Oh Karen,
How true this is. I too live in an 80 year old body when i am only 46, but that is when hope comes in to play " I have many more years so i might the two might meet and some form of normal will come back"
Too afraid to get that electric wheel chair, because then the 80 year old body is reality.
I think that it is hard for most people to believe that one could feel this way, except your parents who are really the only ones except those who are in the same condition whom understand. Then again the look on their face when you explain this to them is just so sad who wants to talk about with them again and give them "our" burden.
I am glad that all these studies are being done and I am glad that well at least mine primary care dr has said the same thing to me, "your the youngest old person i know".
Now if the medical regulation commitees against pain management could understand this, then they would know that these 80 year old body's are not abusing their pain medication and running around having a good time. And we are the ones that have to live with the pain for another 40 or so years, yippie. she said sarcasticly.
Thanks for the info Karen you are appreciated for all the work you do!
Lisa
Your article, as all of your's do to me, made tears run down my face as I read the data of all Fibromyalgia patients ailments, their feelings and difficulties as an 80 year old woman. I was so sad because I too feel all of these same feelings and have all had all of the same difficulties. I'm only 44, and I have already been feeling this way since I was 34 years old, in 1998. It's unbearable now. I can't imagine how I'm going to feel if I grow old in years. The thought of turning 45 seems like it is going to take 10 years to get there.
The person who wrote their story before mine, shared with us the helpfulness she has been given her by her parents. I too have relied on my parents solely until this last February when I got married. I had met this guy online who had several of the same issues I had. We hit it off right from the start, and 10 months later, we got married. We both have never been more happy together. We are both caring, respectful, kind humans, and pick each other up when one of us has a down day. there is nothing we both wouldn't do for anyone. Absolute Bliss. Except now, my Father has disowned me because he doesn't like my new husband.
I feel so left alone now, and am so saddened to have lost their support. I wish they could be happy for me. I know that is all I want of my own 16 year old son. There is nothing I wouldn't do for my own child. My parents could do one thing for me to give me the will to live. But they won't. It would be of no hardship to them to help me out. I'm not going to say what, but they know what it is. I'm so thankful for everything they have done for me. I don't know why they would think I wouldn't be any less appreciative of them. I don't know why they won't help me out know, when I need it the most. I hope all of you recieve a tenth of what I have received from my parents. I wish you all well, and to be as positive with each day you have left. Stacey
Boy oh boy, can I relate to this. Some days are so bad that it feels as if there's a toothache in my whole body. My legs are the worst - but I also have the mental lapses fibrofog brings and the uncoordination. Perhaps the hardest thing is getting people to understand that I'm not just plain lazy - after all I don't look sick.
I have come to terms with having fibro, I was diagnosed over 20 years ago. And I try to take each day "one day at a time". But, it really makes it hard when every symptom I have is not visible to the naked eye. I am thought of as either "lazy" or "in the first stages of alzheimer's". Just because I have difficulty with even the littlest task...or very forgetfull due to the fibro-fog. I hate trying to explain the whole thing to people because alot of them either don't believe in the disease...or...think that I am just whining. It just makes dealing with the fibro and making it through each day alot more difficult.
i can defintly relate im 36 and some days i cant even move im always very stiff my body feels like i cant do things ive used to do, when i go shopping with my husband i cant keep up anymore , doing house work for me used to be me being a fanatic with cleaning now i barely can do cleaning with out being in pain its almost like i cant push my body it wont let me.
