Fibro & Depression
JCHPNC - Sep 7th, 2008 10:34 PM
[ Original Post ]

I was diagnosed with fibro back in May 2007. In hindsight I think I've had fibro for several years before my diagnosis.

The rheumatologist wanted me to take flexeril, go to PT & take supplements. I went to the chiropractor instead (for financial reasons) and didn't get the flexeril filled (scared to add another Rx to the mix) and I took the supplements. I couldn't see any change in how I felt.

About this time, I had a shoulder problem that necessitated surgery. For months leading up to the surgery I was taking hydocodo w/ tylenol for paid.

I was already taking 60 mg. of Phenobarbital for epilepsy, 15 mg. of Buspar for anxiety & 30 mg. of Cymbalta for depression. Back in January or Feb of this year, I tapered off the Cymbalta and started taking Amitriptyline - thinking it would help both the depression and the sleep issues.

I don't think it helped much. For the past several months, I feel I am more depressed and anxious and lose my cool too quickly. My husband and I are both the primary caregivers for his parents (his Mom has alzheimer's and is in skilled nursing & his Dad had a massive heart attack before having his heart valve replaced and single bypass). Many days - the days seem much too long.

I have a hard time getting out of bed in the a.m. and am making it to work by 9:30 (everyone else is there at 8:30), so I still take lunch and work an hour later. I'm so tired when I get home that I don't even want to think about fixing dinner.

I'll be seeing my neurologist, who I trust 100%, this week and wanted to discuss with him my options of switching back to Cymbalta and tapering off of the Amitriptyline and perhaps adding Lyrcia, or Flexeril.

I don't think my medical dr. is doing his job. I've gained a tremendous amount of weight and he hasn't said squat about it (which is wrong) and I just want some relief from the pain.

I'm thinking about getting a referral to a local rheumatologist (so I won't have to drive 20 mins one way to see my old dr. - who I really didn't click with) to see if he along with my other doctors can formulate a plan for me.

Any suggestions?

Comment


 

rocky67 - Sep 9th, 2008 1:20 AM

If you want relief from pain and help with sleep disturbance...definetly go with Flexeril....Amitriptyline/Elavil.......or Nortriptyline......all these medications are in the group called Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA). They work very well with Fibromyalgia and sleep disturbance.In fact my doctor had me on Flexeril 10mg at bedtime...along with Nortriptyline 75mg at bedtime.I slept like a baby. However.....buyer beware....lol...these meds (TCAs) have undesirable side effects....primarily weight gain....constipation.....ouch.... I gained almost 30 lbs when on these meds.......hated it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I switched to Desyrel/trazodone 50-100mg at bedtime. No weight gain with Desyrel. Quality of sleep also. But no pain relief.