question about meds...

I have had alot of different meds in the past couple of months. I was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease last month. Also they have told me that I have fibro. My mother also has it. They put me on Celebrex for joint pain. It was ok for a little while but then caused problems with my stomach. Even through it was helping my joints it was not helping my muscle pain.
     I feel like my muscle pain over rides my joint pain. I am going to have RNY on 8/25/09 so they have given me Elavil. My question is has anyone heard of it and if so does it seem to help. My pcm said it is like Cymbalta but with being a military hospital she has to have me try it before she can  give me a RX for the cymbalta. 
     She also gave me Ultram for pain. I am a light weight as far as pain meds. So I cant take much without being stuck in the bed. Does anyone have any pain meds that work for them but does not nock them out? Any suggestions would be wonderful.
Brittany

Well, I take cymbalta and it made me feel like I was on speed, however my pain doc was surprised by that cause he said it makes most people sleepy. It kept me awake half the night and I felt all jittery so I had to lower the starting dose and ease into it. Which just proves how different we all are and what works for one doesn't neccesarily mean it'll work for someone else. With fibro it's a real trial and error system to figure out what works for each person. Good luck and hope some of the others have more info for you.

Watch out for wt gain with Elavil.  That's one of the main problems with that.  I took it early on and gain a ton of wt. 

Nsaids like Celabrex will be a no no after RNY.  Especially since you are already having issues with your stomach. 

I've tried Ultram but it made me itch from the inside out.  Pretty strange feeling.  I take Cymbalta.  I had to cut back on the dose due to fatigue which is what my main complaint has been lately.  The Cymbalta made it worse at 100 mg.  I take 50 mg at bedtime and it helps with the pain that keeps me awake. 

I've taken elavil before and know many people who use it for pain and sleep

Has your pcp suggested Lyrica? I think that is the one made specifically for FM. It has a small risk of weight gain, but not as much as others. It may be worth asking about.

As for pain, I can't take anything. If it gets really bad I have to take narcotics. I take hot baths to ease some of the pain. Massages help as well, but they make my skin sore. If I have the "knots" in my hips, my husband will put pressure on it until it releases, which makes me sick to my stomach for some reason, but it helps.

Stretching may also help. You may need to be assisted by someone else to make this work. I don't do it, but I know several people that have been helped by doing yoga.

I hope this helps some. Gentle hugs,
Nettie

Thanks so much for the info. My doctors are just now starting to believe me about the pain, the fatigue and muscle problems. I am 23 years old and have had this pain for a long long time. I have about a month until I go in to have RNY. I am kinda afraid of the recoup. I am one of the people that can't even stand for anyone to even try a massage becuse even the lightest pressure hurts.  I am just hoping that I can get some of the pain under control. I understand that all of it will not be gone. I just want some of it gone.
Brittany

Hey Brittany,

I know how hard it is to get the dr's to take you seriously. I was 21 or 22 when I was dxd with FM. Because I was "soo young" they didn't want to say it was a chronic condition. Didn't help me any. Then I found a great nurse practiioner and she dxd me on my first visit. I all ready knew I had it, but it was like a salve to my ego to hear someone else say it.

As for the recoup after surgery; it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I had some pulling around one of my incisions that bothered me for about a month, but other than that not bad at all. I quit taking pain meds a day or two after I came home. Are yuou having it done open or laproscopically? This too will make a difference in the pain. Of course.

I know what you mean about the lightest pressure hurting. Sometimes my husband just has to put his hand on my back to make me almost burst into tears. That's probably why I don't have massages very often--like almost never. They just hurt too much.

I hope your pain eases up after your surgery. I know how tough it is to be young and in pain. It sucks. Hang in there. And know I'll be thinking of you.

Nettie

Thank you so much.  I will have it done laproscopically.  They have me down for 8/25/09. I honestly need to have it sooner as we are not sure when my husband will get orders to go to a new station.  He is in the Marine Corps so it is kinda hard to plan around right now. My surgeon is going out of town to move his wife  and then he has to go to a confrence so my date was pushed that far back. I have already finished everything that needed to be done before I went to see him for the first time. I am kinda mad because I thought that I would be able to get it sooner. I feel like 6 weeks is a long time to wait after I have everything done and he told me I don't have to loose anything before surgery. Oh well there is not much I can do about it.
Brittany