Working and Fibromyalgia

nearlyrich

I work full time with Fibro some days are harder than others especially when it's cold and damp I live on a diet of painkillers, I tried to take amitryptiline but it made me a zombie. I am a sales manager working from home and out with customers so do a lot of driving and sitting at a desk I find stretching helps but I get funny looks when I do my stretches in the car.

starchild1972

nearlyrich, there are alternatives to amitryptelene (sp) that can be prescribed, other low dose anti-depressants and usually they should be taken an hour before bed time.

DH has M.E. (yeah we are a right pair us!) and has Sertraline instead.

I unfortunately have problems with painkillers, I have liver probs (Gilberts and Non Alcoholic Liver Disorder idiopathic origin) which means when I flare and take full whack meds I turn yellow!

nearlyrich

That sounds nasty turning yellow is not a good look I feel lucky that I can function to a reasonable level most of the time some weekends are a write off whilst I recharge my batteries though. I suppose I just assumed all anti d's which they prescribe for pain would have the same effect, when I was first diagnosed I had a really bad time and was off work for about 3 months since then I have not had any time off due to fibro...I have a high pain threshold fortunately...

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

I found I could control pain levels through meditation, but not when it escalates with a major flare up.

Maybe worth doing a google for info on this.

starchild1972

Nearlyrich...yellow is SO not my colour:rotfl:
Currently on diazepam (valium) so everything is CALM

kit77

Well I took magnesium yesterday and will do so every day for a few weeks and see if i notice any difference.

I have noted down everyones suggestions and I am going to see what ones I can easily try and see from there.

I am going to update this everyday if i can with how I am feeling to see how I am doing.

So day1 today - sore everywhere but I do seem to have woken fairly refreshed having had an okay sleep with only 1 dream I can remember. Will see how long I last before I get tired. Going to have 1 magnesium tablet with my breakfast and another with my dinner tonight.

starchild1972

kit77 wrote: »

Well I took magnesium yesterday and will do so every day for a few weeks and see if i notice any difference.

I have noted down everyones suggestions and I am going to see what ones I can easily try and see from there.

I am going to update this everyday if i can with how I am feeling to see how I am doing.

So day1 today - sore everywhere but I do seem to have woken fairly refreshed having had an okay sleep with only 1 dream I can remember. Will see how long I last before I get tired. Going to have 1 magnesium tablet with my breakfast and another with my dinner tonight.

PLEASE don't take supplements without checking with your GP first. It can interfere with prescription meds, OTC meds, antibiotics, calcium uptake etc.

Usually problems occur with high doses BUT if you are eating healthily or taking some antacids or not checking the contents of your other meds you may have no idea how much you are absorbing into your system.
e.g
my diazepam has magnesium in it
as does
my paracetamol,
my diclofenac,
my dihydracodiene,
my peppermint tablets,

When I worked for A. WellKnown Supplement Manufacturer magnesium was in EVERYTHING but the actual amount DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SPECIFIED.

hannahO_2

starchild1972 wrote: »

When I worked for A. WellKnown Supplement Manufacturer magnesium was in EVERYTHING but the actual amount DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SPECIFIED.

That's interesting. Is it because it's cheap and do they use it to bulk it the tabs?

starchild1972

I wrote a lovely long post and my lappy crashed!

It is used as a filler, binder, lubricant and stabiliser.

Also there are different types of supplemental magnesuim and ALL ARE LAXATIVES.
Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia)
Magnesium oxide (also a fertiliser!)
Magnesium citrate (not natural it is a SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL)
Magnesium Stearate (used as filler, binder etc, became the alternative to talc in many medicines)

There is no accurate test to show if you are deficient in magnesium and there have only been two studies into magnesium and fibromyalgia and both had conflicting results.

Fibromyalgia
A small preliminary clinical study of 24 people with fibromyalgia suggest that a proprietary tablet containing both malic acid and magnesium may improve pain and tenderness associated with fibromyalgia when taken for at least 2 months. Other studies suggest the combination of calcium and magnesium may be helpful for some people with fibromyalgia.
However, a review article evaluating a number of studies found that magnesium with malic acid offered no pain relief. More studies are needed.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/magnesium-000313.htm



What you have to be aware of is

1. Placebo effect. They say it works therefore it does. My son doesn't get travel sick if he has a "magic pill" before we go on a long journey. The magic pill he swallows is a smartie! Without it he is puking everywhere.
2. Are your other medicines/treatments kicking in, have the doses changed recently or make is absorbed better?
3. Is there a vested interest in the study..i.e. It was done by "nutritionists" who just happen to have an online shop?
4. Side effects, toxicity and overdose risk. Some vitamins, minerals and other supplements can kill. e.g. Evening Primrose Oil can bring on seizures in epileptics.

I read the report of the trial and on the search page are lots of websites saying "magnesium cure fibromyalgia". "CFS and Fibromyalgia caused by magnesium deficency" Which, as you know, if you eat a well balanced diet and lots of fruit and veg is most certainly is NOT. The other sites just happen to be linked to online shops.

http://www.webmd.boots.com/vitamins-and-minerals/supplement-guide-magnesium

Magnesium doses and instructions for use

The recommended daily amount (RDA) includes the magnesium you get from both the food you eat and any supplements you take. In the EU this is 375mg per day for adults. Children require less, depending on their age.
It is safe to get high levels of magnesium from food, but the excessive use of magnesium supplements can be toxic. The Food Standards Agency advises that, for adults, 400mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to be harmful.

Magnesium food sources


Natural food sources of magnesium include:

• green, leafy vegetables, such spinach
• nuts
• beans, peas and soybeans
• wholegrain cereals

Whole foods are always best. Magnesium can be lost during refinement and processing.

kit77

Thanks starchild I don't have time to read all your post as i need to get the kids from school soon but I will find time later on to fully read it. To be honest it was my Chiropractor who suggested I took it, perhaps because he knew at the time I was not taking any other further medication.

Today I am scared to say it but I am feeling a bit better, although i did wake at 3am this morning in agony around my hips but 2 painkillers and a hot water bottle later and I nodded back off to sleep. So lets see how long this last.