Hi! I'm new to "The Doctors" & don't get much computer time at my house. I did read through a few posts & was happy to see I will be able to get a little more information on Fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed back in 2003 but ,after talking to the doctor who finally listened & believed I was really in as much pain as I said, she told me I had Fibro many years before she met me. I cried with relief that someone was finally going to try and help me. She started me on vitamins and medication and I was starting to feel somewhat better. Then she fell ill & I had to find another doctor. He started me on Cymbalta & I started to feel even better, until, I could no longer remember the names for objects that I used daily;like "car", that big thing in the driveway that we go places in or "refrigorator", that thing in the kitchen that's cold that we keep the food in.  I ended up in the hospital & under another doctor's care, it was determined that I was septic & very ill. I has been over-medicated with the Cymbalta for almost two years & had very little memory of the last year. It was a very scary time for me & it caused a divorce and my daugter to believe I had started doing drugs. Thank God that the truth was reveiled, saved my life and my relationship with my daughter.

So, be very involved with your helth treatment. Have a loved one or two watch your behavior & listen if they tell you it's changed. Sometimes what makes you feel better or brings relief from your pain may not be as good for you as you may think, may even make you more ill in the long run. That doesn't mean to be afraid to try new things that might help.

I also tried Lyrica, but that is not a success story either, not for me. If I bent down to pick something up, I would fall. I learned very quickly a great tuck and roll move. The result for my pain though, was Wonderful. I felt better for those eight months than I have in eight years. But, since I can't work I can't afford it, not covered by Medicare. I highly recommend it to anyone who's suffering though, especially if you are still trying to work, roll on! I think I would tolerate the slight equilibrium problem if I could afford it. It was that good.

I'm very possitive though, that now it's getting some attention, God will guide those who are working to find us help will do just that. So stay possitive & roll on!

Before I go, I do have a question. I've been trying to lose weight & have had no success. I know the main reason is lack of exercise. Last week I decided to start a little exercise & walking my two dogs, Faith & Grace. Well, I worked out in the afternoon & intened to walk the girls the next morning. I woke up in so much pain I could barely walk at all. It's been five days and I'm still laid up. It may not have been the exercise, I live on the Third Coast and the weather is just crazy this year, fronts & pressure systems. My question is, for times like these what can you eat or take with other meds that will allow you to take of a few pounds. I don't wan't to be able to work out/walk the dogs, lose a few pounds then gain it all back when I'm laid up. Any suggestions.

God's Blessings to all who are suffering in any way, physically or emotionally. Roll on! God will help you through!

CSturtle in Corpus Christi Texas