What meds did you stop over the last month? Did any of them give you relief? My Rheumy had me try Neurontin, Lyrica and amytriptyline, which I had to stop because of side effects. She sent me back to my regular doctor to take over and we agreed that Norco/Vicodin was the only med I could tolerate and give me any relief. I am only given 1 pill a day, but it is a life saver. I am thankful to have some relief in my overly painful day, than have nothing at all, so I was wondering if you have been given any pain meds for relief?
I am on a handful of vitamins a day to try and help, but they have not done much for the pain. I would love a natural approach, but there is not a lot to choose from.

There's lots of vitamins to help boost energy naturally, but nothing quite helps the fatigue from FM, but there's not any prescriptions to help with fatigue either. Best thing for fatigue is the quality of sleep and then vitamins daytime for energy:
for sleep Melatonin, chamomile
for daytime energy: Bcomplex, D3, Fish Oil, Iron (if you're low in iron), D-Ribose, ATP, Glutathione (helps boost immune system), and NADH
Some people have some pain relief with massage, accupuncture, reflexology. Good luck and I hope something helps!

PegZo~ I sure can relate to what you're going through. I am off all meds right now too. I do feel better without them in the sense of not having the horrible side effects. However the pain and fatigue is full force without being on anything. I feel like I am just floating in limbo, trying to get through each day and cope with whatever is hurting at the time. It sure doesn't seem like being on nothing for the long term is going to be doable. However I currently do nothing other than topical stuff and heating pad. Which truthfully is NOT very helpful. I imagine at some point I will have had enough and will try with another med. I know I am making myself suffer more than I need to, but the meds that I've taken so far have scared me enough for me to feel like it's worth the suffering to not have those crazy side effects.

I sure hope you can find something to help that won't give you any trouble.


Take Care, Dawn

The natural approach is a very tricky one---naturals are not regulated----I do take a couple supps but they're reliable ones (tested in the European Union, which actually checks this tsuff now and then).... I also hate meds. I'd tell the rheumy flat-out what you told us, ask if there's an alternative route to all the pharmaceuticals, and ask for a referral as well. And get bloodwork while off meds so you have a baseline to work from in trying new treatments.

That said, yeah, the less medication I'm on the better I feel, too! Good luck!

Hi Pegzo. I follow the natural approach in the book, Healing Fibromyalgia, by Dr. Elderberg. It has helped me TREMENDOUSLY!! I have been using his approach, since about February of last year. I bought his book and was so intrigued by it, that I visited his clinic.

I only use integrative medical doctors because they are trained in conventional and natural medicine. I don't just get prescriptions thrown at me during my appointments. I get a plan of action designed to treat my entire body.

I am on a variety of supplements. The list is very long, so you ca. Message me if you'd like to know all of them. I also do aqua therapy in a heated pool 3-4x per week. After I'm done with aqua therapy I get into the hot tub. I use a lot of heat to relax my muscles and I even sleep with a heated blanket.

If you live in a state where medical marijuana is available, you may want to consider it. It works wonders for fibro pain.

Hey im with you i feel like we go through so many meds before we find the ones that work and we have to go through withdrawal side effects and just feeling yucky it sucks. Love Lisa

Im with Lisa.I take cymbalta ,another anti depressant too (now im zombie like) plus nauses,heart racing.Bp used to be 90-100 over 60/70 yes it was low but that was my wholelife(im little)now it went up to 125/85 which is normal.just not for me and the dry mouth.And the sweating.My Hopes r with this low dose naltrexone.I cant even think about if i dont get it or it doesnt work.

Ugh. I know. I hate having to live popping pills.

I do chi gung (all over youtube) and yoga. Lots of good raw food. It does as much as I can expect. GL

I definitely understand what you're saying. That's why I parted company with my rheumy....well, that plus he was a big fat jerk! He only wanted to go with the approved fibro meds, which I discovered did NOT agree with me. Too many doctors don't think outside the box.

So my answer has been to somehow treat each symptom, and (knock on wood) I don't have to deal with side effects. My doctor and I have continued trying things, until we hit upon the combination that fit me just right, or as close to right as we can get. I simply can not live my life in 24 hours of uncontrolled pain.

I really hope you find the answer for you.

Hi PegZo. I know how you feel about those nasty side effects. I've tried all of the meds recommended for fibro and couldn't tolerate any of them. I've been on Paxil for many years to control my panic disorder & agoraphobia. I take Flexeril (muscle relaxer) when the pain becomes unbearable but it makes me a bit spacey & druggy for about 12-16 hours after taking it. I have Hydrocodone that my rheumy gave me for my back (lumbar spondylolysis) and all over osteoarthritis and I can take two of those a day so I take them for my back AND my fibro. It takes the edge off. That's about it. I love to lay under my electric blanket during the cooler weather. It just feels so good on my muscles and joints. The only way I can handle the fatigue is to get some good sleep. It's weird that I can't sleep good at night but during the day I can sack out on the couch where hubby is watching TV and will sleep really sound for 3 or 4 hours. I wonder why? Sometimes I wonder if it's because there's noise and it keeps me from focusing on my pain.

Sorry to ramble on. I hope you can find a new rheumy or maybe your general practitioner can help. Until they find a definite cause for fibro, I don't believe there will be any pill that will handle all the symptoms of fibro. Good luck Peg!!!

Joy, you are sooo right about that blanket and heating pad. I used to have a body pad that I will replace before its too cold.

I can agree with you on this we go on and off so many meds and do have to deal with withdrawal and side effects non stop and i dont feel the drs care all the care about ok i gave her a pill now maybe she wont bother me again. Lisa

My meds keep me going. When I forget to take them on time, I suffer. Really, cannot abide more pain. I've had this illness for the last 30 years, and probably as a child, too. I use oxycodone 15 , 5 times a day. Without them I'm miserable and bedridden.

Find yourself a dr. you can trust and try again till you get the right pills for your pain. We shouldn't have to suffer without chemical help. That's what I think. Abby