What are some OTC meds that really help w/fibro symptoms?!?!?!?!

Hi. I have not been diagnosed with FMS as of yet. I do not have health insurance, and can not afford expensive Dr. visits. I have done A LOT of research though, and truly believe this is what is wrong with me.
I have constant pain, and numbness and what feels like swelling, too. I take Tylenol like it's candy (which I'm sure can't be healthy). I tried Advil and Aspirin and neither of them helped me at all. The Tylenol isn't even doing what it used to.
I'm wondering if anyone here has found an OTC that REALLY works. I also don't like all of the side effects of Rx meds either. I am running out of ideas (and well known meds, too LOL)
If anyone has any ideas ie. home remedies, new meds I forgot about etc... anything at all, please help me. I have been suffering with these symptoms for over 6 months now with little to no relief.

Also, is it common to have sinus problems, too? I have the WORST sinuses of anyone I know, and can't seem to find anything that helps them either. I have tried Claritin D, Tylenol allergy sinus headache, Nasonex, Afrin, Psuedofed and others I can't remember. I haven't tried any antihistamines yet because I don't like to take things that cause drowsiness. But I will if anyone has any ideas.

Thanks for any and all help you all can give me. I really apprecaite it, and look forward to reading your replies.

Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to everyone!

[blackrose]

HELLO,I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FIBROMYALGIA IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.I TOO WOULD ALL SO TAKE TYLENOL LIKE CANDY.THERE ARE NO OTC MEDS THAT WILL HELP,WITH FIBRO.YOU SAID YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE,WHICH IS REALLY HARD FOR ANY ONE WITH A CHRONIC SYNDROME,THAT CAN'T AFFORD GOING TO THE DOCTOR.YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO TAKE ANY MORE TYLENOL FOR ANY TYPE OF PAIN,BECAUSE YOUR BODY STARTS TO HAVE A REJECTION TO IT,AND CAN ALL SO MAKE YOUR PAIN WORSE,DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL I WAS TOLD BY MY DOCTOR.SNESE YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE RIGHT NOW,YOU CAN TRY HOME REMEDIES,LIKE GREEN TEA,THE REAL GREEN TEA NOT THE ONE IN A BOTTLE,ALL SO FIND SOME GOOD VITAMINS THAT HAS A LOT OF PROTIEN IN THEM,FOR MUSCLES,ALL SO EAT ONE HIGH PROTIEN MEAL A DAY.AVOID CAFFINE ALL SO.DO YOU HAVE AN ELECTRIC BLANKET?IF YOU DO,USE IT TO WARM YOUR BODY.IN THE WINTER TIME YOU WILL HAVE MORE ACHES,AND MORE STIFFNESS,TRY TO EXERCISE,DO STRETCHES FIRST,SO THAT YOUR MUSCLES WANT DRAW UP,IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE COLD,WALK AROUND IN YOUR HOUSE FOR TEN MINUTES A DAY,TWO TIMES A DAY.KEEP YOUR BODY WARM,DON'T WEAR CLOTHES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ALL BOUND UP,WEAR LOSE PANTS,LIKE JOGGING PANTS,OR OTHER LOSE CLOTHING.WHEN YOU HAVE TO DRESS NEAT LOOKING,AND CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE,CHANGE AS SOON AS YOU CAN WHEN YOU ARRIVE BACK HOME.TYLENOL ARTHRITIS WOULD OF BEEN GOOD FOR YOU TAKE,BUT YOU HAVE ALL READY TAKEN TO MUCH TYLENOL.I WILL THINK OF SOMETHING FOR YOU TAKE,I WILL DO SOME RESEARCH AND GET BACK TO YOU.IN THE MEAN TIME I AM SURE PEOPLE WILL POST WITH MORE ADVICE,WE WILL ALL HELP YOU THROUGH THIS HANG IN THERE.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF,STAY WARM.BLACKROSE.

[blackrose]

