I have gotten to the point with my chronic fatigue syndrome on top of my fibro where it is effecting every part of my life. It is no longer just coming and going, it's constant. Finally when I had enough, I went to my family doc and begged for adderall to help with the fatigue. (Only taken on days I have to do something productive like the 3 days I work at my job) It doesn't help with the muscle fatigue and pain but it helps me a lot with focus and energy. I had been living on energy drinks and caffeine pills for so long they are no longer as helpful.
One day my fibro pain was so bad i dug frantically through the cupboards for any type of pain medicine that I could find. I don't like to use narcotics if I don't have to but this day was especially bad and I was in tears.
My husband had the nerve to tell me that I should not take the pills because I could get dependent on them. Mind you, the meds I found were over 4 years old!!! Seriously? Why can't we be treated like people in pain rather than drug seeking idiots? I am so tired of being in pain and nobody really understanding what we are going through.
I get a lot of...well my back hurts too, and oh yea, I have had that! Honestly, all I want is to be normal again, to feel normal again without the pain and severe fatigue.
I am so far behind at my house it is rediculous and the kids apparently love to roll around in the clutter.
Ok, done ranting, feeling a bit better now but still not sure what to do.
I DO understand your pain and your desperation in regards to the fibro. When you're in horrific non-stop pain, you want it to go away at any cost. No, we are not addicts, we are just DESPERATE for relief. And even if some of us end up addicted, is it better to let people suffer endlessly in horrific pain?
I just posted an article of research that explains fibro. Maybe if you show it to your husband it might help some.
Please don't think you're all alone in this. You're not. We're here and hear you. And understand your pain. Just continue to come back and read about it on the discussion pages, and feel free to post as well. I think you'll feel somewhat better if you do.
I have been there and done that. My husband has send why don't you do this and this you will feel better. I just about took his head off. I understand that he wants to help but just can't understand the pain and misery that I go thur on a daily basis.
I get the kids rolling around in the clutter mine destroy the house everyday and think it is funny to do so. I have learned to be ok with toys and clothes and books being put anywhere and everywhere. I only clean for short spurts during the week 5-20 mins. I hold my bigger cleaning for saturday when we have nothing to do.
PS: I've heard the adage, "It's better to have happy kids than a clean floor." And take it from someone who grew up with a clean floor, the adage is true.
I just looked over your profile and see that you are not taking any meds from the Dr. I am sure you have your concerns, and yes, there are side effects to everything, but your Dr will work with you to find the right ones and the right dose to actually help you, and they are not necessarily narcotics.
If you choose not to go the way of the American Medical Association, perhaps a holistic/naturopathic Dr would be of more help, acupuncture, chiropractor? Something besides OTC headache meds...
I'm concerned for you, there are meds to help you, standard and natural.
Amen, amen, amen! I'm sorry, I would rather be an addict (physically) than have to suffer needlessly when something can be done. Of course my doc says drugs will just mask the pain and be like putting on a bandaid. So stinking what? So, are you telling me you are going to cure the wound so there will be no need for a bandaid? Or, are you just going to let that open wound fester? Good grief. Yes, when I am in intolerable pain, I am a drug seeker. I am seeking a modicum of relief and seeking a life that could be just half as productive and enjoyable as yours doc! Sorry for that rant but jeesh, I've had it!
Wow, good rant! Well put. Since the docs can't cure us or improve our status, why not give us some quality of life via strong enuff pain meds? We only want some quality of life. Is that too much to ask?
SK, you always seem to find just the right thing to say. I admire your ability to get right to the heart of the matter and offer very good advice/information. We're lucky to have you here.
Hi Elizabeth, oh my goodness, how do you work ? I also have CFS & fibro and the fatigue is debilitating, I couldn’t get through the day with out my Savella… And tons of natural energy boosters… Ex co q-10,
I understand about the side effects, but the NSAIDs like Motrin actually cause our body to stimulate an immune response and it results in more pain…they cause an increase in the inflammatory cytokines that are found increased in fibro pt’s, and that causes our pain…and leads to our body attacking itself as seen in auto-immune responses like fibro & CFS, I took Motrin, Advil naproxin for 10 years because of neck pain & menstral cramps, now I take Tylenol, and other pain meds if needed, the stronger pain meds have some side effects, but you have to just find one that causes the fewest…
I also am going to talk to my dr. About adderall ( my brain fog can’t spell)
Your husband would hate me I have a whole kitchen cabinet filled with drugs, vitamins, natural supplements, my friends and family call me a walking pharmacy… But my feeling is if there is something I can take to help me feel better, why would I rather suffer, I do try all natural herbs and supplements also, if I can drink a tea that helps with anxiety I will do that over take a pill, however sometimes it’s just not enough. There was a huge post about the difference between addiction and dependence, after I realized that I’m not addicted it helped me not feel bad. Diabetics are dependent on there insulin, it doesn’t mean they are addicted to it.
I worked up until the past 6 months and I have to say its harder to managing this fibro & fatigue than it was to work.
I don’t tell any one anymore about my back pain, joint pain, muscle weakness and pain because like you I would get responses like I know my back is killing me… They don’t get it …
We have to try and remember they just do not understand, how can they, we have the pain and its hard for us to understand… I always tell my dr. I can’t seem to wrap my brain around this… I feel like, what you would expect a women that’s 100 years old to feel.
Please don’t be afraid to try something for the fibro, it won’t take it away, but it will help, if your dr. Will work with you to find the right one or combo
Many hugs & blessings
I so totally can relate to everything you have said, stay strong, I thank god we have each other to understand what we are going through
dee
I agree with you. Why is it such a horrible thing if we take pain med. like Vicodin. My doctor allows me 2 a day. I am 64 years old and in such horrible pain. If I do bcome addicted to them, it is better than being in such pain. Tawnycat
My doctor refuses to give me any kind of pain control meds. Alleve and Tylenol are all I'm allowed to take, and I've told him multiple times I can't take either for more than a day or two without stomach problems. Right now I'm living on heating pads, my barely useful muscle relaxer, and praying that the Effexor that he was sure would solve the problem doesn't give me any more weird days (never miss a dose on that drug, you go through hell for 24 hours). He does want to try Lyrica, but I haven't been able to get in to see him in over a month to try to start that drug, and I'm in the middle of a flare from hell from kitchen day (I couldn't stand it anymore).
I send you gentle hugs. Chronic pain is so misunderstood in the medical community, they think we can just ignore it and continue on like nothing is wrong.
Hi Elizabeth = I certainly know what you are going through. I have had really bad, painful days like I am this morning. My nurse gives me pain pills and I have had the same bottle for 6 months. I used only if it's absolutely necessary. I can understand how frustrating it must be to have your husband not on your side.. I went through this with my ex-husband and part of the reason I divorced him (among other things), was the fact that he was not sympathetic to the illnesses I was developing. I developed all the things I have now, in my marriage. Horrible stress too. I am with you competely in wanting to feel normal again. It hits me every once in a while - and I get tears in my eyes. But I need to move forward and do everything I can to get through the Fibro. All we can do, Elizabeth, is take one day at a time. Hugs!! Laurie