Re: Severe Rib Pain

[Guest guest]

Beth

I had the severe rib pain and was diagnosed with costochrondritis (sp?). It is inflammation of the rib/cartilidge and it is very common among women who have had breast surgery from what my doc said. I still have it and wonder why - maybe it is a slight infection or just scar tissue tightening? I am not sure. We have all been pretty sick at one time or another - some worse than others. I have had a lot of fibro issues lately - I couldn't get out of bed all day on Saturday and part of Friday. My hands and wrists hurt so badly that I have been in tears. Not getting personal but what type of meds do you take to help with your illness and pain? maybe you need to discuss changing them with your doctor so you can have more better days and possibly be able to travel to get some help. I have had to have my meds adjusted many times until I found what worked and could help me have more "normal" days than usual. Don't let it get you too down - you have to find the light at the end of the tunnel and find a way to get better! Those implants must come out which I know is easier said than done. that will be the first step to getting over all of this mess and getting back to having a normal life. It is hard - I will be the first to admit that I have my ups and downs but eventually I will get better and you will too. You just have to be strong and find a way!

love

shari

[Guest guest]

Hi Shari,

Yes, that is what it is called. Sad thing is, I diagnosed my rib pain on my own. I kept complaining how bad it hurt and still does. I can't wear a bra with an underwire because it cuts into my spleen (enlarged). I had to give up wearing jeans and especially belts because of the pain in my abdominal area. I started wearing nothing but sweat pants and loose fitting tops. I researched on the internet about the severe rib pain and found that it is a condition called Costochondritis and frequently goes along with fibro. I went back to my doctor and asked him what he knew about this condition. He said 'oh yes, it is basically what you are describing with your rib pain'. Can you believe this??? He said that I had that because it is often diagnosed with fibro. I had a bone scan because at one time it was so painful, I could barely breath. The bone scan showed up dark black in the area that was VERY

painful. I was told that it was and old fracture. I was adamant that I had never broken a rib. So they sent me to the hospital for an x-ray saying that the x-ray would show a fracture or break in the rib. It didn't show anything but they dropped it because they didn't know what it was.

I'm currently taking clonazapam 4mg before bedtime along with 10mg of Ambien. This is to ensure that I go into a very deep sleep as this is the only cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have taken elevil in the past but that really drags on me the next day. I was taking Effexor but recently stopped taking it as I felt that it wasn't helping with my depression. When you are in this kind of shape there is no pill that will help with your depression. I also take Bentyl. Everything I eat upsets my stomach so I'm pretty much drinking the stuff on a daily basis. I can handle the pain, it is the debilitating fatigue that I just can't handle. It gets so bad that I can no longer walk. I never knew that fatigue could ever be worse than pain but it can be. Not only that, my doctor refuses to prescribe anything for pain. He said to take alleve or tylenol. Yeah, like that really takes the pain away! I also

spent most of my weekend in bed. I've been packing boxes to move. It has been making me very ill. I just can't do anything without being sick the next day.

I'm still being treated for Chronic Fatigue and Fibro. If it weren't for this support group, I would still be thinking that was what I had. I just had no idea that implants could make you so sick. I am a true believer now and will be getting these things out as soon as I'm settled with my sister.

All of the years that I asked whether it could be the implants...all I heard was no, no, no. They are saline and perfectly safe. What a crock!

Beth S. halvey70@... wrote:

BethI had the severe rib pain and was diagnosed with costochrondritis (sp?). It is inflammation of the rib/cartilidge and it is very common among women who have had breast surgery from what my doc said. I still have it and wonder why - maybe it is a slight infection or just scar tissue tightening? I am not sure. We have all been pretty sick at one time or another - some worse than others. I have had a lot of fibro issues lately - I couldn't get out of bed all day on Saturday and part of Friday. My hands and wrists hurt so badly that I have been in tears. Not getting personal but what type of meds do you take to help with your illness and pain? maybe you need to discuss changing them with your doctor so you can have more better days and possibly be

able to travel to get some help. I have had to have my meds adjusted many times until I found what worked and could help me have more "normal" days than usual. Don't let it get you too down - you have to find the light at the end of the tunnel and find a way to get better! Those implants must come out which I know is easier said than done. that will be the first step to getting over all of this mess and getting back to having a normal life. It is hard - I will be the first to admit that I have my ups and downs but eventually I will get better and you will too. You just have to be strong and find a way!loveshari

