My Favorite Fibro Drugs - # 4 and # 5

I'm tired of talking about meds and by now, I'm sure you're tired of hearing about them. So I've decided to wrap up the last two in one post.

The last two drugs I'm going to write about are (insert the name of the narcotic that works for you) and my absolute, hands down favorite:

Lyrica

Many doctors don't like to or won't prescribe narcotics, and if you get one of those, then switch doctors. There are days you'll be in agony and will need something to take the edge off - if that's even possible. A good doctor alleviates suffering and many primary care physicians are unskilled at or uncomfortable prescribing controlled substances.

That's what pain specialists are for. They're specially trained to alleviate suffering while they determine the source of it. Then they work hard to get you to the point where your pain is controlled by the appropriate medicine for your condition. People who don't use pain meds for secondary gain (aka to get high) don't get addicted to pain meds because it's going directly to the source of pain.

I LOVE LYRICA.

Lyrica is in a class by itself as far as I'm concerned. It's singularly the one, that's changed my quality of life....once the doctors got the dosage correct. At first, I was on a low dose - like 50 mg a day - and then I got fired by my doctor (thank God) and my amazing pain specialist increased it to 300 mg a day. And sometimes, I almost feel normal.

It took eight weeks of patience for it to really kick in and start working on my body, but the wait was worth it.

So there you go. Pain medication is covered for now on this blog, and we can move on to other things.

Please, please....more than anything, I don't want my pain to go to waste. If you think my blog may help ease someone else's suffering, then by all means share these posts!

Sharing Saturdays: Cheap pain relief

Hi friends!

Sorry I haven't posted in what seems like forever. I'm on a new medication (Lyrica) and the side effects - drowsiness and dizziness - are working well. The medication, at least for now, doesn't seem to be.

Here's a helpful hint about medication - if you choose to take it. First, talk to your doctor about how it works, then the pharmacist, and do your own research.

Treating Fibromyalgia pain is difficult. Because there's no cure, we're likely to get a variety of responses about how effective a medicine will be. For instance, when I went to my doctor for help with pain relief, he was reluctant to prescribe a controlled substance. He wanted me to try Lyrica. I agreed and he warned me to be patient because it takes at least two-weeks before I'd feel any results.

Next, I spoke to my pharmacist. She told me it was a great drug and she took it too. She told me to be patient because it would take four-weeks before I'd know if it was working. After that, I did my own research and read through some of the clinical trials. The researchers used six-weeks as a baseline for positive results.

Sigh.

     What's a girl in pain to do?

Anything and everything!

One of my tried and true helps is the old-fashioned Epsom salt soak. For centuries, mineral springs around the world were thought to have healing power. Epsom salts are named after Epsom, a town in England.

A seventeenth-century farmer found a spring for his cows but they wouldn't drink from it because the water was bitter. However, he discovered that the water healed scratches and rashes. Soon, word was out and people came from all over to seek relief from various ailments. They also discovered its laxative effects and would drink the water by the pint ... and then run to the bushes.

                                         I'm so happy that's not what we do at the spa nowadays!

Epsom salts can be found for a few dollars at almost any grocery or drug store. You simply add two cups of the salt to a warm bath and soak for at least 15 minutes and no longer than 25. The salt is magnesium sulfate and since most of our bodies are magnesium deficient anyway, it's healthy for our bodies and wallets.