Fibromyalgia is my most recent diagnosis. Technically I was diagnosed with fibro about 12 years ago. I had severe joint pain in my neck, shoulders, wrists, and stiffness in my lower back. I had testing done, including some genetic testing, and was tried out on a variety of anti-inflammatories and sent to physical therapy. The physical therapist was incredibly helpful. The rest didn't do much. The physical therapist said from his experience with what I was experiencing it appeared that I had an impingement in my neck. This made a lot of sense. The way pain started and was treated all made sense with an impingement. I still am cautious of certain activities which can cause dizziness and pain. But the fibromyalgia diagnosis was a joke.
Fast forward to a few months ago: I had been on Cymbalta for a few years to manage depression. Either my depression changed or my response to the medicine changed and it was not doing all that I needed. So I was changed to a different antidepressant. Over the next few weeks I developed intense, deep pain throughout my body. I though I had a virus, or perhaps had hurt myself somehow. I thought maybe I was just overtired or needed more exercise. Well, some of these may have been true, but I finally called my doctor and asked what might be going on, as the pain has escalated to a point where I couldn't sleep and was getting out of bed feeling run over by a steamroller. He gave me the number for a few rheumatologists he recommended and said he'd like me to be evaluated for fibromyalgia. It took two weeks to even get ahold of a rheumatology office (due to office vacations, holidays, strange hours, nobody answering the phone, nobody calling back...). When I finally got through I discovered it was MONTHS before I would make it onto their short waiting list. I checked with every rheumatologist I could get to that is covered by my insurance. Nobody would even talk about seeing me in less than several months. Frustrated, I called my doctor back.
When I saw my general practitioner again he said that there is a shortage of rheumatologists and since I coudlnt' get through, he would just work with me. He tested the classic trigger points and I nearly leaped off the exam table. I hadn't been sure I would react at all... but wow.
Cymbalta, which I had been on before my symptoms became so marked, is one of the medications used to treat fibromyalgia. The new antidepressant I was changed to, though, is not compatible with Cymbalta and we didn't want to change me off something that was working for my depression. So the great medicine trial began. I was started on Savella. Within a couple of weeks the top 20% of my pain was managed. I was able to sleep most nights. I wasn't in such severe pain, but still in constant pain. So I returned to my doctor and he increased my dosage to the maximum amount. Within a couple of weeks my pain reduced further. My pain was manageable most days without a lot of effort!!! That worked great for several weeks.
A couple of weeks ago my pain started to increase again. I initially thought it was just a flare related to a sinus infection I was fighting. I finally asked my doctor for a couple of pain pills so I could sleep. If I do not get at least 9 to 9 1/2 hours of sleep each night my pain increases dramatically. Pain keeps me from sleeping... so it creates a terrible downward spiral. The pain persisted.
After spending two days at level 7-8 pain I called my doctor again. This afternoon I saw him and we made another medication change. I have now added a muscle relaxant up to 3x daily to my medicine cabinet. I'm 32 years old and take 7 pills a day. Well, 10 now I guess. If this doesn't help within 2 weeks I'll go back and we'll try something more. I am praying to avoid constant pain medication. I don't like the extra layer of fog and other side effects of pain medications. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
On a happy note: Last night I made it to the basketball with DD! I got a padded folding stadium seat to go on the hard seat there and it made a world of a difference. Since I'm not riveted by basketball I also brought my crochet project along :) It is distracting to me and helps block some of the attention to pain. We made it through the entire game and DD was VERY grateful. It was a great mommy-daughter date and I'm glad I did it.
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