Flare 4 days and counting

NEw to this forum. I had RNY revision 09/2010. I still dont understand about my fibro. :( This flare is into its fourth day. I thought I was feeling a little better yesterday and decided to clean house and fold clothes. This left me exhausted. Today the pain in my head neck and back are terrible and the rest of me just achy as heck! I've tried lyrica, neurotin and others before surgery but the swelling was crazy, like 12 lbs of fluid in one day! So since surgery I have been in the "suck it up" frame of mind. We recently moved to Fort Belvoir and I have new Army docs who treat me as if I am a drug seeker, blah blah blah. I find it laughable at times because I know other people are getting help and some really are drug seekers. I suffer and feel like my doctors are clueless to it. I had one tell me two months ago that she was sure my pain would all go away with my continued weightloss! ha ha! As if weightloss cured fibro, or the bone fragment floating around in my spine, or my other complicated issues I have. Sorry for the rant, just so tired of it.

So sorry you are being yanked around! If only these people had to live with what we do. I don't know how military works but are ther pain management clinics available or someone that specializes in rheumatology?They would be more helpful that a primary doc. I'm on cymbalta myself and that seems to help but I also take narcotics too to calm the pain but even so there are still days when I want to scream. Gentle hugs and hope you can get some relief soon!

Oh, honey........you are singing my song! I also suffer chronic pain and can't really take any meds for it. I am allergic to most pain meds, (even Tylenol and asprin) and can't take ibruprofin because I am on blood thinners. The only pain med I can take is Dilaudid, and I can't find a doctor anywhere to give it to me because it is a narcotic. Even my PCP doc won't give it to me and she knows I am not a druggie! The druggies make me mad because they make it so difficult for decent people like us to find adiquit pain relief! The bad guys make the good guys suffer! Try looking into the homeopathic meds like fish oil supplements and stuff. But check with your doc first. Fish oil may be natural and stuff, but you can't take it if you are on blood thinners, and if you are allergic to aspirin (like me) don't take Willow Bark. (that is basicly aspirin) Hope you find relief soon.

I had the same reaction on the drug seeking here at RACH, Hubby and I went to the patient advocate and they put me with an internist, who totally knew the deal with chronic pain.
You can get a lot done when you go through the patient advocate at your MTF.
Good luck

I am an Army Wife. I take something called Topamax because the nuronin made me gain too much weight. I was hungry all the time. I take flexiril (muscle relaxer)as needed and tramadol for pain as needed. You know what really helps??? they won't tell you about it because most doctors don't know that it works. Lidoderm patches (Lidocaine). You can cut them to make them go further. Tricare covers them and they don't make the area numb like the lidocaine that your dentist shoots in your mouth for fillings. they are awsome and they help your pain go away. You will love them!!!!!!. Get a referral to pain management like I did. But, your doctor on base can give you a prescription for pain patches. Ask them to give you a prescription for 3 patches per day or else they will only give you one box. If you have pain in many places, you will want the 3 patches. These patches last for 12 hours. They are a miracle. I used to be on Morphine and Percocet and I am off all of it now. I hope this helps you. I feel for you, I really do. One more thing, Have them check your vitamin levels. I just found out that my Parathyroid (not the same thing as thyroid) was high because Vitamin D and calcium were low. Parathyroid regulates vitamin D and calcium in the body. my bones and muscles have ached for 2 years. thiamine, vitamin c, whole chemical imbalance going on and many doctors overlooked it. I have been exhausted. I am telling you, the patches will help.. I promise they will help with your pain. The good thing is that it doesn't look like your trying to score drugs either.

 I have never thought to use those patches. I am also a military wife. I was given patches about 1 year ago when my back went out. I have some and I think I will try it. I had the sleeve back in Feb and I was doing fine with my fibro (managiable with pain meds****il 1 month ago. Now nothing helps. Going to go get them right now.