HI Everyone, I am a 42 year old living in Trinidad and Tobago and have had FM for the last 17 years. It is been a wild ride over the last couple of years, having to fight depression and the worst symptom of all - ANXIETY. I pretty much dont take any meds but try to look at more holistic ways to treat the pain but i should say it only lessens the pain strength and makes it more manageable. My family tries to understand the disease but they dont fully comprehend how you can be in pain every day and sometimes you just want to be alone and not go out. I was a very outgoing person who loved to travel and go to the beach, now I just mange trying to get to work. But, I have finally accepted that i have a disease and that i have to take are of myself. Take care folks and I would be lending support to others.
Hey there, Bernard! Welcome to the fibro forum. We’re a pretty friendly bunch here, despite the fact that nobody else seems to have answered you. Having fibro is no picnic (let alone picnic at the beach!), and it makes life complicated and difficult. As if life weren’t complicated and difficult enough already!
How about joining in on some of the discussions that are already going? You’re sure to meet some nice and helpful people. Meanwhile, thanks for introducing yourself, and all the best to you!
Seenie from Moderator Support
Hey Bernard! Glad to meet you & happy to welcome you to this support group. I am terribly erratic about checking out this site regularly. Which is a shame since I do get so much out of reading & learning what everyone is going through.
BTW, my name is Patti & I live in Ohio with my husband of 40 years & just recently my elderly mother moved in with us. I have 2 adult daughters, one recently married & one living in California with a wonderful man & taking a stab at writing novels. So far, so good.
Anyway, that’s me in a nutshell.
As for pain & how I deal with it. I take Cymbalta twice daily & Lyrica twice daily. I recently tried going off Lyrica due to some of the side effects, but am now back to taking it again as I hurt so much when off it. I still work fulltime, but it is hard. My boss is pretty understanding about my illness, but I am greatly missed (due to workload) when I can’t be at work shouldering my share of the work. I feel guilty when I have to call off, but some days are just too much. We are having really wild temperature/barometric changes in weather right now. I haven’t called off, but I really consider it every day.
I wish you the best in your battle with this illness. Stay strong & check in here often for support!
Patti
Thanks much Love Pug. I don’t take any medications as I really do not want to become reliant or have the side effects. I am married with a 12 year old son. I work fulltime but its getting harder. I definitely am trying some life style changes to cope. Have a great day and keep the fight.
Hi Bernard! I’m still a newbie here & I’m not good at checking in, but here I am today. I haven’t officially been diagnosed by a dr with fibro, other than my reg dr has done the “touch” test on the areas that are the usual painful points, & I’ve done a lot of research on the internet about fibro. My symptoms included being tired all the time (no energy), depressed, & in chronic pain. Last December she prescribed Cymbalta 60 mg 1x daily. I was very hesitant about starting it bc I have a thing about being on medications. In less than a month, I felt like a miracle had happened. There were 3 things I’d done differently so I’m not sure if it was the combination of the 3, or just one of them. 1) started Cymbalta, 2) stopped eating sugar, & 3)
Increased my dosage of Vitamin D to 2,000 units daily. I’m still in disbelief about being pain free & not being as tired. I still get sleepy in the afternoon or early evening bc a couple of my meds have the side effect of causing drowsiness. Anyway, I just wanted to share what’s worked for me. As much as I was against starting Cymbalta, if if truly is the one thing that stopped the pain, I would do it again without hesitation.
Hello Island Guy !! I am in Nebraska, the middle of the USA. Have had fibro for 38 years. All the usual meds, Cymbalta, Lyrica etc. have caused horrible side effects. An opioid and cortisone “saved” me for 10 years, but cortisone shots did cause osteoporosis like the doc said it would. I am not on any meds now except Xanax, which calms my anxiety so I can actually go to sleep at night. I don’t sleep well and deeply, but at least I don’t feel that anxiety creeping all over me.
Distractions help, reading, watching birds, running errands. While I was working I forced myself to dress, drive, and kinda forgot the pain while working. Being retired now, the pain is much worse. I often feel like crying, and did take a class at a local hospital on how to relieve stress and pain. I am glad you found this site… i also don’t check in very often, but it IS AVAILABLE to all of us, 24/7 Carolyn in Nebraska
Hi Carolyn, Thanks for the “shout out”. I know exactly how you feel regarding sleep but I will continue without medication - for now. I have found being active and cooking keeps me less stressed and passes the time away. Whilst in work I try my best to keep a stress free zone. In fact I am in office now and listening to cello music. Also knowing that i can sign off and read the support from you guys make it much easier. Have a great weekend and please feel free to drop me a line if need be. Island Guy
Hi Laney . taking your advice and getting the Vitamin D. i am really trying to ensure i use more natural alternatives to relieve the pain and hopefully get rid of this pain for good. Definitely trying to be of sugar but as you know everything has some amount of it, especially if you dine out. Thanks for the shout out and please feel free to drop me a line if you nee to talk - Bernard