Your story is very much like mine. I am a middle school teacher or was up until last April when I was in a car accident. Can't you go on disability or are you not tenured? I love teaching but every night I would come home in tears from the pain and do nothing else until the next morning when I forced myself to start the cycle all over again.

I've tried lots of meds with little success. I currently take oxycodone and oxycontin but sometimes they don't even work. If they took me off of them, I'm afraid I'd go insane from the pain. I've been off of work because of the car accident I was in, but honestly CAN NOT imagine going back to teaching. It is such a physical and emotional job (which most people are clueless of).

Besides having fibro, I also have depression and syringomyelia. This causes pockets to form around/near your spinal cord. These fill with cerebral spinal fluid and cause permanent damage to the spinal chord. In other words, more pain. It amazes me that we can transfer messages via optics around the world in seconds & send people to the moon but can't develop a pain killer that's not addictive!!

Don't give up!! For some unknown reason, God is giving us these trials and tribulations for a reason. I often question why, but I'm not sure what that answer is as of yet:) My thoughts and prayers are certainly with you.
Please feel free to "ramble" anytime! Everybody needs to vent or we'd all explode!!

I remember freaking out early in my dx. I was scared. What kind of life could I live. I had two small kids and a world full of pain and a hubby who was supportive, but didn't really get it.

I had a handful of mixed opinions from family and friends and I was just left there all alone.
I had gone through a few docs, the first one scared me off, the next didn't know what to do and tried a few specialists too. Nothing.
Finally I caught a break after a nervous breakdown, go figure, right? I found a doc who believed in fibro. She was gonna help me.
Then she up and moved for her dream job, which was awesome for her and I was happy for her, but that left me with zilch again.

I too wanted nothing more than to return to work after my kids were in school full time. This was my goal. I need adult interaction. Sure I have a few other things I could make a half living at, but nothing that would make me proud of what I wanted in life.

I'm good at doing hair. It's second nature to me, but with my DDD, arthritis in my spine and now knees, and fibro/fatigue and a whole slew of other crap, I know it's not something I can do full time.

So I took a good hard look at it. How can I twist this to doing something I love?
It was then I realized, after raising our two boys with autism/ adhd and sensory processing disorder that these kids need haircuts, but they can't just be expected to sit there like good kids. It's too hard on them. I now want to do hair for kids with special needs. I want to help them through hair therapy.

So you can't teach full time. What about Saturday tutoring? Or twice a week tutoring? Parents are paying $$$ for a good tutor these days.
Or what about writing out some curriculums and selling them on a site like teacherpayteachers.com? Or design some homeschooling stuff? You can do this when you're doing okay...then copywrite or watermark it and then post it?

Lots of parents want to homeschool their kids these days. For lots of reasons. You could help coach them through it. What about teaching from your computer? Is that a possibility?

The way how I see it, you could really spin your teaching degree in many ways.


As for coming off the meds. It's hard. It's scary. But I'm pretty much med free (except my anxiety meds for panic attacks). I learned to listen to my body and it's needs. I still live in pain...but it's not where I was 5yrs ago.

Hang in there hun....ask question as you go. You'll figure out your fibro rhythm.

Dear potter15 I exactly understand how you are feeling with going off the morphine ER If you are in such pain you should call your doctor to let them know how you feel.

I was put on Vicodin,methadone,liquid morphine,Fentanyl patches,Stadol. At this time I was in the care of hope hospice and they just wanted to shut me up. They almost killed me twice with some of the other meds that I was on also. I was on all of these meds at the same time. They stop coming to my house and giving me the meds. They gave me a one month supply. I went to pain management Doctor and I showed him all the meds that I was on and he said I had more meds then a patient with cancer. The doctor said he was going to take me off the meds by lowering the dosages weekly.

I called the doctor to find out when he wanted me to start lowering the meds and he never called me back. I called my GP and did not want to get involved because it was a pain problem.

