Dear Ms, we have a great person who blogs on here, ironically, named Michelle.  She has Lupus and suffers from MRSA as well.  Her handle is Sleep Tech.  that is her profession and if anyone can help you she can.  She is not just a prolific writer, she is also one of the dearest people to me on this site.   there are a great many people on here that e-mail each other and we have become fast friends.  I am sure you will be welcome, it's a great group and you will find you have a lot in common with everyone. Best of luck.. You can read Meesh's Blogs by clicking on her pic or you can go to people and put the name Sleep Tech in and it will come up with her name.  You click on it and it will take you to her blog page, I believe.  Good Luck, Bobbie

Hi, Michelle:

My name is Anne.  I, too, have SLE, fibromyalgia; MCTD (mixed connective tissue disease); Sjogren's; and Raynaud's along with other things.  With Raynaud's, I don't turn blue, and maybe I don't have it, I just think I have because I'm very sensitive to cold sometimes.  When I go into a grocery store and down the frozen food aisle, OMG!!!!!  I can be in excruciating pain.  Sleep Tech -- aka, Michele -- is a wonderful person.  I hope you continue to blog with us.  I was afraid to start blogging because I didn't know if people would respond, or how they would respond.  They were so positive, it blew me away.  I'd love to hear back from you.  We all would.  My email is annes144@q.com.  Hope to hear from you.  I'm not limited to the character limit with my email.  THANK GOODNESS.

I hope you have a good day.  Take care.

Anne

Thanks everyone for your input. I will talk with my doc about swimming, that's a very good idea or "i-good-dea" as my son used to say when he was a lil' guy. Everyone has made me feel soooo welcome and part of the "family", you don't know how refreshing that is. Thank you again, "Chelle" (Michelle)

Hi, Chelle:

I don't know if you've seen my profile yet, and it may be down because I changed monikers.  I hope I can get it up again.  Anyway, it will tell you a whole lot about myself.  In short -- I'm sure that everyone is laughing at what I said because I rarely keep things short -- I don't have any kids, at least the two-legged kind.  I have two cats who are seventeen-years-old.  I have pictures of them on my profile pics.  They're just the best except when they're in trouble like they are tonight.  Both of them have been giving me a heart attack.  Right now, I love them.  Earlier, I didn't.  They were not eating, even though I thought they were hungry.  There was a lot of jawing going on prior to my feeding them.  They faked me out royally.  They're not getting anything else until morning, so maybe they knew that.  They were just being brats, et cetera.  I was not a happy camper.  Things are much better now.

If you can't see my profile, I was a Court Reporter for thirty years in Arizona.  I retired six years five months ago tomorrow!!!!  I can't believe it. 

I'll talk to you later.  It's late and I've got to get to bed.  I'm kind of sleepy.  You take care.

Anne

I have a posting somewhere here about Gabapentin...

Not sure how "natural" it is, but after fighting pain for 10 years, (a head on collsion triggered or caused, what feels like my bones aren't attached to muscles in ANY part of my body), and taking copious amounts of morphine and anti-depressants the past 7 years, Gabapentin is proving to be somewhat of a miracle in pain resolution for myself !

Other than tiredness, I haven't been experiencing any of the backlashes like trembles - dry mouth - vision deterioration - sexual dysfunctions - etc. etc. that seemed to have stemmed from the anti-depressants.

AND (as the dosages of both Gabapentin and Morphine are adjusted), I am beginning to happily report, what seems may be, the elimination of depression along with the stabbing - grinding - excruciating - debilitating pain symptoms of fibromalgia, or chronic pain syndrome or myofacial pain syndrome or whatever label you'd like to put on what it is I have ! 

Would be GREAT if it helped You as well !!!

Tufstuf

hi michelle the only thing the i can say is to try medataion it relaxes boy and mind works for me will try to find out more if i can my son is a wis at finding out stuf on the conputer.will get back in mean time relax i know easer said then done.

Hi, Michelle my name is Emily. I have Fibromyalgia as well. My flare ups had been really intense until about two weeks ago when I started a medicne called Savella. It is for Fibromyalgia. I wasn't able to sleep, move, walking was very painful until I was able to get on this new medication called Savella. I can just imagine what you are going through right now. I hope you can find something that helps, but know that I am thinking about you and feeling your pain!  Emily 

Hello, My name is Cherie.

 Fibromyalgia has been in my body now  for about 4 years now..I had a terrible flair up about a month ago..Predizone (spelling) sorry was one of the drug my doctor gave me to put my body back in shape.

I was in so much pain!!! every where!!! spent 2 and half weeks on my couch, while my family, and life went around me..Was waiting... for my Doctors appt. could not wait any more.. was ready for the ER..I called they got me in.. My Doctor gave 3 scripts..Predizone 20 mgs (thats a lot) for 10 days the side affects are plenty..Also incresased my Neurontin from 100 mgs-to 300 mgs 3 times a day..Also changed my Vicodine and Norco ( I take both on and off) -to Percocet 5-325...Did fix me ....But Now Meds wear off in 3 to 4 hours...I have so many health problems you would not believe...4 back serg...that left me with Lymphedema...SOOOpain full..My legs are huge my lymphnodes were damaged, from all the serg...I also have Lipidema..in my legs.. had a surgen tell me I'm caring around about 50 pounds of fluid...(IS BAD)..Please read my profile/about myself..there I have tried to explane all my illness...there are more..I just turned 50 years old Sept. 3rd..

Peace

Cherie

P.S.

I am ready to be on this show ..With all my health Problems... They could spend a week just on me.

The Bummer is... I haven't heard a word from any Doc's..I have sent out many e-mails nothing!!!

Blogs. notes to a couple Doctors..ect...

I am bummed out....  

Try lyrica, try to get rest and stay away from stress.  These things have made huge difference in my pain levels. I can now manage my pain to a liveable level. Good luck.