Like you, I have fibro and broke out with shingles for the first
Posted By: Jen on 2007-03-06
In Reply to: Fibromyalgia - typingforpennies
time this past month. OMG, could not tell which was the worse. Do you use anything like fish oil or glucosamine? My hubby gave me the fish oil and it helped me a lot with the stiffness in the joints. My fibro started in my late 50s.
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shingles
The most crucial thing with shingles is to see a doctor immediately and get started on an antiviral - your family doc will do. I had it - mine wasn't too bad - but I got treatment immediately. Everyone in my family has had it multiple times - most the time not bad. If you do have chronic pain they treat with membrane stabilizers - Neurontin, for example. But the sooner you are treated the less likely you will have chronic pain. If at all possible - see someone now!!!!
shingles
wow - my mom and sister have had multiple times - my sister was on immunosuppression, mom had more than her share of steroids, dad had multiple times, eventually diagnosed with leukemia, but no one said anything about that. Mine I believe were totally attributed to stress but no one mentioned anything about that. will have to research further.
shingles? nm
xx
Shingles?
My husband was experiencing SEVERE rib pain, where he felt as if his ribs were being pried with a pry bar. He had shingles. Shingles are very, very painful. The doctor only found one tiny mark on his chest area, but apparently they were inside.
shingles
I'm 30 and I think i possibly may have shingles. Is this a seriously bad thing???
shingles
 Good new regarding shingles! I just saw where they now have a new medicine, injectable, to prevent shingles from ever occurring. If a person has had chicken pox as a child, they are eligible to get the new vaccine.
Anyone diagnosed with shingles and if so
how long had you had before the diagnosis and have you had any complications from it, such as constant pain, etc. Thanks
shingles on face
About 4 years ago, I had a mastoidectomy the middle of May. The middle of June, I came in exposure range with a child with chickenpox at Wal-Mart, and 2 weeks later I developed shingles. Could have been coincidence, but I figure stress related, and I, too, have hypothyroidism. No other testing was done, but it hurt so bad I couldn't even touch my hair let alone my head. I had it on right forehead, bridge of nose, and up through scalp.
By the way, something else that really helps with the healing process and pain of it all is Pantothenic acid capsules from the herbal store.
Could it be shingles or chick pox? nm
x
Had shingles before, do not think that is playing
a role and gosh I would hope it would be costochondritis. Funny to say that but when I pulled up some other things, much worse than I would care to hear was wrong. I have physical exam scheduled for a day next month but think I will just walk in either this Sunday or Monday and just wait to see someone. The pain is really unbearable. I took Tramadol for it but dulls a little but not all.
Yes, just had shingles a couple of months ago but
the other has been going on for several years now. By the way, I would suggest anyone who ever had chicken pox to do yourself a favor, take the vaccine to prevent shingles- you do not want to have this - it can be prevented.
Shingles - most painful thing I have experienced
Have had several outbreaks. First one ever was on back, last two to three have been on my inner thigh. The first two times on my thigh had an actual breakout and it was so painful I expected when I looked down that there should be this large gaping hole there and all that was present were these pesky little red spots. It always starts out like a band is too tight and my skin is burning and then the red spots would appear. Last year I only had the burning pain and no actual outbreak. I can tell when it is coming though as I get very, very tired and can fall asleep at anytime. Have tried the medication for it but hated taking just to suppress something that only came every 2 to 4 years. They did come more often when I was going through my divorce and financial problems but have not had a breakout or symptoms for over 2 years. But again, it is like having an open sore on your skin and one of the most painful thing I have experienced -- above my broken knee cap, broken leg/ankle, ovarian cysts, kidney stones. Sorry if this is your case. But I do not have the residual neuralgia all the time just for a couple of weeks after the symptoms have gone.
Shingles like I thought but has anyone known of an underlying malignancy with this?
Went to the dermatologist this morning, almost sure I was shingles and was. She started me on Valtrex and also asked me to get some other tests, labs, chest x-ray, mammogram as she said underlying malignancy could also play part. She said this is autoimmune and being as I have hypothyroidism, asked if this could be playing a part which it could she said. Anyone else out there who had the diagnosis and this turned out to be a malignancy or just stressful reaction, etc. Thanks.