Hello FM sufferers,
My gosh! I had been bedridden for nearly five years with this stuff. I indeed felt like I was 80 years old or older. It has been a chronic pain and fatigue nightmare. I started doing a lot of research on these syndromes and I have found that my biggest enemy was the food I was eating. I had aquired a lot of food sensitivities/allergies over the years. I found that I have "leaky gut" a problem that is caused by tears in the intestine which allows undigested foods to enter the blood stream and causing toxins. The liver can only work on so many toxins at one time and had become so inundated with toxins that it began storing the toxins it couldn't handle into fat cells which, in turn, caused me to gain weight. I went to my local health food store and asked to speak with someone who knew a great deal about their products and also was up on diseases/syndromes. The woman led me to a product called "IntestiNEW". I've been using it for about a month now and I have noticed a great improvement in my daily life. I also take "Wobenzym R" which is a probiotic. The intestine and colon become clogged especially after taking narcotic pain killers for years. The best thing to do is to do a colon cleanse once a week. I couldn't believe the amount of very, very old stool that was attached to the sides of my intestines which was continually making me ill! Taking "Ulitmate Flora Critical Care" is a must. It replenishes the flora that have been killed off by old stool; it aids in digestion and keeps the intestine/colon healthy. Essential enzymes is another must. I recommend FM patients to buy a book on leaky gut to find out themselves how it affects their health. Finding that I had sensitivities to wheat, corn, coffee, tea, chocolate, cod fish and many other foods was enlightening and by avoiding them, I found that I would feel better! No, leaky gut isn't the only cause of FM but, I'm here to tell you that it plays a major role. Most FM patients also have a herpes virus of some type. I had mononucleosis as a child and now as an adult, it has become the Epstein-Bar virus. I take Valtrex daily to help with that. At any rate, after lying in bed in screaming pain for nearly five years, I have become healthier, full of energy and am able to not only handle the daily tasks of a homemaker but, I also volunteer at our church working 2 to 3 days a week. I wish you all the best. God Bless and here's to your good health and happy future.
I feeling like I am on a treadmill going uphill because I never get anything done. A 1 hour shopping trip can wipe me out for 2 days, weather changes make the pain go from background static to crescendo levels, and stress = agony. I want to do things, but if the fatigue and pain aren't primary, along comes ye olde fibro fog. I literally can't remember what I'm supposed to be doing!
And just a few words to Ms Colon Leak. If enemas were a wonder cure, there wouldn't have been any disease since the Middle Ages. The only thing those high enemas and strong laxatives do for you is make you dependent on them for any bowel function. They are just like cocaine, the more you use it, the more you need it! If your colon truly were "leaking" you were be suffering from a potentially life-threatening infection called peritonitis. Colon cleansing has been known to cause bowel perforation leading to peritonitis.
MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED LYRICA FOR MY FIBROMYALGIA PAIN AND THE ONLY THING IT DID FOR ME WAS MAKE ME GAIN WEIGHT,WHICH IS ONE OF THE COMMON SIDE EFFECTS. IM ON METHADONE FOR THE PAIN NOW. DOES ANYONE KNOW ANY OTHER PAIN MEDICATIONS THAT WOULD GIVE ME RELIEF FROM THE PAIN
Initially upon fibro diagnosis, my doctors were prescribing anti-depressants for me (because we all know about the medical establishment's prevailing view on opiate pain relievers, I won't rant on that here). I have been on many, any and almost all other types of prescriptions over the years for other chronic pain issues, including methadone. After a terrible ordeal with a whole host of side effects, from several different drugs, and no relief. I was given tramadol (Ultram), which I DO NOT recommend, and I'll tell you why if you read on: At first, it did seem to be taking the edge off of the pain but not to the point where the brain fog it caused/worsened was worth it. I had to take it like clockwork, whether or not I was feeling I needed it, or my next dose would make me ill. I also had to start trying several other things (xanax, ativan, sleeping pills, etc) to lessen the nausea and to alleviate the "keyed up" feeling I had acquired...this was on top of my already mounting insomnia issues...
After a couple of months, the tramadol wasn't helping with the pain at all anymore it seemed. About 4 months in I began having severe anxiety issues and panic attacks (to be fair, I also had survived some serious trauma in the last two years). When I tried to discuss getting something else or getting a different/higher dose of tramadol, my doctor--with whom I still have a tenuous relationship. She was assigned to me after my old doc moved his practice out of my coverage area--decided (once again) that I might be "drug seeking" (I don't want "thrills" from my pills, I want to lessen my ills! I just want to be able to vacuum my house and scrub my bathtub without needing to recover for a week afterward). So she decided to keep me on tramadol, but cut my dose by 2/3.
Well, if three pills a day wasn't helping, one wasn't worth taking. I stopped and began looking for alternatives. An NP at my counseling services, who was treating me for my newly diagnosed GAD and Panic Disorders (at one point I was on 3 anti-anxiety meds and 2 meds for insomnia!), suggested a few more anti-depressants. Those didn't help and caused intolerable side effects, to boot. Then she tried Lyrica, which several of my friends had success with, but which I unfortunately can't tolerate.
