finally diagnosed and just wondering

i have finally been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, i go to a specialist in my area on the 18 he actually has fibromyalgia himself....which makes me feel a little better bc i feel as if maybe he will understand what i am going through a little better than other doctors might...there is a big difference from studying it and doing test rather than actually dealing with it every day....i was wondering what treatments you all have tried and how they have worked for you..... i just want to be my old self again.... i'm sure many of you understand that....so i would love to hear what you have tried and what you are currently doing or taking

thank you

zoe

[zoe00]

i would really, really love to hear what you all have tried for you fibromyalgia or what your doctor has prescribed you.... i am willing to try anything at this point... i want my life back.... or as close as possible...has anyone tried lyrica?

[lynxgal]

Hello Zoe,

I was diagnosed in January.  It's great you will be seeing a doctor that has Fibro maybe they will be more understanding.  The only med I am on is Flexeril for muscle spasms on an as needed basis.  My Rheumy diagnosed me and gave me ideas on how to cope without prescription meds.  Using heating pads for muscle pain, water exercises etc.  She also advised me to take calcium and vit D supplements on top of my one a day vitamin.  I use advil and tylenol to help with pain (it doesn't really help much though) and then my primary gave me an rx for tylenol #3 to try on an as needed basis.  The tylenol #3 upsets my stomach so I avoid it unless my pain is over the top.  I would love to have my life back they way it was before all of this started.  :)  Good luck to you on the 18th!

[dustybrown]

Hello zoe00,
It's always nice to be seen by someone who knows what it's like to be in pain. My Rheumatologist has Rheumatoid Arthritis as well, so she knows what it's like to be in pain, so she treats me better than any other doctor I've seen. I have FM and OA.  Unfortunately, because I don't have it as bad as her (meaning the RA), I sometimes think she minimizes my pain just a little. You may actually be in a better position that I am, but anything is better that a doctor who just reads about what pain is "like."  I have been on Lyrica and it is VERY helpful, but it caused me to gain weight. Some people do not gain, and some people need to gain weight, but this is something you should discuss with your doctor on the 18th. Come back and let us know how things go. Good luck.
-Dusty

[zoe00]

i am vitamin d deficient.... are you?  that is the ONLY thing that came back in my testing.... which i hate, you know?  bc sometimes my family and hubby look at me like i am nutz and all i want is 4 them to understand.... even my own family doctor told me all i needed was to lose weight and then scheduled to see me in 3 months!! so i made the appointment for the rheumatologist.....who said i had fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety...he said the depression and anxiety come from the fibromyalgia.....and then i did research and found this doctor here who has fibromyalgia and then i had to call my family doctor 5 days straight 4-5 times a day just to get him to send over a referel.... which is just making a phone call! it took them 5 days to call and talk to them?!?!?! i feel like i've fought everyone and i am praying to god this doctor will really, reallly help me... i am sorry that the tylenol#3 upsets your stomache...i am on lortab 10/5 which is vicodin and parafon forte 500 muscle relaxerwhich is for my disc degeneration and i have arthritis in my lower back....then my neck is messed up but nobody has been able to tell me exactly what is wrong they just say the muscles must be somehow messed up.....it does help my arms and legs and the rest of my body a little but it only last for 2 - 3 hours if i am not have a bad day.... and the night is the worst for me... i dread it somedays.... thank you so much for answering me.... i will pray for you...i wish you  more good days than bad

[zoe00]

i have been praying that this doctor will treat me right bc he has fms... most doctors just do not seem to really understand....its like i told my dad its not funny, its not a joke, somedays i feel as if i am living through my own personal hell... seriously... i know there are ppl out there who fake evidently... but just bc they do, don't blame everyone and treat everyone like they are fakers..... thats not right....and that is exactly what my current pain management doctor did...
anyway i am sorry your doctor minimizes your pain bc from what i have read everyones pain is different and she can not judge your pain from what she goes through.... she is not you and can not feel what you feel.... she should understand what you are going through bc of what she has and that should make her want to help u even more...
that is what worries me about lyrica... i really don't want to gain weight... i am not obese but i have been in my life... and i really don't want to go back there.... i will pray for you...i try to make a prayer for all of us... nobody deserves to suffer the way a lot of ppl do on here.... i wish you more good days than bad days....

zoe

[dustybrown]

Thanks...I am sure your new doctor will be willing to work with you if Lyrica isn't the right option for you. There are many other sister meds in that family (anti-seizure medications). I take Topamax which is another anti-seizure med and it seems to help me and it comes with the added benefit of weight loss for some people. Just keep an open mind and make sure to talk out all of your concerns and issues with your new doctor. Keep us posted. :)
-Dusty