I had to stop taking all the meds at the same time and withdrawal was horrible thank god I had my fiancee to help me get through it. It took me months to get the meds out of my system. It took me about a year to start feeling like myself again. When I go to the doctor I tell them that I do not narcotics. I mean if you have a broken arm or something like that then it is ok but not for long term.

If you need someone to talk to you can send me a message

I am sending you lots of gentle hugs
Denise

Was the pain medicine effective? Ask your Drs how many fibro patients were in this study. It sickens me to hear about Drs just deciding to take someones meds away based on these so called "STUDIES" that probably have none or very little fibro patients in it.. I am sorry you have to go through that.

Were I live Drs wont give pain meds for fibro even at the pain clinics. My medical Dr will prescribe pain meds for other things though like bursitis, severe flare of costochondritis, and now I have a pinched nerve in my neck.

I myself am mostly a shut in. I have been wanting to get back to pool therapy but my health has not allowed that for a long time - one thing after another. Have you tried pool therapy?

Sorry you are struggling right now.

The research shows that this is a problem in a very small number of patients, and the first sign is that the pain medication becomes ineffective. Not that you need gradually more over time, that can happen to anyone, but that it just stops working.

It's not something to worry about unless and until it happens, but doctors are using it as yet another reason to deny pain medication to people in pain.

I hope you can find a career you enjoy that isnt too hard on you.

Wishing you the best

I really HATE IT with a passion when doctors tell me I don't need pain medicine. I am currently taking Morphine and Percocet for break through pain. I honestly don't think I could have any kind of life without it. When I say that a lot of people say "well you are just addicted". After 4 years of taking them.....maybe I am...but I am also in pain all day everyday and it does make getting up and doing things a hell of a lot easier. Without them I can't get myself out of bed. No one should be able to tell another person what kind of pain the other person is in. I had to basically "doctor shop" until I could find someone to help me...but thank God I finally did because the pain was literally driving me insane. I would call the doctors office and tell them you are in pain and that you can't handle it. No one should have to sit and suffer.

yeah what peace said

I agree with Ir4972....this makes me so mad that doctors would do this to a person! I think you should call your doctor, tell him what you're going through, and ask if he'll keep you on what is working. If he won't change his mind, then I think you should look for another doctor.

Bless your heart, Melanie....I'm praying that this all works out for you. You should not have to suffer in pain, when the medicine you were on was helping you. That just makes no sense to me!

I also like Wonderwoman's ideas for a job. There should be another avenue for you to use your teaching skills. Maybe call your board of education and ask them. What about teaching homebound students? They might have some suggestions for you.

Best of luck! We're all on your side. Please keep us posted about what your doctor says.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Aw, bless your heart, Melanie. It is good that you came here and turned to people that understand... people that you can share with because we get it. I've been here for almost 3 years and I am always thankful when I read posts which show me that I am not the only one...that there are others that describe exactly what I am feeling or perceiving.

This illness is very difficult to accept and deal with. It changes our lives completely and we must learn a new way to live because no matter how much we want the old way, our bodies just won't allow it. So, coming here and sharing is good; finding a doctor that works with you and understands fibro is really important; and hopefully you have supportive family and/or friends. Beyond that, finding what you enjoy doing and then seeing if there is a modified version of doing it, as Wonder suggested. She listed some really, good ideas, and I don't really have any more to add, but my support.

Gentle hugs. Never worry about rambling, which you did not even do :) We all need to just 'let it out' somewhere safe sometimes.

