Hello Fibro Forum
I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Terry, and I have fibromyalgia. (That almost sounded like an introduction at a 12-step program!) All kidding aside, as we all know, this is a miserable condition. I've read through a lot of your posts and can relate to each one of you. I hope you don't mind if I join you over here. I know that I can learn a lot from all of you, and hopefully I can help some of you in return.
It was my PCP that diagnosed my fibromyalgia 5-6 years ago. After my diagnosis, I ended up in pain management for 2-1/2 years where they tried me on every med under the sun. I even went on Morphine for a period of time to try to break the pain cycle. Part of my therapy also included accupuncture.
I've read that some of you have had good luck with Cymbalta. I asked my doctor about trying Cymbalta, but she didn't think it would work for me since I had already tried Effexor. I believe that Cymbalta and Effexor are in the same family of antidepressants. I sure wish that Cymbalta would have worked for because from what I hear, if Cymbalta helps, it really helps.
I have tried many pain meds but Tramadol worked the best for me. Tramadol helped with the pain, but didn't knock me out. I ended up having to go off the Tramadol because of the possible interaction with other medications I was taking.
Now, I take Aleve everyday to help my arthritis pain. I also take Wellbutrin, Celexa, Klonopin, and Zanaflex. From what my Psychiatrist has told me, the Wellbutrin gives you more energy, and kind of makes your body ignore the pain. The Celexa is to raise the seratonin levels in my brain, because as we all know, people with fibromyalgia have low levels of seratonin. The Klonopin helps me relax so I can get a better night of sleep (it also helps with restless legs). And the Zanaflex is a muscle relaxer that does help my muscle pain.
I think that the Psychiatrist I have now has finally found a good ****tail of meds that are helping. This is the best Psychiatrist I have ever had since developing fibromyalgia.
Anyway, I hope to get to know each of you, and I would be happy to help in any way I can.
Terry
It was my PCP that diagnosed my fibromyalgia 5-6 years ago. After my diagnosis, I ended up in pain management for 2-1/2 years where they tried me on every med under the sun. I even went on Morphine for a period of time to try to break the pain cycle. Part of my therapy also included accupuncture.
I've read that some of you have had good luck with Cymbalta. I asked my doctor about trying Cymbalta, but she didn't think it would work for me since I had already tried Effexor. I believe that Cymbalta and Effexor are in the same family of antidepressants. I sure wish that Cymbalta would have worked for because from what I hear, if Cymbalta helps, it really helps.
I have tried many pain meds but Tramadol worked the best for me. Tramadol helped with the pain, but didn't knock me out. I ended up having to go off the Tramadol because of the possible interaction with other medications I was taking.
Now, I take Aleve everyday to help my arthritis pain. I also take Wellbutrin, Celexa, Klonopin, and Zanaflex. From what my Psychiatrist has told me, the Wellbutrin gives you more energy, and kind of makes your body ignore the pain. The Celexa is to raise the seratonin levels in my brain, because as we all know, people with fibromyalgia have low levels of seratonin. The Klonopin helps me relax so I can get a better night of sleep (it also helps with restless legs). And the Zanaflex is a muscle relaxer that does help my muscle pain.
I think that the Psychiatrist I have now has finally found a good ****tail of meds that are helping. This is the best Psychiatrist I have ever had since developing fibromyalgia.
Anyway, I hope to get to know each of you, and I would be happy to help in any way I can.
Terry
Hi Terry. Thanks for the intro. I'm a newbie here. had RNY 08/05 and lost 157lbs. Its just within the last 6 months that I've been having symptoms similar to fibro...I have yet to be diagnosed but appointments are in place.
I am only on Celexa for chronic depression, Soma and Vicodin for severe back pain. Ambien helps me sleep.
Welcome
I am only on Celexa for chronic depression, Soma and Vicodin for severe back pain. Ambien helps me sleep.
Welcome
Hi Pappi, and thanks for the welcome! You have done very well with your RNY. I am happy for you! I had the VSG one year ago, and stopped losing weight after 5-6 months, and I still have more weight to lose. Right now, I'm looking into getting some malabsorption to help me lose the rest and keep it off.
I sure hope you can get your diagnosis. Do you mind if I ask what kind of doctor will you be seeing in your upcoming appointments? I guess I was lucky that my PCP diagnosed me and then sent me directly to pain management. When she diagnosed me, I said to her "but I didn't think fibromyalgia was real", and she told me that it is definitely real and she treats is aggressively.
Unfortunately, depression goes hand in hand with fibro. I hope you can get into a good pain management program. Don't be surprised if they put you on more than one anti-depressant. I also had chronic depression for many years, but it became major depression back in 2005. Honestly, I think I would rather have the physical pain than the mental pain. But that's just me.
Please let us know how it goes, okay?
Terry
I sure hope you can get your diagnosis. Do you mind if I ask what kind of doctor will you be seeing in your upcoming appointments? I guess I was lucky that my PCP diagnosed me and then sent me directly to pain management. When she diagnosed me, I said to her "but I didn't think fibromyalgia was real", and she told me that it is definitely real and she treats is aggressively.
