Fibromyalgia Support Group

Hi everyone, I am new here, and i have been kind of lurking and reading y'alls posts. I want to say this place is great! i need some feedback on what my pcp told me yesterday. My husband asked him if he could refer me to a specialist that could help because i have gone downhill so much the past couple years. Doc said no, I asked about rheumatologist, he said no. Said the only treatments for fibro was antidepressants, sleep, and excercise. Said pain meds only worked for a little while and the pain would come right back (reaallyy??? duh). He has tried me on cymbalta, salvella, welbutrin, and lyrica. No improvement. He has rx'd me hydrocodone in the past, soma once. I have no insurance and have to plan ahead for a dr visit. I may have well just thrown that $ out the car window. If I change dr's and ask for something for pain i will be pegged as a "drug-seeker" my own dr won't rx pain meds to new patients because Tennessee's new drug laws are so strict on MD's. This feels unethical, but i don"t know what to do, advice??

Annabelle,

Welcome to the group!

I'm really not sure why your dr will not refer you to a rheumy. It doesn't make any sense to me. Sometimes these drs get almost jealous and don't want their patients to see anyone but them...Unbelievable.

There really isn't a lot that can be done for fibro right now, but it sounds like he has just pushed you in a corner as "untreatable" There are meds that can help with the pain, it just takes awhile to get the right "cocktail" There is water therapy. That's always good. If he won't refer you to a rheumy, ask him about a pain clinic. At least they should work with you to get your meds correct, and then he won't have to worry about prescribing narcotics for you. All pain clinics are different, but meds are usually their specialty. It is important to exercise as much as you can, and REST as much as possible.

Use a heating pad/mattress pad, hot baths with epsom salts, and topical pain creams or patches help on localized pain.

Hope your dr will at least send you somewhere where you can get more help than what he is giving you. Remember, the dr works for you...let him know that! HUGS

One of two things, see a Rheumy, and make sure when you make the appointment that you ask if the rheumy diagnoses and treats Fibro. Or do the same with a pain managment doc. I wouldn't go in there saying "hey I want pain pills" or "can I have some hydrocodone please." That's a sure way to be labeled drug seeking. I'd type up a couple sheets of your history for the new doc. Current drugs and how much you take, your medical history (such as surgeries, car accidents, etc), What medications you've tried in the past and what the reaction was (toned down the pain, did nothing, made you sick at your stomach), significant family history (such as RA, Lupus, etc). Then, when he looks that over, tell him that you're not being helped by your current medications and you've already tried all these others, and ask if there's anything he can prescribe or suggest for your pain? Let the idea of pain meds be his idea. You might get another sucky doctor... but when I did this with my new rheumy (cause I'd moved) I was already on a low dose of Tramadol, he upped the dose and changed it from "as needed" to daily. Don't NAME the drug you want, let him suggest one. If you want a particular drug and he names something else, tell him you aren't familiar with that one, or you've tried it before and it didn't help. We, unfortunately, walk a tightrope. We have a syndrome that causes pain. Asking for pain meds get you labeled a drug seeker. Catch-22. But try the writing things out, and see if that doesn't help. It's what I did for my new rheumy and he upped my meds without me actually having to ask.

Oh, and welcome to the group!

annabelle68,

Why don't you call your local Hospital and see if there is a Rheumatologist that they can recommend to you and make an appointment to see the Rheumy.

Also you can Google Rheumatologist and type in your Zip Code and see what comes up in your area and call and make an appointment.

Let me know what happens.

You have every right to go to any Doctor that you want to see.

It is your health and your life.

I imagine this post will provoke a lot of anger... It does in me- that's just rediculous in my opinion. If you don't have insurance can't you just pick a rhumatologist out of the book... I'm sure they will be happy to take your money without a referral! I don't suppose I'm sure of how all that works?? I'm finding pain Meds plus muscle relaxers are the only thing, besides hot baths and heating pads, that really work for me-- not pain meds alone, not muscle relaxerss alone, the "cocktail IS different for everyone!". This is hell to live with and I can't imagine not having some relief around the corner when the level is high! I actually was put on those Meds because of some buldging disks- if my neurologist doesn't continue these Meds I'm gonna have to go to pain management or something... I can't LIVE in so much pain all the time- I pray I won't have to... And same for you. Welcome to the group- sorry you have to be here.

Welcome to the group. You can change PCPs without being labeled a drug seeker. The main issue is if you are trying to get pain meds from several doctors. A pain mgmt doctor may be the specialty you are wanting to see. Even a lot of the rheumy's are beginning to refuse to treat due to the laws(in my area anyway). Just an option that it looks like you haven't thought of. Good luck!

Your family doctor is an idiot. If you want to find a fibro-friendly health care professional, go to the National Fibromyalgia Association website, They have listings for every state. Or, call your local hospital and ask for the physician referral service. See if they can match you up with a rheumotologist and/or a pain management specialist (I have both) that have an interest in Fibromyalgia (FMS).

Your doctor may be telling you that a specialist will not help because (FMS) is notoriously difficult to manage/treat. But, I feel you would be better off seeing someone who has a depth of knowledge on the subject than your PCP.

Make sure that you take your complete medical records and copies of any bloodwork that you have had done with you. That will save you time and money.

Also, consider purchasing the book "Fibromyalgia for Dummies." Like all of the dummies series, it contains easy to understand information. You can find it online at Amazon. Knowledge is power.

Good luck to you and take care.

Post edited by: Fantod, at: 04/20/2012 06:01 AM

Wow fantod! Those were both good tips for resources that I, being a relative newbie, did not know about- thanks so much for your post! Love this group! Well wishes to everyone!

bfly - You are very welcome! Have a great weekend!