Couple days late on responding to this, sorry, sm

Couple days late on responding to this, sorry, sm [2007-12-18]
I Been doing this since off the prednisone and doc said I am a lifer for either methotrexate or prednisone. What fun, but at least I Have to take the good with the bad I guess.

sometimes they work right away, sometimes it takes days; it took days for me [2007-11-13]
nm

Yes! On days when I ate junk, you know, sweets mainly I'll feel [2007-04-10]
diet and I take my sublingual B-complex, cod liver oil, and especially my barley formula, I feel pretty good.

Well, I had about 7 good days of [2007-04-04]
feeling absolutely wonderful - no pain, no fatigue, nothing - just felt as normal as ever - then today it hits - I am not really hurting - my legs feel a bit bruised-like, but overall I just extremely tired - guess the past 7 days caught up with me - well guess that Hope all you other sufferers are doing great! Happy Easter!!

Yes.... [2008-08-12]
...please let us know how you're doing. You might want to take one of the whole pills right before bedtime, to help you through the night. You also might find that you may need to take a few more days each time before you reduce. So you may need to stay 3-4 days at a total of 3 pills a day....then reduce one of the whole pills by half a pill....so you're on 2-1/2 pills a day for a few days....and so on. If you put it on paper, you may be able to see and be able to follow it a bit better. Also, your PCP may be a bit more inclined to help you than that pain M.D. Your PCP knows you more, and if you ask for help in tapering, she/he may give it in a more compassionate way. Also, you can ask your PCP for the 5/500s or the 250 mg, once you are close to the end of your 750s, and those will split easier, and you will be getting a much reduced dose. In this way, you can take several weeks/month(s). to taper down and down....until your body doesn't feel addictated. I'm rambling now, but you probably understand what I'm saying. Hints for pain: Take deep breaths, and slow stretching exercises. I sometimes do the BodyFlex exercises, which is a deep breath and a stretch, and that gets oxygen to your muscles, which oxygenates them, and helps your overall endurance, and helps pain reduce, as well. I guess yoga and Pilates would, too. And meditation, if you think that would help.

Thanks so much for sharing. I'm sorry you had to [2008-08-11]
go thru it, too, with antidepressants. Thank God I said no to them, or I Some sites say they are a miracle, and I could use Suboxone for a week or two and go thru a completely painless withdrawal, and other sites say that Suboxone is more addictive than the Vicodin, and then you have to withdraw from that! I know when I quit smoking about 15 years ago, I think, I started using the nicotine patch. I felt horrible, so sick, and then read that the patch just had this go on and on and on. I pulled the patch off and quit cold turkey, and only suffered terribly for a few days. I don Thanks so much. Tomorrow is my big day, by the way. The start of the end of a bad thing and beginning of good things! Now off to find some info.

see inside.... [2008-08-11]
Okay, so it sounds like you're on four 7.5 mg a day, correct? See if this makes sense. How I would do it is this. I know they're hard to cut in half, but you need to do this. Cut every single one of them in half. Start the first day by taking your first whole pill. Then second dose, take only half a pill. Third dose, take a whole pill. Fourth pill take half of a pill. Do this for two days, and see how you tolerate it. You can fool your body into thinking it's taking a whole one, when actually the first two days, you're down one pill....so taking three pills instead of four a day. Third day, try taking only half a pill four times....you're down to two pills, if you can tolerate it. Reduce by half a pill each day if you can..... and then see if you can stretch out the hours between pills. So go to every eight hours, instead of every six hours. You can then cut the halves in half, even though it will be messy..... So take the general taper as above, put it down on paper, reduce by half a pill every other dose, and continue to reduce every 2-3 days or so. Like I said, this is what I would do, but I'm no expert, just someone who knows what you're going through.... If you really want to do this, you can, I have no doubts whatsoever. Hopefully you will have gotten some help elsewhere since yesterday. If not, try this, and see how it goes. And actually, truth be told, this place you're going should be able to give you a taper schedule over the phone, no need to wait two weeks to see them.....I'd ask the doctor for this....or else, ask your pharmacist, as he also may be able to give you a little guidance. Best of luck to you....

