Fibro for Dummies is an excellent resource. Available from Amazon.

Men get fibro, so don't stress on that. There are some support groups just for men with fibro online, I think.

I don't like the "new" FDA approved fibro meds, like Cymbalta (pregabalin) an anti-epilepsy drug used for pain. But some people get relief. Then there's Savella (an anti-depressant) also used for pain. And others.

Many drugs have side effects that aren't tolerated. But try to give a new drug a decent trial if you can. Keep talking to your doctor about how you're doing with a new med.

Me: I use baclofen, a muscle relaxant that doesn't have a lot of side effects for me. But EVERYONE is DIFFERENT! I also use a low dose of methadone 2.5 mg twice a day. But docs are tending away from using opioids (narcotics) these days. But if nothing else works, they are worth a try.

Pain needs to be treated and sleep issues need to be treated.

Alternative treatments are a good idea if they help you.

Get the Dummies book and see what you'd like to try. I always told my doc what I wanted and he said, sure, you can try a drug and see if it helps you.

Be ready for trying different drugs before you find a useful combination of meds for pain and sleep. The meds won't take away all the pain, you'll have to modify your lifestyle. That is the hard part.

Keep posting and welcome!

Welcome to the group!

Only about 20% of men get Fibromyalgia (FMS) as opposed to us lucky women.

I agree with Shakota about purchasing " Fibromyalgia for Dummies." Good book and our go to reference on this board.

A key point to remember is that the longer a chronic pain cycle continues, the harder it becomes to manage or stop. Only certain classes of prescribed medications are effective for the type of pain caused by FMS. Tylenol and OTC meds in general are not usually effective. Chronic pain can cause cognitive difficulties too. It is really important to get a treatment plan formulated and started. You should also have a sleep study done.

FMS pain can move around and affect different parts of the body on different days and vary in intensity. I describe it as having a really bad case of the flu coupled with the after effects of a strenuous gym work out. This is a very complex illness.

None of us want to take medication. It comes down to maintaining some quality of life. I'd rather dutifully take my meds everyday than be the hot mess that I was when I was first diagnosed.

If you are interested, we have a morning check in everyday hosted by the indomitable Leo. Jump right in or lurk. Whatever suits your fancy. Take care and keep in touch.

I have a hard time in the shower, the facecloth hurts my skin and washing my hair hurts so bad! When my dog wants attention, she claws at my legs which causes pain. Doing almost anything hurts. I was put on Lyrica and I started gaining weight. I didn't need that! So, I'm on nothing for the FMS. I take Ambien and Trazadone for sleep, they work pretty well, but I tend to sleep in late. I also stay up late. I tore my rotator cuff and going through PT is rough due to the FMS. I do take Cymbalta for bipolar disorder and I see here that some ppl take it for FMS. It sure doesn't help me in that respect. Works on the bipolar and the PTSD and the depression. I take 6 meds right now which is not many, but they help. I will look at Fibro for Dummies, thank you, Shakota6 for mentioning it. God's blessings on all of you who have this painful illness.

Hugs

Well from what I've understood, it can affect pretty much everything. Back, legs, arms, abdomen, head. You name it. The doctor who diagnosed me said it also affects your dopamine and seratonin levels making them looooow.

Neck, back, hips, arms, and legs are more common in men. I'm a recently diagnoses male as well. I also have severe foot pain. The intesity of the pain "meanders" around these areas. I don't suffer from the severe fatigue/flu like symptoms many women describe, although I do have times where I don't want to do much, and feel like I have a cold.

I let things go for over 5 years before searching for treatment. It was not a good idea. However, I have had success with Cymbalta which is an SSNRI not an anti-epilepsy drug. It massively reduced my foot pain.

Phys. therapy and exercise I find are important and need to be done. Besides mitigating some pains, it helps me get better sleep. And I sleep poorly.

Hope that helps.

I'll reiterate "Fibro for Dummies"!!!!

Cymbalta is actually also an anti-depressant as well, and like many of the drugs they try for us with Fibro, it's more or less "ummm.... well, sometimes it works so okay?" I've had this 20 years, and I'm a classic case of "Try, try again" and "Trial and error".

Do not fear your doctors. They work for you.
Keep journals and records of your own, and get copies of your medical records, because if you live where I do, the two main hospital systems don't talk to each other. *grrr* Be your own advocate.
Men get fibro, we've several gentlemen here, and the old "it's a girl disease" stigma is ridiculous. So let that one slide.

I try to focus on good baseline health (diet, exercise, the standards) and I go gently, and have tried with some success acupressure, acupuncture, massage, yoga (loved it), warm water therapy... Quite a lot. Meds generally aren't too helpful for me, as I *have* epilepsy and that severely limits my pharma options.

Welcome to the board, and ask anything, feel free to drop in on morning check-ins, whatever you need from vents onward.

Thank you all for your replys..Guess I'm in denial about having it. What does all your pain feel like? I also have like baf circulation it feels.like...do you hands and feet go.numb very easily? I get shaky and.light headed at times. It feels like the need to stretch my.legs. and I put.muscle cream.on my arms to help with the pain currently. I will definitely look.into that book, it's worth a shot. I'll try physical therapy just to.see if that will.help.. find it crazy in today's day in age we don't know.more about this.condition and have no cure or even a way to.manage it better...thanks to.everyone for.their.feedback! !

My pain can feel like many different things. I have zingy, burning feelings in wrists, hands, ankles and feet (peripheral neuropathy). I have stiffness, numbness, tingling in wrists, hands, ankles, feet. I used to get violent muscle spasms in my legs and arms but 25mg amitryptaline at bedtime has solved that problem :) I get achy sort of like the flu feelings or spasm/tightness feelings in my muscles. I also get what I say is my rubber bands are too tight. It feels like my tendons or ligaments are tight/stretched out. This is tendonopathy. Check to see if there is a chronic pain center or fibro center near you. I go to one and it is almost as if I am 'cured'. I get Myers Cocktail IVs, massage, TENS, dry needling, gentle chiropractic, supplements that target what my body is low in or can't process properly, people who actually KNOW what is going on, and trigger point injections.

I get the same type of pain as trainerjill described. For me the pain started in my feet after having a hysterectomy for endometriosis. The foot pain was worse than the pain from surgery and started about 4-5 days after. I was diagnosed 15 years ago with a metatarsal neuroma so when I went to complain to my doctor they just sent me back to the podiatrist. When I described my pain (feeling like my feet were swollen and would explode under my weight, numbness, tingling &aching) he thought I was pre-diabetic even though my feet were not swollen and sent me to an endocrionologist. She ruled out diabetes but thought my meds should be adjusted for my Hashimotos and sent me on my way too. Well after years of the pain moving, coming and going, morphing and all kinds of doctors and specialist I was finally diagnosed with fibro. I didn't believe in it at first either but joining this group and reading other peoples stories I guess I am one of you too :(
I also learned if you get diagnosed with one auto immune disease more than likely you have several or will someday develop more. As for my meds I take cymbalta, Pamelor and norco. My pain can feel like I have arthritis and cant hold heavy items or use my hands for long. I've had feelings in my whole body like I cant even stand up for more than a minute or two. Some days I would have to just lay down every 10 -20 minutes between my mom duties. I too would get light headed & shaky out of the blue. The worse pain for me is when my neck hurts so bad I can barley hold my head up. Some days every single thing including my tongue & skin hurts. I haven't had those days in a while, thank God! Not sure if it's the constant taking care of myself, excerise, yoga, diet and supplements along with the meds I'm on or what. Good luck to you in finding the right Dr, meds and anything else that helps.