Ever had shingles? Could be post herpetic neuralgia. sm
My doc said most of my upper back pain is from that. It shoots to where ever it decides to go, never know where next. Neurontin seems to help.
When I broke my toe
it was because I kicked a door jam. There was much screaming involved. I couldn't put on a shoe. I couldn't lift my toes or put weight on the toes.
It sort of sounds like you may have broken a blood vessel, but I wonder why? I'd see the doctor about it.
When my husband broke his toe sm
His was red and swollen and black and blue across the top. His was due to trauma, but you could have a stress fracture. It would be a very good idea to have it x-rayed, just to be on the safe side.
I heard that they already broke up! nm
nm
My sister broke hers
when she was little when we were all in a car accident. It took a couple of hours before she started complaining about her arm feeling heavy. Mom was going to the ER to get her ankle x-rayed, which turned out not to be broken, and took my sister along for an x-ray just in case. Yup, it was broken. So yours could be too. All they will probably do is put you in a sling.
It broke up both our marriages.
Our two kids, their two kids, parents, other family. She lives in Texas now, on her third or fourth marriage. My ex never did remarry (he is also bi - as I said in another post today). Her ex is on his 3rd marriage.
Thanks for your kind thoughts. But as for me, I met a wonderful man whom I have been married to for 9 tremendous years and am very happy now. It just was such a betrayal that it still bothers me from time to time.
Oh, and no, she never did say she was sorry. It's like I never really knew who she was...
Re-gifting keeps me from going broke
I would throw away any food that I had reservations about, but I look at it as a challenge sometimes to find those horrible gifts a good home :)
To me there really isn't anything else for one to do but thank them for the gift then do with it what you will.
Look at it this way - if it makes you happy making a friend/relative happy by giving them the gift, then it has given you something.to be thankful for, albeit in a roundabout way.
Poll: How broke are you?
Last payday, I would have needed $200 to pay all my bills and then be broke. Payday is three days away. Here's my tally: Cash on hand: 48 cents. Checking: $3.58. Savings: 4 cents. Woohoo. Hatin' it.
Sure am glad this forced me to stop the cigarettes -- 18 days smoke free now.
Just a thought--if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Why would anyone want to have a part of their body removed just on a CHANCE they may someday get some disease. This is just beyond my comprehension. That's like saying, well, I may as well kill myself now 'cause I'm gonna die some day anyway. ???
Miss Lily broke my toe.
So my lovely dog Miss Lily, who can't be more than 6 inches from me at all times, stepped on the back of my pajamas when we were walking down the stairs and I fell down a few of them. I broke my toe, just a hairline fracture, and it HURTS! That'll teach me to wear pajamas that are remotely baggy lol.
*This concludes my pity party* 
The straw that broke my back was
when my 90-year-old father was killed in an accident. I was only relative left, no siblings, no other living kids - well my son said I had got it ALL, thinking he should have more than the $60,000.00 my father had given him and his children for their school/college. How greedy can a person be? I should have had EVERYTHING but not the case. When my grandparents died, I think I got some dishes, maybe and oh, yeh and a watch from my grandmother. Rememberence type things which I am thankful for. My DIL's family just took completely over. I have a great life, though and I figure things will be like they are supposed to be. No sweat off my brow.
I broke down and got a pair of dedicated....
single-vision computer glasses. HUGE difference. They definitely aren't pretty because I wanted to keep the cost as low as I could, but my headaches are all but gone now thanks to them.
My other pair of glasses are bifocals, which I can use for work in a pinch like if I lost my computer glasses, but what happens is I wind up tilting my head too much to use the teeny bifocal part to see the monitor, which in turn causes headaches from muscle strain.
To save a TON off glasses, take your prescription and get them at a wholesale place like Sam's Club.
Good luck! 
That is cold. My furnace is broke...sm
Getting it repaired tomorrow. YAY! Freezing sucks! It has been in the 30s at night here in South MS and that is too cold for no heat. I do have the little electric space heaters though so that helps. Heat tomorrow finally!
i read that the mob broke the doors down
if they got it on camera, i think whoever knocked this person down should be held accountable.
