Freaking DYING

 UGH, ugh, UGH!  We have 31" of snow, getting another 18-20" tomorrow.  It is only in the single digits at night, and mid 20's during the days.  I am SO sore all over- my back, hips and sciatica are all out of whack.  I can barely bend my fingers and havent felt my feet in days  :(   I dont know how much more of this I can take.  My Rheum is SO anti-pain meds, its almost unfair.  She tells me to take Motrin- yeah, like that helps...  She upped my Cymbalta to 60mg per day, and its STILL not doing anything.  I really, really need to find another Dr, and soon.  I feel awful.  Im SO tired too!  I feel like a zombie on the Cymbalta, and I take it before bed- but the whole day I still just feel like a fat useless slug.  I also think it is MAKING me depressed- how is that possible?  I just dont know what to do, where to turn, who to call and beg for mercy from.  I have so much going on in my life right now that is just awful, and I cant take this on top of it.  Why does it have to be this way?  

Is there anything you all do that helps the pain, stiffness, exhaustion, and depression?  I feel like Im failing my family daily...  Ugh...

I could not make it without my three vicoden a day and that does NOT get rid of the pain just takes the edge off. I have a lot of arthritis issues too though. Now my 38 yr old daughter they do not want to even give her "pain med;s" she has firbro, arthritis and Migranes. So   you might try another doc or is there any alternatice  herbs she would let you try ????

 Im going to call my PCP today and see what he will do.  He is more "giving" with medications and understanding of pain (younger guy, a PA, and is cross training as a pain management doc).  He prescribes me Barbiturates for my migraines to avoid the possible interaction of Seratonin Syndrome from the Cymbalta and a regular migraine med.  BUT- I cant take those to help the Fibro pain- it just doesnt touch it, and they have caffeine in them- and make me jittery- blah.

A couple of times the pain was SOOOOOO bad for me that I had to go to the ER and that is where I was helped the most.  My pain was relieved pretty much and they actually sent a nasty note to my PCP and that was where the ball got rolling.

My bestest friend when it's cold is my electric blanket., crank it up to "toast" and get some relief. Also my doc has me take 20mg of Cymbalta in the AM and another 20 in the PM that helps keep it in my system on a continuous level. Cymbalta can cause depression and I believe they say if that happens to contact your doc because they may need to change to a different med. Hope you get some relief soon!

 So sorry that you are in so much discomfort and your doc won't give you pain meds. I have a pain specialist / neurologist as part of my health care team. These other docs, including my rheumatologist, don't really "get it." and don't prescribe strong enough meds. Nothing takes the pain away, but at least I get some mild relief.

Cymbalta made me feel suicidal. I became fixated on walking in front a bus. It was just awful. 

{{gentle hugs}}

You are not failing....you are in pain and that is exhausting in itself.  I am new to the fibro portion of this site...but my docs have all told me that fibro is what they believe I have and I have accepted it.   I feel your frustration.   There are only a few things that work for me.  I dumped my rheumatologist in late 08 when she wanted to prescribe me fentynol patches and another new high narcotic patch....I mean really strong meds and all I was asking for was the occasional vicodin or valuim.   Lyrica made me like a comotose zombie. Valuim really helps me and would only take it when I really needed it.  The same with vicodin.  My docs are very much against these two meds.  why I still don't know.

Last  year when I started my lap band process I had to see a shrink and I told  him that the most depressing thingaside from my weight was the constant pain from the fibro.  I would feel relief if I moved like they asked but we all know how hard it is to get the first step going.  He asked me to try Cymbalta...I was very hesitant.  We tried many doses...30, 60..then 90...all the way up to 120.  He kept asking me to stick it out.  Well after 1 year I can say...it has saved me.  I am very lucky I do not feel depressed.  I do have stints of extreme tiredness...just wanting to sleep and sleep  and sleep.  He has now lowered my dose back to 60  which I am now taking at night to try to shake the sleepiness.  But the pain has improved drastically.

Keep trying.  Don't give up.  What works for one does not work for another.    I do hot soaks.... massages....accupunture.   

 Thanks everyone...  Just hearing that Im not alone in the struggle to find something that helps, helps.  I guess its a slow process, and Im just feeling very impatient ad worn down.  But, Im sure you can all understand that.

My PCP saw me yesterday and we worked out some new meds to see if they would help.  I have severe insomnia- so he started me on Ambien.  I took it last night and got the best night of sleep Ive had in years!  I feel so much better today already.  He also prescribed me a new pain med called Midrin- so we will see how that works...  And Im sticking out the Cymbalta, at least until the script is done and its time to revisit my Rheum to reevaluate.

I have been through a ton of different meds...what is working for me right now is: 60 Cymbalta (no problems with it other then upset stomach for the first few weeks), 5 mg of baclofen for my long muscle spasms(it is used for many MS folks) and I started Tramadol 50 every 6 hours as needed. The Tramadol has been a great new thing for the pain. I also take 3 tylenol at night too....bedtime can be my worst time. When I had my VBG 9/29/09, I had to stop all of my meds for a few weeks...it was horrible....it made my hospital stay awful. I have had 3 different rhuemo's, they were quite belittling except for the last that started the baclofen. My primary is a doll and will work with me within reason...as I said, I have done the muscle relaxers, valium and such....I wish you the best..it stinks to be in such pain.....also remember you should not be taking motrin as much...I have been told not to take at all....that was an issue because I ate 1000's of mgs a day when flairing.

Be well!

 

Please try not to feel guilty---it just ramps up the stress and makes you feel worse.  This is not something you have brought on yourself.

It is hard and it will continue to be hard.  But, there are sunny days ahead as well.

I have been ill for 15 1/2 years.  I have tried a lot of different meds and alternative stuff--all with varying success.

I know it is hard to move, think or do anything.  But, try to do research as much as you can.  You can take ideas to your dr.  I like the mayo clinic's website and fibrotalk.com.  Educate yourself and the people around  you as much as you can.  It is essential to have good support.

I have found that it works best to take on one symptom at a time.  I always start with my sleep disorder.  If you are constantly changing meds and therapies, you don't know what is really helping and what is not.

Hang in there.  You are not alone.

Take care