husband has fibro..........

My husband was diagnosed several years ago. He has taken cymbalta which like to have driven him nuts and lyrica which has caused him to gain 40 lbs. We have been to sooo many doctors. The only time he has felt good in a long time was right after his knee surgery when he was on pain meds. He started playing his guitar again, going to church, just living again. When the refills ran out so did he. We have been to pain specialist and they seem to just dismiss him. It is very frustrating! I feel like most doctors just label him as a drug seeker. I am a 'fix it' person. I want to fix this. I just cant accept this diagnosis as being the way it will be for the rest of his life. We have twin 8 year old boys who are missing out on a father because he NEVER feels good. This is the first time I have ever posted on a fibro board. please dont chew me up and spit me out. I dont mean to offend at all. I am just wanting to understand more.

Believe me hon no one here would ever attack you or your feelings!!! We are here to support each other and hopefully share info. Fibro is a devastating disease and the only hope is to find a doc that will work with your hubby on giving him a normal life. Many of us here take narcotics as it is the only way we can have a half way normal life. It may take some time to find a good doc but keep searching because it'll make all the difference in the world. Have you tried a rheumatologist yet? We all deserve to have a pain free life and be able to enjoy life. One thing I didn't realize about my pain meds was that when it said no refills that just meant the doctor had to OK a new refill but mine will go ahead and OK them. If it is a certain class of drugs I have to go and pick up the prescription and hand deliver it to the pharmacy, which is fine with me as long as I can get the meds. I wish you both the best of luck and don't give up, keep seaching till you find a great doc!

Believe me you have come to the right place for understanding into the pain. You need to find a doc that understands Fibro.
They are out there. That must be very scary for you and your husband. Maybe your hubby can't do alot of physical things with the kids but I have learned over the years to adapt to what I can do. Reading books, making projects, coloring, jus****ching them do the things kids enjoy. He will adapt. You may be surprised he might find a way to do things that turns out better than before.
What does he do for work?? I hope it is not physcially demanding as that woulod be hard on a continous basis.
Please keep us informed how you all are doing.
The only thing you will get from this board is understanding and prayers...
Pam

Thank you both. He does do hard physical labor on his job so he is worn out when he gets home. He hurts and doesnt seem to want to be bothered. He went to a nureo doctor who took him off lyrica and put him on something else (cant remember the name right now) He also got an MRI on his neck and back. sounds like this dr. doesnt much believe in fibro. or maybe is just trying to rule other things out???? Anyway, thanks again and I will keep you posted.  God Bless.

Even in this time a day there are a lot of Dr's that don't believe in
fibromyalgia as a real disease.  But there are some that know that is real a will treat you as someone with pain.  I tried Cymabalta and  yes
I thought I was going to lose my mind, and I could not breathe.  Other
meds have had me feeling as though I could not breathe allergy reaction
to some .  That's one med on my DO NOT TAKE LIST ALLERGY TOO.
I'm one of those if it not broken don't try tojust fix it.  I just started having pains again and my rheumatology has move away he takes so long.
And move so far away there more here but they will start trying different meds. I don't want to go there anymore but he knows what he's tried and what not to try.  Thanks for the heads up on the Lyrica the last thing I need is too be battle weight after having surgery for weight lost.
I'm using Wellbutrin SR Tabs 2X a day and Clonazepam tabs at night I've have stop sleeping all night time to go look him up and see what I can get.
It's been 2 1/2 years since I've seen him, my regular Dr. have try and seems to not be able to understand  frib. at all.  I've have had frib for at least  18 years and they did not figure it out until 4yrs later.
Missed all of my DD years in school HB enjoyed them at least and I
feel like I back on the same bad track. miserable.
FIND YOU A RHEUMATOLOGY ASK THE NURSE IF HE TREATS
FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS

get him in to a pain management clinic.  That is where I go and now I only go once every 6 months.  I call in at the end of each month to get a refill for my pain meds.  He just has to sign a contract to not get pain meds from any other doctors.  they don't take away all of my pain but they make it tolerable.  good luck. 

Hi,
I have not been on this forum for a while but I feel so bad for your situation. I think it is harder for men to get the respect and treatment they need when they are diagnosed with fibro because it is such a high rate in women that many don't feel that men should or could really have it. I have a friend who is male that has gone through the same thing and it is gut renching when he cannot get quality care. I am on major pain meds and live on them on a daily basis. There has not been a day in the last 12 years that I have not had some kind of pain medication in my system and that is not to say that the pain meds make me feel better they just get me through my days. I have done better since being on Opana than anything I have been on before. I pray that you find the right doctor that will give him the proper pain meds to manage the pain. Once you manage the pain you can live a somewhat normal life but when the pain is more than you can bare it is hard to function and have an active life. Keep trying doctors until you find one that will listen and understand. I have to find a new rheumatologist because the last one I went to got mad at me because I wouldn't go on neurontin because it causes weight gain and I had surgery to lose weight not gain it. Anyway, I do  hope you get answers.
hugs,
Sharon