[Guest guest]

-

Beth

I was diagnosed with fms about 20 years ago. I also had irritable

bowel, vulvadynia and the start of interstitial cystitis. All of

these disorders are related and can just cause endless pain and

discomfort. No one really understands what causes fms or what it

actually even is. I can tell you it is a real entity

however.Everyone is different. I do better without most drugs. The

bentyl I have taken and I do better on my own. Lifestyle changes

such as juicing, better nutrition helped me more. INteresting

enough, oil of oregano really helped my irritable bowel. Actually

not so unbelievable as it kills candida, parasites, etc. Also a

product called Primal Defense is really good for irritable bowel

which it sounds like you have. These are much better choices than

bentyl. I never found antidepressants such as elavil to help me.

They made things worse. You said that you recently stopped taking

effexor. Did you wean? You could be having a backlash from

stopping that. I have heard that it is hard to stop without

suffering side effects. That is the big problem. Most of these

drugs have side effects. Many are just as bad as the symptom they

are supposed to help. I took ativan for a long time. While it

helped me cope and I thought it was helping me, actually it was

giving me more side effects and I got so I was having withdrawal

symptoms between doses. I went off of it and it was tough. I will

never go back onany of those drugs again. I function better without

them. And you are so right about fatigue being almost worse than

pain. We can sometimes function through pain but that awful

mindbending fatigue completely undoes your life.

I think getting the implants out will definitely be a step in the

right direction. But I also think that you are probably going to

have to work really hard in other areas as well to get where you

want to be. There are so many good suggestions on this site as how

to improve your health both before and after explantation. We will

help in anyway we can. Hang in there.

Hugs, kathy

-- In , " Beth S. " <schaffe88@y...>

wrote:

> Hi Shari,

>

> Yes, that is what it is called. Sad thing is, I diagnosed my rib

pain on my own. I kept complaining how bad it hurt and still does.

I can't wear a bra with an underwire because it cuts into my spleen

(enlarged). I had to give up wearing jeans and especially belts

because of the pain in my abdominal area. I started wearing nothing

but sweat pants and loose fitting tops. I researched on the

internet about the severe rib pain and found that it is a condition

called Costochondritis and frequently goes along with fibro. I went

back to my doctor and asked him what he knew about this condition.

He said 'oh yes, it is basically what you are describing with your

rib pain'. Can you believe this??? He said that I had that because

it is often diagnosed with fibro. I had a bone scan because at one

time it was so painful, I could barely breath. The bone scan showed

up dark black in the area that was VERY painful. I was told that it

was and old fracture. I was adamant that I had

> never broken a rib. So they sent me to the hospital for an x-ray

saying that the x-ray would show a fracture or break in the rib. It

didn't show anything but they dropped it because they didn't know

what it was.

>

> I'm currently taking clonazapam 4mg before bedtime along with 10mg

of Ambien. This is to ensure that I go into a very deep sleep as

this is the only cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have taken

elevil in the past but that really drags on me the next day. I was

taking Effexor but recently stopped taking it as I felt that it

wasn't helping with my depression. When you are in this kind of

shape there is no pill that will help with your depression. I also

take Bentyl. Everything I eat upsets my stomach so I'm pretty much

drinking the stuff on a daily basis. I can handle the pain, it is

the debilitating fatigue that I just can't handle. It gets so bad

that I can no longer walk. I never knew that fatigue could ever be

worse than pain but it can be. Not only that, my doctor refuses to

prescribe anything for pain. He said to take alleve or tylenol.

Yeah, like that really takes the pain away! I also spent most of my

weekend in bed. I've been packing boxes to move. It has

> been making me very ill. I just can't do anything without being

sick the next day.

>

> I'm still being treated for Chronic Fatigue and Fibro. If it

weren't for this support group, I would still be thinking that was

what I had. I just had no idea that implants could make you so

sick. I am a true believer now and will be getting these things out

as soon as I'm settled with my sister.

>

> All of the years that I asked whether it could be the

implants...all I heard was no, no, no. They are saline and

perfectly safe. What a crock!

>

> Beth S.

