@A MyFibroTeam Member - thank you for your advice, i will keep you updated, I've taken vit d for six months now (blood levels haven't changed) haven't taken anything for low vit b think was concentrating on vit D levels first, advised re diet then will be reviewed in three months - thank you for your advice, gentle hugs 💜

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A MyFibro...

amitriptyline yes they start you off on 10mg then 20, 30mg and so on the lower the dose the better for you I take 30mg at night you need to take them at least 4 hours before going to bed and with some food. It take 3 to 6 months to notice the difference until it builds up in your system. Yes Rheumatologist and Neurologist both help people with fibro as it is all to do the pain receptors we are more prone to pain than most even just touching certain parts of our bodies is painful. At the start I was on a lot of pain meds very strong ones until I seen the neurologist he got me weaned down now to just taking co-codamal 8/500mg any higher the painkillers make our pain much worse. I was on tramadol 500mg 8 a day which gave me migraines for two years constant as soon as I was weaned off them the pain went away in the head. Rheumatologist can recommend to your GP to give you cortisone injections but you do not want to have too many of these as it affects your bones long term only get one if the pain in your joints gets unbearable. With fibro we tend to get flair ups either by overdoing it, stress, cold weather, diet or lack of exercise if you can manage with the pain for 3 weeks or so this is better than taking too high a dose of painkillers. With low dose painkillers you need to take them regularly so as they are always in your system you might not think they are working but if you stopped taking them you will know the difference. Try and take your mind of the pain distract yourself talk to people, play music, gardening, reflexology, massage, reading, do puzzles anything that you can manage without putting your body under stress. I have had fibro for 15 years plus and you learn to cope with it the first few years are always the hardiest until you get your meds right and diet.

I stopped taking tea and coffee and fizzy drinks they all contain caffeine which does not help our pain receptors. Take more fruit, vegetables, brown wholemeal bread, oily fish. Bananas take one a day and an Orange to get the right vitamins and trace elements.

Hope this helps but we are all different and what works for me might not work for everyone but less is more when it comes to pain killers.

When I 1st seen my Rheumotogist it was just basically to go through what I go through on a daily basis, what I can and can't do, meds I'm on, quick examination and some leaflets on couple different things. I found writing down all my pains and aches a real help in therun up to my appointment as I could never remember all of them! I am on Nortriptylyine and I am on citapram anti-depressants 2. I also take Zapain, Gabapentin, Lansoprazole and Naproxen.

Don't let anyone tell you that you are ok or that it's something you "are just anxious" , MAKE them hear you.

My rheumatologist went through my symptoms, medication etc. then did the points test and some movement tests. She confirmed fibro but just said treatment would be from my GP and they would refer to a pain clinic when the time comes. My GP confirmed I will be referred shortly to the clinic. I am also vit D deficient and taking 800iu tablets daily.