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Archive through April 01, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: July 2008 - Sept 2008: Community Corner: Health Center: Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain : Archive through April 01, 2008 users admin

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Kady
Member

07-30-2000

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 6:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kady a private message Print Post    
the lyrica is working really well for me. i am taking 1 at night and 1 in the morning. next monday, i'll add an afternoon dose. the first few days it really knocked me out but after that, i was fine. i do have an increase in appetite, so i'm gonna have to work on it and figure out some ways to feed it but keep the calories down.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 6:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pamy a private message Print Post    
YAH Kady!!! glad you are getting relief with that !!!

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 8:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Hiya Kearie and everyone... my arm is same old same old. :-( I'm just pretty bummed about a whole lotta stuff right now.

Not to worry. I'll be fine.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 8:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Popping in here to b*tch about how lousy I'm feeling, (it's the ONLY thread I figure I won't get slammed for this) anyhow... I woke up today with a mild case of dh's cold. He's got bronchitis, but me... I just have the runny eyes, congestion, sore throat, sneezing, headache, and overall feeling of yuck. PLUS my shoulder/rotator cuff pain, is still a huge concern, as the pain has me taking tylenol 3's with codein more often than not lately. I don't like the constant fuzzy state I get from it, so I was trying to avoid taking it as often as needed, but now I find its the ONLY thing that works. Dammit. DH and I are going to see our doc tonight at the walk in clinic, dh wants antibiotics and I want a referral for physio. I'm worried about getting a frozen shoulder. My range of motion is getting severely limited already from pain and stiffness and that is scary. Also I'm depressed about not finding a job. PLUS it's that time of the month, where I am hormonal and I can easily sink into a real depression if I'm not careful. Last night dh caught me weeping at crap on tv, and said 'oh oh here we go again' LOL/sigh. I shoulda had a total hysterectomy, not a partial. No periods, but I still get PMS the last week of every month. Argh!

It's official, I need a hug. LOL

Sage
Member

07-20-2000

Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 8:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sage a private message Print Post    



(((Mame))) I sure hope you get some relief from the pain soon - without the pain meds. It's real hard being dependent on drugs for that, so I know how you feel about it. I know how hard things are for you and Vin, and hope you see some hope and sunlight soon.

Denecee
Member

09-05-2002

Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 8:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Denecee a private message Print Post    
(((Mameblanche))) Please feel better soon!!

Gilda
Member

08-21-2006

Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 9:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Gilda a private message Print Post    


Huggies for Mameb, feel better soon!

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 9:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
Thanks so much Sage, 'Necee, & Gilda! Well I do have some (hopefully) good news. I just got a call out of the blue from a job recruiter who found my resumé on line! It's VERY similar to the one I applied for recently, and the location and pay are better!!! My interview is tomorrow. Ack! Here I am feeling like crap with my cold and my shoulder... but ya know what? I'm up for it! It's certainly picked up my spirits, that's for sure.

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pamy a private message Print Post    
(((Mame)))) you come here and vent anytime, I actually think it helps relieve some of the pain!!
xoxoxooxo hope tomarrow is a better day!

hugs to all my FFF!

Resortgirl
Member

09-23-2000

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 4:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Resortgirl a private message Print Post    
Hey Pamy! I was diagnosed with Fibro last week. The Lupus test came back negative the second time, so they went back to the drawing board. I finally saw a pain specialist and they put me on Cymbalta(which is an antidepressant that helps with pain) and plan to do the nerve injections and then possible burn the nerves if it seems to help. My question for you is this. Could I try the corvalen while I'm on other meds? Do you take anything besides that? Oh, I also occasionally take tramadol, but don't like to because it makes me feel funny. Only when I'm so uncomfortable that I can't stand it.
It's been over a year since all this started so it's good to finally know what it is. The Cymbalta was very hard to get used to. Most people get drowsy from it but not me! I spent the last week averaging 2 hours of sleep a night. Finally this weekend it seemed to settle down and I got some better sleep.

Anyway, if you have any advice for me that would be great. I just hope this all helps because I've spent a year of my life kind of just hanging on by a thread. Physically and emotionally.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 7:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
RG, wow, I'm glad you finally got a diagnosis!


Corvalen is just a natural sugar supplement, containing D-ribose. That's the sugar needed to produce ATP which is the energy your cells use.

It's theorized that in Fibro, something goes haywire with ATP production, so your cells have no ability to do the normal work they need to do. And that's the cause for the pain, achiness and fatigue (turns out muscles need energy to relax too!).