Not broke here but in years past
could probably not really rub 2 nickels together. I am sorry so many others have lost their jobs, etc. I have been able to, so far, keep my job and my hubby has a union job and he is still there although at his job they have laid off some. I have money saved so if his job had been threatened, feel like have enough to get us through several months or even years if need be but I would hate to come to that. I have not changed any spending habits, in fact need to rein in my overspending. I heard cigarettes were extremely expensive now- a carton for over $50.00?
Not completely broke, but close
We live paycheck to paycheck for the most part. My paycuts really did our savings in. The bills are still all the same things and they get paid.
Hope for savings in the future is not too great. We rent and probably won't be able to buy a house till the kids are all off at college. Same for the cars. They are old and they run. I am grateful for that, as I have no car payments and they are too old for full coverage insurance.
We support 5 people on about $2500 a month for 8 months out of the year and about $3000 for the other months.
Cleaning lady broke something again!
This time it's really not replaceable. It was a tiny glass vase of tuilps that my MIL brought back from Italy. Each tulip was separate and just adorable.
I MIGHT be able to find something like it online, but I haven't looked yet. She/they have broken stuff before and while the stuff as been important to me it was not expensive.
I had this, and a few other things in my bedroom entertainment cabinet - to PROTECT it from HER. Today she decides to clean in there.
I think this is it. She cleans well and is affordable, but at this rate everything important to me will be broken in a couple of years.
I almost went blind from it as I broke out on half of my face and they
were invading my cornea but never penetrated through. I had them actually while on the delivery table with my son!! It was frightening to say the least, I looked like a monster for about 1 week, started healing after week 2 and then had terrible pain weeks 2 and 3. I was popping 800 Motrin without even looking at the clock, the only time in my life I was a pill popper!! Anyhow still can't tweeze my eyebrow on that area without strange neuralgia, when I get tired or stressed I feel the tingling, feels like my eyelid is drooping but no residual effects other than that. If it ever happens again (this was 16 years ago so knock on wood) I will just go somewhere with a bottle and drink myself to sleep for 3 weeks.
tried duct tape, no go, broke immediately, thanks though, NM
z
I finally broke down and bought a box of cards
Sunday night. I haven't gotten them addressed yet, but I'm hoping to this week. We always did the same thing -- different colored inks, holiday stamps, etc. I just don't feel like putting the time into it this year. One year, I even bought cards from a scrapbook party to make my own. They went over really well. My grandma, 80 years old, told me not to send her a card because of the price of stamps. I'm planning to hand-deliver hers on Christmas day as well as others that I will be seeing or live close enough to to deliver personally.
I only have a few out-of-towners that I need to mail to and I'm hoping to get those done by Friday.
Why not try addressing 2 or 3 per evening? Get DH to help. I always feel guilty when I receive cards and don't mail them.
i broke a mercury thermometer - what a pain i
it broke on the counter right next to the fridge, so some little balls of mercury went down the crack between the fridge and counter.
Not broke but have changed spending habits.
I did reel in some spending a bit and changed a few things in the budget.
Have no intention of going broke.
Don't smoke either. LOL Couldn't afford to with the new taxes on those things!
not broke, just always struggling to keep head afloat.
Basically paycheck to paycheck with us, also. We are trying to manage our money better unfortunately we do well for a while and then fall off. It's getting harder and harder though; my goal is to have my credit cards paid in full (3 of them) by end of April as I am tired of paying all that interest. I agree with the gal who wants to get rid of banks. That's exactly how they make their money off of you. The middle class IS disappearing . . .
Fibro
I got it 14 years now. Other than the lack of sleep the ebbs and flows are just sooo much fun. I take doxepin to help sleep through the night, just put me on Zoloft to take the edge off the pain that the Percocet I live off of doesn't handle anymore. At one point I went to a pain clinic and got steroid shots right in the base of the skull and all the way down my neck and shoulders, hurt like a you know what but got me over the flare and didn't get another good flare for another 5 years. They also had me on doxepin then, Paxil, ibuprofen, baclofen, and one other which I can't for the life of me remember. Oh yea it messes with your memory also. Watch your sugar intake very bad for fibro sufferers. I sit here on a heating pad all day or my back just kills me
I have fibro...
but my back doesn't hurt; however, I am sore around the bottom part of my ribs like if my 6-year-old tries to hug me and then at times when I have a flare - it seems as if my legs get really weak feeling (like jello) and then the next day they will feel sore and bruised like especially my butt; so I would think that possibly you could be having some lingering pain. Do you see a rheumatologist regularly? If so you might call and inquire and if you've not seen one in a while maybe you need to have a workup to make sure it's nothing more serious! Hope you get to feeling better soon though!
