|
|
|
stuffyd Posts: 8
New Member
|
Hello all! I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia on Tuesday by a rheumatologist. He called this morning and said I also have a vitamin D deficiency. I am now supposed to go to my family doctor for whatever treatment is needed for these issues. I have a list of questions for my doctor; pain relief, possible depression, how much pain relief should my goal be, and vitamin deficiency. I'm wondering if I'm missing any questions that I should be asking? Being new to this condition, I have little idea as to what I'm up against and what I should definitely be finding out. Another question out of curiosity, are muscle spasms in fingers and hands common with fibromyalgia, or not? I've started having spasms about a month ago. Thanks to all for your help  |
|
Reply |
|
|
|
ushie Posts: 1928
Senior Member
|
Hi, welcome! The Vitamin D supplement will help with pain. You do need to ask whether he will prescribe an anti-depressant, and what kind/what you should do if any side-effects bpther you too much; pain relief--medical, physical therapy/exercise, other tactics; what your expectations are realistically. Spasms are common--I get them when overstressed. Do you work? what general physcial shape are you in oeverall? (Sorry-tyops--splint on hand.) |
|
|
|
|
|
FibroCFS Posts: 1487
Senior Member
|
A lot of us are deficient in Vitamin D. Just an FYI, if they prescribe a D Rx, ask which D it is, 2 or 3. I think most, if not all, are 2 which is not absorbed as easily as 3 and some people cannot get there D up using the Rx. I supplement and my doctor left a message and said all my results, but cholesterol, are good. I started D3 when I was deficient and the first time around it brought it up. If you take D3, you need to take K2 as this helps it to "work". If you go on Calcium, you need to take it 2-3 times a day with food so it will absorb. C also helps Calcium absorb. Ask your doctor about physical therapy, possibly aqua therapy. D and other supplements like Magnesium, Manganese, Malic Acid help some of us with pain, but it has never helped me. We are all different. I take them because they are still good for our muscles and we need all the help we can get. Tramadol 50mg AM Noon 6PM Fibromyalgia/Pain
Fludrocort .1mg AM & 6PM Hypotension
Zolpidem 5mg 6PM & 8PM RLS/Sleep
Gabapentin 300mg 6PM RLS/Sleep/Fibro
Gabapentin 100mg Upon 1st and 2nd Awakening at night RLS/Sleep/Fibro
Simvastatin 20mg 6PM Cholesterol
Tizanidine 4mg Upon 1st Awakening at night and 2mg AM and PM Fibro/Sleep
FemHrt or Aviane (Hormones) PM Severe Hot Flashes
Naltrexone 1.5-3-4.5 mg (Start low 4 weeks to 4.5)
Fibromyalgia - Off Label Use - Still Experimental
Voltaran Gel as needed on hands and rib cage.
Ibuprofen or Naproxen as needed for hands, arms, feet, legs, knees, rib cage, back.
D3 1,000IU & K2 90mcg - Sublingual
D3 Gel Caps 2,000IU AM 4,000IU PM
Calcium Citrate 2,000 2x day w/food
Manganese 10mg PM And Upon 1st, 2nd, 3rd Awakening At Night
Magnesium Taurate 200mg PM
Malic Acid 800mg AM
Vitamin C 1,000mg AM/PM
B1 Capsule 100mg AM
Liquid Vitamin B Complex - Sublingual AM
Includes: B2 17mg, B3 20mg, B5 30mg, B6 2mg,
B12 1,000mcg, Folic Acid 40mcg
Benfotiamine 300mg PM
Chromium Picolinate AM
Bromelain and Broad Spectrum Enzymes before meals.
Cranbery Extract Capsule w/C 400mg
I am not a doctor nor do I work in the medical field. My opinions and suggestions are just that, just what I think and have to offer that I hope is helpful to you. Always rely on your doctor when making medical decisions. |
|
|
|
|
|
stuffyd Posts: 8
New Member
|
Thanks for the advice I am 35, don't do a regular exercise routine, but I do gardening and yardwork. I love to do yoga, but I quit until I knew what this pain was from cause I didn't know if I would do more harm than good. I now know that it can help. I also have type 1 diabetes, trying to get my blood sugars in a normal range. Right now I am on Tramadol, Meloxicam, and Tylenol. These sometimes take the edge off the pain, but I'm not sure if that's all the relief I should expect. I found something out yesterday by accident, and I don't know if it was a fluke or not, but it was sunny and warm so I laid out for awhile, and the heat made me feel better than I had in a long time. Of course, it's rainy and cloudy today so I can't try it again, can't wait for more sun I am a stay at home mom/homemaker with a 13 year old son and 10 year old daughter, and I have my wonderful husband. My kids don't understand what's really going on, and they himhaw around when I ask them for help around the house. How can I explain to them why I need more help so they can understand that I'm not trying to be lazy, I just need to take care of myself? Post edited by: stuffyd, at: 05/31/2012 10:25 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
Adewyn Posts: 5027
Group Leader
|
sit them down once you understand the disease and explain it to them flat out.. and that you need them to be more diligent about helping arund the house and keeping there rooms clean and laundry where it needs to be.. make a place for everything and tell them that s they way it eeds to be .. so it is easier on everyone to help out out around the house.. if you can get exercise in durig the please do... move you move the better you will feel... once you decide you meds and all... if any at all.... vit d will defiately help once it is in your system..... i take 5000 unit everyday along with my meds.... good luck hugs and welcome to the group |
|
|
|
|
|
MoiraWolf Posts: 3410
Senior Member
|
Welcome to the group! I would also suggest browsing around and reading some of the older posts. There's a LOT of good information here and you may find answers to questions you didn't even know to ask yet! You can search by topic on the upper right search box. Look for "spoon theory." It was recently reposted. It's a good way to explain to people what living with a chronic pain condition is like. It was written for rheumatoid arthritis, but it is really about any chronic condition. I read it to my husband and now we use the term "running out of spoons" to say that I'm reaching (or have reached) the end of my energy for the day and it's time to stop, rest, return home, whatever. Your kids are old enough to help. You don't have to do it all. And don't make the mistake so many of us do (and it's easier said than done). Do NOT feel guilty about not doing as much as you once did. You didn't ask for this, there's no reason to feel guilty about it! It's hard for family and friends to cope with, since we look "fine." But we are so far from "fine" as to be in another country altogether! Oh, and yes, muscles cramps, hands, feet, back, neck, anywhere, is part of fibro. My bad spots are one shoulder blade and low back. Seriously thinking about getting a TENS unit for those. I am not a medical doctor and any medical opinion I give is based on personal experience and/or research. It is not intended to suppliment or replace your doctor. Follow at your own risk.