However, during all of this time (5-6 months) I had been off of tramadol. And I noticed my panic issues and sleep problems were declining. I attributed this to the warming weather of spring and summer until I overheard a conversation on the bus in August. Two very elderly ladies were catching up on the way to the salon after one had been missing for sometime. She related to her friend that she had been in and out of the hospital 3 times over the past 6 weeks because of sudden inexplicable panic attacks. She confided that she had suspected it was the new pain drug she'd been given for her chronic knee issues. Before she'd finished her sentence, her friend said, "Ultram! I stopped taking it because it was causing me to have terrible nervousness and trouble sleeping!" I joined their conversation at that point. It turns out another woman from their community had also been having issues since being prescribed Ultram, she kept thinking she was having a heart attack, but was diagnosed with panic disorder. They had thought it was something individual to them, or perhaps a prescription combination issue or age-related side effect, but I'm only in my mid-30s.
Now, this is just my experience and a couple of cooberating instances. I'm not saying everyone would have negative experiences. Tramadol seems to work quite well for some CPS, CFS and FMS sufferers, according to several medical professionals I've spoken to about it. My mother is a nurse who works with elderly and disabled chronic pain patients, and it was she who first suggested I look into Ultram/Tramadol. However, if you are prone to anxiety or insomnia already, I'd be very careful!
[Full disclosure: in addition to FMS and CFS, I have cerebral palsy, use a wheelchair, have had a pulmonary embolism from which I still experience "phantom pain,"have tendonitis and carpal tunnel, and I tore my left rotator cuff and suffered other shoulder/neck injuries, including broken ribs, in the traumatic abusive situation I alluded to above. The reason I'm including this information in this reply is so those of you reading might understand that I've dealt with pain and tried remedies before and beyond my fibro. The Fibromyalgia is a relatively new issue for me, I've suffered what I clearly know to be Fibro for less than 3 years, and was only diagnosed within the last 18 months.]
Since my trial and tribulations with all these new drugs and diagnoses, and since completely quitting tramadol, I have been able to come off ALL of my anxiety and mood-related meds and I only ocassionally need to use Ambien or Ativan for sleep. I still have not found the right pain management routine for me. I actually have the best results with ordinary percoset, a small amount of which was prescribed after a dental appointment last week, and that may be the true reason I am currently able to compose this epic! Again, I apolgize for wandering off topic, but I will tell you now some of the things that I personally find helpful, as that was the original question to which I'm replying. Again, I apologize for going on and on, but I'm having a "good" evening and I'm sure you all understand the urge to take advantage of that, so I figured I had better type while I CAN!
Other people here have mentioned the food<->pain connection, and I find that is absolutely true. Unfortunately I only have about $50 a month for groceries, so I often cannot eat well. But last summer I got some extra cash and did a yeast/candida cleanse, cutting out all sugars, refined grains and processed foods for two weeks while taking a homeopathic tincture ("YC Cleanse"). I expected this to help with the fatigue that I still cannot get used to. THAT is what makes me feel 80 years old! I had to relocate back to the pacific northwest after my trauma and the climate coupled with my allergies, injuries and fibro made the fatigue a much bigger issue than the pain on most days. I still struggle with emotional issues surrounding not having enough energy to shower sometimes, not to mention how I've lost support because everyone thinks I'm lazy or "faking." So I thought that a yeast cleanse might help. The good news is that it DID. Almost immediately in fact, and I found that with the clearing of the fatigue and fibro-fog, a good deal of the pain was alleviated as well! The bad news is, if you are unable to continue eating properly due to poverty (food box donations tend to be rice, pasta and bread, almost exclusively), the fatigue returns almost as quickly. But for a month or so after the two week cleanse, I felt closer to my "former self" than I had thought would ever be possible again.