Can somebody try and help me please? [2008-07-11]
Four weeks after my first child was born, in the middle of the night, I awoke with a very profound itching over my entire body. About a week later, after this having happened for so long, I realized it wasna lot of antibiotics), everything we could possibly think of. I made them run every test in the book, everything is clean. I have never had healthy problems before, and I was 20 y/o on onset of symtpoms. I have not had my thyroid checked yet though...which I know I should. Finally a doctor says that my only hope is to go to an allergist. I told him that somebody with skin that reacts to everything cannot get a skin scratch test, but he said they would do something. The allergist said it didnabout 3 months tops. It has been six...a totall of 2 years and 8 months. And since I started taking Zyrtec and feeling better, a new wierd bumpy itchy rash has started onmy legs...and the Zyrtec is becomming more ineffective, just like every antihistamine before it, and I am coupling with benadryl. The only other things I have noticed are bowel upset at times (soft stool, gas), some stomach upset from time to time....and I do notice a lot of stuffiness at times as well. I had never had allergy symptoms before in my life. So my question to you is this: Do I just assume the doctor was right, and I am allergic to the world...or do you think this is more like some kind ofautoimmune. I am literally at my wits end here. Although antihistamines help mostly, not always, and not fully. I need help! I have seen 5 doctors to date. It is not psychological, forgot to put that up there as well. And it is not scabies... I am the only one that I know of with this severe itching and welting. Oh, and no hives show up until my skin is touched, and I do have skin-writing...but I thought dermatographia only itches after touching, not before. So, if you can think of anything else that I could try, or have any ideas for what it could be, please help me!

Depo provera and fybromyalgia [2008-05-29]
I was not aware of any connection between Depo Provera and Fibromyalgia. I had Depo injections in 1987/1988. I became unwell in 1993. In 1999 I was diagnosed with CFS. I have seen 3 neurologists who all agreed the diagnosis. My partner is a Senior Biomedical Scientist here in UK and he suggested I ask for a c-reactive protein test and Rheumatoid Factor test late last year. Both had a positive reading. My GP said they were False Positives. I had to pay to see private Rheumatologist and early this year I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Further Bone scans showed I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. This results is after 14 years of no real treatment. Could this have any link to my using Depo Provera for 2 years 20 years ago? I have seen other articles from the states about a link and wanted to add my plight to the debate. I would be grateful to find out more. www.helen419@btinternet.com

Thank you. Please see message. [2008-05-19]
Thanks very much for your post and your prayers. My main intent in posting was to inform people that this disease can be diagnosed in adults, even after having a relatively healthy childhood and adulthood. In all the medical notes I've ever done, I have never seen a newly-diagnosed case of CF in an adult. My second intent, admittedly, was that I was/am very angry about the way this DNA testing was conducted, and I wanted to warn others out there that this could happen to them, as well, and if they're uninsured when the testing is done, they're not going to be able to get health insurance if the test is positive. I did contact several attorneys over this matter. They were either uninterested in my case or were already being treated by one of the physicians in this large monopoly of specialists that spans several states. I also contacted HIPAA, but they didn't feel this fell under their purview. The last thing I did was to contact the State Board of Medical Examiners (with a copy to the State Medical Society). I received a reply from them just a few days ago wherein they informed me that they had opened a file and are planning to investigate the case. About a month ago, I applied for Social Security Disability benefits (as well as SSI benefits, since my income is now so low). I hear that 75% to 80% of these cases are denied on first try, so I'm not holding my breath (no pun intended). The SSI program is a needs-based program. It's basically welfare, and I almost requested they not file that application because I felt so ashamed. I had never been on welfare in my entire life. However, I DO need the medical insurance desperately, and even if I were approved for and began receiving Social Security disability benefits TODAY, I wouldn't be eligible for Medicare for roughly 2-1/2 YEARS, whereas medical assistance is immediate with SSI. I'm still working as much as I can (which isn't much). I'm hoping my employer doesn't fire me because my job is the only source of pride I have remaining in my life these days. As far as your adult-diagnosed ADD, I'm very sorry to hear that. Are you taking medication, and if so, is it helping at all?? I hope you can get treatment and that the treatment helps. For a while, I thought I might have the same thing, but then I realized all the drugs I'm taking would be enough to cloud up the brain of a genius, so I'm pretty sure that's not what is causing my inability to concentrate, etc. In your case, it seems that youAHA moment, where you can look back at your life and realize that this is a disease you've probably had all along, but, as you said, medical technology is advancing, and we're learning new things every day. Certainly, nobody knew of or much about ADHD when you were a child. I never had an AHA! moment with this. About a dozen years ago, I had my gallbladder removed because of stones. I had a hysterectomy due to a prolapsed uterus in 2001. Inormal folks. In fact, before I became ill in 2006, it was probably close to a DECADE since I even had a normal cold! In July of 2007, I apparently had pneumonia during one of my hospitalizations, but I didnproblem or even feeling as if I had a cold. The first really bad cold I felt was during my hospitalization in August of 2007, and, ironically, that was my best oxygen hospitalization out of all of them; I needed very little, if all, oxygen during my hospital stay. The cold, however, was the worst I had had in my entire life. I even complained to the nurse about it (which I never ordinarily would have done with a normal cold). That was the same hospitalization when the DNA test was taken. I was fortunate enough to visit National Jewish Medical Center (about 80 miles from my home). My doctor is the director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program there. He said I have TWO disease-causing mutations. He told me that my pain will eventually stop once my pancreas totally destroyed and replaced with scar tissue. (I've read that people with chronic pancreas have an increased chance of developing pancreatic or other digestive cancers, and my mother died from colon cancer.) He said, instead, lung disease is probably what will kill me. X-rays showed bronchiectasis (which they said is secondary to cystic fibrosis), and my PFTs were abnormal, but my pulmonary problems aren't the main thing with me right now. In fact, although I'm noticing an increase in sputum production lately and the tendency to become short-winded more, this part of the disease seems to be something that is coming on so slowly that I barely realize it, for which I'm very thankful. I think, other than my loss of pride as a human being, the main thing that saddens me is all the children and babies that have died from this disease, and I feel very guilty if I sound like I'm complaining. I'm NOT complaining (except for the way the doctors acted), because I feel so fortunate to have been on this planet for all these years that if I die today, I will have at least had an opportunity to live my life that so many babies and children weren't fortunate enough to have. As I first wrote, though, please keep my experience in mind, in case someone you know and love suddenly develops digestive problems that canidiopathic and become chronic, and tell them to be certain to have insurance before agreeing to or requesting a DNA test. If they have cystic fibrosis, the CF Foundation offers to assist in the payment of premiums if someone caninsurance wouldn't pay. Again, thank you for your prayer, and I will send out one to the Big Guy for you, as well. I truly hope you can find a medication that will help with your ADD. (By the way, I donjust ADD; it's a disease that can really mess up your life!)

Not interested or understanding [2008-05-19]
I don't have MS, but I certainly can relate to being left and with no one being interested in learning about the disease process. In 2001, I had a hysterectomy, cystocele and rectocele repair and bladder suspension, and my boyfriend of six years decided that three days before my surgery would be a good time to leave. I think it was the emotional loss (as well as the monetary loss since he contributed to the bills) that hurt the most. Fortunately for me, I had two great friends and an aunt who had keys to my house and would stop over all the time to see if I was okay. (I felt okay, but stupid little things, like removing an ice cube tray from the freezer, were difficult in the beginning.) So I can relate to being abandoned and the hurt it can create on so many different levels. I I live with my daughter now, 2,500 miles from my home, where I was born and raised. (Ironically, she takes Provigil herself!) Now that I She has called me lazy during some of her angrier moments, which hurts more than I can express in words and just adds to my own sense of worthlessness. She Every now and then, I do mention something in the form of a what my body joke (for example, when goofy or weird things happen with my body, I look to see if these are components of CF, and nine times out of ten, they are.) It however, I Maybe holding someone you love at arm's length and acting aloof is their way of preventing the emotional pain they might feel if they truly accepted the fact that you have a serious disease. (Or, as in the case of my boyfriend, they're just plain creeps!) My daughter and I did have a discussion regarding my death just last week. (At this point, IMe, since I think it Many posters on this board are married and not alone, but for those who are alone with no life insurance, please read my P.S. post above.) I personally am grateful for boards like this because sometimes, it's the only outlet we have to just vent or to ask questions. I know there are CF and Pancreatitis boards on the internet. I've learned quite a few things from reading posts on these boards, and I've found that finding a community of people with the same disease is very helpful because they DO understand the disease process and what you're going through. I wish good luck and the very best of health to both of you. I will keep you in my prayers.

