It's been a journey

[AnnMarg]

Hi I'm new. But not new to fibromyalgia. Diagnosed 15 years ago. Now diagnosed with osteoarthritis pretty much everywhere. Greatest challenge besides the obvious has been medications. Lyrica? I'm allergic. Cymbalta? Makes me bitchy. Elavil? Made me gain 15 lbs which makes pain worse. Gabapentin? Makes me stupid and forgetful. Don't need more of that. NSAIDS? Kill my stomach. Trying a new one, Arthrotec. Anyone have luck with it? Opioids? They work and I can tolerate but no one prescribes it anymore. Flexeril? If I want to sleep 24/7 sure. Skelaxin helps but constipates. Since I still work part time and watch my grandson often, I really need to function. Yoga is the only exercise I can tolerate so I'm getting addicted to it. Heat, massage and chiropractic help but expensive and temporary. Low dose naltrexone worked for a bit and then stopped helping. Saddest part? My 21 year old son just got diagnosed with fibromyalgia. That makes me so sad. But it's also renewed my desire for more information. I look forward to hearing from you all.

[BlueMermaid3]

Hello AnnMarg

Welcome to the forum

I am sorry to hear that you have had Fibromyalgia for 15 years and that your son has just been diagnosed.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and ME in 1980 and managed to work and raise a family with my Fibro being managed by pain medications.

I worked for 34 years and raised a family, but after several very severe traumas it has left me unable to work anymore.

You are incredibly lucky to have been tried on so many different medications.

I have heard of the majority of them and tried them myself but have not heard of Arthrotec or Skelaxin.

I have never heard of Flexeril either so cannot help you there.

Like you opioids work really well for me, but getting them prescribed is incredibly hard.

I also use yoga but just do the stretching as that is all I can manage. I went to yoga for 20 years, but there is no way that I can do a whole class now.

For information have a look at our mother site fmauk.org

Once again a very warm welcome to the forum and I look forward to chatting to you again.

Lu x

Administrator

[AnnMarg in reply to BlueMermaid3]

I just realized that this is a U.K. Site which explains why some of th medications are unfamiliar. Skelaxin and Flexeril are both muscle relaxants and Arthrote. is an NSAID that hopefully won't hurt my stomach.

[BlueMermaid3 in reply to AnnMarg]

I did wonder whether you were in the UK.

Whereabouts are you out of interest?

Lu xx

[AnnMarg in reply to BlueMermaid3]

USA- Michigan war Detroit to be exact

[AnnMarg in reply to AnnMarg]

Near Detroit lol

[Hidden]

Hi AnnMarg sorry to hear your having a difficult time BlueMermaid3 has said where to find information I think you will find that very useful good luck on your journery

[TheAuthor]

Hi AnnMarg

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I am so genuinely sorry to read of your suffering and struggling and all of your problems with medications.

There is a class of drugs that you have not mentioned and this is analgesic drugs? Have you tried any, and if so, how did you get on with them? One particular that you could discuss with your doctor is a drug called 'Nefopam.' I have pasted an excerpt from *. Wikipedia below:

*Nefopam is a centrally-acting non-opioid analgesic drug of the benzoxazocine chemical class which was developed by Riker Laboratories in the 1960s. Wikipedia

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[AnnMarg in reply to TheAuthor]

Thank you for the input. From what I'm reading this drug you mention is mostly prescribed in European countries. I will check and see if it is something I can get in the US. I do take OTC Tylenol for mild pain with no side effects. I tried Celebrex and that made my stomach hurt terribly.

[TheAuthor in reply to AnnMarg]

Good luck my friend.

[TheAuthor in reply to AnnMarg]

Hi again AnnMarg I just wanted to add that I believe Nefopam goes under the name ''Acupan'' in the States.