: Re: hope?

[Guest guest]

" I don't take any meds, I took zoloft since Feb, but recently quit

taking it. My doctor keeps repeating to me (at every visit) that the

treatment for FMS is NSAIDs, antidepressants and PT. I really only

need antidepressants after I see the doctor! "

: Did the doctor explain what the anti-depressants were supposed

to do for you? If so, then you know that they are not prescribed for

depression but to help restore deep sleep so our bodies can repair

the damage of daily wear and tear. If Zoloft did not do this for

you, have you discussed the possibility of trying a different type of

antidepressant to acheive the much needed deep sleep each night?

" And the nsaids are useless for me, and when I told my husband about

PT, he laughed and laughed, as I try to be as active as I possibly

can be, and exercise as much as I can...... "

Nsaids only worked for me for a couple of years and then only at very

high doses. Eventually, both my stomach and my bladder rejected

them. I now use a very low dose of Percocet (1/2 tab - 3

times/day..the equivilant of taking 2 Tylenol # 1's - 3 times/day).

The use of a narcotic pain reliever was a step taken only after a

year and a half of treatment at a pain clinic and then with extensive

counselling on what chronic pain is and how our bodies use narcotics

plus counselling about dependancy issues. I do know that some

doctors will not prescribe narcotics at all for FMS/Chronic Pain but

mine will as long as I understand that the issue is not to take away

my pain altogether, for that is not possible with drugs, looking at

the long term picture. Rather the issue is for me to find a way to

accept the fact that I have pain and that for many hours of each day,

it may be bad enough that I cannot do anything during that time but

cope by using non-pharmacological treatments like heat, ice, rest,

hot baths, stretching, etc. and that the narcotic will give me relief

for 2-4 hour stretches after each dose, at least to some extent. So

during those times, I can plan to do what I must get done in a day

and also plan my bedtime.

If you are already doing some form of exercise to maintain joint

mobility and muscle function on a daily basis on your own, did your

doctor explain just what type of PT he would prescribe and what he

expected to accomplish for you with it? I accept that daily

stretching to maintain joint mobility is necessary, even if painful.

I can accept that if I do not walk daily, I will become less able to

walk and so I do so, even in pain. I just wondered what other

benefits besides this your doctor might have thought could be

accomplished by PT that I might be missing out on.

" When I lose hope and start to look for a painless way to commit

suicide, I will vent off a long letter to the group...and always feel

better. "

I think that is an excellent attitude and will look forward to

reading your posts, venting or otherwise....(((gentle hugs to

you))).. Lamisa