Hi ~ Whining allowed, always, for what we deal with on a daily basis!

I've been taking Trazadone at night for years with definite help.  Recently, due to changes in lack of pain control, my doc added one clonazapine also at night, along with melatonin.  I do pretty well with the combo  of these three, and they don't seem to make me more drowsy  in the am.  Some nights, if I wake up in pain and can't get back to sleep due to pain, I can add one more trazadone.  Sleep is so important, and it sounds like you've got alot on your plate - you gotta get some sleep.

Hope this helps~

Hi , has anyone tried a tens unit & how was it?

I had a few Dr's refuse to help me when I was 22 as well. Some just don't get the cycle of chronic pain. Pain doesn't discriminate, it can hit you at any age, young or old. The first pain Dr. I went to told me he wouldn't help me ruin my life and that he thought I was to young and to fat to be on pain meds. So I went years with no relief, no help, it seemed like no one would believe me. It took my therapist writing a letter to my primary at the time to even get vicodin. I finally found a good pain Dr. last year after 7 years of repeated ER visits and being labeled a pill chaser. He put me on the fentanyl patch and hydrocodone for breakthrough pain.
I'm so sorry you have to deal with this pain, it's not something I wish on anyone and I know what you're going through. I have had people tell me that I should be used to the pain by now since it's been so long. You don't ever get used to pain like this! 

Dear figure0156,

I have had success with Cymbalta. Te thing is though, it has to be taken as prescribed or it is not effective like it can be. If medication is missed, the pain comes back.

Hot showers work wonders.

Heat and vibration work well also. I have one on my chair and my bed, and it makes the world of difference.

I have a rheumatologist who treats me for fibromyalgia. he knew right away what it was, took me off of arthritis medication and placed me on Cymbalta, and it got my pain in check.

I am the diagnosed type that has severe pain all the time, and this medication has worked well for me.

One drawback, i do dream but i cannot trade bad dreams for much less pain.

Hope this helps.

I don't have fibro, but hang out here because the lupus board is way to quiet.  It's been a whirlwind of a year for me.  I had my RNY surgery in May 2009.  Lost 70 pounds before surgery and about 140 since surgery, though I'm stuck and gain a pound here, lose a pound there, etc.  The beginning of this year, my mom (who I am sole caretaker of) spend 7 weeks of a 9 week period in the hospital at 2 week stretches (okay, there was also a week in rehab).  When she finally came home at the end of March, she came home on Hospice care with her doctors saying 2-4 weeks.  4 1/2 months later, she is still alive and doing as well as can be expected.  She's tired and sleeps alot.  Suffers from some headaches, but hanging in. 

In February, I met the love of my life.  He asked me to marry him in June (for my 40th birthday) and we eloped in Hawaii last month.  Funny thing, he's also a WLS patient!  I do believe some things happen "for a reason" and I know he came into my life right when he was supposed to.

Now for my whine...I've been having significant sleep difficulty since about late April/early May.  I'm working with my PCP on it.  I take Restoril for sleep (and have for years), but I was finding I would fall asleep and I'd wake up because of pain, though I'd fall back to sleep.  I've heard people with fibro complain about this type of sleep pattern...can anyone relate?  My PCP started me on Celexa.  At first it seemed to help, but then no more.  So, last week, we changed to Cymbalta.  I know I have to give it some time, but lately, there are more nights, where I sleep 2-3 hours and can't sleep anymore...can't find a comfortable position, etc.  I'm just so tired   Can't blame it on the new husband as we aren't exactly living together full time yet (and even when we do, he works 4 nights a week).  I sleep in a Tempurpedic "knock off" which has helped greatly over the last 5 years...so we are buying a new bed (king) and will get a real Tempurpedic which is a bit more firm than the one I have now.  I think that might help.  Still, anyone have any suggestions?  I'm tired of being tired...

Whine finished.
Elli