VonaAnn - that really made me smile. Schedule an appointment---ha, I bet you couldn't get one!! Thanks for the info on the Wii. I do know what you mean, regular trying to get fit pain verus fibro pain. It sure is a balancing act on this exercise deal. AND the medications. THANK YOU!!

Given up on the fibro meds.
Not feeling any noticeable difference.

Given up on the depression meds.
Wellbutrin didn't work and I've run out of options that local gvmt insurance will pay for and that won't cause weight gain.
Weight gain just isn't worth it to me.

I too have taken Cymbalta. I wanted it to work soooo bad but after one week with awful side effects, my Rheumatologist took me off of it. She also stated that she has noticed individuals with Fibro often experience more side effects to medication than most.

I have also tried Flexeril which was awful. I was knocked out for days.

What I find help a little is Naproxen for inflammation. I also take Librax for the IBS symptoms but again, this is as needed and makes me tired. I have been on 50,000 units/week of Vitamin D for a year now. My levels have increased but still not to normal levels. I take Zanaflex (muscle relaxer) at night when needed. It helps but can't take it during the day.

So basically, none of the medications have been truly helpful. Just a lot of money and time wasted. That is why I have decided I need to start exercising and eat healthier. I know the this will help, it's just difficult to start when you are constantly tired and in pain.

How much Naproxen are you taking? I'm taking two in the morning and two at night and I think it's helping more than anything else that I've tried.

Wow... two in the morning and two at night? My prescription is one in the AM and one in the PM, but I usually only take it once a day. I get nervous taking it too much because of the damage it can have on the kidneys. I have been on it for several months and I know long term use can effect the body. So I am trying to be very careful.

This isn't the prescription strength; just the over the counter ones.

I am taking gabapentin for nerve pain, amitriptyline for sleep, flexeril for muscle spasms, and tramadol for pain. I am also taking vitamin b and d supplements. My rheumatologist originally wanted to put me on Lyrica, but my insurance wouldn't cover it unless we exhausted the generic options first. I mostly feel that they have been helpful, although they are definitely a band-aid and not a fix.

I haven't been at the fibro game for long (about a year now), and I simply tried to suffer through it for several months. I was pretty vehemently against trying to take antidepressants or pain medications. Instead, I've tried to go more of a natural (as best I can).

I've cleaned up a lot of my eating and try to include more raw, fresh foods in my diet. I take my vitamins as much as I can remember (Vitamin D, Vitamin B complex, Magnesium, Potassium, Glucosamine Chondroitin, sometimes a Multi). I workout as best I can (hard when I feeling good and completely resting when I'm hurting).

I attend counseling regularly and use CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). It's been great in helping me deal with depression and anxiety. Specific to the fibro, I've realized that when I'm depressed, anxious, or stressed my symptoms flare. By being able to recognize when these things are happening, I can actively work to lesson my stress or lighten my mood and thereby decrease the pain or at least relax some to lesson it eventually.

I did give in on the sleep issue. Insomnia was a pain and I finally had trazodone suggested to me by a doctor. It's a VERY low dosage (only 25-50 mg as needed). I take it for a few days when I need to get my sleep cycle back on track and then stay off it until it's needed again.

This has proven to be really effective for me. Granted, everyone's case in different, but I always like to hope that simple steps like these could prove useful to others! Here's wishing a low-pain day for everyone!

To be honest, exercise has been the best, but my motivation to do it is lacking. I just don't have the energy on the best of days. I never feel energized from excercise, just more tired, but the pain is definatley more managable if i keep it super light.

So far Lyrica is the only thing that has helped. 75mg 2x a day is best, but for my budget i only take it once per day and only if the dr has samples otherwise I take Ibroprophen 3 times a day and emtec 4 x a day.

I have sleep apnea and excessive snoring, and use my cpap machine when my sinuses aren't acting up, but then I wake up more sore because I can't move around and stretch when the mask on my face.

I would try the malic acid, but I don't have money to spend on anything not covered by my medical plan.

Yeah, same here with the flexiril. Naproxen is also ok for me. I have never been prescribed any medication for my IBS.

i was diagnosed with fibro 17 years ago, but wasnt until the last 7 when they finally tried treatments, tried the cymbalta and lyrica with no luck, unable to take any pain meds due to fatty liver that flared up 7 years ago also, recently my dr gave me ametrypeline and after one night thats a no go, on a low low dose and made me drunk feeling and staggering, and inflammed my liver...the most success i have is Alpha-Stim (www.beginhealings.com) has helped me regain range of motion in my arms and helps with not only pain but with insomnia, depression, anxiety..it doesnt help all the symptoms and the morning stiffness is still horrible, but it has helped enough to make it worth conitnuing. hot tubs/spas and massages when i am able...and stress management. i see some good responses to malic acid, one thing idk how much i am taking but am going to look into it. thanks for sharing everyone as i learned a few things to try!

I was just diagnosed Tuesday and my doctor has started me out on 30mg of Cymbalta. He said it's likely I won't feel any real relief from this low a dose, but that he wanted to ease me onto it. So far I've had quite a bit of nausea/loss of appetite and my limbs feel like useless limp noodles. I'm hoping the side effects pass fast because it's driving me nuts!

I have been on almost everything you could of think of, but not Lyrica and have no intentions of taking it. Savella isn't available in Canada.
I am currently on:
20 mgs oxyNeo 2x's/day
10 mgs Felexeril 1/da
.5 mgs Clonazapam 1/day
.025 Synthroid 1/day
40 mgs Nexium 1/day
7.5 mgs Zopiclone 1/day

Supplements:
Magnesium
5 HTP
GABA
Ester C
Grape seed extract

I also use Polar Lotion for my bad pain areas, grain bags for heat, massage every 4'wks and liquid gel Advil

I think I tried Prozac.
In fact Im damn sure Ive tried every SSRI, SNRI and atypical antidepressant popularly available.
Ive yet to find one without a drastic side effect...needless to say the depression about not being able to treat the depression is rather debilitating.

Ive tried the Mag Malate supplement and though everyone says its amazing, it has done nothing for me...

prior to my diagnosis i'd already been taking an SSRI, Lexapro i think

the rheumatologist who first dx'd me started me on muscle relaxers and anti-inflam first: mobic, flexeril, don't really remember. got no remarkable benefit from the muscle relaxers.

the longest regimen i was on involved
- piroxicam/'feldene' = anti-inflam
- lexapro = SSRI anti depressant
- lithium carbonate = mood stabilizer
- levothyroxine (sp?) = because the lithium nuked my thyroid after a few yrs
- temazepam = sleep

during the last few years i took 0-4 hydrocodone (5/500) prn / day. those are helpful!

when i was on all the drugs i was depressed, unable to sleep/wake properly, had an overactive, irritated bladder and was in terrible pain all the time. after i tried to snuff it they put me on a couple of other things, including cymbalta and massive doses of gabapentin. didn't help.

a few years ago i finally stopped taking all the drugs AND started exercising like a demon. then i started feeling better. now i use ONLY exercise and herbs and i am doing super. i still won't say no to a hydrocodone, but they won't give them to me anymore and i really don't need them anyway.

i haven't seen a doctor in a long time and i don't feel the need for one. i'm doing MUCH better for myself now than anyone ever has for me.

:drinker: