I went to the Internal Medicine doctor yesterday and I liked him. The wait was horrendous. Though…my appointment was for 10, it was almost noon when I was called back, and 1:30-2 when I got out. I like doctors that take their time with you, so I don’t normally complain much about waiting. He just asked me questions, listened to my complaints, read my notes about different symptoms that have been popping up, and said he was writing in my chart I for sure have fibromyalgia. I asked about the validity of the diagnosis without the tender point test and he said he can do the tender point test when I come in next time, but his goal this time was to start me on medicine and try to get the symptoms somewhat under control. He said that he’s prescribing Cymbalta and gabapentin (sp?) For now and I go back on the 9th when we can discuss whether the dosage needs to be changed and he wants to do labs then too. He said since I’m only 28, all he wanted to do today was give me something that may help me get through daily activities. So, I’ll pick my prescriptions up today and hopefully start feeling a little better.
That sounds like a Dr. who knows Fibro. and how to treat it... He is a keeper... Hope you find the meds to relieve your pain. Remember the meds have some side effects. Please give the meds time to get into your system before you make a judgment call on them. The side effects do wean off after about a week... or they did for me.
Huggs, Belinda
Please check with your doctor first but, I would stagger when you start them. I am on Cymbalta and Lyrica.
The cymbalta made a huge difference for me the very next day I started it. I started it at night and it did give me insomnia, even when my doc increased the dose. I switched it to the morning and that helped me get through the day. See what your pharmacist says.
My doc said lyrica is the same medication as gabapentin, just a different formula. Gabapentin levels off for certain people, and you may need to go up in dose with your doctors advice, though it may be a fee increases before you see results. Lyrica is linear (hard to explain). My main side effect from lyrica is dizziness, fogginess and lethargy. I insist the fogginess is from the med not my illness.
Also, like the others said, insist on labs. And i am very surprised he did not check tender points - thats required ti diagnose. Did he at least look at your painful areas for swelling?
He decided to wait for labs because I'd already been there for over 3 hours. I'm not upset about that since he has a copy of bloodwork from my regular doctor and is planning to do more bloodwork on September 9th. I'm supposed to take Cymbalta in the mornings and the gabapentin at bedtime for now and if I don't like it like that he's willing to change it however I need. I told him I didn't plan to start them at the same time and he's fine with that...he's one of those "you know your body better than I do" type of doctors which I like.
That sounds awesome SmallT! I am so glad your doctor is listening to you.
Mine (just to vent) I saw on August 15 and he told me to increase my dose of Lyrica despite the debilitating dizziness and pain I am still in. Next appointment October 20! Yay for me.
Meow, sorry your doctor doesn’t seem to listen to you. I’m very picky about my doctors and try to only go to ones that understand that I know my body (it has been mine since birth, after all) and know when a medicine doesn’t work for me, when I need a different strength of medicine, etc. When I was little I went to a doctor that told me that I knew my body much better than he does and that I needed to always make sure I was my own advocate. It’s hard to find a doctor sometimes, but when you do it’s an awesome feeling!
Hi all,
Just wondered if the meds take away all of the pain you have. Is that the aim, and is it achievable? I take Amitripilene and am up to 50gm, but I still have the pain.
Anne x
Anne, I’m new to this and just got medicine so I can’t really answer your question from experience. From what I’ve read, the medicine really just makes the pain and other symptoms more manageable. Maybe some of the others can answer your question better.
I am new to this too. I think the aim is to make the pain manageable. Even in hospitals, our goals isnt “no pain” but an acceptable pain level.
I am on cymbalta and lyrica and know these take months to work (2-3 months), but I am unsure of amitriptylene. I was just prescribed that for sleep but havent tried it yet. How is it working for you? Does it help at all?