Thank you for [2008-04-19]
this valuable information. I sympathize with you, and I am outraged with you at the way this testing was done without any regard for what we know to be the standard procedures. If you can find the energy, I hope you will file a complaint with the medical board for that state, and also see if you can get any free legal advice. If this was, by chance, a HIPAA violation you might be entitled to $250,000. I just don't know if those laws would apply to your case or not. I have also just been diagnosed with something normally diagnosed in childhood, but mine is just ADD. I'm in my mid 40s, so even though I knew I was having major problems when I was little, nobody knew about these things in those days, and there was no help. I just thought I had depression and anxiety. I am very sorry to hear your story. It is not right. I hope you can get some justice at least. I will pray for you. Your post has given many people a lot of important information.

Thank you, Janie. [2008-03-20]
Wow! I couldnprofessionals, at least the ones that seem to hold a monopoly on their respective practices in my town. I sure hope you have a different doctor now!! I will definitely investigate saline infusions! Thanks for the tip. As I I can also give credit where it's due, and after yesterday, believe me, it's DUE! I had an appointment with National Jewish Medical Center in Denver yesterday. This appointment lasted six hours, but I didn The entire experience moved like a well-oiled machine. They made my local hospital look like a butcher shop. As noted, I HAVE done a lot of research into this (especially pancreatitis), but it In my case, my lung disease is mild. It The doctor yesterday told me that eventually (probably in a few years) my pancreas pain will go away because my pancreas is basically cannibalizing itself. Once it finishes destroying itself, although Idead pancreas, I won I probably will develop diabetes, though. Unless I develop pancreatic cancer (or cancer somewhere else in my GI tract), though, he told me that my lung disease will definitely be the cause of my death. They gave me so much stuff yesterday, including a very nice book (hard-bound, no less), Now That I Have CF. The entire book is devoted to adult-diagnosed cystic fibrosis. National Jewish is THE place to go for this disease. This is their expertise. I had previously felt as if Iwolves and had lost all trust and respect for the medical professionals as a whole. My experience yesterday has restored my faith. They gave me prescriptions for a box (5) of Fentanyl patches, more Vicodin for the pain that isnhospital worthy, more Xanax for the incredible anxiety I have (I awake in the middle of the night, panick stricken, almost every night.) They re-began me on paroxetine at double the dose I had previously been on, feeling it might work better for me. They gave me an Acapella device to use daily that helps to get rid of the mucus. (I was surprised to find that the use of this device, as they directed, is exhausting! Now I understand why patients with cystic fibrosis are so tired as a result of the treatment they need to undergo.) They gave me an entire box of Creon sample bottles (pancreatic enzyme). They gave me samples of Qvar, Pulmicort, and two ProAir HFAs. They advised me to apply for Social Security disability, and I met with the social worker for a very long time. She also wants me to have my CICP (Colorado Indigent Care Program) case re-rated because she feels I'm paying too much now that my income has decreased so much. The only snag is that if I need to be admitted, they admit through a university hospital near them, again almost 80 miles from where I live. As it was, we had to rent a car yesterday to get there, so I don That A few weeks ago when i had a hospital-worthy attack, the two patches previously given to me by the hospital (which I saved) helped very much to get me through the attack. Only drawback is they take a while to get into your system, but once they do, they last for three days. So maybe these new patches will help prevent another hospital admission, as the others did. Iofficially in the CF register, and I've very eagerly agreed to participate in any research projects where they may need my help. I don

I have just read your post and [2008-03-19]
I recently heard something about saline infusions (think I am right about this) being helpful in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Please do research on this (I would think you would) because as you and I both know, seems like the medical profession really lacks now days in terms of competency. I told 1 physician I went to about a diagnosis and he had the nerve to roll his eyes up towards the ceiling. I told him I did not make the diagnosis, another physician did and I was just relaying. Name it what you want but just wanted some relief from my symptoms. I hope you will keep in touch with this posting and let us know how things go with you. Please do research though because you sure cannot put any confidence in many people.

