Anyone not on drugs for Fibro?

[longtimer]

Hi everyone:
My doctor wants me off certain pain medications, and I have read about all their bad side effects. I am wondering if anyone has successfully treated their fibro without prescription drugs? I am taking lots of supplements, eating an anti inflammation diet and trying to exercise, but the more I read about the medications I've been put on the more I wonder if they only make me sicker???

 

[EzbG]

I do take opioids, but NOT for Fibro. I have nerve damage from a failed back fusion. I have found that the opioids do not make the Fibro better, or worse. If you choose to get off the meds, plan for a slow withdrawal, and either ask your doctor for a medication to help with the withdrawal, or see an acupuncturist SPECIFICALLY for withdrawal. I’m allergic to the withdrawal meds, so they weren’t an option for me. There is a acupuncture protocol that worked for me. My pain specialist was surprised, as he hadn’t heard of that. I’m as far down on the meds as I can go, and still function (ie walk).

 

[cookiebaker]

Hi everyone:
My doctor wants me off certain pain medications, and I have read about all their bad side effects. I am wondering if anyone has successfully treated their fibro without prescription drugs? I am taking lots of supplements, eating an anti inflammation diet and trying to exercise, but the more I read about the medications I've been put on the more I wonder if they only make me sicker???

i am not on any fibro specific meds...
I was taking the SSRI Sertraline for depression/anxiety, but am coming off that right now.

I wont say I am "successfully" treating my fibro yet, either, but I was only diagnosed a month and a half ago (despite having for much longer, but unknowingly), so.. still navigating things...
My focus at the moment is to get the sertraline out of my system and get back to a good baseline point (weaning too fast causes withdrawal symptoms and they suck). Once that happens, i will then start looking into other things like the supplements, diet, etc

I will say I have been avoiding gluten quite a bit lately, and my gut seems to be happier with that.. I have not cut it out completely, but eating much, much less of it. instead of pasta, i eat rice.. not much for eating bread to begin with, so that has not really been a problem. On the days that i do eat pasta, i try to eat as little as i can, but not leaving my system to starve, either

 

[EzbG]

I will say I have been avoiding gluten quite a bit lately, and my gut seems to be happier with that

I stay away from gluten - not because I’m avoiding it, but because of allergies to wheat. But, I recently read that it may not be the gluten we react to, but rather the stuff they spray on it to make it easier to harvest - glyphosate. Hve you read anything about this?
My next experiment with food I’d trying organic wheat based pasta (I HATE rice pasta, 🫢), to see if that is my problem with wheat. It will be nice to have homemade bread, made with non soy based oil.

 

[sweetkamie20]

Hi everyone:
My doctor wants me off certain pain medications, and I have read about all their bad side effects. I am wondering if anyone has successfully treated their fibro without prescription drugs?

Does successful mean no evidence of FM or a tolerable/satisfactory level of symptoms? I don’t think anyone has achieved no evidence of FM as in there’s no set of circumstances that will trigger symptoms. I think, though, people have achieved a satisfactory level of symptom reduction…

I am taking lots of supplements, eating an anti inflammation diet and trying to exercise, but the more I read about the medications I've been put on the more I wonder if they only make me sicker???

I think not only can they make you sicker, they often make you sicker 😓. They do in my case. I only take one medication to manage seizures and finding that one was a wild, crappy ride. The kind of thing that you never ever forget.

 

[cookiebaker]

the stuff they spray on it to make it easier to harvest - glyphosate.

glyphosphate (common brand name is RoundUp) is a weed killer and is used on a lot of crops, not just wheat. The only effect on harvest it has is the reduction of weeds being mixed in - it does not make it "easier" to harvest the plant itself.

and yes, there is a lot of controversy over its use - but to be honest, i am not 100% sure of the validity of some of the claims.
I do, however, have a problem with seed producers forcing the use of the product by coating their seeds in it and then preventing farmers from saving some of their crop to use as seed the following year, like they used to do - yes, this is big business in the farming world. (and for the record, soybeans are one of the worst culprits in the coating scheme - so anything soy based is going to be affected) Pretty much all commercially grown crops have been either coated or sprayed with some form of weed control.

how do i know this? I live in a rural, farming area, and have worked for a farmer that ran both a custom farming business (plowing, planting and harvesting) and a trucking business. Have heard a lot about it from him, and many other farmers in the area.

