Re: New Rheumatologist, wants to try lyrica; provigil?!??

[Guest guest]

I am on Lyrica since october 2007 and it might be the best thing that ever

happened to me as far as making me more comfortable.

The other I have never heard of but you make it sound like its more for the

fatigue. Lyrica is being used on me for pain. I have done well on a max dose

of 300mg per day, I have it split 150mg in the AM and I cant wait to take it

in the PM, it has made a difference. I was in the kind of pain that kept me

squirming, I couldn't get comfy, was climbing walls and was getting on my

own nerves. I am much calmer, and the pain more bareable after starting the

Lyrica, and the best part was it helped right away.

Downside, I have a sleepy spell each day mid day, usually after lunch that

is pretty severe. I usually take a walk, have a coke and try to shake it

off, I usually get a second wind after a little while. Other than that, no

complaints.

I hope everyone who has a doctor suggesting it at least gives it a try. I

know it isn't for everyone but how else would you ever know.

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of

Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 5:11 PM

Subject: [ ] New Rheumatologist, wants to try lyrica; provigil?!??

I saw a new rheumatologist today (I no longer have health insurance

to see my regular rheumatologist...so I am stuck w/ an indigent care

program here called, CICP). They did new labs and xrays, but she was

telling me that my RA isn't too bad, but my fibromyalgia is worse.

For those of you who don't know me, I spent a few months in the

hospital for sepsis in the summer of 2006. Ever since then, I feel

like my RA/fibro went into overdrive. I had to quit working and I am

in the process of getting SSDI. I don't know if the sepsis changed

something like how I persive pain, but I have been in constant,

chronic pain since then.

My old rheumatologist has had me on sulfasalazine, plaquinel, and

dicofenac. The new rheumatologist who I saw today, wants to start me

on lyrica on top of my previously prescribed meds. I was concerned

about the side effects of increased joint swelling and weight gain.

(Granted I have to wait for CICP approval before I take this

medication). I know there have been posts on lyrica before but I

wanted some feedback on those of you who have RA and fibromyalgia.

I asked about Provigil to help deal w/ the chronic fatigue (taking a

shower seems to take all the energy that I have on most days). She

told me that they have no problem's w/ prescribing me provigil, but I

just need to take a sleep study first. (Again, I have to wait for

bureaucracy approval for the sleep study). She doesn't like

prescribing " stimulants " like adderall or ritalin for fatigue

assocated w/ RA/fibro but provigil is no problem. Did anyone here

have to have a sleep study prior to being prescribed provigil?

Thanks for being there. Take care.

[Guest guest]

That is good news to hear. I hope that they approve me to at least

try it and see if it makes a difference in my pain level. I have a

hard time sleeping, so maybe it will help w/ that. Thanks for your

response.

The other medication is used to treat narcolepsy, but has been used

off-label to combat the fatigue that goes along w/ RA/fibro. I talked

to afew people on here who have had it prescribed to them. Fatigue

and pain are my two biggest complaints w/ RA/fibro. I was diagnosed

in 2001, I think I have done pretty well. When I got sick, it

destroyed my body. Take care.

>

> I am on Lyrica since october 2007 and it might be the best thing

that ever

> happened to me as far as making me more comfortable.

>

> The other I have never heard of but you make it sound like its more

for the

> fatigue. Lyrica is being used on me for pain. I have done well on a

max dose

> of 300mg per day, I have it split 150mg in the AM and I cant wait

to take it

> in the PM, it has made a difference. I was in the kind of pain that

kept me

> squirming, I couldn't get comfy, was climbing walls and was getting

on my

> own nerves. I am much calmer, and the pain more bareable after

starting the

> Lyrica, and the best part was it helped right away.

>

>

>

> Downside, I have a sleepy spell each day mid day, usually after

lunch that

> is pretty severe. I usually take a walk, have a coke and try to

shake it

> off, I usually get a second wind after a little while. Other than

that, no

> complaints.

>

>

>

> I hope everyone who has a doctor suggesting it at least gives it a

try. I

> know it isn't for everyone but how else would you ever know.

>

>

>

> From: [mailto:RA-

SUPPORT ] On

> Behalf Of

> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 5:11 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] New Rheumatologist, wants to try lyrica;

provigil?!??

>

>

>

> I saw a new rheumatologist today (I no longer have health insurance

> to see my regular rheumatologist...so I am stuck w/ an indigent

care

> program here called, CICP). They did new labs and xrays, but she

was

> telling me that my RA isn't too bad, but my fibromyalgia is worse.

> For those of you who don't know me, I spent a few months in the

> hospital for sepsis in the summer of 2006. Ever since then, I feel

> like my RA/fibro went into overdrive. I had to quit working and I

am

> in the process of getting SSDI. I don't know if the sepsis changed

> something like how I persive pain, but I have been in constant,

> chronic pain since then.

>

> My old rheumatologist has had me on sulfasalazine, plaquinel, and

> dicofenac. The new rheumatologist who I saw today, wants to start

me

> on lyrica on top of my previously prescribed meds. I was concerned

> about the side effects of increased joint swelling and weight gain.

> (Granted I have to wait for CICP approval before I take this

> medication). I know there have been posts on lyrica before but I

> wanted some feedback on those of you who have RA and fibromyalgia.

