Doc unsure, doesn't know what to do.

So, saw a rheumy several times now…bottom line, no answers. Doc initially said it was fibro after doing tons of blood tests and asking a million questions and doing physical exam. Saw him this week for follow up and asked about meds other than lyrica (if i take enough lyrica to help, i eat everything in the house and have insane cravings). He did an exam, said maybe it's tendon problems/inflammation after we talked and he wants me on a new med, sulfasalazine, and a med for sleep, restoril.

Don't know what to think, he doesn't seem to know either. Should I get a second opinion? From who? Most of my docs are at a teaching hospital close by, so thought i would try there, but none of the rheumy's list fibro as something they treat. What to do next??? Hands hurt a lot, day and night. If i actually sleep 2+ hours at a time, all joints are extremely painful.

Still recovering from surgeries and super frustrated, things are not going well.

Any advice/thoughts???


Thanks for listening,

Sunny.

Fibro still stumps them somewhat..and its very trial and error as to what helps each of us..and a lot of us have multiple issues that can bring on symptoms...

So trial and error can be frustrating, cause we all want what helps right away..

An anti-inflammatory helps me, have tried many times to come off it , but stiffen up too much to stay active without it..

Hope the new meds help you!

Sunny, if these doctors are at a teaching hospital I'm sure they treat fibro. If your PC is at a teaching hospital he/she could refer you to a good one. My Internist is affiliated with a medical school in my area and he referred me to a fantastic rheumy...who also is affiliated with the med school.

I'm not a doctor but I have taken sulfasalazine in the past for Crohn's disease. It is a sulfa drug. It's brand name is Azulfadine. It did help with inflammation some but it is an antibiotic. This is the first time I've ever heard it being used for fibro. Over the counter pain meds like ibuprofen and Alieve are NSAIDs and they help with inflammation too. I take ibuprofen but I also have several inflammatory illness going one...types of rheumatoid arthritis. Fibro isn't considered an inflammatory illness. Quite a few with fibro show no inflammation in their blood work but yet have all the symptoms. This is why doctors studying this illness don't think it's an inflammatory illness.

I do think a second opinion would be good. It can't hurt but might help. Do let us know what you decide to do because we do care about you.

Sherrine

Dealing with this dx since 1999, I've addressed so MANY issues: thyroid (got it supported, after 10 long miserable years), adrenals (work on these with "pink salts" and Pantothenic Acid B5 which supports adrenals, hormones and I've been taking DHA for many years and I do see only integrative MD's for my health in general and work on all body systems.....I believe this is what Fibro is about. Jam

stopping all meds from rheumy. he's just as clueless as everyone else. not even sure what's wrong, so why does he think he can treat it?