HELLO AGAIN,YOU HAVE ALL READY TAKEN TYLENOL,AND IT IS NOT HELPING ANY MORE,THAT WAS THE FIRST CHOICE AND ONLY CHOICE TO USE,A LONG WITH ADVIL OR MOTRIN THEY HAVE IBUPROFEN IN THEM.THERE AREN'T ANY MORE OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES FOR YOU TO TAKE.YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE A DOCTOR.I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE,BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO SEE A DOCTOR.HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.CAN YOU POSSIBLY SEE YOUR DOCTOR AND WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN,UNTIL YOU CAN GET HEALTH INSURANCE?THERE IS A DRUG CALLED CYMBALTA,IT IS AN ANTIDEPRESSNANT,BUT ALL SO HELPS WITH FIBROMYALGIA PAIN,IT DOESN'T TAKE IT ALL AWAY,BUT LESSENS THE PAIN TO MAKE IT MORE TOLERABLE.THAT IS WHAT I TAKE,I ALL SO TAKE TARAZODONE TO HELP ME SLEEP AT NIGHT,IT IS ALL SO FOR FIBROMYLGIA (fibromyalgia).IS THERE A LIFE SKILLS OR DEPRESSION CLINIC YOU CAN GO TO?YOU NEED TO FIND SOME HELP,THAT IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE YOU HAVE.LIKE I SAID IN MY OTHER POST,EXERCISE,WITH DOING STRETCHING FIRST START OUT SLOW,THEN GRADUALLY BUILD UP.DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS?SUCH AS LEG WEAKNESS,ARMS BEING WEAK,HEADACHES LIKE A MIGRANE (migraine)?TRY TO FIND A DOCTOR TOMORROW SWEETY,I KNOW IT IS DIFFICULT IN THIS LIFE,BUT YOU MUST PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST.HOW OLD ARE YOU?DO YOU HAVE A DOCTOR,LIKE A FAMILY DOCTOR?IS THERE A FREE HEALTH CLINIC WHERE YOU LIEVE?I KNOW THAT FREE HEALTH CLINICS CAN'T DO THAT MUCH BUT AT LEAST IT IS A START.LET ME KNOW IF THEER IS ANY THING ELSE YOU NEED.I AM SO SORRY YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS.REMEMBER TO KEEP WARM AND TO NOT WEAR BINDING CLOTHING.TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF.HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR,SWEETY.BLACKROSE

[La_Snagalanchera]

YOUR CAPS LOCK IS ON!

[newyork1976]

Thank you for getting back to me.
I appreciate your help and advice. You said that you are currently taking Cymbalta. Can you tell me what kinds of side effects it has for you? I was prescribed Zoloft a few years back, and stopped taking it immediately as I did not like the way it made me feel.
There is a health clinic here, and I do have an appointment this coming Tuesday night, but the care there is what you would expect from a clinic- not so good. But I am at my wit's end with the pain and discomfort and am willing to try it.
Do you by chance have any problems with your sinuses? I have read that many FMS sufferers have them. I myself have some of the WORST sinuses of anyone I have ever known. It feels like I have a sinus infection practically 24/7 on and off for the last 7 years, and getting worse now. And now, it is starting to affect my ears too. I read about it here--
www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org
I also get the nausea, the pain that comes and goes, weakness, fatigue sometimes and acid reflux everyday, which is also caused by FMS so I hear.
Do you have an info or have you seen anything about the cause of this? I have read many things, and have seen that it may be a neurological disorder, or possibly caused by a virus that takes hold in you. Just wondering if you have heard or seen anything different.
Overall, I'm going to have to bite the bullet, save some money and see a Rheumatologist, and take the proper medications. It's just that even after all of that time and money, I'm still severly sensitive to the meds, which is why I take so much of this OTC ****. But, we'll see what happens and if anybody has any more useful info, don't hesiate to post!
Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to you too!!!!!

[PlateletGal]

D-Ribose is a supplement that can be purchased online or at a health food store. The results of a recent research study to find out whether or not D-Ribose helps CFS & Fibromyalgia symptoms found that D-Ribose helped with energy level, sleep, mental clarity, pain intensity and well-being.

I would also highly recommend a B-Complex vitamin, magnesium (I buy the powered form)and Guaifenesin (Mucinex). Walgreens now sells a generic form of Mucinex... highly recommended for CFS & fibromyalgia patients'.

[pertykitty]

i know some of you will frown, but massage helps TREMENDOUSLY with fibro. i have clients i see on a regular basis and it helps them so much. same with my other therapists i work with. massage isnt a cure, but it can reduce your pain for a short time and help you to feel better. i have read about a cream that is to work, but i have no experience knowing. its called emu cream. its supposed to be a miracle thing, which we all know most miracles arent that at all. its worth a try if you  can afford it.if you do decide to try massage therapy, make sure the therapist has enough education, has treated clients for this prior, you dont want someone to try, but not know what they are doing!! i wish you all the best of luck!

[PlateletGal]

I think massage helps with any condition... even if you don't have health issues. ;^)

[revenire____]

My wife has back surgery, then came the fibro, she was on Percocet.

[revenire____]

I'd be careful of the Tylenol too. Anything over 4 grams (4000mg) a day is bad for your liver.

[jenissi]

It

[pertykitty]

traci we dont sell our products here. it is against the rules to use medhelp for profit and shame on you for doing so!!

[revenire____]

Yeah, we get this at the Hepatitis Forum too and it isn't cool. People are sick and we don't need a sales pitch.

[everhopeful12]

Save your money - don't bother buying OTC pain relievers like Tyelonol. they just don't work with FM.
Massage is effective because it breaks up the substance P that keeps those aches and pains bound up in your connective tissue -- ask very specifically for deep tissue/ connective tissue/ myofacial massage. Do NOT get that wimpy Swedish relaxation massage!  Also I recommend buying the biggest heating pad you can find (sometimes medical supply stores carry the big 2 foot by 3 foot ones) - worth every penny. I wear mine like a cape around the office!
Don't give up. I agree that going to see a rheumotologist will be worth saving $ for. Also, assuming you are in the U.S., you can get free health insurance through Medicaid, and free health care through community health clinics.