Fibromyalgia

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What are your opinions, nurses? Is Fibromyalgia a justified condition or just a basket term ? I am interested in your feedback. It seems like we see a large number of patients (usually women) with "fibromyalgia" and the numbers are getting larger and larger.

I even had a patient tell me that fibromyalgia patients were predisposed to trigeminal neuralgia. :eek:

Specializes in Psych/Rehab/Family practice/Oncology.

Update for Miss Chybil: Don't ever forget that YOU don't know what struggles, physical and/or mental that OTHER posters to this thread have or are going through. I actually am interested in the level of functioning of these two cousins, but not so I can turn 'em in to social security if I don't think they deserve it, which I don't! For me it's a question of who and how people bilk the system, and more inportantly, who pays? Just 30 minutes ago I had the opportunity to speak with a trusted family member who had JUST visited with one of these cousins. This family member DOES believe that fibromyalgia is real, but saw first hand the level of functioning, and observed no disability (yeah I know, you can't always tell)! Apparently, the other cousin I mentioned has succeeded in alienating just about every other family member, which explains why after 50 (yes FIVE-O) years she is all of a sudden making contact. I do not encourage this and refuse to get embroiled in her cause, whatever it is. Never forget that there is a lot of money to be made by dX and treatment once something becomes a disease. I am happy for you that you are doing better; I'm not COMPLETELY without feeling. And as far as thinking what I will, no research I have read this far can compete with what I have observed in the field. Maybe you can change my mind, but right now? Not so much.

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"It took me a few years, after first noticing the physical symptoms of my fibromyalgia, to admit I was depressed. I didn't realize I had anxiety until I didn't have it anymore - after I started taking Lyrica"

This may be the case, but were you ever placed on anti anxiety meds? I'm not saying that people with "fibro" aren't feeling pain, im just saying its over diagnosed and the underlying cause isn't treated. Thats like saying, ok lets drug up a pt with chest pain and since they aren't having pain anymore everything should be ok... right? I can tell you first hand, covering up symptoms isn't going to make you better off in the end. You need to read my post a little more carefully

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Specializes in ICU, CRU, ER, Med/Surg.

I have the utmost sympathy and respect for all my patients in true pain. I live with aches and pains myself and have suffered in the past few years with a back injury. But, as far as "fibromyalgia" goes, I have never seen a "Fibro" patient who wasn't "as crazy as a run over dog." Pain is one thing, but the drama that goes along with "Fibromyalgia" is just ridiculous. But this is just my "observation."

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Just a nursing student here...Isn't it true that a lot of health plans have a limit/won't cover 'mental illness' but do cover physical illness, thus a stress on the physical aspect of fibro.If someone is in pain, treat it whatever the cause.Another point is the stigma attached to having mental problems so a diagnosis of fibro may get more respect as a physical condition. Why couldn't fibro pain be a physical manifestation of anxiety/depression and still be a legit illness and something not to be ashamed of?Personally I think mental illness is indeed a physical problem as well and should be treated with the same respect (i.e. not someone's fault).Fibro may attract some fakers because of the well-publicized pressure points and lack of physical damage that other rheumo diseases have but that doesn't mean that the majority of people with fibro are indeed suffering....hey some people find an angle no matter what and I'm sure fibro is just one of many for those type of people. Reminds me of 2 people at work who both had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome - one guy took all his sick leave and even scheduled the surgery around his vacation so he could have more time off (vacation + sick leave), the other person was back at work the next day!

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I have the utmost sympathy and respect for all my patients in true pain. I live with aches and pains myself and have suffered in the past few years with a back injury. But, as far as "fibromyalgia" goes, I have never seen a "Fibro" patient who wasn't "as crazy as a run over dog." Pain is one thing, but the drama that goes along with "Fibromyalgia" is just ridiculous. But this is just my "observation."

WHAT??????? "crazy as a run over dog???? "Drama"??????? I feel sorry for you to feel this way about people.

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WHAT??????? "crazy as a run over dog???? "Drama"??????? I feel sorry for you to feel this way about people.

Anyone who doesn't see fibromyalgia pt's on a regular basis. ex. emerg or acute care. HAs no idea the drama that goes a long with "a majority" of these pt's. Others are quick to judge the way we act or talk about patients. But if you work where we work for even a few months, you will most certainly lose a good chunk of "sympathy" you have for people. I am a very compassionate person but after seeing frequent flyers and people abusing the system as much as we do, you start to really question peoples pain. Most of us can tell who's really in pain and who's milking it for all they have. Like when you walk by some of these people and they are sleeping, you wake them up by applying the sternal rub because they are in such deep sleep only to tell you they are in 10/10 pain. It is very frustrating when you have these demanding pt's and still have to provide care to those who emergently need it. So in my experience they catch the back seat and when they awake from sleep asking for pain meds, im not exactly going to put that on my priority list.

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Specializes in ED staff.

I have rheumatoid arthritis, one of my doc's put me on Lyrica. I had MORE side effects from Lyrica than from narcotics. He started me out on 75 once a day then twice a day after about a week. I was higher than a dang kite, fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Fall asleep in the middle of conversations. I called him and he said I just had to get used to it.... nah, I quit taking it. Plus it made me swell up like a bullfrog!

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.
I have rheumatoid arthritis, one of my doc's put me on Lyrica. I had MORE side effects from Lyrica than from narcotics. He started me out on 75 once a day then twice a day after about a week. I was higher than a dang kite, fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Fall asleep in the middle of conversations. I called him and he said I just had to get used to it.... nah, I quit taking it. Plus it made me swell up like a bullfrog!

I've seen numerous patients and have read personal accounts on Fibromyalgia Forums by other people that also have a terrible problem with swelling r/t Lyrica.

Lyrica is Scheduled medication...probably why you felt a high from it. Apparently, it does have a risk for abuse.

One drug that seems to be helping a lot of Fibro pain patients is Neurontin. Just like diabetics with Neuropathic pain (which is also subjective-well, like all pain is), this drug seems to help 'dull' the pain sensation. I've never met anyone that has had 100% pain relief, but I have talked to a lot of people that have stated that the intensity of the pain has been reduced drastically and have had minimal, if any, side effects.

Also, I seem to be seeing a pretty consistent pattern with the medications prescribed for those with Fibromyalgia. I have to admit, I personally think some meds that are being prescribed over and over are completely useless for this disease and other meds are definitely better.

But since the medical community seems to be split on weather this is a 'real' or 'imagined' disease, inconsistent care and management of this will unfortunately continue for awhile.

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Specializes in ICU,ER.

Fair (pale), Fat, Forty-ish, Female.......... "Fibro"

Not saying ALL Fibro patients fit this demographic, but does anyone else notice the trend?

I had a patient once that was "end stage Fibromyalgia".

Drama.

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hahaha, thats priceless, im sorry

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I can't believe the prejudicial narrow minded attitude if most of our posters. I don't have a FM diagnosis but I know 2 people who do. Both are hard working, active, generaly healthy people who eat a better diet than I do, don't smoke, don't drink... Yet they are not only plagued by chronic pain that is difficult to treat but by a astounding amount of distain from the nurses and doctors that are supposed to be "caring" for them. No wonder FM patients get depressed- I would be abnormal if they didn't get a little down with what they have to face.

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

AUGHHH!, I should read all the posts in the topic before I reply- That way I can get all my ranting out in one post. Whats this "all FM patients ane drama queens, crazy as a run over dog? Guess what- almost all of your cardiac patients are type A personalities with stress management issues- let's DIS on them for a while! I am astounded by some of the heartless posts in this thread.

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