Hi all,
Ive been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (which I have suspected for a few years now) by my rheumatologist ,who has asked my gp to prescribe Amitriptyline for aches and pains for me. Any advice on this medicine or fibro would be appreciated.
I also take lansoprazole,aspirin,rosuvastatin and enalapril for heart failure, after HA and stent in 10/2020.
Thanks in advance
I have lupus and fibromyalgia and I've been taking 20 mg amitriptyline at night for about 10 years. It helps with sleep and aches and pains. The only problem I have with it is a dry mouth, plus maybe a few weird dreams. Its definitely worth a try, although some people say it makes them feel a bit groggy to start with.There really isn't much treatment for fibro - the best advice is to pace yourself. Do a chore, have a rest, do another chore and then a rest and try not to rush around and get stressed. (Easier said than done!).
I've had fibro for 30 years or more and have tried amitryp at least 10 times after being told to by numerous pain consultants. For me it's useless. It doesn't work at all and makes me like a total zombie. They have no idea what else to prescribe. It's always gabapentin and amitryp. I have found that he ONLY way to deal with fibro is to keep active. It's hard working through the pain but he more you can do the easier it becomes. Amitryp does work for some people but not for me.
HiQualipop
I understand about staying active and working through the aches and pains, Ive been doing that for years.
I have also just read the leaflet for the Amitriptyline and it actually states not totake it post heart attack 🤦🏻♀️ ,so It looks like I will returning it to the pharmacist to destroy! What I don,t understand is why I have been prescribed it when both the rheumatologist and my GP are obviously aware of my HA.! 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for your reply.
I never noticed that but I've just been given something similar, Duloxetine which also says not to take if you had a heart attack. This was in their efforts to get me off opiates after 20 years. Seriously? As if they think after more than 30 yrs I haven't tried everything else there is? I have degenerative discs, two herniated discs, one slipped vertebra, scoliosis, stenosis and 6 trapped nerves and fibro and they still haven't come up with anything else that works. The only thing that ever helped my fibro, especially when it was one area that flared up, was a TENS machine but you have to be careful not to use it around the heart area. It's fine for lower back and legs.
Oh dear ,I,m sorry to hear this, you have really been through the mill haven,t you? This is why I question every single med I am pprescribed. I have reduced all the meds I was d/c from the hospital with after my heart attack by my own decisions. I honestly don,t think the answer to fibro is more medication either. Thank you for the info.
So many side effects from medications. I had every single one swapped because of bad reactions then my gP stopped everything except a statin, aspirin and stomach protector and kept me on the low dose diuretic I already had. I let him decide but did have to ask why I needed angina medication when I'd never ever had angina. I think it's just easier to bung everyone on the same whether or not they need it but one size does not fit all.
Stop your statins for two weeks, see if your pains disappear.It could be that statin side effects are often misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia. Both conditions have general fatigue and muscle tenderness.
Hi Midwalesgirl
Thank you for your reply, yes I am awarenof s/e of statins but I have only been on statins since my heart attack 15 mths ago. I was suffering a long time before then, which is why I suspected I had fibro.
Have you ever been bitten by a tick and been tested for Lyme disease? You may not even have noticed a tick bite. It's hard to diagnose as the tests are unreliable and Lyme has the ability to hide.
Hi again,
Eek ! no I haven,t been tested for that.😬 To be fair though I don,t suspect Lyme disease. I believe the only answer is to eat healthily and exercise as much as you can. The human body is indeed and intricate mechanism and each one works differently. Sometimes I think we put too much expectations on our medics who actually often learn from our own good/poor health experiences. Getting hooked on,or relying on meds is,nt a particularly good practice is it.
Lyme is very under diagnosed and has identical symptoms to fibromyalgia . I was bitten by a deer tic in America in 1968 and came home with the perfect bull's eye rash on my leg. I happened to have a dermatology appointment he next week with a young doctor who'd just trained in America. Lyme was unknown here back then but he saw it and recognised it. However the test was done too early before I'd developed antibodies so it came back negative. I'm still certain that';s what I have rather than FIbro. My problems all started a few months later b u no one will listen and just say there's no treatment for long standing Lyme. A tick bit doesn't always [produce the rash. I knew because I'd been out tracking deer with a friend then to a deer park in Scotland. If you live in a tick area o r have been among deer, it's worth asking for a blood test. If not, ignore me- just a thought because they are so alike and doctors still don't think about Lyme.
Hmm , yes we sometimes walk our retriever in some fields not far from us where dear have been seen. I may research about L/D. Thank you
Hello Gigi1958. Sorry for this very late reply, but I have only just read your letter about Amitriptyline. I was prescribed this some years ago for a trapped nerve in my neck but unfortunately it sparked off an episode of atrial fibrillation so I always avoid it now. I was offered it last year when I had nerve pain in a leg but refused. Good luck.
Bisoperal can I take at night instead of morning
Echocardiogram tomorrow
appointment with Surgeon
sudden high heart rate
Stent procedure/Follow up