Another thing I did during that yeast cleanse was a colon cleanse. I don't recommend doing both at once, I just happened to have the resouces at the time, but it was a bit more difficult to be doing both at once because, obviously, your body is already fatigued. I'd recommend doing either one or the other and seeing how you feel, then maybe a couple weeks later trying the second. When I do it next time, I'll do the yeast first and then, only if I feel it's necessary, the colon. I'm not a big "Your intestines are poisoned and must be purged" sort of person, but I do believe that periodically, cleansing can be beneficial. The one I did was not the harsh sort thing some colon cleanses can be, I just used a gentle psyllium-based fiber supplement and spices, herbs and teas that are said to discourage parasites while also relieving joint pains (it helped that I'm a huge fan of turmeric and curry already!). I added those things to my on/off (meaning when I can afford it) dietary regimen of HCL tablets--no one in my immediate family produces sufficient stomach acid it seems. My mom, sister and I all discovered this recently, so when I can afford it I take a supplement with meals-- and probiotic foods (I love Nancy's yogurt!).
A few years ago I was seeing a naturopath (back when I could work and pay for sporadic alternative health visits!) who suggested MSM supplements for my then minor muscular and joint pain, which is a part of my particular kind of cerebral palsy. Of course, I didn't think it was minor pain at the time, but now I know pain CAN be so much MORE than it was before! If you are unfamilar, MSM is a sulfur compound--not sulfa, not sulfites-- MSM as sulfur is naturally occuring in the human body and it also comes from foods like onions and garlic. Anyway, the MSM was helpful for my muscular pain then, and it had some side benefits such as improving my sleep and improving my regularity. Like most things, once my old issues had started to resolve, I fell off taking it.
It only occurred to me to try it again this month, as the rainy, painy weather has returned bringing with it a fresh bout of the dreaded syndrome known as "literally-can't-get-out-of-bed-in-the-morning." MSM really does help. It's available very inexpensively from Trader Joe's, as well as many other places. It has the added benefit of being sort of a "mini-cleanse" for the first couple of days each time I start taking it (That's a warning. It's similar to magnesium in that it relaxes you, but if you take a large amount at one time it will relax everything until your body adjusts to the dosage! Stay near a bathroom if you are sensitive in that way.). I find that 2000-3000 mg works well for me on a daily basis, as a maintenence level.
Mind you, I'm not saying that MSM or any of the other things I've mentioned will replace pain meds or totally banish your fatigue, but I have found that they help me immensely (as evidenced by the fact that I'm not only sitting up and alert enough to write this, but I'm STILL TYPING! 
). Even when I'm unable to control what I eat and my candida yeast is wreaking havoc--as it has been for the last couple of weeks--I find that the MSM allows me to take fewer painkillers and sometimes it contributes to more productive and functional days. I notice that it is especially effective for my "deep pain" like that stabbing pain in the thighs or the constant upper back pain that seems to be a universal hallmark of worsening or ongoing fibromyalgia "episodes" (you know, the days that come out of nowhere, after you've been feeling pretty good, relatively, all week... the ones that hit you like a Mack truck with bad brakes and leave you flattened, battered and bruised, unable to lift your hand without setting off every siren in your nervous system... the days, weeks, months that hit-and-run you down leaving you feeling roadkill in your own bed?)
One last thing before I must stop this (I hear the foghorn of a triple-trailer, eighteen-wheeler off in the distance...): I am always more willing to try natural, herbal, alternative or holistic treatments whenever possible. The sheer number of sensitivities, allergies and side effects I've developed since my diagnosis would be reason enough, but I also like to believe there must be better ways than pills that only mask symptoms to restore our bodies. To that end, a friend of my mother's who practices homeopathy recently discovered Quantum Stilus products, and a colleague of hers locally has begun preparing tinctures from these products which he is promoting at his site, Potions of Health. I'm testing/reviewing one of his preparations, which is supposed to relieve pain and inflammation. It's named "Regena-X." If it helps me, I will be sure to come back here and post, in case anyone else might want to try it. My mom's friend has also given me one of the stilus products (Called "Warrior" for "energy and motivation") to see if it has any effect on the fibro. She's also given to a few people in her office, one of whom also suffers from fibro. You put the "stilus" into a bottle of water for about 30 seconds and then--depending on which product it is, they've got ones for "focus," "calm/zen," "deep zen/sleep," "gratitude," etc.-- you take a certain number of sips or sip it over a certain period of time. Over the past few weeks, I've taken sips of the Warrior one any time I'm completely worn down by the pain and fatigue (provided I remember to do it during those times, of course). I notice a definite difference, although I can't quite say exactly what it is yet. It doesn't get rid of my pain exactly, it's more like it allows me to get on with other things while my pain and fatigue subsides, until I suddenly realize later that I'm feeling better. Apparently, these stilus remedies are meant to bolster immunity, and I'll admit I have little understanding of how regular homeopathy works, this is different because it supports whatever function it is for (in this case motivation/energy) at a cellular level. I'm not sure why my mom's friend thought "Warrior" might help with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, but I think there may be something to it, for me anyway.