Fibro
It sounds like costochondritis to me. Have you tried an anti-inflammatory? I have fibro and I am in constant pain. Get a good massage and put some heat on it and see if that helps. Hope so. Fibro is diagnosed with several different trigger point areas. Best of luck and hope it goes away and soon!
I wonder if this is really fibro or?
I had a flare here for about a month and things seem to have become fairly quiet but now I have really bad pain in my back section including the ribs. I had some benign cysts on my kidneys and have had a follow up on those twice. Being as this is back and the pain, I just wonder if others go through this same, flare and then maybe the back continues to be sore, hurt??? Thanks
fibro
What meds help you?
Fibro
Hi,
I would try amitriptyline or Doxepin. Also avoid all sugar because you probably have yeast overgrowth like I do. I also drink Reliv products, Classic, Innergize and Fibrestore. You can check out their info at Reliv.com. A friend of mine could stop her meds after the fibro. Drink lots of water too. You might check out the guiafenesin protocol. This works for some people.
Hope all this helps.
Fibro
Sorry I meant stop her meds after the Reliv. Fibro fog here. I also have cervical spine problems with surgery so I have a double wammy. The best thing is good vitamins, lots of magnesium for the muscles. A rheumatologist can diagnose and help you. Sometimes they give Ultram too which helps.
Not Pam but have fibro too
Hey, I have extremely bad fibro too, have for the last 10 or more years. Well, at least they say it's fibro, but it doesn't come and go. The pain is always extremely bad and never ever goes away. I have days when I can barely walk or get up out of bed along with very limited activities. I can no longer do at least 50% of the things I used to do even simple house cleaning.
I went through an enormous amount of testing and saw multiple doctors who gave me worthless medications that did nothing or just made me more sick and brushed me off. Like in your post you said they are giving you a Medrol Dosepak? Why on earth would they give you that? Fibro is not an inflammatory condition and steroids will not do anything unless you have other comorbid conditions such as arthritis, lupus, etc. Steroids cause all sorts of damage to your body, and if they are not helping you or you don't have other conditions, I absolutely would not take them. Another thing they like to do is put you on NSAIDs. Again, these do absolutely nothing for the fibro and can do irreversible damage to your GI system, kidneys, etc.
The only way I can live and function to do absolutely anything is because I am on daily narcotic pain medications. It took me a long time and several physicians to finally be referred to a pain management clinic that would actually help me. It is inconvenient due to the ridiculous laws in this state regarding chronic pain patients, as I have to go once every month, but again, that's the only way I can function. So, I would definitely suggest you see a pain management specialist or a pain clinic. Regardless of what some of these ignorant doctors say, you don't have to "live with the pain," or take numerous expensive medications that just do more damage than good. It may take a while depending on where you live to find a knowledgable pain management doctor with compassion and you may have to go to several different ones until you find the right fit, but eventually hopefully you can find one. It can be very discouraging at times when you are in agony and doctor after doctor won't help you, but just don't take no for an answer. You deserve not to live a life full of pain.
Good luck to you. I really hope you find something that can provide you with some relief. 
To Fibro Too
Well, got to tell you, the shot I was given last night worked like a charm. No pain today for the first time since December. I have not picked up nor started the Dosepak but I feel 100% better. I do not have arthritis and I do not have lupus but right now I would about swear on these shots. Since the pain has eased up, now maybe I can get into some kind of exercise program because I hear that really helps, could not do that before, too much pain all over. I was told the shots not to be taken on a regular basis and understand that but on my vacation this summer you better believe I will have 1 before I leave.
