Fibro as well...

lynnee

Hi all.
Not been on here for quite a while. I have inflammatory osteo-arthritis and last sept I had a breakdown (doc says due to not coping with the arthritis and baggage etc) and am still on anti-depressants.
Got made redundant due to being ill, which is fine. I have not been too good at all and still suffer panic attacks.
Saw my rheumy yesterday and she now tells me I also have Fibromyalgia which is causing a lot of my pain ( which is so bad it more or less stops me functioning full stop) and on top of my other medication and painkillers (Fentanyl 100 patches and co-codamol) has given me to try something called Gabapentin.
Just wondered if anyone else on here is on it and how they find it?
I took the first one last night and it made me quite woozy and I did sleep quite well for 2-3 hours which is a record for me! She says I can increase by one tab a day up to a max of 6 to control pain....
Be grateful for any feedback or comments.

Lynne

woodbon

No experience of the medication at all, sorry. Just wanted to say that I'm sorry you'r having such a bad time of it. Hopefully, you'll come out of all this a stronger person, which is just a saying I know. I really think that sometimes the bad things in life we go through do make us better able to cope in the end. Thats how I get through (the anti-depressants help too). Take care of yourself, Love Sue

frogmorton

Hi Lynee
Sorrry to hear about the fibro - my ex-m-in-law (nice lady) has it and I know how she suffers.
I took gabapentin to the max dose in the end and it didn't help me at all, but neither did it make me woozy - so maybe it's 'doing something' for you?! Hope so.
Others swear by it.
Wish you luck
Toni x

skezier

Hi Lynne,

I take the next generation to gabapentin, called pregabalin and they are absolutely brilliant. they do have side effects but you adjust as the dose goes up. for me the top dose is a bit of a minefield as they make me trip and you can't always have a nice one..... Good luck though and if they don't work see if you can get the pregabalin. Take care, Cris

Hi Toni,

You should try them as well xx

magenta

Hi Lynne,
I too have been told I have fibro. It's horrible, I'm in constant agony. I forgot to take my Etodolac yesterday and I'm suffering today. I never really thought they done anything but they must be. I was prescribed Gabapentin but it knocked me for six-the first dose turned me into a zombie so after 2 days of trying, I gave up. I could hardly look after myself, never mind the kids and driving to work etc. I've since been giving carbamazepine but a bit scared to take it. Hope things work out for you,
Magenta x

madwestie

hi lynne,
The gp put me onto gabapentin about 4 months ago i have ra but also oa in my neck which was giving me really bad headaches (i've had it for 10+ years) I got really fed up with the headaches but since i started the gabapentin i have not had anywhere near as many and the ones i do have are managable. I take 300mg at night and sleep a lot better.
I haven't had any side effects from them. I hope they work for you.

lynnee

Thank you for all your responses.

I must admit I have now tried the Gapapentin for a few nights and it has improved my sleep, I don't get so many muscle spasms etc and two nights ago had the best nights sleep for as long as I can remember. The first couple of nights I felt quite 'woozy' with it but I think my body has adjusted now - I am taking two at night so will see how it goes.

I think it has also improved my daytime pain to a lesser degree but that could also be that I maybe have not done so much so I am holding judgement on that for now and keeping up the painkillers!

The other thing I have been trying which I have been recommended for Fybro is Valerian to help me sleep, and I think that is helping also. Anyone else tried this?

Once again thank you for all your responses.

Lynne x

normie

Hi lynee glad to hear you are sleeping better. I am a "follower" of valerian to help me sleep. I use the tea bags that you can get from health shops and find them very usuful for a good sleep. Hope you continue to feel better.

kathbee

Hi Lynne

Sorry to hear about the Fibro.

Was just wondering, did you have tests
done to confirm the diagnosis. :?:

Reason I ask is my rheumatologist told
me you probably have Fribromyalgia
as well as RA, which all seemed a bit vague
to me.

Hope you are doing better.

Kath

frogmorton

Bumped up for jennyb
Toni x

jennyb

thank you