>

> I asked about Provigil to help deal w/ the chronic fatigue (taking

a

> shower seems to take all the energy that I have on most days). She

> told me that they have no problem's w/ prescribing me provigil, but

I

> just need to take a sleep study first. (Again, I have to wait for

> bureaucracy approval for the sleep study). She doesn't like

> prescribing " stimulants " like adderall or ritalin for fatigue

> assocated w/ RA/fibro but provigil is no problem. Did anyone here

> have to have a sleep study prior to being prescribed provigil?

>

> Thanks for being there. Take care.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi !

I have RA/FMS and was prescribed Lyrica. I don't gain

weight, I seem to stay at my normal range. Yet with

Lyrica, I gained 9lbs in a about a week and a half.

Because my RA is really bad in the knees and I always

have fluid and joint effusions, as well as bilateral

patella femoral syndrome, we stopped the med right

away. My doctor that I see for anxiety also has a

weight loss management program. He sees a few people

with FMS that are on Lyrica. Some seem to take it and

not have the weight gain and do just fine on it. I've

learned this from a FMS board I am on as well. So

maybe it will be ok and work for you! My doctor did

ask if I noticed any facial or neck swelling, but

because I had gained the 9lbs it was hard for me to

tell. Good luck on the new medication! I'm just

learning about provigil. I'm not sure they will give

it to me, if its a stimulant it would probably put my

already anxious self into overdrive! and I'm already

that way on my own with the anxiety disorder. I wish

I could take it though! I am so tired of being tired:)

--- <man_u8@...> wrote:

> I saw a new rheumatologist today (I no longer have

> health insurance

> to see my regular rheumatologist...so I am stuck w/

> an indigent care

> program here called, CICP). They did new labs and

> xrays, but she was

> telling me that my RA isn't too bad, but my

> fibromyalgia is worse.

> For those of you who don't know me, I spent a few

> months in the

> hospital for sepsis in the summer of 2006. Ever

> since then, I feel

> like my RA/fibro went into overdrive. I had to quit

> working and I am

> in the process of getting SSDI. I don't know if the

> sepsis changed

> something like how I persive pain, but I have been

> in constant,

> chronic pain since then.

>

> My old rheumatologist has had me on sulfasalazine,

> plaquinel, and

> dicofenac. The new rheumatologist who I saw today,

> wants to start me

> on lyrica on top of my previously prescribed meds.

> I was concerned

> about the side effects of increased joint swelling

> and weight gain.

> (Granted I have to wait for CICP approval before I

> take this

> medication). I know there have been posts on lyrica

> before but I

> wanted some feedback on those of you who have RA and

> fibromyalgia.

>

> I asked about Provigil to help deal w/ the chronic

> fatigue (taking a

> shower seems to take all the energy that I have on

> most days). She

> told me that they have no problem's w/ prescribing

> me provigil, but I

> just need to take a sleep study first. (Again, I

> have to wait for

> bureaucracy approval for the sleep study). She

> doesn't like

> prescribing " stimulants " like adderall or ritalin

> for fatigue

> assocated w/ RA/fibro but provigil is no problem.

> Did anyone here

> have to have a sleep study prior to being prescribed

> provigil?

>

> Thanks for being there. Take care.

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

,

Thanks, for your reply. I am just playing a waiting game to hear if I

can take lyrica. I suffer from anxiety related to Post Tramatic

Stress Disorder when I was in a coma. I have really vivid nightmares

of being intibated and restrained when I was in the hospital for a

few months.

I am on a number of meds to help w/ the anxiety (no benzo's though).

I have taken adderall before (my husband suffers from adult ADHD) and

it never made me jittery or made my anxiety worse. I was interested

in provigil because it's not a " stimulant " . I am hoping that I will

do the sleep study and then be approved for provigil. Best of luck to

you.

>

> > I saw a new rheumatologist today (I no longer have

> > health insurance

> > to see my regular rheumatologist...so I am stuck w/

> > an indigent care

> > program here called, CICP). They did new labs and

> > xrays, but she was

> > telling me that my RA isn't too bad, but my

> > fibromyalgia is worse.

> > For those of you who don't know me, I spent a few

> > months in the

> > hospital for sepsis in the summer of 2006. Ever

> > since then, I feel

> > like my RA/fibro went into overdrive. I had to quit

> > working and I am

> > in the process of getting SSDI. I don't know if the

> > sepsis changed

> > something like how I persive pain, but I have been

> > in constant,

> > chronic pain since then.

> >

> > My old rheumatologist has had me on sulfasalazine,

> > plaquinel, and

> > dicofenac. The new rheumatologist who I saw today,

> > wants to start me

> > on lyrica on top of my previously prescribed meds.

> > I was concerned

> > about the side effects of increased joint swelling

> > and weight gain.

> > (Granted I have to wait for CICP approval before I

> > take this

> > medication). I know there have been posts on lyrica

> > before but I

> > wanted some feedback on those of you who have RA and

> > fibromyalgia.

> >

> > I asked about Provigil to help deal w/ the chronic

> > fatigue (taking a

> > shower seems to take all the energy that I have on

> > most days). She

> > told me that they have no problem's w/ prescribing

> > me provigil, but I

> > just need to take a sleep study first. (Again, I

> > have to wait for

> > bureaucracy approval for the sleep study). She

> > doesn't like

> > prescribing " stimulants " like adderall or ritalin

> > for fatigue

> > assocated w/ RA/fibro but provigil is no problem.

> > Did anyone here

> > have to have a sleep study prior to being prescribed

> > provigil?

> >

> > Thanks for being there. Take care.

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>