Fibro - here's what I did
ok - this sounds ridiculous, but I did get a bit of results from it - enough to put on a pair of shorts in the summer. I, too, have fibro and had to stop my normal exercises (I now do pilates on a machine). I had my kids roll my legs every night with my grandmother's rolling pin. Now I don't know if this worked because it was my grandmother's rolling pin or if just any wooden or marble pin would do - it was a bit painful in the beginning, but I got used to it. They did start charging me .50 a night to do this - but we got some good laughs and my legs are okay. I would like to know what to do about my saggy knees now -
I have fibro, too.
Believe me, I feel your pain, literally. I have been misunderstood more times than I care to mention, even by family. Sometimes people think they know better than I how I feel. I have lived with this for several years, and I know what I am feeling and talking about. Actually I have always felt we have a great responsibility regarding our body and state of health; that is, to report what is going on, and most importantly to give the best history possible to our physicians. Sadly, this is still a diagnosis that is misunderstood and even questioned by some health professionals. My friend's husband looks at me every now and then and makes me go through the whole thing again after he asks me with doubt in his eye
NOW, WHAT DID YOU SAY WAS WRONG WITH YOU AGAIN?
I truly do know your frustration.
Fibro, all over
Pain every day, horrific some, tired of trying to fend for myself, no help from other physicians I have seen.
CALLING ALL MTS WITH FIBRO!!!
Hi. I am looking for some helpful hints as to working with fibro and how others of you deal with the pain and fatige, etc. Thanks in advance.
I have been diagnosed with fibro but
I have fatigue sometimes and don’t know if from that or from the hypothyroidism that I have, double duty so to speak. I have appointment this week to see what exactly is happening with me. Terrible, terrible pain for days on end- thought fibro, now not sure. I have some hydrocodone and take 1/2 pill of that when severe pain with fibro, supposed to start rehab for mild exercises but too much pain involved now with ?? I had a boss 1 time and she said she started exercising and that was the only thing that helped her. I just have had some setbacks to where I have not been able to start yet (including shingles!!). Hurt so much with the fibro and think the shingles started because of that. I can sleep at night, no problem there but some mornings unable to stay in bed because of hurting. I will give a follow up when I visit my physician this week and see what he has to say about if this is fibro, what does he think is problem, things you might do for fibro, etc.
Fibro meds
I was diagnosed in January of this year by a rheumatologist after having problems starting last August that began with a rash and my GP did a battery of tests - the rheumatologist started me on 1500 mg of Relafen (which has greatly diminished the tender areas like my hip areas), I also take 150 mg of Zoloft, 600 mg of neurontin, 50 mg of Tramadol every 4 hours as needed (which do me has not really helped the pain 100%, but it does lessen it a good bit) and I take a muscle relaxer at bedtime and sometimes during the time. These meds do not zap me and I feel more functional with them than before. I also take Halcion if I am unable to fall asleep, however, these days it seems that I am so exhausted that I have no problem sleeping as long as I am not hurting and the muscle relaxer at bedtime seems to help with that. Of course now that my inflammatory markers are at a near normal range I am walking 30 minutes a day and have begun stretching exercises 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes at night to help with the muscles. The rheumatologist has said that all of these will change as the fibro progresses and I age (I'm only 33) but he said if we stay on top of it it should be very tolerable for me from now on - I am thankful to my GP for the referral to this doctor because I have read of so many stories where the GP ignored the patient's complaints only putting them on powerful pain meds and not really getting to the source of the problem or telling them that there is nothing wrong or nothing they can do...I feel now that the pain is being managed, my biggest complaint is being tired at doing the simplest of things - like folding clothes - I feel that I need to rest after I do that - whereas before it was just a normal thing. My rheumatologist has stressed that sleep/rest is very important so he says when your body tells you to stop and rest - do it - whatever it is you have on your to do list can wait - otherwise you're gonna really feel bad and then nothing on your to do list will get done. I see my rheumatologist every 3 months right now and he says once I am doing okay on the meds and everything seems in check we'll go to every 6 months and then yearly until something goes out of whack and my treatment needs changing - he seems to really be on top of things.
What meds are you taking? Do you see a doctor on a regular basis?
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