Yes, Fibromyalgia is chronic. Flares are an uptick in symptoms such as pain with this health issue.

If you don't have it, I'd recommend that you purchase the book "Fibromyalgia for Dummies." You can find it on Amazon. It will give you a comprehensive overview of this complex illness and ways to try and manage it.

Taking OTC medication such as Tylenol, Alleve etc. is usually not effective for the tyoe of pain caused by Fibromyalgia. It is a Neuro muscular issue that responds to certain classes of prescribed medication. Cymbalta, Lyrica, Savella and Gabapentin are examples of medications that can be helpful.

Good luck with your Rheumy appointment.

Yes I do take Gabapentin sometimes also. But it makes me all goofy, all day and night.

It takes time for your body to adjust to these medications. You should allow at least a two week adjustment period. Also, staying well hydrated with water helps. Many people start/take these meds at night to sleep off some of the side effects. It isn't pleasant to deal with the side effects but they usually pass. I'd rather take the medication and have a better quality of life. Take care.

Yes, you need to stay on the gabapentin and wait for the goofy side effects to wear off which take about 2-3 weeks. Give any new medication at least 30 days to see if it helps you or not. Usually by then any introductory side effects have worn off and you can make a sound decision on whether or not it is helping your pain. If the side effects continue after 30 days and the bad out weigh the good then you will know it's not for you. But if it is helping you then you'll know it's good for you.

Also, you may not want to try multiple medications at one time. Try only one at a time so you know which one is causing what kind of side effects and if it is helping or not. Then if that goes smooth after 30-60 days you can introduce your next medication. It's a slow process that takes patience but slowly working at it is worth it. Good luck with everything.

Fantod put it well. Also, like other "chronic" ailments (diabetes type 1, some forms of epilepsy, etc.), it can be asymptomatic or low-symptom with proper treatment and some luck. Which I am wishing for;-)

In my experience, feeling good had to be re-defined. The pain is chronic but on good days tolerable. During flares...ummmm....not so much.

Kel

Chronic for me is not being able to work. I usually have a 3 hour window that I can accomplish stuff. 10 hours of laying down to reboot. This is everyday. Lot's of shifting pains.

I use Gabapentin as needed for sleep and for specific kinds of nerve pain. It's an interesting medication and I find that I can vary the dosages depending on the nerve pain I'm experiencing.

All I know is that with several serious illnesses, I feel like I'm dying all the time now. Is Fibro the one they claim is just a set of symptoms and not a REAL disease? How can something that makes us feel this bad NOT be REAL?

Of course, in my case I realize that I am being bombarded from several directions at once and am never sure which one is firing at me. Probably all of them.

Thanks everyone.

Fibromyalgia is a real disease. It was finally just assigned its own diagnostic code. Take care.

It took them long enough to finally assign a diagnostic code! Unfortunately it is chronic, some days much worse than others. The hardest thing for me is to stop being in denial and doing more than I should and then have to pay for it later.
Hugs GB

Gabapentin isn't a drug that should be taken "as needed." You should have been given a specific dosage and specific dosing intervals. The intervals and dosage can be adjusted based on your response to the medication, but it's not an "as needed" type of med.

Little do people know, nor do doctors mention it or realize that Gabapentin works wonderfully for ME, my daughter on an as needed basis or a rotating dosage basis. The problem is the longer you use this med, the more you'll require. I find it way more effective when used as needed. In my case I use it for sleep and or very specific nerve pain that I don't have on a daily basis. I can take anywhere from 300 - 900mg on any given day. Obviously everybody will experience the effects of this medication and any other medication differently.