My doctor said I have fibromyalgia.The med.s he put me on make me really sick,I can't take them.The name is nabumetone,there is another pill that has to be taken with this one,misoprostol.I get really bad pains in my stomach,I throw up and I can't eat,so I stoped taking them.My doctor is new to treating fibromyalgia.So what I want to know is if anyone else has fibromyalgia,if so what med.s do you take for the pain?Also,I was told that exercise helps,so when I go back to the doctor I am going to ask about an exercise plan.If anyone has any idea on what exercises would help ease the pain,please let me know so I can ask my doctor about them.For people who don't know what fibromyalgia is,it is flu-like pain throughout the body,fatigue,stiffness and trouble sleeping.I have tried many different sleeping pills,6,I can't take any.I don't know what it is,but for some reason I always get many of the bad side effects.So if anyone knows of any med.s that don't have really bad side effect that may help me,please let me know.My pain is worse in my neck and lower back.The pain in the rest of my body does go away when I take my tramadol.
Dominie2008-11-09T21:36:43Z
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I've had fibromyalgia since 1982. I have 100 Tips for Coping at http://www.fms-help.com/tips.htm My fibro story is at http://www.fms-help.com/fibro.htm A list of things I use that helps me is at http://www.fms-help.com/what.htm Each of us is different. Some meds work for some but not all people with fibro. You have to experiment (sigh - no wonder they call it "Millionaire's Disease" - and it helps to have a compassionate, knowledgeable doctor and a pill splitter - a cheap gadget to cut pills). I never take the full dose of any new med - I always take the smallest amount to get a result and avoid side effects. Please get a better doctor! Sadly, most of us have to "EDUCATE" our doctors about fibromyalgia. It is a confusing condition with many facets to it. They are not even sure yet what causes fibro, much less to cure it. Don't believe those ads on TV - there is no one drug that helps ALL people with fibro. You might want to subscribe to my free fibro newsletter at http://www.fms-help.com
I have had fibromyalgia for a few years. At first I thought I could treat it with diet, exercise, and vitamins. About 6 months ago I just wanted to die. I started on Lyrica and feel so much better. I can not say that I am pain free but I am able to have a productive life. I could not tolerate the 150 mg in the morning it made me dizzy and very tired. I take 75 mg with my breakfast and the other 75mg at lunch and 150 mg in the evening, that seemed to work best. Vitamin Bs are said to be beneficial so I take a Super B Complex in the afternoon, I take Lunesta for sleep. I found HTP-5 first thing in the morning helps with the inability to concentrate caused by the Fibro. I wish you well.
Many, many do. Please find a knowledgeable Doctor, you may want to start with a rhuematologist. The research continues between central nervous system and viral. I had Echo virus when I was 5, that would be 44 years ago and many other viral problems from endometriosis to pitariosis rosacea on my arm (never hear of that one, I thought I had ring worm!) The last nasty virus was CMV when I was 28, that is in the Epstein-Barr family. My niece has had similar viral problems and has Fibro too. I have been told that there are several subsets of Fibro, so you will have to do some homework before you go and quiz your Doctor on possible side affects of meds before he/she gives them to you. Lots to learn. Look up a Dr. Robert Bennett, he is a patient, researcher and advocate for Fibromyalgia and knows what it is about. he works with the NFA. I'll leave some websites for you to check out to learn and find Doctors and locations for support groups you may have in your area. Tramadol on a daily basis works well to take the edge off of my pain too. Stretch and exercise, start slow. Best wishes on your journey.
