Fibro, "aunt flow", and post-op

Howdy everyone!

I'm almost seven months post-op, and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (among other rheumatological conditions) over ten years ago. Right now, I am on cymbalta (daily), tramadol (thrice daily), flexeril (as needed), and vicodin (as needed) to manage the pain.

The conundrum comes once a month. Like clockwork. My periods cause my fibro to flare up, and it SUCKS. Now that my periods have gotten worse (post-op), my flare ups are worse. I usually have a day or two where I just curl up in bed in extreme pain. I'm exhausted, can't move, and very cranky.

Does anyone else have this issue? Are there any more solutions that I can discuss with my doctors? I don't have time to be out of commission for a week or so every month. And even if I did have the time, I don't want to live like that.

Any advice would be most helpful!

Thanks,
Sarah

There are currently 3 drugs specifically for fibro, Lyrica, Cymbalta and Savella so ask about one of those. You might need a stronger pain med for those few days as most of us need pain meds in addition to specific fibro meds. Good luck and I think we all hate our fibro!

I'm feeling really good post op, and right now I'm in that one week time zone where I'd be in awful pain, but it's not happening yet.  Maybe I'm cured.  yeah right. 
But yes, 7 days beforehand my left lower back starts aching.  Not a regular ache.  The mother of all pain.   I've gone so far as to have a cat scan to look for kidney stones.  It hurts that bad.  I've had it like this for about 5 months.  (Had fibro since 1988). 
I use a moist heat pad and pray for the week to end.   I don't take pain pills.  None have every worked for me. 
Joanna