Treatments

[hjones]

Recently diagnosed (sort of!) with fibro, sick of taking 12 plus tablets everyday. What other types of treatments have people tried? And did any different treatments work?

[Devonlady]

To be honest the treatments are wide in choice but it really is a case of just trying thinks and seeing what works for you. When you find the right meds it is wonderful butbefore long you find it generally stops working and your back to trial and error again. Sorry the news is not better. x

[Hidden]

Hello Hjones, to be honest there are so many different medications it would be impossible to say a particular one is good for this and another one good for that. We all tend to react slightly differently, some meds are compatible to one person whilst to another they might not be tolerated at all with side effects.

Most of us have tried many different meds, it's a bit trial and error to see what suits you best and also what helps manage your pain, fatigue, sleep problems etc. It was certainly hit and miss with me, I was getting to the feeling like a guinea pig stage, when my meds suddenly were working for me and didn't have any adverse effects either. That's what it's all about really.

You may get people recommending a particular medication to you, but that is no guarantee it would be good for you and help you. As the post says above, you also get the situation sometimes where your body acclimatises to the meds you're taking and they stop working effectively for you, so at this point you need all your meds reviewing by your Doctor or Consultant.

The best thing to do if you are worried about how many meds you are taking is to talk it over with your Doctor or Consultant and have a review on everything you're taking and see if it can be simplified but still work effectively for you. I used to take dozens of pills when I was first diagnosed and now I only take about 6 daily now and four of those are painkillers. Of course sometimes I need more, but on the whole I take very few really.

If you click on the link below it will take you to our main site where there is a wealth of general information on medications, it explains about how they work etc and the many different types.

I hope this is helpful in some way to you and I hope you manage to get your meds all sorted our soon. Take care.

fibroaction.org/Pages/Medic...

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Regarding other treatments - there is hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, massage, and other complimentary therapies, homeopathic remedies, pain clinics - there is some info regarding this if you click on the link below -

fibroaction.org/Pages/How-I...

Once you have clicked on the link, you will see various options listed on the right, there will be more info on the other treatments detailed here to click on.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

There is also CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), acupuncture, myofascial release and hypnotherapy.

fibroaction.org/Articles/Be...

[irenegee]

Hello

I have had fibromyalgia for 10 years now and I have tried lots of treatments and done lots of research on fibro and I am still learning new things. it took nearly 3 years to be diagnosed and by that time I was in a deep depression as i thought i was going mad as i kept getting told there was nothing wrong with me.

don't be afraid to try treatments/therapy's as you will take something from each that will help even if it is to let you know a particular thing doesn't help. I got help through my GP and through the job centre, i also paid for a variety of treatments.

i can tell you what works for me

I have found that i have to deal with the depression I had cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy which really helped me. and a good anti-depressants - this is trial and error as I had really bad side effects from a few especially amatriplaline but I am on Mirtazapine now and it is brill,(anti depressants help keep your serotonin levels up, which is constantly depleting because of fibromyalgia and affects your mood and energy)

I also found that yoga really helps- to stretch muscles and it is gentle on your body

i also have a massage every week ( i would have more but for lack of money)

I have a lot of hot baths and use wheat bags daily

I also started to do things that make me happy (listening to music, drawing etc)

and i have started to say Yes to social invites (it is easier to be a hermit but doesn't give you anything to look forward to) even though i will be in more pain the next day it is worth it!

I still have bad days but i accept them now and don't get stressed/frustrated/annoyed as much as i did. so i call them my pj days and rest, play music or just catch up on tv programmes.

i feel like i have gone on so i will stop now

hope something here helps if you want to talk more let me know

[Hidden in reply to irenegee]

Yoga and Tai Chi are supposed to be very good for people with Fibromyalgia. Yoga is believed to be the ideal low impact way for Fibromyalgia patients to get moving, and it is said that it may even change the way the central nervous system responds to pain.

Tai Chi is also a gentle way to exercise and move the body and has been shown to reduce pain and fatigue, but increase physical functioning, also to reduce sleeplessness and depression.

Thanks for posting your message Irene

[Ermintrude75]

Im still in pain everyday with the cocodamol naproxen and gabapentin.

But I do feel better taking supplements. I take an Omega 3,6 and 9 an A- Z multi vitamin/supplement and an addition vitamin C. It makes sure I get what my body needs when Im not eating as well. It also stops the cravings for sugary foods.

I also drink a ginger and lime tea which is good for the digestion. And stops the dodgy tummy.

I also practice a martial art. Twice a week I do a class and throw myself into it with everything Ive got and I can feel like crap with everything aching and being tired and dizzy but I do sleep that night with no interruptions even to the point of turning my alarm off and not noticing.

BUt it is a case of finding what works for you.

x

[hjones]

Wow, thank you all for your reply it is very much appreciated. at the moment i take 2 100mg gabapentin 3 times a day, 4 ibuprofen and 2-4 tramadol or dihydrocodine everyday. i find i have to alternate the tramadol and dihydrocodine every couple of days or they don't take the pain away. I hate taking this amount of pills, i wouldn't even take painkillers for a headache so to go from barely taking them to this many everyday is a shock especially as the never get rid of the pain completely. I am only 26 years old and i have a 6 year old daughter who is very active so i am really struggling at the moment as the last 5 weeks have been almost unbearable, i have had 2 good days in the whole 5 weeks. I am going to have a look on the links just now thank you Libbydee. I am going to try reflexology and reiki, has anybody had an success with these? I just want to give my body a break from so many different meds. Irenegee, what are wheat bags if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you all again so much for all your information, I am very grateful

xxx

[tess10]

Hi Hjones, I have also been struggling with taking so many tablets a day, but as with above advise its about taking one day at a time, and finding what works for you. I haven't had the time to try any alternative threapies at the moment, as my son who helps me has asperger syndrome and is going through a particular strange time, which becomes exhausting, but I have set myself a goal that come next week I have to at least look at what threapies are local and I could give a go, So how bout we share our experiance with each other once we try them out? It is hard with children I have been a single mom for most of my twins life, they have just turned 20, but I talked to them in a way they would understand about my health issues, as well as fibro I have IBS, depression/anxiety, poor hearing could go on, but I realise most in this community all have there own experiances, so just try include your daughter in whats happening, its a great oportunity to show that people come in all shapes and sizes, etc but when we get down to it we are all the same just making the best of the life we have been given. my sons coped very well when they were younger with how things were for me, and also tried to be helpful, I shall stop as realise I am woffling and my hands are hurting.

Big Hug Ingrid xx