One Hell of a Fibromyalgia flare. :(

[CathyA]

I hate this "syndrome". For me, it includes Fibro, IBS, TMJ, Sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy. I over-ate over the holidays and it must have triggered a flare. My GI tract went crazy, plus I had left chest pain going through to my back. I went to see a GI doc (ended up seeing the PA, but he seems capable enough). So I've had the upper endoscopy, which was normal, except for a small area of gastritis. I thought for sure they'd find a huge mass in there (or a small animal).....at least that's what it felt like.
Well, the pain continued to include my colon, my chest, and especially my back. They ordered a ct scan........which was all normal. I couldn't believe that either! Now this morning I woke up with a totally stiff, painful neck, shoulders and upper back. I can't believe this. I have the feeling they'll figure out what this is and have a cure, after I'm long gone. I suppose I'll have to have a spine MRI next. Besides the pain, what drives me crazy about this "syndrome" is that it feels like something is dangerously wrong.........but it isn't anything! How do I know when to pay attention to the pain or try to get through it? I'm sure I look like a hypochondriac to some. But I love life and love doing things. I don't like wasting my days in pain.

My Internal med doc wanted me to go on Cymbalta, but I'm so sensitive to all drugs. Those drugs can take a long time to work, and plan on hell if you ever want to come off of them.

I want to believe this flare will pass, but it's hard to stay positive.

Sorry for the whine.

My brother is almost 70 and after he retired he moved out west in a beautiful huge RV and spends all his days hiking and biking through the mountains. He used to be a drug addict. I tell DH that maybe I should have been a drug addict too......and would feel better now.

[Simplemind]

Do you mind if I ask what you do take for your symptoms?

[bae]

I hope you feel better soon :-(

[CathyA]

Thanks bae.

Simplemind...... I can't take NSAIDs because of my GI tract........which was ruined by them a long time ago when I was on them and antibiotics for months. I am so very sensitive to all meds, but for a number of years I've been on a tiny dose of sertraline (mostly for anxiety) and toprol, for an over-active neuro system. I'm trying to stay on top of any vitamin that might be low (D3, B, magnesium, etc.). As far as some of the pain, I only use Tylenol (which I don't want to use too much of because of it's liver toxicity), and use my heating pad a lot. I really do try not to take brain drugs, as they can be hell to get used to, and even worse to ever come off of. My fatigue was helped a lot by using a cpap machine for sleep, which I've used for about 10 years now.
I do react to weather changes, so maybe these constant wide swings in temperature are making things worse. I could go crazy trying to figure it all out.

[Birdie]

CathyA,
Have you ever tried eating a very simple vegan diet for a week or two to see if that mad any difference? By simple, I mean beans, rice, potatoes, oatmeal and some vegetables and a little fruit. Nothing processed.

It seems as if it might be worth trying..

[Rogar]

CA, Hope you feel better. I have a good friend who has battled Fibro for years. He was a talented electrical engineer but the pain in his hands and extremities prevented him from computer work and he has been on SS disability for years. He mostly uses voice activated software now, but it has it's own problems. He has gone half way across the the nation to see specialists. At one time he brought back a briefcase full of various medicine samples with the instructions to try each. None seemed to help and it seems like the causes, effects, and helpful medicines are different for different people. He was on methadone for years and it seemed to help but eventually had diminishing returns and he went through traumatic withdrawals. He has also tried different diets. Now, having a good physical therapist is his best help.

One of his biggest problems has been finding physicians that have an expert understanding of the disease. With all his help he seems to be doing better than a few years ago. My best wish from what I know is to keep trying remedies and getting different expert opinions. I think there is a special internet forum he uses to compare notes with other people with Fibromyalgia and CFS.

[JaneV2.0]

Or a ketogenic diet, which adherents say is a cure-all.
I haven't really noticed any changes, except I'm not as prone to napping, but then I've been LCHF for most of the last years.

[early morning]

Cathy, I am so sorry you are dealing with such an issue. I have no helpful suggestions, just cyber-((((hugs)))). I hope you feel better soon.

[CathyA]

Thanks everyone. It's definitely a curious illness. I went to see the G.I. Physician's Assistant again today. We talked a long time. He's very knowledgeable and gives me attention that a doctor usually doesn't have time for. It seems like fibromyalgia can overly react to lots of things, and for me, I think it was a reaction to a flare up of my IBS. (It was a flare up to a flare up. I hope to get a better deal on my body in my next life.
I guess I can't complain..........I'm 67. Lots of people don't get that opportunity.
Thanks again for your support.