>

> halvey70@a... wrote:

> Beth

>

> I had the severe rib pain and was diagnosed with costochrondritis

(sp?). It is inflammation of the rib/cartilidge and it is very

common among women who have had breast surgery from what my doc

said. I still have it and wonder why - maybe it is a slight

infection or just scar tissue tightening? I am not sure. We have

all been pretty sick at one time or another - some worse than

others. I have had a lot of fibro issues lately - I couldn't get

out of bed all day on Saturday and part of Friday. My hands and

wrists hurt so badly that I have been in tears. Not getting

personal but what type of meds do you take to help with your illness

and pain? maybe you need to discuss changing them with your doctor

so you can have more better days and possibly be able to travel to

get some help. I have had to have my meds adjusted many times until

I found what worked and could help me have more " normal " days than

usual. Don't let it get you too down - you have to find the light

at the end of

> the tunnel and find a way to get better! Those implants must

come out which I know is easier said than done. that will be the

first step to getting over all of this mess and getting back to

having a normal life. It is hard - I will be the first to admit

that I have my ups and downs but eventually I will get better and

you will too. You just have to be strong and find a way!

>

> love

> shari

>

>

[Guest guest]

Beth

I also take stuff for sleep - that is very important. I would suggest changing doctors if he won't prescribe pain meds. I know that many here don't support that theory but I know that since I have found a good balance with my pain meds, I can have a somewhat normal life. When I have my flares that is a little different but in my opinion, while you are battling this sever pain and waiting for the funds for explant, you should be able to get some pain relief so you can get out of the house more often. Maybe that would help your pain to be more mobile and sometimes, in my opinion of course, you have to take pain meds to get to that point. If it weren't for mine,I would be in bed daily which is not an option as I have a toddler to take care of. I only take what I need and am hoping to start weaning myself down as I feel better. I would suggest going to a pain specialist and maybe they can help you temporarily. I have an appt today with mine. It is just a necessary evil to keep me from being miserable night and day. You may want to consider that at least until you can get your explant and be on your way to recovery. just my opinion...

love

shari

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

Where do you find oil of Oregano? Health food store?mikat828 <mikat828@...> wrote:

-BethI was diagnosed with fms about 20 years ago. I also had irritable bowel, vulvadynia and the start of interstitial cystitis. All of these disorders are related and can just cause endless pain and discomfort. No one really understands what causes fms or what it actually even is. I can tell you it is a real entity however.Everyone is different. I do better without most drugs. The bentyl I have taken and I do better on my own. Lifestyle changes such as juicing, better nutrition helped me more. INteresting enough, oil of oregano really helped my irritable bowel. Actually not so unbelievable as it kills candida, parasites, etc. Also a product called Primal Defense is really good for irritable bowel which it sounds like you have. These are much better choices than

bentyl. I never found antidepressants such as elavil to help me. They made things worse. You said that you recently stopped taking effexor. Did you wean? You could be having a backlash from stopping that. I have heard that it is hard to stop without suffering side effects. That is the big problem. Most of these drugs have side effects. Many are just as bad as the symptom they are supposed to help. I took ativan for a long time. While it helped me cope and I thought it was helping me, actually it was giving me more side effects and I got so I was having withdrawal symptoms between doses. I went off of it and it was tough. I will never go back onany of those drugs again. I function better without them. And you are so right about fatigue being almost worse than pain. We can sometimes function through pain but that awful mindbending

fatigue completely undoes your life. I think getting the implants out will definitely be a step in the right direction. But I also think that you are probably going to have to work really hard in other areas as well to get where you want to be. There are so many good suggestions on this site as how to improve your health both before and after explantation. We will help in anyway we can. Hang in there.Hugs, kathy-- In , "Beth S." <schaffe88@y...> wrote:> Hi Shari,> > Yes, that is what it is called. Sad thing is, I diagnosed my rib pain on my own. I kept complaining how bad it hurt and still does. I can't wear a bra with an underwire because it cuts into my spleen (enlarged). I had to give up wearing jeans and especially belts because of the pain in my abdominal area. I started

wearing nothing but sweat pants and loose fitting tops. I researched on the internet about the severe rib pain and found that it is a condition called Costochondritis and frequently goes along with fibro. I went back to my doctor and asked him what he knew about this condition. He said 'oh yes, it is basically what you are describing with your rib pain'. Can you believe this??? He said that I had that because it is often diagnosed with fibro. I had a bone scan because at one time it was so painful, I could barely breath. The bone scan showed up dark black in the area that was VERY painful. I was told that it was and old fracture. I was adamant that I had> never broken a rib. So they sent me to the hospital for an x-ray saying that the x-ray would show a fracture or break in the rib. It didn't show anything but they dropped it because they didn't know