Unfortunately, depression goes hand in hand with fibro. I hope you can get into a good pain management program. Don't be surprised if they put you on more than one anti-depressant. I also had chronic depression for many years, but it became major depression back in 2005. Honestly, I think I would rather have the physical pain than the mental pain. But that's just me.
Please let us know how it goes, okay?
Terry
Hi Terry and welcome..
I hate adjusting and changing med's.Right now I take Vicoden for pain , flexeril, ambien to sleep, which doesn't help unless I take it with 2 melatonin.
I also take 2400mg of guafenisin a day.(Like mucinex)
Several years ago I was put on that for a sinus infection. I said to my PCP hey my fibro seems better. Guafenisin is a controversial drug for fibromyalgia (mainly because they do not know why it works on some fibro people.)It helped me and one other patient my PCP had.
Keep in touch
Pam
I hate adjusting and changing med's.Right now I take Vicoden for pain , flexeril, ambien to sleep, which doesn't help unless I take it with 2 melatonin.
I also take 2400mg of guafenisin a day.(Like mucinex)
Several years ago I was put on that for a sinus infection. I said to my PCP hey my fibro seems better. Guafenisin is a controversial drug for fibromyalgia (mainly because they do not know why it works on some fibro people.)It helped me and one other patient my PCP had.
Keep in touch
Pam
Hi Pam, and thanks for the welcome!
I know exactly what you mean about adjusting to medication changes. It is so hard on your body!
I've tried Vicoden and had an allergic reaction--not fun! I've heard that Flexeril is pretty strong and can help with sleep, but I haven't tried it. I've got a book about guafenisin. I tried it and it didn't work for me. I was so hopeful. But I'm glad it worked for you!
I'll keep in touch for sure. It's nice to be able to talk to others with the same affliction. We really can help each other.
Terry
I know exactly what you mean about adjusting to medication changes. It is so hard on your body!
I've tried Vicoden and had an allergic reaction--not fun! I've heard that Flexeril is pretty strong and can help with sleep, but I haven't tried it. I've got a book about guafenisin. I tried it and it didn't work for me. I was so hopeful. But I'm glad it worked for you!
I'll keep in touch for sure. It's nice to be able to talk to others with the same affliction. We really can help each other.
Terry
Hi Hope! And thanks for the welcome!
I really do love the VSG. The problem for me is I didn't lose all of my weight. This can happen to those who start off with a higher BMI like I did. You look like a lightweight, so you should do pretty good. The good thing is that I have maintained the loss for more than six months, and that's a first for me! The reason I had my VSG is because I have a long term need to take NSAIDS because I have arthritis in my spine. I already have reflux and didn't want to take the chance of getting ulcers.
I hope you get your VSG!
Talk to you soon!
I really do love the VSG. The problem for me is I didn't lose all of my weight. This can happen to those who start off with a higher BMI like I did. You look like a lightweight, so you should do pretty good. The good thing is that I have maintained the loss for more than six months, and that's a first for me! The reason I had my VSG is because I have a long term need to take NSAIDS because I have arthritis in my spine. I already have reflux and didn't want to take the chance of getting ulcers.
I hope you get your VSG!
Talk to you soon!
Welcome aboard! This is such an awesome and supportive group and just goes to prove all different WLS types CAN indeed get along! Ask your doc if you can at least try the Cymbalta because I took
Effexor trying to treat hot flashes after breast cancer treatment and it did nothing for my fibro but the Cymbalta did. I wouldn't think it could hurt unless it will interact with some other med you are on. Anyway tell her I said so!
Good luck!
Effexor trying to treat hot flashes after breast cancer treatment and it did nothing for my fibro but the Cymbalta did. I wouldn't think it could hurt unless it will interact with some other med you are on. Anyway tell her I said so!
Good luck! Thank you, Hislady! I can see what a great group this is, and I'm so glad that I'm here. I agree that it's nice to see that people with different WLS can get along! Really, when you think of it, we all have the same goal which is to lose weight, get healthier, and live longer. But in this group we can relate on a deeper level, that being chronic pain. We get a two-for-one on this board!
Talk to you soon!
Talk to you soon!
I too am new to this forumn. I have been an OH member since 2005, but didn't realize a Fibromyalgia forumn existed!
I was diagnosed with Fibrositis (that's what it was called then) in 1991. I've tried many drugs and therapies but I must say Cymbalta has helped a great deal.
I have a question for all of you who have had WLS. Was your post op pain bad? I had a lap band, removal, and most recently RNY and with each surgery the pain was horrific! I asked my rheumatologist if there could be a correlation to fibromyalgia and he said he'd look into it. He said that was a question he'd never been asked but thought it was quite an interesting one.
I was diagnosed with Fibrositis (that's what it was called then) in 1991. I've tried many drugs and therapies but I must say Cymbalta has helped a great deal.
I have a question for all of you who have had WLS. Was your post op pain bad? I had a lap band, removal, and most recently RNY and with each surgery the pain was horrific! I asked my rheumatologist if there could be a correlation to fibromyalgia and he said he'd look into it. He said that was a question he'd never been asked but thought it was quite an interesting one.
Jan S. 
Band to RNY
LapBand 5/05 ~ Removed (prolapse) 5/07 ~
RNY 2/09
Band to RNY LapBand 5/05 ~ Removed (prolapse) 5/07 ~
RNY 2/09
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