The Illness Saga: Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, Savella, and Cymbalta

So, as lots of you know, I went through a bout of illness last year. I told you I'd make a video explaining, so here you go! It's really long and boring, so don't worry, I won't be offended if you don't watch it all. ;) But for those of you who wanted to know, this is for you!

Here is a link telling about fibromyalgia: http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=fibromyalgia_fmFactSheet

If you're going through withdrawal from Cymbalta, here is a site where you can see posts from others going through the same thing: http://www.cymbaltawithdrawal.com/index.php?/forum/6-what-are-you-feeling/

The photo of me as a zombie is from a photo shoot I did a couple years ago. ;)

Add me as a friend on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/theharmonyaddict

Add me on twitter! http://www.twitter.com/amytreadwell

The music in the background is from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, for those wondering! :)

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• harmonyaddict
• harmony addict
• Amy Treadwell
• fibromyalgia
• lyme disease
• cymbalta
• savella
• gluten free
• wheat free
• withdrawal symptoms
• side effects
• chronic illness
• back pain
• physical therapy

[crazyneptunecat]

I was diagnosed with Fibro when I was 15. I seem to go thru flare-ups of symptoms every few months or even years. About 4 or 5 years ago, I was going thru a cycle that was so bad I took part in a double-blind trial for Cymbalta. They had me on 120 mg/day. Helped at first for my hip + lower back trigger points + achiness. Suddenly my body was on overload + hallucinations started. Eliminating stress helps lots, as does a diet full of veg. Seriously thinking of trying a GF diet. I've read it helps.

[harmonyaddict]

@crazyneptunecat haha, of course, a diet full of veggies...ugh, why must I hate vegetables?? Guess I'll have to try and make myself eat more of them! Crazy what Cymbalta can do, isn't it? I tried the gluten free diet for over 90 days but noticed no change whatsoever. I know it seems to help some people though, so it might be worth a try for you!

[topdeeni]

I just tell people that I feel like I was beaten by 6 drunk sailors... that is what fibro feels like to me.

[harmonyaddict]

@topdeeni That's a pretty good description of what I feel like on my bad days, definitely! Thankfully I'm not someone who feels that way all the time...I know some people with the illness do. :(

[blkfrst]

pls go back to a Lyme doctor, make sure to go to a to LLMD, this sounds like classic mistreated Lyme

[blkfrst]

pls go back to a Lyme doctor, make sure to go to a to LLMD, this sounds like classic mistreated Lyme

[theegapman]

Fibromyalgia is really Lyme. There's so much mis-information out there. Many who have treated fibro for decades finally get the Lyme diagnosis... and as soon as they start treating the Lyme many of their decade long symptoms go away. The tougher ones need to be treated by treating the whole body. I've read a lot about this. Google "Fibro/CFS Lie"

[RedTheRoad]

Teasel Root TIncture,Terminalia Chebula,Vitamin C Megadoses,Sea Salt,Colloidal Silver/Gold,and Oral Charcoal=

NO MORE LYME DISEASE

God Bless

[TheEverlastingSM]

You have cronic lyme, there is no cure for it, only treatment and amelioration, please understand this, you can't say that you had lyme years ago, you still have it ! Remember, lyme is very hard to detect with blood tests, the only good way is with dark field microscopy, you should give it a try and see what is present in your blood.

[FoodOrFail]

@pink501pink The THOUSAND thumbs up on your comment. But you need to add one more to this list: Lupus. My mom had the bulls eye rash. She had LYME, but was diagnosed with Lupus.

[pink501pink]

the test to get is from Igenx out of california. they test for all the bands. other test labs do not test all the bands and when a doctor reads it, he will say you don't have it because you only have 4 bands. this is also a problem because on the test, it will say from the cdc, you must have a 5 band to be positive. this is wrong, the cdc says it is wrong. the reason it is on the test is because a 5 band must be REPORTED to the CDC. this does not mean a doctor can not treat you!.

[pink501pink]

this is so sad to hear! once you have lyme disease you will always have it! you must go back to see LLMD. you can NOT be treated for lyme for 4 wks and think it is all gone! it is not!. all the doctors will make you think that. it is not true! it is a real problem that the AMA and the CDC is not working together on this. once you control the lyme, your symptoms will go away including your fibromyalgia. people who have fibromyalgia, MS, ALS, Parkinson's Disesase should get tested for lyme disease

[MrApplewine]

A doctor gave me free samples of cymbalta and i looked it up when I got home before taking it. That is when I figured out what it was SSNRI. Basically it condoms everything. I saw the withdraw info from people and didn't take it. That is when I heard about Lyme disease and tried low dose pulsed minocyclin which 6 months in has done nothing. We need research to find out if these are symptoms of chronic Lyme disease because right now the tests may not be as simple as we thought. The IOM will rele

[buryjohnnyalive]

I hope all is well Amy or as well as they can possibly be :) good to see that your optimistic and not dwelling...its always a great thing to keep your head up. Things can only get better for you in life :D

Johnny