Adult-diagnosed cystic fibrosis [2008-03-16]
Hello, everyone. I For those of you who, like me, though, DID NOT know, cystic fibrosis can be diagnosed in an adult. I just turned 55, and two years ago (02/01/2006), out of NOWHERE, in the middle of the night I became very ill. I chalked it up to a stomach bug, but I became sicker and sicker during the day. Finally, 21 hours later, when my pain was simply unbearable, I began having difficulty with my breathingand I KNEW I wasn't capable of driving myself to the ER, I finally called 911, and the ambulance came. I was immediately diagnosed with pancreatitis. The only risk factor profile I was able to fit into was that my triglycerides were elevated. I spent eight scary days in the hospital. My daughter bought a one-way ticket from Colorado to Pennsylvania where I had lived all my life, and we packed up me, the pets and everything else we could fit into the van and drove back to Colorado. I've been living with her since. Since my move out here, I've been hospitalized six more times (total of seven), again for pancreatitis. Finally, on my sixth hospitalization, the physicians seemed to finally be taking my case seriously. Maybe it had something to do with the 6.6-cm phlegmon that was found on the head of my pancreas (which represents approximately half the size of my ENTIRE pancreas), just two months after one of their associates basically regarded me as a drug seeker, told me she didn For whatever reason, they finally began to explore the real reason for what they finally conceded was my chronic pancreatitis. They finally requested the records from my initial hospitalization back in PA. They came clean and said that even though my triglycerides had been previously elevated (they were normal during this hospitalization), they would have needed to have been ten times those values in order to truly be considered a cause of pancreatitis. Without any prior opportunity to ask questions, without any informed consent and without the words cystic fibrosis ever being spoken in my presence, they decided to have diagnostic DNA testing performed on me to see if I might have cystic fibrosis. This test turned out to be positive. Out of the blue, I received these devastating results one month after the report was received by the ordering pulmonologist (who is unknown to me), by my PCP in an undated three-sentence letter. Coincidentally, according to the report, the test was ordered on September 1, the results were faxed (and mailed) to the pulmonologist on September 6, and I was discharged on September 6. I admit to being incredibly angry at the way I have been treated in this regard, considering I was uninsured at this time, having been forced to cancel my employer-provided health insurance when the premium increased to literally 50% of my gross income. Before canceling my insurance, though, I did call Blue Cross/Shield, who basically laughed at me and said I wouldndiscriminate. (Ironically, if the GI who dismissed me as a drug seeker had taken my case seriously, I might still have insurance today because, from what I have read, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation stresses the importance of continuity of insurance and will even help with the payment of the premiums, if necessary.) However, I The root cause may be cystic fibrosis. If you or anyone you know feel this could apply, please discuss it with your physician. If your physician feels CF is a possibility, BE SURE YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE BEFORE THIS TESTING IS PERFORMED because once youofficially diagnosed, you can I just turned 55 four days ago, and I finally have been able to save enough money to rent a car (mine was repossessed because I could no longer afford to pay the payments due to being sick and declining income) and have made an appointment with the nearest Cystic Fibrosis Clinic in Denver (approximately 80 miles away). From everything I have read, cystic fibrosis is an always fatal disease, and my symptoms are getting worse and worse. I believe this disease is beginning to affect more GI organs because of the changes in pain and other new symptoms I have been having. I did have some pulmonary problems throughout all this and required oxygen during each of my hospitalizations, except, ironically, the one where this mystery pulmonologist ordered the secret DNA test. (One time on discharge, I was ordered to have home oxygen, which I fought because I felt fine and chalked it up to being in bed in the hospital for 11 days. I challenged the nurse to a walk down the hall to prove it to her, only to discover that my pulse ox was 67%, which quickly shut me up!) However, my primary symptoms were with my pancreas. I have come to terms with the fact that my life is probably going to end soon, and if anything, I feel guilty for complaining when I've lived to be 55 years of age and think about all the children and babies who either die of this disease before they can walk or live their lives struggling on a daily basis to fight this disease. If I had been given a choice in the matter, I would not have permitted the testing until I could possibly find a way of obtaining health insurance from SOMEONE (maybe move to a more insurance friendly state or find another means of securing insurance). However, I wasn As I said, I never heard the words cystic fibrosis uttered in my presence. (I found the testing laboratoryInformed Consent for DNA Testing form, apparently required by them. I never saw or signed this form or any other form resembling it. I required a PICC line during this particular hospitalization, and I still have the informed consent with each item checked off that I was informed about, and this paper contains my signature, consistent with my recollection of the events as they occurred.) I don't want to see any other patient whose profile fits mine go through the devastation of receiving a letter out of the blue informing them they have a fatal disease. I want patients to be able to be proactive in their care with their physicians, as I was unable to be. They KNEW I had an intense interest in participating in my own care; I requested copies of every lab test, every imaging study and every chest x-ray from my hospital bed when those results were available because I wanted to be kept fully informed of my condition. Please deposit this information into your memory bank in case it may someday apply to you or someone you love. CYSTIC FIBROSIS IS NOT JUST A DISEASE OF CHILDREN AND BABIES, AND IT ISN (In fact, the original name for cystic fibrosis was cystic fibrosis of the pancreas.)