what it was. > > I'm currently taking clonazapam 4mg before bedtime along with 10mg of Ambien. This is to ensure that I go into a very deep sleep as this is the only cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have taken elevil in the past but that really drags on me the next day. I was taking Effexor but recently stopped taking it as I felt that it wasn't helping with my depression. When you are in this kind of shape there is no pill that will help with your depression. I also take Bentyl. Everything I eat upsets my stomach so I'm pretty much drinking the stuff on a daily basis. I can handle the pain, it is the debilitating fatigue that I just can't handle. It gets so bad that I can no longer walk. I never knew that fatigue could ever be worse than pain but it can be. Not only that, my doctor refuses to prescribe anything for pain. He said

to take alleve or tylenol. Yeah, like that really takes the pain away! I also spent most of my weekend in bed. I've been packing boxes to move. It has> been making me very ill. I just can't do anything without being sick the next day. > > I'm still being treated for Chronic Fatigue and Fibro. If it weren't for this support group, I would still be thinking that was what I had. I just had no idea that implants could make you so sick. I am a true believer now and will be getting these things out as soon as I'm settled with my sister. > > All of the years that I asked whether it could be the implants...all I heard was no, no, no. They are saline and perfectly safe. What a crock!> > Beth S. > > halvey70@a... wrote:> Beth> > I had the severe rib pain and was diagnosed

with costochrondritis (sp?). It is inflammation of the rib/cartilidge and it is very common among women who have had breast surgery from what my doc said. I still have it and wonder why - maybe it is a slight infection or just scar tissue tightening? I am not sure. We have all been pretty sick at one time or another - some worse than others. I have had a lot of fibro issues lately - I couldn't get out of bed all day on Saturday and part of Friday. My hands and wrists hurt so badly that I have been in tears. Not getting personal but what type of meds do you take to help with your illness and pain? maybe you need to discuss changing them with your doctor so you can have more better days and possibly be able to travel to get some help. I have had to have my meds adjusted many times until I found what worked and could help me have more "normal" days than usual. Don't let it get

you too down - you have to find the light at the end of> the tunnel and find a way to get better! Those implants must come out which I know is easier said than done. that will be the first step to getting over all of this mess and getting back to having a normal life. It is hard - I will be the first to admit that I have my ups and downs but eventually I will get better and you will too. You just have to be strong and find a way!> > love> shari > >

[Guest guest]

-

Beth

I got it online. I get everything online. IT is cheaper and alot of

times I get free shipping. I use Source Naturals. It says Wellness

Oil of Oregano (standardized to 70%carvacrol). It is a liquid and

contains olive oil also. I think it only costs around $27-30 and it

lasts a long time!! If you go to a search engine like AskJeeves.com

and put in source naturals oil of oregano it should direct you to the

sites selling this product. I am sure there are other good ones, but

I really like this one and know it works. I think someone else on

this site originally recommended it!

Hugs, kathy

-- In , " Beth S. " <schaffe88@y...> wrote:

> Hi Kathy,

>

> Where do you find oil of Oregano? Health food store?

>

> mikat828 <mikat828@y...> wrote:

> -

> Beth

> I was diagnosed with fms about 20 years ago. I also had irritable

> bowel, vulvadynia and the start of interstitial cystitis. All of

> these disorders are related and can just cause endless pain and

> discomfort. No one really understands what causes fms or what it

> actually even is. I can tell you it is a real entity

> however.Everyone is different. I do better without most drugs. The

> bentyl I have taken and I do better on my own. Lifestyle changes

> such as juicing, better nutrition helped me more. INteresting

> enough, oil of oregano really helped my irritable bowel. Actually

> not so unbelievable as it kills candida, parasites, etc. Also a

> product called Primal Defense is really good for irritable bowel

> which it sounds like you have. These are much better choices than

> bentyl. I never found antidepressants such as elavil to help me.

> They made things worse. You said that you recently stopped taking

> effexor. Did you wean? You could be having a backlash from

> stopping that. I have heard that it is hard to stop without

> suffering side effects. That is the big problem. Most of these

> drugs have side effects. Many are just as bad as the symptom they

> are supposed to help. I took ativan for a long time. While it

> helped me cope and I thought it was helping me, actually it was

> giving me more side effects and I got so I was having withdrawal

> symptoms between doses. I went off of it and it was tough. I will

> never go back onany of those drugs again. I function better without

> them. And you are so right about fatigue being almost worse than

> pain. We can sometimes function through pain but that awful

> mindbending fatigue completely undoes your life.