 

[nikkozoo]

I am 71 and have had fibromyalgia for 19 years. I have no other health issues. I have never taken medication, first because it doesn't seem to agree with my body and second, because I prefer a more natural treatment. I take magnesium, glucosamine chondroitin, turmeric, elderberry and cholestoff, which keeps my cholesterol in the very good range. I do stretching and hand weights daily, occasional treadmill and yoga. I don't eat red meat, just lean meat and fish, a lot of fish. I am lactose and gluten intolerant, so no pastries, cookies, etc. Lots of salads, vegetables and fruit. I avoid processed foods and eat only an occasional piece of chocolate. This seems to work for me, my doctor tells me to just keep on doing whatever I am doing. I still have brain fog, body pain and bad flare days, and some pretty extreme pain at times, but for the most part I can function normally almost 100% of the time. I do utilize spoons and am always careful not to over do it, to avoid stress as much as possible. I have to be especially careful not to get burnt or cut as I don't feel it and only realize afterwards when I see a blister or blood, this seems to have started with the onset of fibromyalgia. I keep a daily journal of my symptoms, what I eat, activity, pain level, etc. I stay aware of what is happening with FMS and anything new that might help (elderberry and turmeric were more recent additions) I really strive to take a natural approach to this. I stay positive even on the bad days (this too shall pass) and try to be grateful for everything. I know treatment without medication is not for everyone, but this approach has worked for me. I hope you find something that works for you and gives you some relief also.

 

[longtimer]

Thanks to all of you - I don't expect to be pain free either from the Fibro or the spinal issues I have had for the last 20 years (really 45 years) but I do wonder if the drugs I'm on are contributing to my worsening health. It is encouraging to see some of you do manage with less or no medications at all. Having a positive attitude is something I have to work on - my body goes into extreme reactions to stress and I need to work on that for sure.

I've been off gluten for a few years. I hope I can get off some of these drugs in the next while. I may find I feel much worse without them, but I want to see if I can at least reduce the number of prescriptions I'm on. I belong to a couple of online groups and know from experience that its vital to taper safely from all drugs. I've been trying to get off Cymbalta for years - it has terrible side effects, and its terrible to come off of.

 

[sunkacola]

Hi @longtimer . I would say that I successfully manage my fibro without taking any prescription drugs. Now, "successfully" doesn't men I don't have pain every day. But the pain is manageable without taking medication and I feel that my life is about as normal as a person is likely to have if that person has fibro. I very seldom take any form of pain relief, although I do usually take a THC/CBD tincture at night to help me relax my body.

I did take Tramadol at first. Once I realized after a year or so that it took more than it did at first to ease pain, and then more again, I immediately stopped taking it and since then it has been extremely rare that I take that strong of a pain medication. Maybe three times a year, and only when the pain is so bad that I can't think. That is, as I say, rare. I think it is rare because I am taking care of myself mentally and physically.

I believe strongly that if a person can approach self care with the best mental outlook possible and with body care in the ways that work for that person in terms of exercise and food, most can do as I have done. Not easy at first. But it gets easier.

I commend you for the hard work you are doing, and am here to be your cheerleader and give support in this work.

 

[cookiebaker]

I hope I can get off some of these drugs in the next while.

i am going to suggest that you do only one at a time, and take your time weaning off to avoid withdrawal issues if possible. Dont rush and dont do it without talking to your doc first... work out a plan for weaning off. Every drug is going to have a different half life (how quickly it leaves your system), so working with just one at a time is important, and making a plan for each one is going to be key.

in all honesty, I think the instructions I was given to wean off the sertraline were to fast... especially the last stage... going from 25mg/day to nothing... I get that trying to cut tablets down is difficult, but they do make a liquid form of the stuff, and that would have allowed me to step down further before stopping completely, but hey.. who am I to second guess my providers 😂

 

[CJR]