My mom does, she takes Tramadol, too. I haven't been diagnosed yet, but it's a pretty sure bet I have it, too. I take Cymbalta for Bipolar disorder, and it helps me A LOT with pain. I can tell when I forget to take it, after a couple of days, my back starts hurting all the time. and my shoulders, elbows... you get the picture. I would suggest, too, finding a doctor who is knowledgeable in Fibromyalgia, if you can. Have you tried cutting out sugar and yeast? My mom can tell when she has had sugar, she hurts the next day or so. I hope it works out for you, GOOD LUCK! It's no fun, hurting all the time... :-(
Howdy! Yep, I have Fibromyalgia. I have been diagnosed with it for the past 4 years and before that I was treated for 'non-erosive rheumatoid arthritis' by some world famous doctors who really should have known better. Anyway, I have been taking an interesting cocktail of medications to deal with the problems that the Fibromyalgia gives me, in addition to all of my other health problems. I also take nabumetone. It is an NSAID, but one that is a bit safer for you than Tylenol. (Yes, I did take the extra-strength night-time Tylenol in an attempt to sleep. Nearly killed myself through overdose, too.)
Contrary to what a few people may experience, in some of us Fibromyalgia does have some inflammatory aspects. My joints will swell and get warm as though they are inflamed. Your symptoms will vary and will probably be completely different from any other fibro patient. (That's why they call it a syndrome - there's a group of symptoms that you *may* have, but you may not have all of them. I think 8 out of 12 was the last I had heard...)
Now, I take the nabumetone as a daily, all-purpose, gotta get up in the morning pain reliever. For flare-ups (for me, usually caused by physical or emotional stress or changes in the weather) when I just want to curl up on the couch and die, I add Skelaxin. Skelaxin is a muscle relaxant that can hit pretty hard. It helps to get me through those rough patches, and 1/2 tablet is usually enough to let me sleep through the night.
Because I am also clinically depressed and under the care of a psychiatrist in addition to my primary care doctor and rheumatologist, I was started on Cymbalta. It does work, though it took several months to build up in my system to the point where I could cut back on the pain killers. I take Provigil to stay awake and Concerta to help. Hopefully, I'll be able to drop one of those last two eventually.
I have also learned to monitor my diet. I have severe sensitivities to MSG and phenylalanine that can cause my fibromyalgia to spike. Nitrates and nitrites can contribute to my pain, so I stay away from processed food as much as possible.
Since most fibro patients have multiple health issues, you may want to talk to your doctor about the possibility of some upper digestive tract problem. I have a hiatal hernia that I have to watch, and my symptoms for that are similar to what you described for when you take your pills.
Have you tried taking the medications with food and without? Have you tried taking them seperately? You may have a problem with taking one or the other, or taking them together. Or taking them with other medications that you haven't told us about. Drug interactions are complicated at best, and if you have more than one medical complaint, you may need to double check that a drug interaction isn't the problem.
Maybe the pills are too big? I know my nabumetone are like horse pills, but I've been being treated for one thing or another for so long, I can take just about anything.
In answer to your other question, I've had yoga and pilates recommended to me by every physical therapist and rheumatologist I've asked. Water aerobics comes a close second. And if you can find water pilates - I know some YMCAs do teach it - you'd be golden. The reason exercise works is that you stretch the muscles and strengthen them. That builds up muscle strength and endorphins in your system. The endorphins will help you to deal with any physical pain and do tend to counteract the hyper-sensitivity that seems to accompany many fibro flare-ups. You would want to avoid, or at least limit, weight lifting and most aerobic classes because the impact on your body would just add to the stress that's already there. By working out the stiffness, and getting some exercise, you tire yourself out, which helps you to sleep better. Sleep helps your body to heal and also reduces that amount of excitable nerve stimulation that is the cause of so much of 'our' pain. (They've proven that fibro patients feel pain differently. Fascinating!)
If you are stressed and sleep-deprived, you are already setting your body up for a crash. Add to that any personal triggers (I've mentioned some of mine.), and the lack of any Real Knowledge about this disease by most doctors, and you've got problems.
I would encourage you to join a support group. There are quite a few of them online and there are actual meetings where you can go and meet other people with fibro, or another chronic pain disease. It's easier to find a support group if you are near big hospital or a good sized city. I started one for our county at the request of my rheumatologist (yahoo groups - whartonfibromyalgiasupportgroup ), feel free to check there for info I've gathered and to email some people here in Texas with Fibro.
1. Get a rheumatologist. 2. Talk to anyone who could help. 3. Join a support group. 4. Find out why you're throwing up and get that stopped. 5.