Fibromyalgia & pregnancy.

Re: Fibromyalgia & pregnancy.

• KaKip member

  February 2016

  I don't have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia but I do have bouts of aching and burning pain throughout my body intermittently. In the last six months, I've had burning pain and aching in both arms and shoulders and now I'm having pain in my legs.  
  
  I'm curious, how has your fibromyalgia responded to pregnancy? I've read that some chronic conditions actually can improve during pregnancy. But I know others experience a worsening of symptoms too. 
  
   My anxiety and depression  have certainly been exacerbated by pregnancy and so my doctors have been experimenting with different medications. I also noticed that my sensitive digestive tract seems touchier than normal. Of course, anxiety and stress can seriously impact us physiologically so perhaps that is what happening with me. 
  
  What kind of drugs are prescribed for fibro? Are there some which are considered safe? I took gabapentin last winter for a while due to burning and tingling sensations in my legs and I think it helped. I'm not sure if that is safe for pregnancy? 
  
  Anyways, I just wanted to chime in and let you know that I'm wishing you well!  
  
  

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• Sunshinebins member

  February 2016

  I also have fibromyalgia and am pregnant and have actually found marked improvement since being pregnant. Actually my autoimmune thyroid disease markedly improved as well. I've noticed recently that the pain has returned some as I get bigger and I'm assuming circulation isn't as good, but I've been trying to cope more with baths, lots of rest, etc. I plan to talk to my doctor about it this week, but I would also refuse any medications during pregnancy. You could consider seeing an acupuncturist if that is an option? I've found going has helped me a lot 

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• wamam027 member

  February 2016

  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last November (although myself and several of my Drs are questioning whether or not it's truly fibro, mine was HUGELY debilitating to the point of during a flare I couldn't walk, talk, feed or bathe myself and even not flaring, couldn't hold a part time job due to the pain and fatigue) and got pregnant in August. I knew I was pregnant because I felt like a million bucks, like my "old" self pre fibro. I refused treatment even before trying to conceive due to research and speaking with others who received treatment stating that the meds simply didn't improve symptoms enough to make the side effects worth it. I alleviated some of my pain with detox/Epsom salt baths daily, rest, essential oils, diet, and simply recognizing that this was my new reality and changing my expectations. Seriously hoping and praying it doesn't come back after delivering, but I know that's not a very realistic hope. Although I'm not currently dealing with ANY symptoms during pregnancy, if you'd like to talk I'm happy to help in any way I can. 
  

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• mommylady713 member

  February 2016

  My symptoms unfortunately have increased. I am hurting all the time. The fatigue is pretty bad, I can barely keep my eyes open at all during the day. I have been reading about the different meds for fibro and I still think I made the best choice for me as for not taking it. My fiance tries to understand but admits he is having a hard time doing so. I am trying so hard to avoid depression and that I think is one of the biggest problems currently.
  Thank you for talking with me. 

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• KaKip member

  February 2016

  @mommylady713 , 
  
  I'm sorry to hear that your fibro has gotten worse. Do hot/ warm baths help? I've been doing baths with epsom salts and they help me sleep. 
  
  I did a little reading about the drugs for fibromyalgia and it sounds like drugs like zoloft may offer limited help? That may help your depression too... I am currently taking Zoloft, for what it is worth. I understand you may be avoiding antidepressants due to risk..
  
  Out of curiosity, as I have long wondered if I have fibro, what is your pain like? Does it come and go or is it constant? Does it move around the body? 
  
  
  

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• wamam027 member

  February 2016

  @KaKip everyone's fibro symptoms vary hugely. During my "normal" days I felt flu achy all over, but most severely in my back, neck, and shoulders. This was constant and was the very best I felt from the time symptoms started to the time I got pregnant where my symptoms subsided. I had random joint pain, in my knees and hips mostly that would come and go. "Overdoing it" worsens fibro symptoms which is why you'll see a lot about the spoon system when you research fibro. The spoon system refers to how many "spoons" a fibro person gets per day to perform different tasks before they've overdone it. For most, overdoing it can be doing a full load of dishes in one sitting or cleaning the whole living room in one sitting. Flares come with fibro as well and as I stated earlier, my flares are SEVERE, hugely severe and unheard of with fibro, but my flares
  consist of drastically more pain, where even sitting in a chair hurts (I get hit with several other symptoms but my other flare symptoms are not common with fibro flares). Flares can come for everyone at different intervals and can last various amounts of time. My flares came once a month and lasted anywhere from 4 hours to 30 days straight. Fibro is a diagnosis of exclusion meaning they run every possible test they can, and if you come back clear for those tests for other diagnoses, and if you pass certain "touch and symptom tests" run for fibro, you get the diagnosis. The only meds on the market now for fibro are cymbalta, lyrica, some other antidepressants, some anti seizure meds, and some anti psychotic meds since they're finding that lower serotonin levels and other off balances of brain and pain chemicals are to blame for the symptoms. From my research, most patients prescribed these meds find minimal relief for pain and other symptoms. 

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• wamam027 member

  February 2016

  @mommylady713 fighting depression is a huge part that comes with the diagnosis. My best advice is that it's not the end of the world and you CAN live your life and be a wonderful parent while dealing with this condition, it simply requires doing things differently than most and that is perfectly ok. Once I got the diagnosis, I had to 100% go through the entire grieving process of losing my life's expectations and making new expectations for my life in every aspect. I had to give up my job, my education, my dreams for my career, my dreams for the type of wife and mother I wanted to be, and had to make new expectations. There are chronic pain support groups that I highly recommend you looking up in your area. These groups consist of people dealing with similar struggles and they share what methods or treatment have worked or haven't worked for them, and it's just really nice being able to form a bond with people dealing with the same things. They have support groups for spouses for most areas as well. Just know that grieving is 100% normal, as long as you do it in a healthy manner. Your life is not over and as hard as it is to accept, you are blessed moreso than many. Every day I try to remind myself that even with this diagnosis, I'm lucky and blessed in so many ways. 
  

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• KaKip member

  February 2016

  @ncm0328 , I'm so impressed by your endurance and fortitude. You must be a pretty tough person! Thanks for sharing your story and experiences with us.
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• wamam027 member

  February 2016

  @KaKip thank you! It takes a tough person to deal with a diagnosis of any sorts from the rheumatic/autoimmune family, I'm sure of that. And unfortunately, when you've got one, you've got two or more. I've had Hashimotos Thyroiditis for 9 years, then fibro came later. I'm always happy to share what knowledge/experience I've got with others, I know that without the knowledge and experience shared by others with me, I'd be in a much different place! 
  

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