care%20Physicians%20Should%20Know%20About%20Fibromyalgia%202.docx
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ou6dd3x4kuqsczo/What-to-do-while-looking-for-a-good-pain-doctor.pd
The first three go-to meds for fibro are Cymbalta, Savella, and Lyrica. I have had great success with Cymbalta and with a low dose of naltrexone (3mg) which boosts energy and the immune system. It can take Cymbalta and Savella 3 or 4 months to start working on the pain ( I don't know about Lyrics). This means that if the dose is increased before three months, the person might get side effects before they start to get benefis, discontinue the med, and lose out on a possible helpful treatment. I would choose Cymbalta over Lyrica because a lot of people gain weight on Lyrica. Cymbalta has helped me keep my weight down.
I have also undertaken lots of lifestyle changes tailored to my symptoms. I think it is extremely important to treat all symptoms. Think of your body as a "terrible two-year-old" who is having a dreadful tantrum. It is not going to listen to reason and start to become agreeable until it has calmed down. Don't force it.
The three lifestyle changes that I think are likely applicable to most people are:
1) aqua-therapy,
2) vitamin supplements, all, plus as needed to get average or high blood levels of b12 and D, and
3) anti inflammatory diet that is gluten, dairy, and additive free (except for Greek yogurt).
I strongly urge people to read up as much as possible, such as the fibro for dummies book. Here are two files that have very good information.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sbsl6juz0jo1wrg/What%20Primary%20Care%20Physicians%20Should%20Know%20About%20Fibromyalgia%202.docx
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ou6dd3x4kuqsczo/What-to-do-while-looking-for-a-good-pain-doctor.pd
If you reject the notion of treating pain with an anti depressant because you are not depressed, or if you are depressed and feel bad about it, don't. One, these antidepressants work on pain (many others do not). Two, given chronic pain, people end up depressed. It is not weakness, or in your mind. It is the body's reaction to pain and has to do with inflammatory cytokines. For a good podcast on that, check out the iTunesU podcast from the University of Arizona Psychiatry Grand Rounds, "Cytokines Sing the Blues: Inflammatory Perspectives..." From 9/30/2010 by Dr Charles Raison.
So, don't feel bad about feeling bad!
URL: http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo...
Added by: noodlebg
Rating:
This recommendation above was recently added. Noodle gm hope you don't mind that I add it here because some people might miss it since it is not in the general category where most people go. The link below is very interesting because we are always looking for what else in addition to meds we might be able to do.
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/pain/fibromyalgia.htm
There are many people here with different opinions and experience, all equally valuable.
Just by way of example, Savella is not a drug that takes months to work. It can help within the first couple of weeks.
If I had taken Cymbalta for more than the six days I did, I might have had more permanent adverse affects instead of the temporary vision loss I experienced.
Just two examples. This is a patient site with a lot of good information, all of which is based on experience. Only you and your doctor should decide what makes sense for you.
Please speak for yourself only.
When I was first dxed by my gp with tenderpoints and widespread pain I wasn't taking this dx lightly. I took myself to a neuro who did more testing then he sent to me a rheumy who did more testing and dxed fibro. My bloodwork has always been normal and sometimes others have something else going on medically,
I was told that Lyrica is not for fibro. I think gp and pcp have a tendency to push new drugs because of the salesmans pitch, Example' Everytime you write a prescription for this newest drug we will give you a kickback" Like the new brutan patch that will kill you. That's a new one so beware.
Anyway, I asked the rheumy why he was doing more bloodwork and he said they look for different things that a gp will not look for, different test. He dxed my fibro and gave me a prescription for tramadol. None of the drugs that Emily listed were ever prescribed to me or even mentioned.
Also the anti inflammatory diet would only help those that have inflammation, I do not. When you have a bloodpanel they have a test I believe its called an ASA that checks for inflammation, Mine have always been negative.
I do know some with a positive ASA are dxed with lupus or arthritis..
If you are new just don't take the first dx that come along, get involved with your health. I read there are several things that mimic fibro. That's why I continued to seek info and other medical opinions.
Like Peace said we are all individual.
This is a support site, we are not doctors and cannot tell you what drugs are for fibro. I would go to a rheumy that specializes in fibro if one can and get their medical opinion.
Everyone is different.
Actually, I do not subscribe to anything in this post. So, I would say again to any new members, This post is ONLY one person's experience.
Lyrica made my extremities swell and I gained 10pounds in a week from that.
Cymbalta hurt my eyes so bad, made the pupils stay dilated. I ended up with macroaneurysms in my eyes from taking this crap for 4 days and trying to endure the side effects.
Gluten free is the new fad for everything now. Unless you have Celiac disease in which case you are basically allergic to gluten.
It's just a generally good idea for anyone new to learn as much as possible about Fibromyalgia, and be aware there are many ideas for treatments, diets, and "cures" and everyone is different. That is the most frustrating part about Fibro is everyone is a little different yet so much the same, treatment plans do not agree with everyone the same, and many of us have co-existing conditions that cannot tolerate some of the treatments recommended.