So it shouldn't be a problem to take it with any other meds. I also take a magnesium supplement called Calm with the Corvalen. I get the raspberrry lemon flavor, mix them both with hot water and drink it like a little cup of tea, three times a day.

Dolphinschild
Member

06-22-2006

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 8:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dolphinschild a private message Print Post    
Resortgirl, I am on Cymbalta for Fibro and my doctor said I can take the corvelan with the meds. that it won't affect any of my other meds I am on.

Dolphinschild
Member

06-22-2006

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 8:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dolphinschild a private message Print Post    
Sorry for not being around here or the board. I have been so crazy busy lately, that I only get a few mins on the computer a day, so I have been mostly a fly by when I can lurker.

For the most part my pain levels have been nothing, but with the last 3 months of taking care of my parents and trying to keep up with my normal life, my pain levels are coming back. I told my Mom I can feel myself crashing, so after this crazy, crazy week, I need to start slowing down a bit. So we are working that out. Other then that, I can't complain. A comet isn't coming to crash to the earth, so life is good.

I haven't forgotten you my FFF's and CPFF's. Hugs... xoxoxoxoxox

PS: Before I forget, Mom's hand isn't any better after PT. I finally got the PT and Doctor to say there is nerve damage. She has another month of PT before they can do the nerve test to asses how bad it is etc. Dad is hanging in there and now my nephew is on home school like my youngest, so his appts. and school work adds to the craziness. *sigh*

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 9:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Mame, how are you feeling? I hope you get a referral to a physio person, and I hope it helps. It may not help the pain but it should help mobility. Thank gawd I haven't lost that much mobility since surgery (I have a little bit, but I know I can work on it once the pain is gone and get it all back).

Sage
Member

07-20-2000

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 1:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sage a private message Print Post    
Oh RG, I'm sorry you have this diagnosis. I don't wish it on anybody, it is tough to deal with. I hope the Cymbalta helps you.

Resortgirl
Member

09-23-2000

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 2:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Resortgirl a private message Print Post    
Thanks Sage and Kar! I find it almost unbelievable that so many people I know from TVCH have Fibro? What's up with that? Is it caused by computer use? Or Reality TV? Sheesh! When they first told me I thought, Yeah, right... You just don't know what it is and there is no blood test for Fibro so it's an easy out. But as I started reading about it and doing some research.. it really does fit with all that I've been feeling. I suppose I was in denial a bit. Hopefully as time passes there will be more research and better treatments. For all of us!

Pamy
Member

01-02-2002

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 6:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Pamy a private message Print Post    
RG, glad you now know what ya have so you can treat it.

Kar explained the Corvalen, Itake same as she does Calm/Corvalen. I take vicodin, trazadone, and for this month phentermine. I dont have any trouble mixing them. I quit smoking in Nov, between the corvalen and that I feel better (on most days) than I have in years

I also know that a low carb diet is supposed to help, I have just started that the last few weeks.

I have had some bad pain days, like pms, but havent had period. SO I am dealing with perimenopause too!!!! Isnt being a woman wonderful?! lol

hope you find the right plan to make you feel better....I think having fibro is better than having lupus, so at least thats a plus :-)

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 11:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tess a private message Print Post    
I also take Cymbalta for my fibro and lupus. Most days it cuts my pain by at least 75%. I take at least 10 other medications for my lungs and a host of other stuff and they haven't interfered with the Cymbalta and I'm currently on the highest dose allowed.

The things I have a lot of problem with still are stairs. Going down I have a horrible balance problem and I cannot make my left leg go down to the next step independently. My right foot has to have already stepped down before my left leg will even move. It's pretty embarrassing. I walk downstairs like a 2 year old!! Going up, I have the same problem but I don't "freeze up" like I do a lot of the time when going down.

On the days when the pain in my legs is unbearable I do a couple of Tylenol #3. I've had a standing prescription for more years than I can remember but a standard 5 day script lasts me about 8-10 months.

The worst days are when I cannot even lift my head off my pillow after waking up. It's as if my entire body is paralyzed and the exhaustion is almost crushing me. Does anyone else get that? It's been happening for years but my doc just says, "You have lupus; it's going to happen."