> I think getting the implants out will definitely be a step in the

> right direction. But I also think that you are probably going to

> have to work really hard in other areas as well to get where you

> want to be. There are so many good suggestions on this site as how

> to improve your health both before and after explantation. We will

> help in anyway we can. Hang in there.

> Hugs, kathy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> -- In , " Beth S. " <schaffe88@y...>

> wrote:

> > Hi Shari,

> >

> > Yes, that is what it is called. Sad thing is, I diagnosed my rib

> pain on my own. I kept complaining how bad it hurt and still does.

> I can't wear a bra with an underwire because it cuts into my spleen

> (enlarged). I had to give up wearing jeans and especially belts

> because of the pain in my abdominal area. I started wearing nothing

> but sweat pants and loose fitting tops. I researched on the

> internet about the severe rib pain and found that it is a condition

> called Costochondritis and frequently goes along with fibro. I went

> back to my doctor and asked him what he knew about this condition.

> He said 'oh yes, it is basically what you are describing with your

> rib pain'. Can you believe this??? He said that I had that because

> it is often diagnosed with fibro. I had a bone scan because at one

> time it was so painful, I could barely breath. The bone scan showed

> up dark black in the area that was VERY painful. I was told that it

> was and old fracture. I was adamant that I had

> > never broken a rib. So they sent me to the hospital for an x-ray

> saying that the x-ray would show a fracture or break in the rib. It

> didn't show anything but they dropped it because they didn't know

> what it was.

> >

> > I'm currently taking clonazapam 4mg before bedtime along with 10mg

> of Ambien. This is to ensure that I go into a very deep sleep as

> this is the only cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I have taken

> elevil in the past but that really drags on me the next day. I was

> taking Effexor but recently stopped taking it as I felt that it

> wasn't helping with my depression. When you are in this kind of

> shape there is no pill that will help with your depression. I also

> take Bentyl. Everything I eat upsets my stomach so I'm pretty much

> drinking the stuff on a daily basis. I can handle the pain, it is

> the debilitating fatigue that I just can't handle. It gets so bad

> that I can no longer walk. I never knew that fatigue could ever be

> worse than pain but it can be. Not only that, my doctor refuses to

> prescribe anything for pain. He said to take alleve or tylenol.

> Yeah, like that really takes the pain away! I also spent most of my

> weekend in bed. I've been packing boxes to move. It has

> > been making me very ill. I just can't do anything without being

> sick the next day.

> >

> > I'm still being treated for Chronic Fatigue and Fibro. If it

> weren't for this support group, I would still be thinking that was

> what I had. I just had no idea that implants could make you so

> sick. I am a true believer now and will be getting these things out

> as soon as I'm settled with my sister.

> >

> > All of the years that I asked whether it could be the

> implants...all I heard was no, no, no. They are saline and

> perfectly safe. What a crock!

> >

> > Beth S.

> >

> > halvey70@a... wrote:

> > Beth

> >

> > I had the severe rib pain and was diagnosed with costochrondritis

> (sp?). It is inflammation of the rib/cartilidge and it is very

> common among women who have had breast surgery from what my doc

> said. I still have it and wonder why - maybe it is a slight

> infection or just scar tissue tightening? I am not sure. We have

> all been pretty sick at one time or another - some worse than

> others. I have had a lot of fibro issues lately - I couldn't get

> out of bed all day on Saturday and part of Friday. My hands and

> wrists hurt so badly that I have been in tears. Not getting

> personal but what type of meds do you take to help with your illness

> and pain? maybe you need to discuss changing them with your doctor

> so you can have more better days and possibly be able to travel to

> get some help. I have had to have my meds adjusted many times until

> I found what worked and could help me have more " normal " days than

> usual. Don't let it get you too down - you have to find the light

> at the end of

> > the tunnel and find a way to get better! Those implants must

> come out which I know is easier said than done. that will be the

> first step to getting over all of this mess and getting back to

> having a normal life. It is hard - I will be the first to admit

> that I have my ups and downs but eventually I will get better and

> you will too. You just have to be strong and find a way!

> >

> > love

> > shari

> >

> >