Fibromyalgia and Big Pharma
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia well over a decade ago. I’ve been on Cymbalta for much of the duration for the fibro & depression. I’ve stopped taking it, fallen very ill, began taking it again because if it makes me that sick to stop then it must be working, right? This became a repetitive cycle.
I’ve been prescribed muscle relaxers short term, but at the early stages pain medications weren’t discussed. My weight has fluctuated over the years making it more difficult to move around carrying the extra weight. At one point I went to my Dr in tears, asking what more can I do? He referred me to a pain management specialist. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was so in the dark I thought we’d be discussing some kind of special yoga, stretching and maybe a muscle relaxer or something to help get me started in some kind of activities.
I walked into the office. I waited in the room for the Dr. The man came in, took a seat and said, “So you say you have fibromyalgia is it?” “Yes, sir.” He made a noise that could have been a cough; could have been a chuckle and said, “You know fibromyalgia is caused by sexual abuse as a child – are you seeing a psychologist?”
My heart dropped to the floor. I couldn’t speak. “I’m not going to prescribe you morphine.” he said and this time it was w/ a laugh. “But, but – I don’t want morphine! I thought you referred people to yoga or helped find ways to alleviate the pain – I don’t need a drip!” I stuttered
“I already said I’m not going to prescribe you morphine and we don’t schedule your appointments for you.” he laughed. By this time I wasn’t just confused I was crying. “What appointments?” “Look, if you want to do yoga you do yoga we do not sign you up for anything like that.” He walked out of the room laughing.
He came back shortly w/ what looked like 2 large bandages. He handed them to me along w/ a prescription and said if it really hurts stick one of these in the area and get yourself a counselor to talk to.”
I walked out of that office crying and never went back. I don’t remember what kind of patches they were but a week later I called the office and advised the nurse that I wasn’t going to fill the rx and did they want me to bring the script back into the office. “Oh no, you can just throw that away.”
So that was my early experience w/ a pain management specialist. No, I wasn’t prepared and I obviously didn’t know what I was walking into. After awhile I tried some yoga, tried acupuncture and eventually got myself walking. Not far at 1st but I began to lose some weight.
A few years ago I dislocated my shoulder and had a SLAP tear. It was a bit painful. I waited a week to go to see a Dr. I may have fibromyalgia but I also have a very high pain tolerance at times. By the time I went to the hospital I was white as a sheet and my arm had been hanging low at my side for a week.
They did Xrays, prescribed some hydrocodone & told me to make an appointment because I would need surgery. I went to the initial appointment, scheduled the surgery, later cancelled the surgery, rescheduled again and eventually had the surgery. I was on pain pills during this time. I was prescribed oxycodone, percocet and then hydrocodone at this time as I didn’t take well to the oxy or percocet. After healing time and physical therapy I went back once or twice for a cortisone shot but that was it.
Over the years my fibro has gotten worse. The shoulder, of course. I lost quite a bit of weight then I gained it back + some. I’m still not on any pain medication. I take Gabapentin for the nerve pain. At first I thought it was a miracle, then the side effects. Tolerance, upping dosage. The “cymbalta cycle” for nerve pain.
I realize that I’m lucky. I’m in pain and things are getting worse but my fear is for those out there that rely on Big Pharma medications legally prescribed by their doctors to help w/ pain. Once you get used to these medications you become dependent and it’s not your fault – this is what the government gives us as options. Yes – there are addicts. There are people that go to the dr looking for medication for the sole purpose of getting high. Knowing this – isn’t the government encouraging this by making these types of medications the only “medicinal options” for pain??
I think we are all aware enough by now to know that it was the government that put crack on the streets – to bury communities, cause addiction and make money via their privatized prison systems. Oxycodone is synthetic heroin. Let me say that again, Oxycodone – a legally prescribed medication – is synthetic heroin.
The government has been taking advantage of people in pain by giving monetary kickbacks to the Doctors prescribing to get more people on these medications, causing more addiction and addiction seeking behavior in some cases. We weren’t taught to question the Drs. I’m lucky to have a very good general practitioner that works with me – and he’s not prescribing legal heroin either.
Drs have always received kickbacks for prescribing certain medications. Newer medications. Ever notice the pens, pads of paper, clips, coffee mugs etc – all advertising for us, the patients. Seen any commercials lately about this “great new medication” with the side effects running in small print quickly up the screen and the statement at the bottom that “these results are not typical … talk to your dr”. What about all the commercials now about lawsuits for these same medications that years ago were advertised, prescribed and caused death or irreversible damage to people?
Remember when alcohol was prohibited? The government made money when they caught the bootleggers. Why was alcohol legalized? Hmm. How much money is made by the government from taxes to jail time; treatment centers etc. Some people are turning to marijuana instead of narcotics to deal with pain. As of today, I’m not aware of anyone that has ever died from marijuana. The main reason most states that don’t legalize marijuana is because they are making so money off the privatized prison systems and would lose so much money on their “legal heroin”. This is ridiculous.
Speaking of medications – have you ever noticed how many medications for depression have the side effect of suicidal thoughts? Seriously. Take a person already depressed, give them a medication & when they pick it up at the pharmacy IF they bother to read the inserts one of the 1st side effects to “report to your dr” is suicidal thoughts. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I have dysthymic depression. It’s been going on for a loooong time. I’d been on practically every antidepressant out there prior to beginning cymbalta. Whatever your thoughts, when you’re depressed & it gets worse – for myself calling the Dr was the last thing I ever wanted to do.
I did my research. As many times as I’ve done the cymbalta cycle at this point I’m pretty sure the only reason I continue to take it is because the withdrawal is so bad. I can tell the difference between regular depression & what I refer to as cymbalta depression. There is definitely a difference.
I’ve been told by my Drs that between my cymbalta, gabapentin and high blood pressure medication that my eyesight can be affected. The other day I was surprised by how clear I could see. By afternoon my vision was back to blurry. I’ve had glasses since I was a kid and wear contacts now. When I go in for my yearly eye exam the results are different every single time. Sometimes just a bit; other times more so.
I’ve read of terrible things that the most popularly prescribed for fibromyalgia – cymbalta and lyrica- cause long term damage to the way the brain works. We already have fibro brain fog – why should the medications for the illness add to the symptoms??
I’m tired of being pushed around by the medicinal options afforded to us by the government. They get paid on every aspect while we suffer. I’m grateful not to be on pain meds, but just the combo I have gives me grief. I am worried for those that depend on the medication prescribed by their doctors, that they take in good faith. What will happen now as Drs are prescribing less as it’s being talked about the fact that oxycodone is synthetic heroin? That the muscle relaxer flexeril has caused many deaths; I’ve taken this before – not for an extended period of time but we have no way of knowing that the next big medication on the market isn’t going to end up in the same category as the majority have.
Oh wait, we’ve got the experience and a better understanding of the what & how this is happening, why, who’s creating this cycle and when it will stop we can only answer individually ourselves. It won’t be easy; but there is motivation in being lied to by Big Pharma, seeing the pharmaceutical cycle and working together to find more natural ways to help with our pain. We cannot depend on the government to solve this – they created it.
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