13 Comments
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julie elder's avatar

DAMN. I feel this one. It’s been 20 years for me, and I can never make peace with it. Thank you for the poem, and I’m sorry you’re in this club.

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Joyce Jennings's avatar

I’ve had it for years. It kept me awake for three solid weeks in the beginning. Meds couldn’t put me out until I was given cyclobenzaprine which may not work for everyone. You do best if you keep your weight down. But when you eat, the endorphins relieve the pain for a little while.

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LittleLT's avatar

5% lidocaine patches

Gabapentin (changed over to Pregabalin so I can use my brain and operate heavy machinery again)

Cyclobenzaprine

Diazepam

Venlafaxine

Course of LDN - Low Dose Naltrexone

Physical Therapy exercises

Stretching (that which worked for hockey and lacrosse still works)

Moist hot packs

Balls of various sizes and toughness to use for massage and trigger release points

B12

Gatorade any time I break a sweat for fluid and electrolyte replacement

Beamer therapy (IEMP - Intermittent ElectroMagnetic Pulse Therapy)

X39 patches from LifeWave

Indomethacin (NSAID)

Tylenol (APAP)

6” Memory foam mattress topper

CBD, CBDA, CBG, CBC, CBN and a little THC because that’s how organic chemistry works

Regular sleep/wake schedule

Afternoon naps

Caffeine

Hydroxyzine

Cats

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Nick Paro's avatar

I like that last one “Cats” — I’m not a cat person, so I’ll go with “Dogs” instead — yet I love it none the less 😂

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LittleLT's avatar

Cat and dogs together if the cats allow it. Right now, my cats allow the dogs to lay their heads on the bed, but if a single paw comes up on the bed the cats go scorched earth on their muzzles. The sound is that of a cat wailing on whining congas. It’s funny, but it’s not as fun as having all my furry babies on the bed with me. I’ll have to spring for a California King sized bed so that they can use me as their DMZ.

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Jackie Blanton's avatar

I’m also a member of this club that no one wants to join. 30 years in September!Anything that might help my pain is not allowed.

I don’t think many doctors -maybe just a handful- understand or empathize with chronic physical pain.

I’m curious about how/why it began for other sufferers, as I’ve talked to many over the years and the answer, for what started it, can be anything from a car accident to “No idea”.

In my case, I was exposed, at work, to stachybotrys mold (black mold), which was in the walls and under the carpet of my office at work. Probably worse, the black mold filled the a/c above my head, blowing air into my face all day long. The a/c had not been cleaned in 35 years. 🤯

I’m still looking for answers, fighting, but, as you all know, it’s very, very hard.

❤️ 🥰

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Ava Glix's avatar

I love your poem…fibromyalgia is so painful…I’m grateful you shared your shocks about the surges of this disease…and yes, it feels like lightening shocking your entire being and hijacking your clarity in the process…I love the verve of your verbiage. May it continue to fuel your fight! 🫶🏻💪🏻🫶🏻

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Heather Whitehead's avatar

I have fibro too. It’s truly no joke. I’m sorry you are facing it. 😔

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Sangye's avatar

That’s an interesting poem. I’m sorry for the pain you’ve been through. I have fibromyalgia too, along with some other conditions. I know it can be very tough.

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Suzanne's avatar

Get checked for Lyme disease. It can be the underlying cause of many diseases. It is known as the great imitator. ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) has a lot of info. Go to https:/www.ilads.org.

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Lynn's avatar

15 years since diagnosis, but suffered for far more years than that. 67 years old. Probably brought on from a severe case of mono at age 7. It’s a lonely illness, it isolates you, and what works today for relief may not be true tomorrow. My heart goes out to everyone who is unwillingly on this journey. Thank you, Nick, for your beautiful words.

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Michelle Schaefbauer's avatar

I’m in the club, too. This poem really spoke to me. Feeling out of control, not knowing when pain is coming or easing, feels being on a pain rollar coaster…. And then there’s the actual pain. Sick of it all. I did feel a sigh of relief from your reminder that I’m not alone. That is comforting. Take care of yourself and each other.

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Terri McGee's avatar

This!! I have fibromyalgia (nerve) pain in my knees thru my toes 24/7. I’ve been taking Gabapentin, 3600 mgs a day for years. Every Dr I’ve seen just throws more Gabapentin at me, and I’m worried about the side effects.

Has anyone gotten any other treatment that works?

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