Re: Hello--Welcome !!

[Guest guest]

,

Hi, and welcome. I'm sorry that you had such a rough road to your

diagnosis, and that your doctor doesn't seem too willing to put

forth a lot of effort to learn more about your condition.

The hardest thing about FMS is that it's just starting to recieve

the recognition it deserves in the medical community, and even that

is slow in coming. A lot of doctors still refuse to accept that it

is a REAL medical condition, with REAL symptoms, and not a " garbage

pail " diagnosis, given when doctors can't find anything else wrong.

Like you said, there are no " miracle cures " , and what works for one

person may not work for another. It's an endless source of

frustration. I will say one thing though....knowledge is your best

friend. The more you know, and can help yourself, the better off

you will be. There are a lot of books, and countless resources here

on the net, that can help you along, and great groups like this one

to help support you along the way.

Between myself, my doctors, and a lot of discipline, I've worked out

a regimin that has helped a lot, but even that isn't a guarantee

that things will always go smoothly. Since I have a chronic back

condition and tendonitis throughout most of my body as well as

Fibro, even my best laid plans go awry!

My regimen consists of a strict diet (no caffeine, simple carbs

[sugars], processed foods, MSG) that is higher in protein and

complex carbs, I walk as much as I can (weather and pain levels

permitting), I take the meds my doctors prescribe, use a TENS unit

and Lidoderm patches as needed, see a chiropractor, and take several

different supplements. I see that you take magnesium, which is

really good. Magnesium is really important to people with Fibro,

and it's funny that you say that it's helped your IBS. It's helped

mine too, but you are the only other person I've ever heard say

that! The magnesium I take is combined with malic acid, which is

also good for Fibro, and it also contains some B-vitamins and

manganese. I just started on an Ayurvedic herb called Boswellia,

which is supposed to be good for inflammation. I don't like the

idea of taking more of the Bextra, or switching to another anti-

inflammatory, so I decided to try something " alternative " . So far,

it seems to be working well. I also take a good high energy multi,

Vitamin C, and essential fatty acids. I take Olive Leaf Extract, a

natural anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and antibiotic, for a month,

every other month. Since people with Fibro have a tendency to have

a problem with Candida, I do it as a preventative. I haven't been

sick in well over a year and a half, and I used to get sick at least

3-4 times a year. Everything I take is carefully chosen for certain

reasons, and also carefully researched. I never recommend that

anyone follow in my footsteps, but I do encourage people to do

research and think outside the mainstream.

Sometimes though, there is no getting around the prescription

drugs. I also have bipolar disorder, so I have to take certain

drugs every day to remain stable, and those drugs also do double

duty for the Fibro. I take an anti-depressant (Celexa), a mood

stabilizer that also acts as a chronic pain med (Topamax), and

Ambien for sleep. And yes, like everyone else, I take relief meds.

There are days that I don't know what I would do besides go crazy

with pain and spasms without the Oxycontin and Soma! As much as I

would love to go totally homeopathic, I know it's impossible.

I'm so leery of prescription drugs because my Fibro was actually

caused by an antibiotic called Levaquin. I had a very severe

adverse reaction, that attacked my joints, tendons, and muscles.

That was in June of 2002, and my body has been out of control ever

since. I absolutely refuse to take prescription antibiotics now.

It used to drive my doctor crazy, but now he accepts my decision,

and is pretty amazed that I haven't been sick with more than a minor

cold in so long, given my past history.

Okay, well, I see that I've been rambling again. I'm known to do

that from time to time! Really, I just wanted to welcome you to the

group, and let you know that I'm here for you anytime, just a post

or an e-mail away. I may not know everything, but I know how to

access the info I don't know! Everyone here is great, like one big,

caring family, always room for one more. So here's a great big

welcome, and an even bigger hug. I'm sorry that Fibro and it's pain

brought you here, but we're glad to have you none the less!

All my best,

Jen

PS....I'm from Ohio....GO BUCKS!!! LOL!

[Guest guest]

I, too, am BiPolar, and I've noticed that the meds I take (Lexapro,

Wellbutrin, Seroquel & Klonapin) help with the Fibro. I also take

Neurontin, and that helps the fibro immensely. The day after I took my

first dose, I woke up without a lot of the pain I'd been feeling for years.

I hadn't realized just how much pain I was in until I took the Neurontin!

When I forgot to get my prescription filled, I felt like I'd been run over

by a Mack truck and beaten with a baseball bat. Now I make sure I never run

out of it, even though it's $50 (and that's with insurance). I have

MS-Contin, Tylenol #4, and Fiorinal #3 to help with pain. The doctor told

me to take the MS-Contin every day, to keep a level in my bloodstream. But

sometimes that just isn't enough, either.

I take 500 mg of magnesium per day, and Omega 3. The Omega 3 is supposed to

help with memory.

cyn

At 02:05 AM 8/10/2004 +0000, Jen wrote:

>Sometimes though, there is no getting around the prescription

>drugs. I also have bipolar disorder, so I have to take certain

>drugs every day to remain stable, and those drugs also do double

>duty for the Fibro. I take an anti-depressant (Celexa), a mood

>stabilizer that also acts as a chronic pain med (Topamax), and

>Ambien for sleep. And yes, like everyone else, I take relief meds.

>There are days that I don't know what I would do besides go crazy

>with pain and spasms without the Oxycontin and Soma! As much as I

>would love to go totally homeopathic, I know it's impossible.

cyn

clmerritt@...

" Not bad for my first time with a gun. I shot that sucker right in the gumpy. "

-J. Evaovich