Now, of course, I still struggle every day, but it was a lot less manageable before I began trying these things, even when I was one really high doses of methdone or other opiates. I also know that for me the pain is much MUCH worse when I am out of my MSM or when I eat foods that cause yeast imbalance. So if anyone reading this is looking for natural ways that might help them manage their pain in addition to pain meds (or who knows? Some of you might get enough relief to do these instead of pills!) you might want to look into some of the things I've mentioned, if you haven't already. Even if you only find they give some small measure of relief (and I've had times when even the smallest bit of relief is like a miracle), then I'll not regret having overtyped!
Live Well and Dream Bravely,
C
Hi there! Just wanted to share my Fibro pain medication with you and others who may be interested. I have been taking Subutex for my pain recently.(4mg 3 times a day sublingually) Since I had been dependant on Opiates for such a long time from my original injury, when I was able to stop using them by relying solely on my Spinal Cord Stimulator, I told myself that I never wanted to take another pain medication again. Well, then my Fibro kicked in and I went back on Actiq for a couple of months. I still hated having to take opiates, and asked if I could try Subutex instead. I find it to work really well when the pain is intolerable for me. It is still listed as an opiate. But it is what Drs. give heroin addicts as to prevent them from feeling "high". It is also used to control severe pain as well. You might want to discuss this option with your Dr., or at least give it a try. It works much better than methadone for me. Good luck, and hope you're feeling better soon. Stacey
hi, well i can deffinently relate to your problems at hand u and i have most of the same issues even right down to the doc thinking you want the meds for the wrong reasons last week they ask me if i was selling them! i realize with taking methadone and adderal they have to be careful but....have some kooth about it! we are the ones suffering and not to mention paying their wages in some ways! i also get sick of her saying "you look so good"! ok i realize i have lost 12o lbs but mostly she insinuates i am not in pain. i also have bipolar,ibs,central sleep apnea,carpal tunnel bi-lat and i had a ulner release bi-lat all from a work injury in 99. i am 42 and its been in my 20's. i also have interstitial cystitis,feet and leg neropothy,vertigo,hearing loss, extreme dry eyes,memory loss,it really gets depressing day after day with all this but all we can do is keep on trying and praying for each other. many hugs, lanay skeels (michigan)
I've had Fibro most of my life, but was officially diagnosed in 1982 at Tripler Army Hospital, when the pain all over my body had become almost unbearable. In the past 26 years I have tried just about every treatment including Dry Needle therapy, very painful, various diets, various pain meds, exercise, supplements, etc. The only thing I have found at all helpful have been Prozac for serotinen and Trazadone for sleep. I also have osteoarthritis, so take Glucosamine and Chondroitin with Hyaluronic Acid for that. The other helpful thing has been to learn what foods are considered inflamatory and avoid them like the plague. All I have to do to have a really painful episode is to eat a baked potato or more than one serving of turkey! However, since I retired 10 years ago, I have been able to cut down on the pain meds almost completely, only using Tylanol or Naprosyn occasionally. The secret is that when I feel an episode starting, I go to bed. All other times, I try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise (mild) every day. That can be housework, gardening or walking. Yes, at 75, I feel 80, but at least I no longer have to make excuses to anyone and can adjust my lifestyle to suit myself. So there is light at the end of the tunnel. Just hang in there and have a very active prayer life!
I have heard about potatoes (I myself have trouble with other members of the nightshade family of foods), but what is it about turkey that causes inflammation? I eat turkey quite a lot.
I'd appreciate any links or information about this. Is it known to be generally an issue with Fibro (and if so, how did I miss that?), or is it something you personally have a sensitivity to?
Thanks!
