Re: Hello New to the Group

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Welcome to the group. I am sorry that you have to be here, but glad

you found it since you're going through this.

I am not a person who has my fibro completely under control, but I'm

doing much better than I was. One of my big problems is riding in

the car. I get motion sickness and dizzy spells for anything over

twenty minutes. My doctor's office is an hour away, so almost all

of my travels are more than twenty minutes.

I am not sure if this is a factor for you, but if you are not the

one driving, it might help to take Dramimine or Benadryl. I have a

pillow and blanket in the car, including motion sickness bags. I

also have a back pillow and case of water to help too. I don't take

medications anymore, but I have a small container of Ibuprofen in

the glove compartment just in case.

I think the hardest part of this disorder is we become so isolated

from other people. It's great that we have each other here, but I

don't know one person face-to-face who has any kind of chronic

illness. Until I found the internet, I really believed I might be

crazy and a hypocondriac the way my family, friends and doctors

said. Yet, I go back and read other people's stories and it helps

me so much. It's not that I'm happy anyone else is sick. I would

not wish this illness on my worst enemy! It's that I am often awake

at night and I can't pick up the phone to call someone and I can't

go to rec center and sit in the sauna. Hearing other's stories

helps me to realize I am not alone and that means the world to me.

Star Dance

The race is not won by the swift or the strong,

but to the one who endures...

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Welcome to our support group... you will find a wealth of knowledge and

an outpouring of love and understanding here. Every symptom that you

described could be linked to fibro... we are all different, and often

have different symptoms from one another. But the one symptom that

NEVER chanages is pain, pain, and more pain! I have been on disability

since 1997 for fibro pain and take Oxycontin on a daily basis for that.

Was taking Lortab for breakthrough pain, but my doc has refused to

continue to give that any longer, and I just leave in fear that he will

discontinue the Oxy as well. I have an appointment to see him on the

29th to discuss my meds with him. I have been down this road before

with him where he has refused to call in my Lortab, but then when I show

up in person, he will grumble and complain, but finally give in. But

this time I am not going just for pain meds... l am trying to wean off

some of my meds and need his help in doing so. I want to discuss every

medication that I take with him and get his input on whether that

medication is absolutely essential or not.

Take care... best wishes for a pain free night.

hugs and prayers,

Sharon - Memphis, TN

Faith...with it, miracles *CAN* and *DO* happen!

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Hi, and welcome to the group. My name is Jen, I'm 33, have 2

daughters, ages 13 and 11 (my baby just had her birthday

yesterday!), and I'm married to my best friend...I've known my

husband since the 5th grade.

I'm so happy that you were able to have after all you went

through. I imagine he IS a true blessing to you and your husband.

I miscarried between my daughters, and there is nothing more painful

than losing a child, even if it's before they are born. Although I

love both of my children with all of my heart, I got pregnant with

my younger daughter right after I'd miscarried, so it was very

scary, and when she was born, I was overjoyed. She's got an amazing

amount of inner light and goodness in her, a natural empathy that

could never be taught. We have always felt that she's here to serve

a specific purpose. Our older daughter makes us very proud too.

She's gorgeous, with a brain to match. She was recognized as gifted

in the 1st grade, and has been a 1st honors student her whole time

in school. She's also a fantastic artist.

I was diagnosed with Fibro and chronic full body tendonitis last

April, after suffering a very severe adverse reaction to an

antibiotic called Levaquin in June of 2002. I also have a slightly

bulgind disc, SI joint dysfunction, and Baker's cysts on both

knees. I also have bipolar disorder. Sometimes I feel like I'm a

walking medical file instead of a person.

The diagnosis was at the same time a relief and a major blow. It

was a relief because I had a name to call what was wrong with me,

and I could start moving forward towards proper treatment and

getting it under control. It was a blow because I knew my life was

going to change a lot, and I was going to be stuck with this illness

that was never going to go away. I fell into a pretty deep

depression for a while, asked " why me? " , got angry, then got busy.

I now have a daily drug regimen that I follow to help combat, and

somewhat prevent, the symptoms. I take Celexa for depression (both

from the bipolar disorder and fibro), Topamax (mood stabilizer and

chronic pain control), and Bextra (for the tendonitis). When I have

a flare, or my back gets really bad, I take Oxycontin (10mg) for the

pain, and Soma for muscle spasms. I also take Restoril for

insomnia. In addition to the prescription meds, I take vitamins,

supplements, and some herbals; eat as healthy as possible; try to

avoid caffeine and simple carbs. I also try to exercise as much as

I can, but with the winter weather, it's been hard. I can't stand

to do indoor exercise...I prefer to be outside walking. I know that

exercise is hard sometimes, but my doctor insists that I do it in

some form. He, and the books I've read, say that exercise actually

help relieve the fatigue and pain in the long run, and I agree. I

walked all last summer, and into late fall, and I really did feel a

LOT better for it. The most important thing is to take it slow and

easy at first, and to not push yourself too hard. I can't wait for

spring to get here, because my fatigue level has been just

absolutely horrible since I had to give up walking for the winter.

My advice? Be kind to your body, but try to keep up as active as

you can....the less active you are, the more pain you will have, at

least that is my experience. Ask your doctor about meds that can

help ease Fibro symptoms, such as amitriptyline (Elavil). It's a

tri-cyclic anti-depressant that they've found can help ease the pain

and help with sleep problems in some people with FM. If they fit

into your budget, massages can do wonders. Since you've gained so

much weight over the past year, you might want to have your doctor

run a very thorough thyroid panel. That kind of gain with no change

in eating habits, even with a sedentary lifestyle, is very unusual!

Let go of the unimportant things in your life....resting and de-

stressing should be high on your priority list. If you don't

already, divvy up the household chores with you hubby.

Please be careful on your trip, and take plenty of rest breaks along

the way. We all want you to get there safe and sound! Welcome

again to the group, and I look forward to getting to know you!

Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi - Welcome to the group! Lots of good posts so far; exercise and

taking extra good care of yourself are important. I'm 54 and it took years for

me to figure out what I had.

I am very new to this group as well, but it is a great list and lots of warm and

friendly and supportive people. I am so glad I was referred to this list. You

won't feel alone here. Cheers, Cat

^. .^ ~