Fibro/CFS with chronic active Epstein Barr

[TheLady1]

60 year old female here, diagnosed with chronic active EB about 20 years ago, then with Fibro/CFS shortly after.  Also a small touch of rheumatoid arthritis.  Even though I take 8 to 12 aspirin a day and have for several years  now, a doctor told me that my blood test results showed no aspirin in my body. He said that evidently it does no good for me to take it and gave me a prescription for Salsalate, which did absolutely nothing to help ease various pains.
I have googled for info on why a body taking so much aspirin would have negative results for it as far as the blood tests.

Have you ever heard of such a thing, and if so, why does that happen?

I cannot take any of the new cox pain killers and refuse to take anything addictive.

I do take half of a darvocetn100 ( I think is it's number ) about once every other month when the pains gang up or get to be just too much. I'll also take 2 "tokes" of plain --------- about once every three weeks when the going gets rough enough.

Otherwise I stick to the aspirin and sometimes alternate with acetaminophen or ibuprofen 800.

None of this really helps much but seems to be better than nothing.

Thank goodness for heating pads!!!

Why doesn't the aspirin show up in the tests?

[Phtartist]

I am in the same boat you are, only mine is for 13 years now.  My doc and I, just an hour ago went back in my chart and she explained everything to me.  

What hit me the most was when she pointed out that I have chronic active EBV still.  I have the antibodies, but when I get run down, like recently my IGM numbers go to 5.89. Not sick is 0.09.

Today I found I was CHRONIC.  That actually explains a lot.  I also have a touch of R arthritis but my CRP is normal.  I was diagnosed with FM within the first few years of EBV.

FM is not an illness that causes inflammation. RA is but no NSaids or tylenol or aspirin will help with it.

Ultram like VaBreeze said is an excellent option as long as you are not on a NDRI. The two together can affect your seizure threshold.

Listen to me, I am a recovering addict and alcoholic 13 years. I take Zydone and Soma. Zydone, no more than two a day helps immensely but do not drive. Soma is a muscle relaxer with pain reducers. It makes me tired, so I use it minimally.  

I mind myself and see that  is all I take, and that I am not taking it to change how I feel emotionally or for recreational purposes.

[VaBreeze]

I pray that since your doctor has stated the aspirin doesn't work, you will discontinue taking it.  Dosages that high, over a period of years, can cause ulcerations in your stomach lining.  It seems to be a good thing that it wasn't absorbed.  I agree with RobinHood and PlateletGal...it does seem to be an issue with malabsorption.  I have that problem with B-12.  For some reason my body will not absorb it the way it should, so I must take supplements.

There are other meds. that work for pain, which are not addictive.  Lyrica, Neurontin or Cymbalta; but they can have some side-effects (as most drugs do).  Ultram has a low potential for addiction and could get you past the break-thru pain.  It's best to work with your physician about what would be the most effective treatment plan for yourself.  It's also a good idea to let him know about any other forms of pain relief you seek, to insure it doesn't contradict with any other medications.

I'm sorry you are in so much pain.  I hope that you and your doctor can come up with a plan that will be of benefit to you.  I certainly can understand what you are going through and will keep you in my prayers.

Wishing you pain-free days ahead.

[PlateletGal]

I agree with RobinHood70. I also had an intolerance to gluten (but not Celiac disease) along with my CFS. When I started my treatment and met many other people with CFS online.... I found out that they too, had an intolerance to gluten ! My Immunologist who diagnosed me with an intolerance to gluten has a son with Celiac disease. He told me that many CFS patients do better on a gluten free diet and that they may not have Celiac disease, but they do have an intolerance and not allergy to wheat. We also don't tolerate alcohol well at all either.

I hope you will stick around and also check out our Health Pages.

[RobinHood70]

You'd probably be best off asking your doctor, but as a layman's guess (though I do have a bit of experience in the area), it could be some kind of malabsorption problem.  Essentially, your body isn't digesting things properly.  Depending on the nature of the problem, it could well be absorbing some things properly, but not others.

For myself, I have Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder that's much like an extremely sensitive allergy to wheat, rye, and barley.  Once I had eliminated all traces of those from my diet, my absorption of some medications like acetaminophen improved markedly.