I found out about it by reading the book, "Win the War Within" by Floyd H. Chilton, PhD., published by Rodale Press. It gives quite extensive listings of inflammatory foods and since I have many of the side effects (?) of Fibro., I have many reasons to try to keep my digestive tract on track. Chilton determines inflammatory foods as those having a high count of Arachidonic acid. He states that your inflammatory index rating for the day should be under 150 and the only part of the turkey that is under that is the light meat which is rated 80 for 100 grams. Turkey bologna is 70 for 100 grams. Turkey bacon is rated at 260! Pork bacon is 150, so according to his rating, it is better for us than the turkey bacon. This book was published in 2006, so should still be in print. It was also previously published by Simon & Schuster, so has two library numbers: ISBN-13 978-59486-317-2 and ISBN-10 1-59486-317-2. Hope this helps.
My colon specialist would totally freak reading your response! Although I and most all on this website appreciate any other ideas for treating our pain, I personally do not appreciate people trying to "pedal their wares" when this could be very dangerous. This "snake oil" you're trying to pedal, this IntestiNew...contains L-Glutamine, which MAY stimulate the growth of cancer tumors, as well as being a danger to anyone suffering from cirrhosis of the liver or kidney disease! It also contains Cranesbill (Geranium), which should NOT be used for more than 2 to 3 consecutive weeks due to the high tannin content. Many people develop upset stomach from the tannin. This IntestiNew also contains ginger and people taking medications that thin the blood should ONLY use this under the strict supervision of their health care provider. Also, people with gallstones should consult their physician before taking ginger, and anyone taking this should let their physician know before any surgery or being placed under anesthesia!
Also, regarding the Epstein Barr Virus...I believe you have your information "backwards". From Wikepedia:
Epstein Barr Virus, also called Human herpesvirus, is a virus of the herpes family (which includes Herpes Simplex Virus). It is the most common virus in humans, and most people become infected with EBV by the age of 5.
EBV CAUSES INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS..not the other way around.
In the US as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. When infection with EBV occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, it causes infectious mononucleosis 35 to 50% of the time. Although symptoms of infectious mononucleosis usually resolve in 1 or 2 months, EBV remains dormant or latent in a few cells in the throat and blood for the rest of the person's life. I
I know a lot of people are into the holistic/herbal thing regarding treatment of many different problems, but ALWAYS check with your REAL doctor before taking any of these things!
I would also like to ask you, have you told your doctor you are taking this IntestiNew, Wobenzym R (so-called probiotic) and the Ultimate Flora Critical Care? I noticed in your profile you are also taking Ambien, Cymbalta, Oxycotin, Oxycodone, Lyrica and were in the process of having a methadone (?) pain pump put in on top of all of this?? I'm not quite getting this, if this IntestiNew and the rest of the "snake oil" has miraculously cured you, why are you still taking the others? I did not click on the link imbedded in your post, but instead typed your link into my yahoo search engine which led me back to this website and to your profile. Why all the secrecy?
I am a single 62 year-old female who was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1984. There are certainly times that pain has ruled my life; usually when the pain becomes acute in one specific area for an extended period of time.
I have been battling right hip pain and soreness for four years and have learned to live with it after an injection in my greater trochanter area did not help. However, about four months ago the 'irritation' suddenly became acute pain which, within a two week period, extended down my right leg and in the other direction across my right buttocks. My doctor prescribed Lyrica for me to take at night along with my Trazadone but then had me up the dosage to a daytime dose also since that is when I had the worst pain (while I was working). I already take Celebrax and Cymbalta so this concerned me.
After tests which showed I have a Tarlov cyst at the S2 level and arthritis of the back and hips, a neurosurgeon sent me to a round of physical therapy which I have done twice a week for almost six weeks. The stretching exercises, treadmill and hot packs have helped tremendously. You see, I had avoided for so long doing anything that might worsen my right hip pain and soreness but that caused another problem. The stretching has actually shown me how many muscles I have that I was not using so just sitting and being sedentary is NOT the way to go.
I am getting a TENS unit which helps when the pain is awful (just before a weather change, mostly) and I plan to join a fitness center to continue my stretching and treadmill exercises plus working with other machines to increase my stamina. Although I could retire, I hesitate to do so because my work keeps me too busy to dwell on pain and discomfort. Also, work keeps my depression from getting worse. I also have Type 2 Diabetes, hypothyroidism, DEPRESSION (Ha) and am an insomniac which is why I take the Trazedone.
Pain will rule and rock your world if you let it. Find a good physician that can assure you a good quality of life. Yes, there are days I cry at the mention of pain but there are many other days God gives me that I love life!!!
hello sweet 62. my name is soffy i am only 48 right now and because of the fm pain sometimes i feel older but the important thing is that we are special people for some other that really care about us, and this is the (chronic pain connection community ) that are here everyday, also moderators that gives us that warm attention that we need. everyone is here to listen to us and give us the real support that we really needs for our hearts. good luck and always keep the faith too. your friend soffy.
I live in Indiana, east central.
I have been reading comments about pain & meds. I haven't seen anyone mention the Fentynal patch. I was put on it about 2-3 yrs ago and it has really helped the leveling of the meds, no longer have the ups and lows of oral meds. I was originally put on darvocet in 1979, for disc troubles, nothing else. The finally saw a good rheumatologist who put me on oxycontin. When the robbing started here she took me off and put me on fentanyl patch. I like it much better, also have several things for breakthrough pain and ambien for sleeping.
Has anyone else had relief or should say evening out of meds like me?
My name is Brandy i am 22yrs.old and i have been dealing with the burning and bruised feeling's since i was 13. The doctor's that i have seen can't and won't give me a good reason on what's going on with me! When i read this article about chronic pain i was like that's me how should i tell a doctor that i think i have this without him thinking he doesn't know what he's doing,and why he's never thought of that.The doctor's i've seen also act like i'm out to get pills how can i tell them that's not what i am doing i honestly do live with this pain everyday of my life??? If anyone can help me please leave me a message i would so appreciate it Thank You Brandy
Hi Brandy - I can empathize with you because it seems nowadays that you have to KNOW what is wrong with you before going to the doctor. Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose because for so long no one wanted to 'accept' it as a diagnosis. The physician's response would more or less indicate that you were imagining the discomfort or ignore most of what you tell them as if it was non-existent. And, yes, there are many, many people out there who are heavily into "drug-seeking". They cause the rest of us a lot of trouble.
Now there are some wonderful physicians who actually have the decency to refer you to someone familiar with Fibromyalgia and Arthritis who can and will help you. I actually have the good fortune to have been treated by a Rheumatologist for 'frozen shoulder' plus the Fibromyalgia. Now I have an amazing physician who deals with my depression, hypothyroidism, diabetes II and fibromyalgia. He is the only one who deals with my medications and 'reads' me very well.
I might be wrong, but I would suggest seeing another physician. Ask your current physician to refer you to someone who can run the appropriate tests to check you for an inflammatory disease. Your symptoms can be caused by things other than Fibromyalgia but you will never rest until you know what it is.
HANG IN THERE until you get an answer. Have your friends and family pray for you to get an answer to your problem as well as for the stamina you need to withstand what you are dealing with. You are MUCH tougher than the problem.
HELLO MY NAME IS SOFFY. I AM 48 I ALSO SUFFER FROM FM FOR ALMOST 7 YEARS NOW, IS REALLY VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH IT. SOMETIMES I LOOK ATMYSELF AND FEELS LIKE SOME 80 YRS. OLD WOMAN ALREADY. BECAUSE OF MANY PAIN, IN ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. BETWEEN SPRING AND SUMMER TIME I HAD GOOD DAYS TOOKED THE CHANCE TO GO FOR LONG WALKS AND NOTICED THAT I WAS FEELING MORE FREE OF THAT HORRIBLE PERSISTENT PAIN. BUT AS THE WEATHER STARTED CHANGING EVERYTHING WENT BACKWORSE PAIN RETURNED AGAIN LIKE MAGIC AND STARTED TO FEELING PAINFUL AGAIN. THE TEMPERATURES AND RAIN, HUMIDITY, AND MUCH MORE. WELL GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE THAT IS GOING THRU THE SAME SITUATION. EVEN ALL THIS HAPPENS TO ME, I THINK ABOUT OTHER NICE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM OTHERS DIFFICULTS ILLNESS WORSE OF WHAT I HAVE.
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Thanks for sharing this with us Karen! I hope it helps to shed some light for us FM patients. I definitely can group myself into your bulleted points, especially the 3rd and 4th! I'm a neat freak but household chores are definitely a huge undertaking for me now...and I'm only 25!! I absolutely dread falling. Even a little bump will turn into a huge bruise.
Thanks again!
Bekah