I am so sorry to hear about this. [2008-03-16]
My husband It is a horrible disease and I feel for you in your situation. What the hospital did to you is awful and I would talk to the higher ups there. Good luck in everything you do.

Got it at a health food store [2008-02-23]
but not 100% but better than the acute pain- I do alright at night (thank goodness) when I can lie completely flat but working 8 hrs a day sometimes is harsh on my ribs. I went back to the pain clinic and only got 4 days of pain with the last thoracic injection, when they said well lets try again- told them no, just give me something for acute pain- most everything else I have tried is really not doing any good. Have a new internist's appointment the first of next month. I wish something or someone could help me! Pain every day is no fun.

I take that supplement 3x a day [2008-02-21]
and they have a small spoon, I use 2 of those x3. I have had some more pain for a couple of days about 2 days ago but on the whole, nothing like I have been having and so will continue. Anything that might possibly work I will try.

Fibromyalgia folks also and Mary, got the email about injection [2008-02-14]
I went back to pain clinic the first of this week- the other thoracic lasted for, ahh, 4 days- and the PA said well we should repeat and I said no, have turned down all hard medications before and now I said want Lortab for really bad pain - they monitor and I only take 1/2 tablet if needed. Now having said this, let me tell you what I found out about a health food store item called Ribose- I started taking nearly 2 weeks ago now and so far so good- read an article saying how much it had helped person's fibro- I gave it a chance. I will continue to stay on it as long as out of that excruciating pain.

steroid injection [2008-02-11]
Sorry so late in getting back. Glad you are doing okay. Keep me posted. Am going to a pain clinic today but really don't want an ESI as I have a lot of scar tissue plus the steroids make the bones thinner. Maybe some occipital nerve blocks. Don't know. Could not take Lyrica or Cymbalta. Hope your shot has lasted and the pain doesn't come back.

I need some suggestions regarding fibromyalgia and exercise. [2008-01-16]
Well, I I bought the DVDs to do at home as well. My plan is to warm up, do the dance class, swim a couple of laps and get in the jacuzzi. My problem is that once I start exercising I throw into a fibro flare and I I can also get a massage in between every so often. Any feedback or suggestions are MOST welcome! Oh, my goal is to lose 50 lbs. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

I took it for 11 years and was finally weaned off sm [2007-12-16]
2 years ago. So far so good, although there are times when I wish was back on it. I learned to live with the side effects since I had no other choice. It screwed up my teeth and had to get dentures. I'm finally off the Fosamax for a year now. Bone density is now normal. I had more energy on the prednisone than I have now. I developed cataracts at 43 and had the surgery to fix that and have bifocals now. I have polyarteritis nodosa, a rare form of vasculitis. They took me off the prednisone and put me on methotrexate weekly to replace it and I despise it. Am sick for 2 days with nausea, fatigue and diarrhea with that. I totally agree, prednisone is a drug you love to hate.

Had the steroid injections- how long until they work? [2007-11-13]
yesterday and today really cannot tell any difference. I would have hoped maybe for instantaneously. Am I hoping for too much? The injections went smoothly, loved the physician who administered- he was so different than most physicians now days- he took his time explaining to me the difference in these injections and what I had there before that crashed my blood pressure and landed me in the hospital for 3 days. I was very impressed with his bedside manner- something I very rarely say. I am wondering if anyone else who has had and how long did it take for the injections to work?

steroid injections [2007-11-13]
Sometimes you hurt worse at first, then it gets better. Give it a couple of days to kick in. Hope they help.

fluoroquinolones and fibro [2007-11-05]
I think I posted on this before but my fibro got much worse after 5 days of Cipro, ankles, hips and arms now hurt and last dose of this poison was in April. Please avoid these antibiotics at all cost. They have killed some people and ruined others lives. The damage is done long after the antibiotic is stopped. I Emailed a doctor who took Levaquin and his Achilles tendon tore a year later. Being a doctor, he asked for a biopsy of the cartilage. It was very ratty. He will never prescribe these antibiotics again. None of my other doctors believe theseantibiotics cancause this much damage except the rheumatologist. The only detox is iodine or kelp.

Percocet works for me [2007-09-29]
Went to a pain clinic for severe muscle pain (possibly metabolic disease) and tried numerous medications. I found that Percocet is the only thing that takes the edge off while allowing me to be somewhat coherent! I don't take it all the time, as it sometimes upsets my stomach, but it works on the really bad days. Unfortunately, it will be a trial and error process to find the medication that works best for you. Hang in there! Good luck!

This whole board is loaded with people like you [2007-09-10]
and me who suffer from this. I have just gotten (hopefully, fingers crossed) over a flare that has lasted now since about 8/13 with intense pain, particularly the ribs but also whole body aching as well. I wrote below what I tried a couple of days ago and these are things people on the board have talked about some, Vitamin D (I know I am not getting enough of that myself), really good overall vitamin, cherry juice (1 tablespoon in half glass is how I am taking mine) and then I had some body rub sorta like Ben-Gay but some other product. I felt pain free for the past 2 days after starting that the day before then. I do not know what if anything worked for me but you can put a wager on it I am doing exactly the same thing day after day now. I am much more bothered with pain than fatigue (that is ever once in awhile and can deal with that). Do not know your age but mine started after 60 and I have absolutely no stress in my life, no financial worries of any kind, wonderful marriage, really easy life with only part-time working so as far as to how mine started or why just do not know. They say stress plays a part but, I am here to say not always. Hope you do better.

These are things I tried yesterday [2007-09-09]
I got some cherry concentrate, mixed that with a little bit of water and drank that (helps gout), next hubs got me some vitamin D, took that (got email yesterday talking about lack of Vitamin D causing bone pain), took a new womens vitamin hubs said should be good, rubbed my upper torso with similar to Ben-Gay (was I smelly last night, home alone though so alright), slept in a thermal shirt and this morning have some relief. Now what if any of these helped?? Needless to say I repeated all the above this morning. I do not know if maybe the fibro decided to give me a half-way day off without excruciating pain or did any of the above work. I am open to all suggestions. As far as the heating suggestion above, I did buy and wear a cold-hot heating pad, helped some for about 2 days and then pain again. This is not fun!

Suggestions for assistance [2007-09-06]
I posted below about dealing with severe muscle pain. I am 25 and have been depending on my mother to help with things that are difficult for me to do (grocery shopping, most errands, sometimes even cleaning/vacuuming). A trip to the store causes severe pain for sometimes 2 days. Anyway, my mother is following her dream of traveling across the country, working along the way. Does anyone have any tricks they use to help them do stuff? Certain shoes, certain services, anything? We have a food delivery service locally, but it doesn It also wouldn Any sort of suggestions at all would be very much appreciated!