I want to write a more in-depth reply but the fibro fatigue is whippin my a** right now!!! i'm ready to head to bed and its not even 9pm yet. I hate when it's like this, darn fibro.

anyway, i wanted to extend my empathy, hugs, and compassion.

i am a high school Guidance Counselor (formerly a teacher) and the requirements of my job were tolerable before fibro... but this past year as i became sick, work became extremely challenging. i was treated as if i had myasthenia gravis for months... until the neurologist figured out i don't have MG. i don't have anything neurological. i have fibro. it took 6 months of pain and sever weakness, 3 hospitalizations to get to that dx... anyway, back to the topic of working in education with fibro. i am continuing to work for now, because i am the only one and have no one here to rely on for income, help, etc. i met someone amazing in another country where it is warm and so much easier on my fibro. i just got engaged... and so i've decided to move there and pursue entirely different career options. i will be owning a particular business down there so that i don't have to be hands on, deal with daily stress etc. i DO love when i am able to work with at-risk and troubled teens... so i plan on opening a community center where i can offer counseling services, and the like. this will fulfill my own desires career-wise to help others BUT w/o the crazy computer-time, paperwork, stress, etc, admin, etc, that a school-based job maintains. i am truly looking fwd to living in the Caribbean where it's warm and inviting. Embracing a lifestyle that will minimize my pain/fatigue/stress, and maximize my quality time LIVING LIFE. I may be slowed down from Fibro, i may be in pain more of the time then not--- but i am still WORTH IT. i am STILL able to find new ways to fulfill myself and experience joy and quality life.

i hope you are able to find the same peace as you figure out new career paths for you... others already posted some great ideas. Have you thought about seeing a Vocational Counselor? They could help you assess yourself and determine the best career options for you based on your education, skills, interests, abilities, experience AND your limitations due to the disabling/handicapping nature of fibro. It's something that might help you greatly. I happen to be experienced in career/college counseling which is why I am thinking this way... In the meantime check out these two websites. I have used them with children, teens and adults. One website you can look up on google: O*NET. the other website just create a profile as if you are in 12th grade so you can make use of all the features and free assessments/searches, etc. Go to: nycareerzone.org. IF you have more questions or would like some help brainstorming, feel free to inbox me on here.

i wish you all the best of luck in finding your way. as many have said, we really are in this together. this is a support group... and why are we here if we can not give/receive support when needed? You have all of my support and understanding as I too learn how to manage this Fibro... God bless.

*Aimee*

thank you everyone for your kind words and replies. I will be looking into some of the ideas you all have given me. Your support and encouragement mean so so much to me thank you.

Is anyone a small business owner? If so, how did you get started and how is it to handle with the fibro?

Thanks again everyone. Love and gentle hugs to all of you.
Melanie

Hi. Please keep us posted on your results. After 3 years of pain and exhaustion from it, I finally started on Morphine SR. My friend who has had Fibro for 12 years has been on Morph for 10.

I cant imagine a day when I would have to stop it. I can get off the couch most days now as I am not disabled by constant pain.

Did they put you on Methadone first? If they made me come off Morph that is what I would ask for. Many people are on it long term for pain and drug addiction.
Good luck :)

Melanie, I so understand what you are going through. I have lost my career as an ultrasound tech this past year and I am wondering what it is I can do? I am trying to find a new career but the flare up I am in is not going away and I usually only last around 3 hours before I must lay down again and that is on a good today. A day like today with the bad weather being up for an hour will be a challenge. As for medications I am allergic to all opioids so I am not sure what it must feel like for you, but I will send you my prayers.

I do try to stay in the moment. I know it sounds lame but on days like today where I wake up at 3am from pain and then try to go back to sleep by staying in the moment I can at least have moments where pain is not my only focus.

I wish I could tell you why this is happening to all of us, but I know we are divine creatures and are so much stronger then we even know. I realize the next 4-6 weeks will be difficult but perhaps the doctors are right and in the long run your pain will be less.

Try to find a positive each day and we are here for you, feel free to ramble, I know I have and I am grateful for the DS family.

Can your doctor switch you bak and forth between 2 narcotics?
For example, my doc will put me on 1 year of Tylenol Codeine and then a year of tramadol. And she keeps switching each year between the 2 so my body has a break between the 2 meds.

Can your doctor do something like that for you with your narcotics instead of having you go it with out ANYTHING?