Do You Have Fibromyalgia?

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia recently after having chronic pain for the past 6 months. If you have fibromyalgia, what has your experience been like with medications, treatments and physician care??

Yes, I have it.

I'm glad you were dx'd so early. Doctors are becoming more aware of it. The average used to be seven years to be dx'd with it.

Since it only took six months for you, it seems your doctor is taking your condition seriously. Most people w/ fibro are cared for by a rheumatologist.

Many of us need pain medications and don't feel like an "addict" if you have to rely on narcotics for relief. Use them if you need them. You may also in time need sleeping pills since sleep disruptions are a hallmark of fibro.

Warm water therapy is awesome for almost everyone that uses it. D-Ribose is supplement that works for many too. D-R helps heal the muscles, something ppl with fibro need.

There are many excellent online sites with more information to help you. But um... can't think of any right now.... A search on "Fibromyalgia" or "Chronic Fatigue" (which is related) will bring up a lot of information.

There are also a boat load of support groups online, look around and find one that best fits your needs. I know Yahoo groups has hundreds.

It is an illness you can live with but you will have to make adjustments as you get used to your illness.

Good luck, hon, you'll get thru this.

I wish I could give you first hand experience, but I can only offer second hand. My mother has had it for years and has had good luck with medications, but physicians are a different story! Apparently many feel it's a made-up condition! I think (hope) that's changing now, but just make sure your doctor knows that your pain is not imaginary. Yoga has also helped my mom a lot to relieve the ache. Good luck!
I have had Fibromyalgia since 1981 but wasn't diagnosed until 2000. It started after I had a hysterectomy. I thought it was arthritis, but couldn't account for the fatigue. I was tested 5 times for MS and Lupus. Finally a friend of mine who is a nurse told me to see a rheumatologist and ask about fibromyalgia. I had pain in all 18 tender points. I then was told about a female rheumatologist who specializes in Fibromyalgia in women. She is fabulous. I take Ultram for the pain on a regular basis and Darvocet when I have a flair up. Not that the Darvocet is stronger (its not for me) but its that for some reason I need something different to bring the flairup under control. I have found that aquatherapy (exercize in a heated pool)works wonders for the pain and stiffness. Also, low impact aerobic exercise if you can get past the pain. Exercize really helps to reduce the pain. Also, I love having a full body massage for pain conytol. I have a friend who is a massage therapist and is trained in what helps, and when I have a flairup, I go weekly for massage until things feel better for me. She only charges me $10..00 and sometimes nothing if I have to keep coming every week. And, for the fatigue, my rheumatologist had me tested for sleep apnea and I now use a CPAP machine when I sleep and my fatgue is kept under better control because I now get into the deep sleep needed for your body to rest and repair itself. But I still tire very quickly when cleaning or doing wash or other strenuous activity. Somedays I feel like giving up but I rest and I try not to overdo things. Hope this helps. REMEMBER, ONLY a rheumatologist is trained to diagnose and treat fibromyalgia.
i have had m.e since i was 11 (1993) and have had it continusously going on 14 years now...the best advice i can give (which is something i didnt do myself) is if ur doctor isnt taking it seriously, dont be afraid to go to another doctor who does take it seriously.

search for help groups on line or even local m.e/fibromyalgia groups in ur area...even just talking to folk that understand it cna make a difference...

hope ur keeping ok
Ultram for pain, Zanaflex for muscle spasms, Ambien CR for sleep, Requip for restless leg syndrome, Effexor XR for depression.

I am co-owner of Yahoo's largest Fibromyalgia support group. We have over 2,000 members offering support and understanding to others like us. If you are interested check us out at:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/fib...
I have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which is somewhat similar to Fibromyalgia, and for me none of the medications have worked they just make me sick. Luckily I have been able to work with some great physicians which have helped a lot (luckily I like my neurosurgeon because he's the only one in my state who does the type of surgery that they wanted me to have done for my spinal cord stimulator (scs)). My treatments have been somewhat unsuccessful, (except for my SCS which hasn't worked super well because of my scarring condition), but I guess I can't say too much about treatments because the treatments are different for Fibromyalgia. I would suggest working with a pain management doctor, and possibly a pain management psychologist both of those have helped me quite a bit. Good luck!
Chronic pain patient