Fibromyalgia Support Group

Ok this is my first forum here. I was recently diagnoised with Fibro but After researching it I believe I have had it for about 15 years. I have so many diffferent problems and I have found out they all are part of Fibro. I have been taking Lyrica for several months. I also take cyclobenzprine (flexerol).I take darvocet and percocet when things get really bad. Recently I have been having some strange new afflictions. My hands and feet are swelling and ache (more then usual) I have several spells where my stomach starts to hurt and swells up like a balloon so big that I look pregnant and my belly botton actually pops out. I am also getting a numb tingly feeling in my hands and feet. And sometimes my legs turn purple with like pinkish red splotches. Has anyone else had symptoms such as these or could they be from the lyrica. I have also heard that cymbalta works well for fibro and actually has weight loss as a side effect. Anyone on it and losing weight?

Hello smaguire ...

Welcome to our group ...we are happy to have you join us.

Like you, I think I ve had Fibro for more years than I want to believe so was officially dx d this past May. That is also when PCP started me on Lyrica and Rhuemy agreed !!

I have very minor swelling from time to time in one ankle that I attribute to Lyrica and at first had severe fatigue problems during the day. The swelling isn t bothersome as it comes and goes and Rhuemy changed the time of day that I take my Lyrica so things are pretty decent right now.

I blame the fatigue I experience on my Hypothyroidism more than Fibro. Fibro only gives me pain, I believe.

I have never had the symptoms that you mention so I don t think I would blame the Lyrica.

Have you talked this over with your PCP ?

Welcome to the group.

I have the purplish color on the inside of my legs, seems to be spreading up too.

I am on Cymbalta and have not lost any weight from it, sure wish I were!!

That swelling and color changing does not sound like Fibro to me. But I think that is one of the nasty side effects that some people get from Lyrica. In fact I believe its a warning on the label. I think you should stop taking it and see if the swelling goes down. There are other alternatives, Neurontin for one.

Welcome, sorry I didn't say that first.

As far as the numbness and tingling, many of us get that. Mine started out that way and now it is pretty severe neuropathy type pain. That is the type of pain that Lyrica and Neurontin are supposed to help.

So sorry you're having these problems. Welcome to the group. Lot of good info and friends here.

I should add that you need to discuss this with your doctor. I find the FM boards really helpful in finding out all kinds of things about FM. But I would never follow the advice of someone I don't know without discussing with doc first *wink*

Hi smaguire,

I was reading your posts, I have to admit when you mentioned the discoloration in your ankles and feet and swelling in the extremities and stomach. I would get that checked out and maybe get a urine test and kidneys checked and make sure everythinng is flowing as it should. It sould more of a circulatory thing. I am not in the medical profession at all. But as a mom, if you were my sister, daughter, friend I would get your butt to the doctors and have t checked. I prefer it be checked and the doctor say you are ok. Then for it not to be checked and you have a bad infection or blockage something. Just my 2 pennies worth, hope you don't mind.

Hi Smaguire, and welcome to our group. The tummy pain and swelling sound to me like they could be irritable bowel syndroem, which is yet another side effet of FM.

You might share your story there, as well. You might find additonal help there. Here's the link: http://www.mdjunction.com/irritable-bowel-syndrome

Please make yourself at home here. We're glad you have found us.

Hi there smaguire, A big welcome to our fibro family. I'm with the others, I'd be calling the Dr asap. I got the purple/pink thing all over my body once and it turned out to be an allergy to that particular drug. I do get the purple legs but only when I'm at the Dr's office and they are dangling off the table for awhile waiting for the Dr to come in. Good luck in finding out what's going on.

Jan

Hi and welcome!

I had the same problems with Lyrica...at first I thought it was helping, then my hands and feet starting swelling and the pain got really intense--I had that weird tingling numb feeling and it kept getting worse until I quit taking Lyrica. I also gained weight and was retaining water horribly.

I take Cymbalta now for pain and depression and it works for me. I take Flexeril and Nabumetone for osteo-arthritis but no other pain medications unless I have a migraine. I may try neurontin someday, but for now my pain is bearable.

I was taking darvocet for headaches prior to my fibro dx, and was getting purplish itchy spots on my arms, legs & chest. My allergist put a note in my chart to avoid prescribing opioids and to start me at the lowest dose & build if I should need pain meds. I've had 5 procedures since then & they used percocet, fentanyl, and versaid with no problems, but didn't give me any to take home, just tylenol.

I don't know what I'll do if/when I get to the point the meds I'm taking aren't enough!

Thanks everyone for your replys. I have been spending alot of my time with my Doc. And I did go in and see him today. He agreed that he felt this was due to the Lyrica. He switched me to Cymbalta. I do in fact have IBS and I have had it since I was a teenager. That is only 1 in a long list of things that I have been diagnoised with before I got the fibro diagnoises. I also have tennis elbow and facial pain including TMJ I have had sllep problem and many different pain issues I also have carpal Tunnel I had a partial Hystarectomy. At one point I was actually told that my pain and fatigue were because I was too Fat. I lost 120 pounds and I still have pain and fatigue I think it may be worse now. Thats why I say that I have had Fibro for longer then the month since my official diagnosis. I am also having a constant cold or one that never goes away. My sinus ache and nose bleeds all the time. I have had every test imaginable and even tested for allergies but they have found nothing. I was told by someone else that This could be a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrom and that many times they go hand in hand fibro and CFS but that CFS cause you to have virusis all the time. Anyone know about this?