Gabapentin 600mg, tid
Tramadol 50mg, bid
Enalapril 10mg
Metoprolol ER 50mg
Citalopram 40mg
Levothyroid 125mcg
Cyclobenzaprine 10mg
Hydroxyzine 25mg
Carbidopa/Levadopa 25/100mg
Fish Oil Omega 3 - 1400mg
multi-vitamin pack
Vitamin C 500mg
Vitamin D3 50,000units, once a week
Dx: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, degnerative joint disease, hypertension, diabetes type II, irritable bowel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, reactive airway disease, chronic allergies, hashimoto's disease, TMJ, morbid obesity, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, seasonal affective disorder
www.etsy.com/shop/moirawolf |
|
|
|
|
|
hatbox121 Posts: 10653
Group Leader
|
Welcome to the group! I would also suggest having a calcium test done if you can. That being low can cause muscle spasms as well. It also goes along with vit d defiency sometimes. Lowering the pain level to a tolerable amount is the goal. Note I didn't say pain free. FM is a learn as you go type of thing. You'll find that you have to make adaptations to certain things and figure out what's best for you. One of the things that you can do is start pacing yourself. Do a bit, rest, do a bit more, rest, and so on. Amy~ “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
Current dxes-Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Mitral Valve Prolapse w/regurg, 2 other heart valves with regurg, POTS, DDD, scoliosis, various OA, polyneuropathy of unknown origin, SI joint dysfunction/fusion/collapse, chronic rotar cuff tendonitis, impingement syndrome of the shoulder, chronic bursitis in various locations, degeneration of the sternum, vertigo, GERD, FM, CFS, CPS, various bone marrow lesions, brain lesions of unknown cause, migraines, TMJ, vertically bulging discs, Raynaud's, anemia, tinnitus, high copper levels, borderline glaucoma, colon polyps, intermittent RLS, Vit D deficiency, depression, Eye accomodation disorder, Essential tremor, recurrent kidney stones, sacral spine disorder, inflammed tendons, and inflammation of spinal nerves(no specific dx).
I'm am not a dr. I am not a substitute for a dr. All advice I give is based on research and my personal experiences. |
|
|
|
|
|
stuffyd Posts: 8
New Member
|
Thank you so much everyone for your help and support. I have been trying to read a bunch of other posts on here to see what I can learn before my doctor appointment, and boy, is there a lot to take in Unfortunately, it's 1 am, can't sleep, so I'm looking around more on here (apparently a lot of you know what this is like)  Can't wait to learn more from all of you, and get to know you better, and hopefully soon, be able to help someone like you all have helped me already. You guys are great! |
|
|
|
|
|
MoiraWolf Posts: 3410
Senior Member
|
I'm always up all night... I can't sleep til the wee hours of the morning, if I'm lucky, and up into the afternoon if I'm REALLY lucky and actually get to sleep I am not a medical doctor and any medical opinion I give is based on personal experience and/or research. It is not intended to suppliment or replace your doctor. Follow at your own risk.
Gabapentin 600mg, tid
Tramadol 50mg, bid
Enalapril 10mg
Metoprolol ER 50mg
Citalopram 40mg
Levothyroid 125mcg
Cyclobenzaprine 10mg
Hydroxyzine 25mg
Carbidopa/Levadopa 25/100mg
Fish Oil Omega 3 - 1400mg
multi-vitamin pack
Vitamin C 500mg
Vitamin D3 50,000units, once a week
Dx: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, degnerative joint disease, hypertension, diabetes type II, irritable bowel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, reactive airway disease, chronic allergies, hashimoto's disease, TMJ, morbid obesity, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, seasonal affective disorder
www.etsy.com/shop/moirawolf |
|
|
|
|
|
mem6526
|
I never slept at all last night. Not even like 5 minutes. So I figured since I cannot sleep I might as well do some laundry. So I am doing laundry and I am hoping that I will be able to sleep eventually! This is so messed up. I am all backwards with my sleep. I don't know if this will ever get better!    Post edited by: angelonearth, at: 06/01/2012 05:26 AM |
|
Reply |
|
