Living with Fibro and husband

Does anyone have suggestions of books that I could get for my husband so he can understand what fibro is like?  Besides the fibro I also have back problems and currently have 3 kidney stones I'm dealing with.  Hopefully, I will be having lithotropsy this week....I can't seem to pass the stones on my own.   I had VSG 2 years ago.....also am starting to gain a few unwanted pounds back.  Any suggestions how to get a jump start back to losing weight?  I really need support.  Thanks for your help. 

No books but a website. The Invisible Disabilites Advocate

They may have books listed.

Also, what meds are you on? Need to check them for the side effect of weight GAIN.

Liz

I'm taking Lyrica 100mg 3 times a day, Neurontin 600mg at bedtime, Cymbalta 60 mg at bedtime, Vicodin 10/325 usually 3-4 a day, Soma 250mg 3-4 a day.  I know Lyrica can cause weight gain but I think I just have so much pain I'm not following any good eating habits at this time.  I need to get back to the basics but want some ideas how to jump start getting back to dropping pounds........any suggestions?

Cybalta side effects:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000274

What side effects can this medication cause?

Duloxetine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nausea
vomiting
constipation
diarrhea
heartburn
stomach pain
decreased appetite
dry mouth
increased urination
difficulty urinating
sweating or night sweats
dizziness
headache
tiredness
weakness
drowsiness
muscle pain or cramps
changes in sexual desire or ability
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body

Lyrica: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000327

tiredness dizziness headache dry mouth nausea vomiting constipation gas bloating "high" or elevated mood speech problems difficulty concentrating or paying attention confusion difficulty remembering or forgetfulness anxiety lack of coordination loss of balance or unsteadiness uncontrollable shaking or jerking of a part of the body muscle twitching weakness increased appetite weight gain swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs back pain

Vicodin: http://www.rxlist.com/vicodin-drug.htm
The most frequently reported adverse reactions include: lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory than in nonambulatory patients and some of these adverse reactions may be alleviated if the patient lies down.
  Gabapentin also known as Neurontin usually prescribed for Epilpsy. It's most common OFF label use is Peripheral Neropathy pain. How it got to be used for Fibro???? I use warm water for my fibro. I use Topamax for my PN and Tramadol/Amytriptyline for the breakthru pain.

Neurontin needs to be tritated up to rather large doses for MOST (not all) patients to even notice an effect. And then your body has a bad habit of getting use to that dose, which develops into an upward spiral of ever increasing doses. 

It's typically given to patients with Peripheral Neuropathy 

MedlinePlus Drug Information: Gabapentin

In the three years that I was on Neurontin, I had all of these:
drowsiness
tiredness or weakness
dizziness
headache
shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control
double or blurred vision
unsteadiness
memory problems
diarrhea
dry mouth
constipation
weight gain
swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

What they don't mention is that the memory issues NEVER go away once you've had them. 

Drowsiness/tiredness/weakness did not come even close to describing what I felt and most of my PN friends experienced. 

When I first started and every time I tritated up in dosage, I would be absolutely and completely useless to my family. I started at 1800 mgs (felt no relief) and got to 2100 mgs before feeling a difference. By the time I finished I was taking 4800 mgs a day. Some people I know were taking 7000 mgs with no relief.

I got off the neurontin finally in 2006 after coming down to 300 mgs between 2003 and 2006. 

I was at 195 when I started neurontine, and hit my highest weight of 250 while on it.

The only one besides Vicodin that I have ever had was the neurontin.

Now, I will say in fairness to the drug that my husband takes neurontin and has not had the same side effects. 

So it looks like you about split half and half on the drugs causing an increase and those causing a decrease in appetite.

While I doubt it is accurate for a sleeve, you could do the 5 day pouch test that is for RNY'ers. If nothing else it will focus your eating properly and give you a five day push. 

Liz

Liz....
Wow, what good information!  I am going to get the book and information on the 5 day pouch test.  It sounds like that would be a good thing for me to do to help get me back on track.  I'm having a lithotripsy tomorrow for a kidney stone but plan on talking with my doctor about a medicine review and changing some things.  I wish I could stop all these meds.
Thanks,
Sara

I have a couple of books that are pretty informative The First Year, Fibromyalgia and Fibromyalgia and Chronic Muscle Pain. You might see if you can find them on Amazon.com. Also there are lots of websites he can go to for more info. As for weight gain it usually helps to go back to basics and start journaling what you are eating and weighing and measuring your amounts.
Good luck!

Lyrica is know for weight gain, so i would discuss that with your Dr there are other meds out there that work and dont have that side effect. http://www.savella.com/  is a pretty good, site and the medication is what I am on and and haveing some luck. there are lots of other websites out there that have info that could help informing the uninformed. Good luck

Thanks for the info.  Wish I could get hubby on hte computer.  I took savella with no good results but am planning on talking to my doctor about a review of all my medicines.  Thanks again.

Savella, also known as milnacipran was just recently added to the list of approved Fibro drugs.

Found the Prescribing Information and everyone looking into or on that drug needs to check out the chart on page 7 of the pdf. I'm not saying it's bad, just be aware. The ones listed in plain sight are just these:

The most common side effects associated with Savella treatment is nausea. In clinical trials, patients experiencing nausea described it as mild to moderate. Other common side effects were headache, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, hot flush, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), vomiting, palpitations, increased heart rate, dry mouth, and hypertension.

This is not a complete list of side effects.

Liz

   

I am so sorry you are having a difficult with getting the support you need at home.  Has your husband ever gone to a doctors appointment with you so he can hear what your doctor has to say about FB?  That may be a place to begin with him.  There are a lot of good books out there on the subject of FB, you go to Amaon.com and find a lot, look through the list, read the descriptions and select the one that you think will your husband might read.

I take Cymbalta and I also wear a 72 hour pain patch which is my miracle worker.  For pain I am treated by a doctor specializing in pain management.