Yorkie Kids,
My Dr. sent me to a rheumatologist and he was the one that DX'd my fibro. There are 18 trigger points they check for fibro. These trigger points, when presssure is applied, causes pain to the patient. Fibromyalgia causes wide spread pain in muscles, fatigue and impaired concentration. They can do blood work to check for arthritis but there isn't a blood test for fibromyalgia. I wish you the best of luck.

Fibro & Lupus
 

Hi all, wow, what a great group! I'm 55 yrs young (laugh) and I've had lupus and fibro since around 1985 (at least that's when they finally diagnosed it!). Since then I have diabetes, gurd, PSVT attacks, and numerous other things. I look much better in person, then I do on paper at the Dr's office! LOL
The prednisone abour ruined my eyes, so didn't stay on that for very long. Now I take Cybalta (helps my legs a lot! and yes my nerves too!), Motrin 800 mg., and Flexeril once in a while. They told me not to take much of the Flexeril while on the Cymbalta, because it puts too much seratonin in your system.
I have the brain fog also, which is a real big pain! I forget to eat my meals, and take my pain medicine. NOW, most people would call that a special breed of stupid, but those of you with the problem, know what I'm talking about. NO, I'm not skinny, like you would probably think -- I need to get rid of 40 pounds! I did when I was walking two years ago, but haven't had many good days since then.
Sorry, didn't mean for this to end up a novel!!! Just great to hear from others like myself. Gentle hugs for sure, as hard ones hurt!!! So do those slaps on the butt!!!
Oh yeah, love my Yorkies! We have 3 little ones underfoot right now also - they are 8 weeks old today! Sometimes, when I'm hurting really badly, they get to be a bit much! BUT, I still love them!:aimeeyork

Your group about Fibro
 

I joined your group, but it doesn't show that I joined, and I can't figure out how to reply to any of the messages. :confused:

You need to go into the social group section and then click on a thread you would like to reply to. I hope I see you there, let me know if you have anymore trouble.

Glad to hear from you Motherhen. I know what you mean about the brain fog, boy on some days I can't tell which way is up..LOL and thanks for the gentle hugs because I totally agree those big ones sure hurt on some days. I am on the Cymbalta and Flexeril too and both of them work well for me and I need to lose about 40 pounds also if I could walk like I use too it wouldn't be to difficult. Have a good day. Gentle Hugs.

Sleeping
 

Does anyone else have trouble because of insomnia? I'm lucky to get 2 hours a night, and then maybe a 2 or 3 hour nap, late morning. I don't know if it's because of the Fibro,; Lupus; or menopause, but I'm really getting exhausted! Sure doen't help the brain fog any either! I've tried so many prescription sleep aids, but none seem to help. The best thing that was recommended to me from my Dr. was, taking a benedryl pill. That helps sometimes, for which I'm grateful. :sleep:

When I was on my walking routine, I felt so much better. I didn't seem to make the fibro or lupus any worse either. But now, between pain & tired, I just can't seem to get the walking done! Hopefully this Spring I'll be able to again.

Yes, I have problems with insomnia. The doctors tried Ambien, Lunesta, and one other that I can't remember. My Psychiatrist finally got me on Seraquel and Tamazapan. The first time I took those two together, I slept 15 hours. It was amazing.

Oh boy do I know what you mean with insomnia!! I take imovane and trazadone to help me sleep (the mix seems to do the trick) although if I'm particularly in alot of pain I'll throw in a graval or muscle relaxant....
I got a new proscription a few days ago and the pharmacist was very seriously cautioning me to be careful because he said it causes serious drowsiness. I told him it probably would on me and he gave me the whole spell again... I took it and not even a tired eye LOL.
Over the years I've found the best thing to help me sleep is a routine and some time by myself before bed to relax and unwind (write in a journal watch TV go on YT etc...)
Whenever you can't sleep just come on here :p

Do you find your sleep troubles come in cycles, like the more tired you are the less you can sleep?

Let's laugh about it... tell me some story about one of your friends/co-workers telling you about how they only got six or seven hours of sleep:D I try to think of myself as a superhuman I can go without or with very little sleep for at least a week before I totally crash LOL

I work in an office and the fibro - fog has gotten to be a big problem. I have a hard time remembering things and am also forgetting to take my insulin when i am suppose to so my sugars are way up!! My hands and legs hurts so bad and my legs swell. Does anyone else have swelling problems?:confused:

OH, that is sooooo true! I can be so drained and body is exhausted, but STILL can't sleep.
I play games on Pogo.com to help keep my brain active, but haven't done that much yesterday or today, because of this wonderful group!
My hubby, is a huge grouch if he doesn't get his 7 hours of beauty sleep! I tell him how blessed he is to be able to get that many in a row! A friend of mine complains if she doesn't get 8 hours every night. Says she can't function right, to get her stuff done! OH HELLO!!! :p:D

I'm sorry you are in so much pain! Big soft hug to you from me! I so think the Yorkie is the perfect dog for someone in pain...they are small and light so they don't hurt too much if they snuggle up. Also they are so intuitive and know when to snuggle and when to lay at the bottom of the bed. And they are so much fun, you can just watch and forget your troubles. Oh also they don't need long painfull walks...I could go on and on. Any other reasons you can all think of?

