Fibromyalgia...is there an MN support group?

[Becaroooo]

Just been dx. I am 39, married with 2 young dc.

GPs answer for my pain (had spd with my last pg and last year a herniated disc in my back) is to throw ADs at me which I do not feel are helpful and dont help me sleep anyway.

Just wondered if any of you have any tips/advice on how to deal with the pain without taking pain meds every day or if you have found any alternative therapies that helped?

TIA x

There are a few threads floating around. What AD's has he put you on? Amitryptiline is a pain killer for neurological pain as well as an antidepressant and an effective treatment for Fibromyalgia.

I'll try and bump up one of the other threads

Yes she has given me a prescription for that one. She also mentioned gabapentin (sp?) and tramadol.

I had tramadol some years ago in hospital and didnt like it so dont want that.

Would like to be able to take less pain meds on a day to day basis.

Hi leonie Sorry you have this too

I got some of the 5-htp after your recommendation, but havent tried them yet...I got mine online and it says to take them last thing at night with carbohydrate but I cant eat last thing at night!!!! Does it matter so you think???

Going to give them a go. Can you drink alcohol whilst taking them??

I was seeing a chiropracter but tbh found the osteopath better/more helpful.

I have been relying on nurofen and co codamol for pain relief..GP gave me naproxen, but it didnt help. Have also offered tramadol but had that before and didnt like it.

Dont like amitriptyline either as it spaces me out and I cant be spaced out with 2 young dc to care for!!!!

Sorry you are having so many probs...its shit isnt it??

Nah, I wont, dont worry! Had it a few years ago and it sent me quite strange! Was singing Spencers song from balamory apparently!!!

Ah! thats why the naproxen didnt really work for me then. Am worried that soon the ibuprofen will stop working as I take so much of it Am also pretty sure its not helping my GERD - back on the lansopraxole for that too.

Sigh.

I dont really drink, but would like a bellini as a treat at xmas!!!

I get on ok with co codamol (esp the really strong ones I was given when i had whooping cough..they were fab!!) but I have Gilberts syndrome (think you do too??) so am a bit about taking lots of paracetamol based stuff....

ah, might do that...

I find I'm a lot better on a lower carb diet. Not a weight loss diet, necessarily, but one with more emphasis on healthy fats, lots of good protein, etc. Got this notion from the book 'What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Fibromygia' (I think that's the title) which is all about the Guaifenesin protocol, actually, but I guess that's a whole other topic. I don't take anything on a daily basis, only use paracetamol when I am really bad with it, but have lots of wheat bags for neck and other pains.

I have to say, I feel as though I am learning to live in pain, which to me, is not at all satisfactory. Had not thought previously to look for advice on here, so interested to see this thread.

I'm on Gabapentin. I'm on 900mg a day and it doesn't help in the slightest.

Tramadol made me feel high as a kite. I switched to 30/500mg co-codamol and after a few weeks it helped a small bit.

Amitryptaline was a good antidepressant but in the mornings I felt like a zombie and it would take me 2+ hours to 'wake up'.

I'm on 50mg Fluoxetine, 900mg Gabapentin and cocodamol as and when required.

Ah yes, gabapentin was another med the GP mentioned.

I cant take fluoxetine as I am allergic

I am in constant pain every day. I dont sleep well (obv) and it is draining all the enjoyment out of my life. We are moving house in 3 weeks and I have so much to do and I honestly dont know how I am going to manage it!

mo I am trying to lose weight atm as a consequence of me being in so much pain and not as mobile has meant I have piled the weight on

Narcotics and opiates will not help in the long run. It's anticonvulsants and antidepressants that are showing to be most effective in relieving chronic FM pain.

Sorry, new to all this why is anti convulsant meds helpeful for FM??

I do get annoying fasculations in my thighs and calves but nothing major like a fit.

Osteo says I have muscle loss and wastage in my left leg. She is worried but wont tell me why!!!

hmmm...interesting, thanks leonie

I am trying out 20mg Amitriptyline for my FM, also have GERD and gastroparesis and low bowel mobility - lansoprazole and domperidone and movicol for those and 'tremors' (fasciculations) which i've had forever, i mean back to childhood, the thyroid is also messing around, awaiting more blood tests.

I also take codiene, tramodol, diclofenac, have to avoid paracetamol as it's a migraine trigger and i limit the diclo due to the stomach issues.

I take my amitrip at 6-7pm as with my job i get broken sleep so this helps lessen the 'thick head' feeling it can cause.

Sorry I posted fairly swiftly after a nightmare visit to the pain clinic.

For some reason anticonvulsants and antidepressants have the pleasing side effect of acting as nerve blocks (so i found out today) which is great for chronic pain BUT because they're designed for other illnesses such as depression and/or epilepsy the side effects can be rather nasty. It's a case of balancing things up and finding the right medication for you really, best place to start is with a referal to a pain clinic to discuss things further.

I'm currently being talked into using Nortriptyline but i'm not sure. I'll give anything a go though if it works!

I have this too but don't take amitryptiline anymore as I didn't think it helped. I have no words of wisdom as I am still in denial.

See I didnt gain weight on amitryp but did with pregabalin had a horrendous hangover on amitryp so its putting me off taking it.

Fab what dose were you on? It really is a process of elimination sadly. I'm 15 years in with this and only just, with all the new drugs avaliable, feel like there is hope. If you want a chat feel free to IM me, I'm happy to help if I can. That's to anyone BTW. I've tried nearly every treatment and therapy out there!