How's your PCP? Do they take your fibro seriously? Maybe wait and see how the neuro acts...if one of your docs is taking your fibro seriously, maybe that's all you need.

Oh, and welcome and you're right, getting old sucks!

So what if you ignored the pain...that was in the past and you have to put it behind you and concentrate on the NOW. Besides, you didn't cause this to happen...it just did.

Now you have your dxs...you probably should keep your PCP in the loop but don't see two doctors for the same problem. But you will need a compassionate doctor to help you with your pain management. You really will have a lot of options once all the tests are complete.

Are you taking anything for pain now? Lyrica is the first of two drugs specifically for fibromyalgia. It works for some people but does nothing for others or makes some of us (myself included) worse. It's supposed to block nerve pain. Cymbalta is also approved for fibro...its a anti depressant that also seems to help those of us with chronic pain. I take 60 mg a day, plus an NSAID for my neck & arthritic cysts on my fingers. It's not RA, just osteo. I also have flexeril for muscle spasms but I mostly take that at night to help me sleep.

Do you sleep? Most of us have problems sleeping and one theory is that sleep is the key to managing fibromyalgia. If you don't sleep, you don't heal, you probably know that as an athlete. Ambien & Lunesta seem to be the best sleeping medicines but others have good luck with natural products like 5-htp, and melanonin (sp?).

I don't think anyone's found anything for fibrofog, except maybe provigil.

The key seems to be finding at least one good doctor. It really doesn't matter what their specialty is as long as they're educated about fibromyalgia and don't poo-poo it. You will hear "Oh that's part of your fibro too" a lot. Use the search box at the top of the page in the forums for specific info on a problem or a drug.

Best of luck to you and I'm glad you found us!

I also tried Neurotin but couldn't handle it.

Sleep? What's that? LOL It's really not funny. Lack of sleep is probably one of the worst symptons a person can get. I can't remember the last time I slept through the night but since May it's alot worse because now when it wakes me up the pain is to bad to fall back to sleep.

Thanks for talking to me, it helps you know? I'm still trying to get a handle on nobody in my life understanding what's wrong with me. I try not to tell my sons (who are grown)just how bad I really feel as they have their own lives to start and I don't want them sacrificing anything for me.

My feeling is that regardless of their opinion on fibro, they should be treating your symptoms. You have pain. It needs to be managed.

I strongly believe in a good medical team, to include at least a PCP, rheumy and neuro. They all three may have different ideas and/or suggestions on how to manage your pain. I also believe it is important to let the left hand know what the right one is doing.

I think you really need to speak to your PCP about something to help you to sleep. Restorative sleep is so vitally important to us. Sleep is number one, pain management is number two.

Whomever you decide to see, or include in your medical team, don't let them push you around. You have symptoms, and they all need to address those symptoms. Otherwise, they are doing you a mis-service.

By the way I've been blown off by 2 rheumatologists even though they are supposed to treat fibro. I hope you have good luck with the neuro.

I had a really crappy pain day today. I usually consider myself pretty strong at dealing with it but the pain got me down all day tody. Oh well, tomorrow's another day for me and all of you. I pray it's an okay one.

By Metho, do you mean Methadone? I was never warned about liver failure from Methadone. That's why I ask.

I hope you have a better tomorrow. Sleep peacefully tonight.

The med is Methotrexate. Nothing to mess around with.There is no safe meds for RA so I'm looking into alternative for the near future.