Gosh I was wondering how opioids affected others with Fibro and or brain fog. I take Tramadol/ Ultram atm . I did take liquid morphine due to car accident which found out took away all head fog and fibro disabilities.For first time ever I felt 16 again . Didn’t give me a high or anything, just removed all pain and brain fog . I stopped work up to finding that opioids worked for me. I wasn’t told nor understood meds so after year n half - got to dangerous levels. I got where I didn’t care as the little life I had as “normal “ was worth it. Told my mom after coming back from over seas of 25 years and she was shocked I was still alive. She had been in the medical fields for 35 years. So I got off morph. Ummm wow !!! Ok so started Ultram . It takes the edge off both symptoms. I’m not in any way suicidal but one couldn’t live with these symptoms with no help . I tried anything to help it as having even a week free of these pains, dizziness, aches , tiredness even after 15 hours sleep and 3-5 days of no sleep as it wouldn’t let me sleep was worth whatever worked . Now I know why Zombies are not nice ppl 😉. Well the Ultram had been a life saver for myself. I tried everything possible with diets , etc . I couldn’t live that way . I’m a landscape Architect and also don’t just draw - at nearly 60 - I build gardens as well . So with Fibromyalgia, you all know how hard that is daily . Others that don’t have it really don’t understand. I get I’m lazy , in my head, it’s the drugs , etc etc.. love the one I’m doing it to myself- if that’s true I’m beating myself up . Anyhow I’m
In pretty good shape for my age and I feel with serious fibromyalgia conditions I have - I don’t let it win. It’s scary for the future as age plays more and more of a role tho .
I feel for everyone in here that has it. It’s hard to really explain isn’t it? I tell doctors it’s like having the flu but without the sickness. The weakness, the sleeping, not wanting to be around ppl, the aching muscles. I love when they say it’s depression- anyone else get diagnosed as that ? Well just have to keep strong as others say on here as I do know days I give in, and I do, I’m far worse than if I work through the mornings and get going . Btw are mornings hard for others as well - gotta say I hate mornings. My wife is an angel but a morning person . It doesn’t go great with me as I don’t wanna talk and be merry although I’m very jealous. She unfortunately doesn’t understand either but she’s perfect in every way so I’ll excuse the not understanding 🙏. Well it’s 315 am , first time speaking how I feel , gotta somehow build a slate walkway tomorrow so gonna say night . Hugs to everyone in here and I’ll be reading for other ideas as I still do hate meds, just can’t thrive being off them. Tried many times. But will try what works for you all even a little bit.
Regards CJ

 

[CJR]

Longtimer
I’ve tried to come of meds as well but the outcome for me was far worse than being on. I exercise daily from work really as I build gardens. Pain in the eve and mornings are just crazy hard to sleep or get up. Have you ever tried a jacuzzi btw? I have on vacation and that worked . Not hours but gave relief for sure and felt loose rather than tight. I just bought one- still need to set up. Anyhow I get what your on about and again I did the no meds bit and was basically a life saver finding a band aid type fix so I could be productive. I’m nearly 60 and been building gardens for 43 years. This gotten worse as I’ve gotten older . So like you - I want to be off meds . I’ll be reading with open mind for sure . Good luck with yours and god bless
Regards CJ

 

[cookiebaker]

I love when they say it’s depression- anyone else get diagnosed as that ?

absolutely.. my primary insisted that I had a bad case of anxiety & mild depression, and "we should get that under control" - well, duh, who wouldn't be anxious with all these physical issues?
That was when we started down the road of various anti-anxiety/depression meds... and boy howdy, some were pretty nasty for me. I was finally put on sertraline (aka Zoloft) back in April... initially it did help a little - calmed the racing brain & let me sleep a little bit better, but later.. not so much.. and I discovered that my hair loss started right around the same time as starting on this drug.. hmmm... (i used to have very thick hair, so thankfully, i am not bald yet, but have lost almost half the thickness)
So i asked about getting off of sertraline & was given instructions for weaning off.. but apparently those instructions were way to fast (research suggests this is all too common), so now I am dealing with the withdrawal symptoms.. oh joy. 😒 I do, however, refuse to go back on it, even at a tiny dose, at this point.. the symptoms are bad, but not so bad that I cannot function at all.. just more bad days than good right now. Slowly getting better, but I still have a ways to go from what I have found.

With all that said, everyone is different, and requires a different "treatment" plan.. what works for me probably wont work for you, and vice versa..
It is about taking the time to try different things, slowly, carefully, and preferably with the advice of a competent medical practitioner (there are surprisingly a lot that are not when it comes to FMS) If you can manage without prescription drugs, that is great, but for some, that is just not an option, and that is ok, too... you have to find what works for you and allows you to live your best life.

 

[JayCS]

Hi CJ, and welcome here! 👋

I sometimes wonder what'd've happened if I'd've tolerated any of the 6-7 pain meds I did actually feel obliged to try more than just 1 or 2 doses, and if they'd done anything for my pain & fatigue, which they never did...
Maybe I'd like you still be at work, physically. But then I wdn't be me. Definitely not cos my mind and mindset aren't made that way, but my body's always overreacted.

 

[EzbG]

how do i know this? I live in a rural, farming area, and have worked for a farmer that ran both a custom farming business (plowing, planting and harvesting) and a trucking business. Have heard a lot about it from him, and many other farmers in the area.

I hear you - and appreciate your knowledge! It was something I was told, and mentally not been able to look further into it for myself. That’s the reason, too that I haven’t tested organic wheat… scared it IS the wheat, and that feeling in the gut….