RG, it's not computers or even evil BB. I was diagnosed by my rheumatologist back in 1990 and didn't have a computer then and reality tv was just a dream. :-)

Resortgirl
Member

09-23-2000

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 3:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Resortgirl a private message Print Post    
Pamy - Tess... so sorry you have such struggles. I don't think my symptoms are quite as bad. My biggest problem has been fatigue and burning pain in my muscles when I wake up. The joint pain and overall crappy feeling are tolerable most days. However, what energy I have I give to my job and there is little for anyone else. That sucks! I forgot to mention.... the injections they are giving me isn't for Fibro but rather for degenerative discs in my neck that are causing pain. I would say some days that's the worst pain I feel. Feels like my head is to heavy for my neck! And while I know I am blessed with a huge brain, I don't think that's the problem..lol! Anyway, glad to hear that you tolerate the Cymbalta Tess. At first I didn't think it was going to be good for me.. the side affects werre kicking my butt. But it's settling down now.... I'm only on 20mg... but hope to get up to 30 because the doctor has free samples of that and the price of this stuff is crazy!!

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 6:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
RG, the Corvalen helps a lot with fatique and energy issues. You might also try a vitamin system developed by Dr. Teitelbaum called the "Energy Revitalization System". It's a combination of amino acids and vitamins that should help a lot.

I couldn't take cymbalta, gave me absolutely horrific headaches.

Interesting that everyone's fibro pain is a bit different. I have sharp, shooting pains and muscle spasms. Can't say that I've ever had the burning sensations, or achiness that most people describe.

((((( Tess ))))) I just wish I could swoop in and gift you with a whole new body! Or at least zap all the illnesses of the old one!

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 2:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tess a private message Print Post    
New body would be great!!

I take 120 mg of Cymbalta and the headaches were massive for months. I still get them a 2-3 times every week. I lost 53 pounds the first 3 months of Cymbalta, too, though once I became mostly bedridden, I gained a good bit of the weight back. I still have large blood clots in my right sinus cavity, too. Supposed to go to an ENT but that one more doctor than I can face right now.

Now that the headaches have eased a bit, I figure the Cymbalta helps more than it hurts. The burning pain in my arms is better than it was. And the Neurontin helps with the neuropathy in my extreme lower legs and feet.

Kar, I'm sorry the Cymbalta didn't work for you. I hope you have something now that is helping.

RG, it's good to have a diagnosis (even one you don't like) so someone else besides you knows it's real and you can get some help with the pain. Glad to hear you are starting to tolerate the Cymbalta.

Resortgirl
Member

09-23-2000

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 3:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Resortgirl a private message Print Post    
I was determined to try and tough out the Cymbalta side affects, which were mainly anxiety through the roof and sleeplessness. I probably got a total of 12 hours of sleep in a week. It was horrible... but the next choice of meds was Lyrica, which sounds like it has even worse side affects and one that I particularly wouldn't be happy with, weight gain. I know that sounds so vain, but it would bug the crap out of me to be out of control of what I weigh. I'm only on 20mg...lol... a baby dose. Maybe if we up it a bit the pain will even get better. It's about 25% better now. Which I appreciate greatly!
Kar, I hope you have found something to help too!

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 3:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Tess & RG, as odd as it sounds, I'm getting better. I do partly attribute it to the Corvalen, and being very careful with sleep and diet.

And I've also been doing this regimen that Pamy posted a long time ago.

www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com

I've been doing it for about 10 months now. And I am a lot better! Last month I woke up one day and realized that not only do I have more good days than bad, but that the majority of my days are good, and almost pain free.

I'm not on any prescription meds, altho when I travel I do take 25 mg of Lyrica (which is a miniscule dose) to help my sleep stay stable.

And if I have bad muscle spasms at night, I use a heating pad.

I can't say for sure which thing has helped the most, or if it's just a combo of all of them. Just glad I'm better!

Resortgirl
Member

09-23-2000

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 4:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Resortgirl a private message Print Post    
Kar, I guess I never heard that you got the diagnosis of Fibro. I just find this so incredible that the 3 of us have this, along with Sage. All of you have been to my place.... just strange that's all.

I'm so glad you're getting relief Kar. I hate hate hate pain meds. They make me feel so screwed up and I can't function very well on them. So if there is an alternative to that, I'm all over it!!! Thank you for the link!

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 4:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Well, I admit that protocol is a little complicated, and can take a long time to see big results. But the thing that convinced me that it had some merit was that it said when you first started it, you would feel "toelrably" worse for a few days. I felt MUCH worse.

And the times I've stopped doing it, I went downhill fast again. So I'm pretty convinced it's the real deal.

Heh, I'm sure it wasn't your place that brought it on. For me, it was definitely stress.