[ozzie]

I'm happy to report that I don't have Rheumatoid Arthristis, which is what I was fearing. I have Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia. I've had the Osteo for some time but the Fribro is a new diagnosis and I'm reading up on it. I have two sisters who have it so I'm aware what they've been going thru.

The doctor has prescribed Ultram during the day and a low dose of Elavil at night for pain and sleep. I thought it was really interesting that an old antidepressant would be used for pain. Has anyone else been prescribed these two things for Fibromyalgia? How is it working for you? Thanks, Susan

[Beautiful_Pain]

{{{{{Susan}}}}} I'm glad you found it RA wasn't part of your dx...I'm not very up to date on fibro, hopefully your meds help alot! And hoping this will put your mind at ease =D

[CedarS]

Low dose of the older antidepressants is a common prescription for fibromyalgia, which isn't saying that fibromyalgia is about depression, the meds simply work well for some people in regards to pain and sleep issues.

Ultram often tried too. I'm not able to take it myself, side effects too much, though I don't now recall what side effects I experienced.

Flexeril helps me at night for sleep, sometimes I take it during the day also. Otherwise I mostly cope by taking lots of hot baths and showers, trying to pace my activity level, and whatever else I can come up with.

The CFIDS/Fibromyalgia Toolkit, A Practical Self-Help Guide by Bruce F. Campbell, PhD is excellent.
Self-Help is a wonderful site and includes info on low cost/free self help courses. I'm in an alum one now myself.

My best advice to folks who learn they have fibromyalgia is to trust themselves. Even if people tell you that you don't "look sick", that you should be able to just use some willpower and do more, that if you would only do whatever diet thingie or herbs or crystals or whatever.....you would get well, etc........please trust yourself and your experience.

The other book I suggest is by Katrina Berne, PhD, . Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Other Invisible Illnesses She is a psychologist who has fibromyalgia.

Hope I'm not blabbing too much here, know you did not ask for all this, just in the mood to pass good stuff on.

[dottie]

Elavil is very good for treating pain in SOME people. Not everyone is helped by it. One of my daughters takes Elavil at night to fight migraines.

There is a new anti-depressant named Cymbalta..which works for depression and pain, as well. If the Elavil does not work for ya ask about the Cymbalta, Ozzie.

Take good care!

[inkblot]

The doctor thought I had Rheumatoid Arthritis or fibromyalgia, too. The blood test for RA came back negative and I was sent to an orthopedic to see about the fibromyalgia. She said it wasn't that. I still don't have an answer. I didn't have money to keep going to doctor appointments.

Coincidently, the doctor I had the original appointment with was a fill-in doc from another office that day. He was an orthopedic! What fortunate luck! But, of course he couldn't refer me to himself, so I had to see the other person.

Anyway, I am not on those medications for my osteoarthritis, but working in pharmacy I have heard of them being used for your diagnosis. The Elavil works on pain because of its effect on nor-epinephrine. There are a few other psych drugs which do that and are sometimes prescribed for pain.

[(JD)]

If you're having problems with inflamation adding Omega 6 (GLA) and/or conjugated linoleic acid.... also diet is important (for me, white rice is absolutely a no-no... whole brown rice is not as bad.. for me, but bad enough to just not eat rice! heheh)

Good to hear it's not RA! but fibromyalgia is considered an arthritic disease.

[ozzie]

Thank you everyone for your help and understanding. I guess I'm going to have to call the doctor because Elavil isn't going to work for me. It caused me to have a very bad night of sleep and severe agitation the day after taking it. I'm doing fine with the Ultram even though it doesn't take care of all the pain.

Sarah....thanks a bunch for the links. I'll check them out.

Glad to hear it wasn't RA Ozzie, although Fibro is no picnic.

Petunia

[darkeyes]

The use of some anti-depressants for this is because some of these meds. affect the actual nerves/nerve endings in a positive way. My husband's aunt, at first, got ticked off with her doc when he prescribed AD's to her, protesting she does not have any mental problems, then she learned that such medications have multi-functions, finally she went with it, getting some relief.
I remember years ago many docs didn't recognize such a disorder as fibro, some just said it was not existent, thank God research proved those skeptics wrong.
I know a few people that suffer with it and I am so happy that now docs treat it. Another thing that came to mind was the controversery over Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I believe it is also referred to Epstein Barr's ? Well, now it does exist, even blood tests prove that.
Oh well, I am rambling, but wish you well with this.

Roe

(((((((((((((( ozzie )))))))))))))))

[nothemama8]

Susan, my sister has fibro and was very upset when told she would experience depression with it (thank the good lord we know whats like) she doesn't except mental health issues at all
keep taking the meds they will help
Angie

[Perzephone]

{{{{Ozzie}}}

Sorry to hear the Elavil didn't work - it's prescribed for many different types of neuralgia & nerve damage. I've been taking it for insomnia but it has the added benefit of dulling my normally over-sensitive teeth & jaw pain from TMJ syndrome. The dreams can get to be a bit much, and I do have the feeling that I'm dreaming too much to be sleeping while I'm asleep - almost lucid dreaming but not quite.

Something to keep in mind w/fibro is caffeine can make it worse, as can the typical migraine triggers - chocolate, the alkaloids in coffee & tea (even decaf), aged foods like wine, cheese, pickles, deli meats, sodium nitrates/nitrites, avocados, papaya & pineapple. Fibro flare-ups can also occur during seasonal allergy attacks & during the menstrual cycle.

[ozzie]

I called the doctor and told him Elavil wouldn't work for me. Now I'm on day 2 of trying Trazadone 25mg. for Fibromyalgia????? Weird but I'm giving it a go. So far, very mild agitation but I can live with it, I think.

[(JD)]

hopefully that agitation will subside within another day or two ...and not increase. I wonder if fibromyalgia has been around for a many decades, but was always passed off as aging arthritis? modern science does this for us.. grrrr TC (and go sneak and see Harry Potter on your own!)

[Leslie]

((((((((((ozzie)))))))))))))))

I am sorry you are not feeling well. My mom has fibro and I have seen her pain with this. Hope you find something that helps with the pain.

Leslie

[ozzie]

You raise a good point. The Rheumatologist says I have Osteoarthritis.....and Fibromyalgia. Fibro is also listed as an arthristis ailment at arthritis.org.

Maybe I'll sneak away by myself one day after Christmas and see Harry Potter.....good suggestion.

[ozzie]

Thank you ((((((((Leslie))))))))) I have two sisters with Fibro and they've both suffered for years with it. Guess I'm fortunate to have just gotten it.

[bebop]

wonder if that is why my dr gave me the ellaville a yr ago? he didn't say but I don't take it much because it makes me so drowsy the following day