New To This Board - Just Dx With Fibromyalgia

I'm trying to figure it all out too. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia back in March. However, I think I have had this as far back as my late teens. I'm currently taking Savella/ 100mg in the am and 100 mg at night. I'm FINALLY getting alot of relief from the pain and flare ups..taken about a month or so to get there. Sleeping....now that's a different animal. I just can't stay asleep for anything! I am trying Melatonin right now and it doesn't seem to help but I'm not giving up on it just yet.

I can totally empathize with you about ending up in tears from the pain. For months I was walking the floors every night from the pain. I would literally take 5 hot hot baths to try and take the edge off of the pain. For me, my bed buddy is the only thing that will give me some comfort with the flare ups (microwave thing that has rice or something in it..I have to get it to where it is steaming). I'm also trying out some D-Ribose (carbonized sugar) which is from Dr. Titlebaums book "From Fatigued to Fantastic" and I notice a little more energy from taking it....the tiredness is just so debilitating and so is the pain. I'm also taking glucosamine with MSM to help with my joints. I also can tell you that exercise does help but I know that it is not real helpful to talk about when you are in pain..moving around and exercising is the furthest thing from your mind but I've forced myself to ride the exercise bike for about 20 minutes and I've noticed my pain has gotten better.

Alot of things are just trial and error. I keep a journal so I can keep track of what is working and what isn't. I have figured out with me that the weather severely effects my symptoms. We ended up having some wacky weather a couple weeks ago and boom..the severe pain struck and I missed 2 days of work because of it. I was in so much pain and I hurt sooooo bad all over! 
Things can get very frustrating with this illness because so many people can't relate to what you are going through...because we look fine but we are in pain.  I think it's important to try and find people who are going through the same journey as you are so you can get support. :)

Fibromyalgia is definately a journey.  I have been dealing with it for over 3 years.  I am currently on Lyrica 75mg 3x a day and cymbalta.  I also take Nortryptilin to help me get to stage 4 sleep.  I feel these all help keep me at a pain level that i can manage.  Definately never pain free...but functional.  I did find that in addition to my meds, aquatic physical therapy was wonderful.  The pool is 92 degrees F.  I found that i had fewer flares during that time. 

I am having RNY on 6/3/10, so im hoping that the decrease in weight will help also.

I hope you find what works for you.

Take care,

Lissa

Thank you for all the information that you've given me.  I really do appreciate reading about the journeys each person is taking.  It makes me know that I am not alone.  It also gives me information on things that I might want to try or discuss with my doctor.

Good luck on the RNY surgery too!! 
Margie