I also have Fibro. Dx's 5 yrs ago. I was takiing Trammadol, lexapro and Trazadone, and topamax was for migraines. Regiment worked well until my dr took me of Trammadol, said could cause seizures with lexapro and topamax. Now just take Celexa and Trazadone but take pain meds as needed because have had 2 neck surgeries ib last 18 months for 4 herniated discs and have nerve damage and alot of pain. I also worked in the medical field for over 30 yrs but have not been able to work since july, 08. Still waiting to hear if I am going to get ss disability.

My baby Harley is great on my bad days he lays with me and doesn't even come to me to play, it is like he knows I am in pain. He is so sweet and loving, just lays with me and cuddles and gives me kisses.

Christy - mommy of Harley:aimeeyork

My doc just proscribed Trammadol for me just two days ago... it actually helps a bit. Only T3's have ever touched my pain before. Did Trammadol help any of you? What were the pros and cons?

Trammadol really helped me. I was very upset when my dr refused to refill it for me. I had very little pain when I was on the combination of Lexapro, Trammadol and Trazadone. Now just live with the pain and celebrate the good days.



Christy-Mommy of Harley:aimeeyork

I take trazadone for sleep and requip for RLS and Topamax for migraines. I had to quit work several years ago (nursing) due to herniated disc/radiculopathy. I use tramadol also for pain sometimes but the flexeril helps me more. I know how you all feel when some of my friends or family grip about just getting 5 or 6 hours of sleep....I wish..LOL. That is why I am on here all the time. My lap top some times is my best friend. LOL I go for days at a time and then I crash from lack of sleep. This weather here lately really plays havoc with the fibro too. Oh well, what is one to do, but just keep on doing. Gentle hugs to everyone. God bless you.

I found out that Fibro affects the muscles in the body and arthritis affects the joints and bones. Either way, it sucks!

Fibro
 

It's good to know that I am not alone in all this pain and fatigue, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I was diaganosed about 18 yrs ago with Fibro. after being sent from one Dr. to another. It was the time when doctors were just beginning to acknowledge Fibro. I was told many times "it was all iin my head". I read a book that my husband found about Fibromyalgia and cried for an hour that I was not crazy and there was something wrong with me. If only things had stopped there. I was also diag. with Rheumatoid and Osteo arthritis. I am a diabetic type 2, had uterine cancer 6 years ago and made it through that. Three months later, my horse caught me with her hip and I had a head injury. Moved back to Minn. a year ago last Nov. and had a stress test for my heart and had a stent put in the same day. So now I have cardiac artery disease. I suffer from depression and fatigue. Most every presc. I take, a side effect is drowsiness on top of the fatigue caused by the disease. My lupus tests keep coming back borderline. It's just so much fun getting older. I was taking Methotrexate for the arthritis and it helped quite a bit until I found out that it made your hair fall out as it's a chemo drug used in cancer also. Maybe I;m just vain but on top of pain every day I couldn't deal with losing my hair so I stopped taking it. I was taking Trammadol until I found out about side effects, becareful if you are taking that. I am now on Cymbalta, xanax, flexeril and meds for diabetis and heart. I'm going to open my own pharmacy soon:eek: I too was in the medical field for 18 years. 15 years on an ambulance and 3.5 years in an emergency room. I miss it so much it adds to my depression. I was very lucky that I applied for disability and got it the first time. It doesn't make up for the pay check but couldn't afford drugs without it. My husband and my furbabies get me through the days. They stick like glue when I don't feel good. I miss walking with them and playing on the floor. Now we've got 4 small grandkids and another on the way and it hurts to not be able to do everything with them. My husband is really understanding but sometimes I don't think he realizes the extent of the pain. I'm also the worlds worst diabetic as if I want to eat something, I will. I love sweets and life is too short to give up everything. I follow Sylvia Browne, the physic medium and her healing books and meditation. It helps when I keep my mind focused but we all know that doesn't always work. Didn't mean to go on for so long, it's just good to be able to get it out to people who do understand.
God bless all of you and I wish for all of us 1 day without any pain:rose:

I sure wouldn't wish this on anyone, but it is nice to be able to go here and talk to others that understand and has the plus plus of sharing the love of yorkies also. I had a major flare not to long ago, feeling better today except for the nausea today. I pray everyone has a better day today. God bless.

I just popped on this thread to see what was going on.
I am so very sorry to see so many member's in contant pain.
My heart goes out to all of you. I hope and pray each of you find something that will work to give you a much needed rest from the daily pain you
are experiencing. Being there for each other I hope will help each
and every one of you in some way.

Hugs,

Thank you so much! kindness and compassion from people who don't have fibro goes a long long way!!!

Before I was diagnosed I thought I was just getting old and the diabetes was getting the best of me. I'm 58 years old. I woke up in the morning feeling like I had been hit by a truck. I went on like that for a few years but my husband and I went on a cruise just about a year ago and I felt like ---- the whole time. When I got home I decided enough was enough I had to find out what was wrong. After several Dr visits (different Dr's) I was diagnosed with Fibro. I am not for sure how they diagnosed me but I do know that they poked me in several different places to see if it hurt most of them did. I am still working but it gets difficult somedays. RIght now I am having alot of problems with my hands. Not sure if its fibro or carpal tunnel as I work in an office and type alot. I believe someone wrote that they had been waiting since 08 to find out if they could get disability!?!?!?!? :confused: