Shey: Fibromyalgia or withdrawal symptoms?

[Shey]

Hello, I was glad to find this site!

 

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 10 years ago.  Since then I have tried many of the antidepressant drugs they usually give for this and none has worked for me.

 

I have tried Lyrica, Cymbalta, Effexor, and am presently taking neuronton and tramadol in very low dosage.

 

I have had some experiences that I think will be very helpful to all of you hard working researchers so please take time to look over my wordyness and see my addition to the equation. I studied a lot myself, because like you, Im fighting for my life. I have been married three times and have learned that every time I got divorced and lived alone for a while I would start having much less pain. Then when I got in another relationship I would get married and pain would esculate to breaking point. All Im saying in this section is that my pain is deffinately stress related. I did choose poorly might I add!

 

The first thing that happened though was that I hurt my back at work but it came on gradually so im nor really sure on that. After that I had several auto accidents and ended up on tramadol for back pain. Thinking back though, i was handling the back pain ok until I took some tramadol for a toothache! After that Started asking the doc for tramadol for my back. Then after that I started having this overall pain.

 

Later Dr's put me on all these antidepressants for the fibromyalgia. These meds always helped the pain but the depression they caused and all other symptoms were way worse than pain! So I did not stay on those long enough to get addicted. However they did put me on neuronton which helps tremendously with pain but it has terrible side effects too.

 

Ok in closing I have one more thing to add that may help someone and I have a question. Once I was in the hospital for intestinal problems. It was a very serious condition. I could not eat or drink for three whole weeks and was only getting fluids through IV. I was never so pain free in my ten years of fibro!!! I had no pain medication as it was too hard on my stomach. Then as soon as I got well enough to eat my first meal, I had to ask for a benydriil so I could sleep because my pain level shot through the roof! Ive tried all the food diets too so it dont help sadly.

 

Ok, question: Im thinking maybe if I stay single, and stop all meds (im tapering off now) Maybe I can beat this thing. I did stay off for a year once though and still had pain but I was in a relationship. How do I tell the difference between fibromyalgia pain/symptoms and withdrawal pain? Sorry so lengthy!

Edited August 6, 2016 by ChessieCat
Added paragraph breaks for ease of reading

[ChessieCat]

Hi Shey and welcome to SA,

 

I moved your post and created your own Intro/Update topic where you can ask questions related to your individual situation and journal your progress.  If you click "Follow" top right you will be notified when someone responds.

 

So that we are able to consider your situation, we really need to know details of your drug history for the last year, with a summary of anything prior.  Please include ALL drugs, dates, doses and how you increased/decreased.  Instructions here Please put your Withdrawal History in Signature

 

I'm listing some links for you to read:

 

Introduction to AD Withdrawal Syndrome

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Symptoms Checklist

 

Here is a link on the SA website:

 

Fibromyalgia Flare Up and Withdrawals

 

These helped me to understand SA's tapering recommendation:

 

Brain Remodelling (Rhi's Description of Brain Healing)

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

Once we have your drug details we will be better able to help.

[scallywag]

Shey, your comment about your fibro symptoms intensifying when married reminds me of something I read recently.  Gabor Mate, an MD with a family practice in Vancouver BC, wrote a book When the Body Says No.  In it he discusses behavioral patterns that appear to correlate with some diseases and disorders. It might be worth a read for you.  I borrowed it from my library both as an e-book and an audiobook.