Hi, I'm Dave a 53 year old man, who people say, looks like I'm 43, but I feel like I'm 73. Pain and fatigue have been plageing me for years.

I live in Denver, CO. I'm originally from Wisconsin. I spent 6 years in Germany. Music is my passion and I go to many shows. I enjoy a very large variety of music. I love to discover new music. I like to try new food and see new places. I'm going to China for 3 weeks in October wich is a life long dream of mine.

I've posted most of this bio on other threads but this look like a good place to introduce myself. I'm new so I don't have any idea how often people post or respond to posts. That's why I kind of duplicated much of the same stuff on different posts. I'm kind of eager to talk with someone about this medical stuff.

I started having problems about 12 years ago and the last 5 have been awful. The worst is not knowing what the hell is wrong with me or what causes it. I've had problems with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, stiffness and severe fatigue. After all these years I'm fairly sure it's Fibromyalgia. I've suspected Lupos, Arthritus, or just being crazy amongst other things in the past. I was in the Army and eventually was kicked out in 2004 after 13 years because of my medical problems. I do receive benefits.

Anyway, I have been taking Gabapentin for about 2 years. I just got a persciption for Lyrica today. I'm supposed to stop my 1200mg 3xday and start my Lyrica (don't have my dosage available now) tomorrow. I hope it helps. I never noticed much improvement with the Gabapentin, only some mild but bad side effects.

I also take Tramadol 50mg 3xday, Celebrex 200mg 1xday, Hydrocodone 10mg 3xday, and Cymbalta 60mg 2xday.

I would like to talk to other people who have had similar problems and to people with advise. I understand that Fibromyalgia is more common amoung women than men. That's good for me because I like to talk to women more than men anyway.

I have also been reading about Low Dose Naltrexon (LDN) and it's benefits for my symptoms. Has anyone tried it or know anything about it?

Hi Dave and welcome to NeuroTalk. I see you have located the forums that are relavent to your health problems. These forums are wonderful for making friends, exchanging information and finding support. I'm glad you've joined us.

Just curious....do you like to fish or to eat fish?

Hi Dave and welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry about all the pain you're experiencing.

I have MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and have been taking LDN for several years now. It's helped me tremendously. Here is a good website to learn more about it in case you haven't seen in yet. www.lowdosenaltrexone.org. Since you take numerous other meds you'd need to check and make sure that they won't interact negatively with LDN before you start taking it.

Since I've been taking it I've stopped using all other meds except my HBP med and my thyroid med. No more Baclofen for spasticity pain, no more Gabapentin for nerve pain. Usually I just take Aleve if I have any aches or pains and that takes care of it. But, everyone is different so you'll have to find the happy medium for you specifically.

I've started taking a multi-vitamin regimin along with a big dose of Vitamin D3 and I believe that, in combination with the LDN, is the magic bullet for me.

Good luck with your research and if you need any further information please let me know. I'll be happy to help in any way I can!

I really think LDN is something I should try right away. I have read about it and find that it should not react with my other meds, Except my hydracodone which they say should not be in my system when I take the LDN. I don't use hydracodone all the time. If I did take it in the late morning and not take anymore the rest of the day it should not interfeer with the LDN. If the LDN works I won't have to use the hydracodone anymore.
My doctor won't perscribe it for Fibromyalgia so I'll have to go to a doctor and pretend I have a drinking problem so he'll perscribe Naltrexone. Then I can break it down to smaller doses to take for my pain.
I see that the small dose is safe and has vertually no side effects so I don't feel that there is a problem doing this on my own. If it helps I am saved if not there's no harm done.
Thanks Kitty for writing. I'm glad you found something that works for you. It is so dificult to deal with pain and not know what to do about it.

Nice to be aboard.
About "davelikesfish". I like to look at them swimming, I like to go fishing and I like to eat them. Fish are just awesome. In China the fish represents wealth and prosperity because the actual word in Chinese for fish also translates to “abundance”.

Hi Dave,
I just wanted to say Welcome to Neurotalk. We have lots of great people here that will try to help you as best we can.

Just a thought. When you stop Neurontin you should wean off it slowly before going on Lyrica. Did your doctor mention this? They are similar but not the same. You could have some not so nice withdrawals from the Neurontin.

Maybe call your doctor to re-check the information. Your PCP could prescribe Low Dose Natrexone and mail to Skip's Pharmacy.

You could get the 50 mg pill and try to add 50 ozs of distilled water and take 3.0 mg or 4.5 mg with a measure dropper. If you say you are and alcoholic they get up to 100 to 300 mg and are monitored for drug and alcohol abuse.

That much medication will not do what you need. That high dosage does not work for purposes intended of LDN.
Nice to meet you.
I am on the MS forum like Kitty if you need more information.

Hi dave, glad to meet you. I am new to the list, just a few days. I am 58 with secere DDD and DJD. I suffer pain too. I could not take gabapentin, i got so angry and out of sorts, just awful. I hope that your meds work for you. I face a new neuro on tuesday, major degeneration, thats why I was looking for this list. needed support. my name is ginnie, I live in Florida 127 steps to the beach. I can't make it there much anymore. hope to hear more about you and members as much as I can.

Hi Dave, I live in Wis. close to Green Bay. Where did you live? I have Parkinsons disease. I take Gabapentin for restless legs. I also take carbidopa levodopa for Parkinsons along with Tasmar. I also take Toprol XL, and zoloft for depression. Zoloft doesn't seem to be doing anything so I'm going to also try Vitamin D. I too take hydrocodone for pain. I've had my right hip replaced 3 times, left shoulder and left knee replaced 5 years ago.
I hope you find out whats wrong with you soon. It's the not knowing and the looks people give you when you say you don't know what's wrong. As if you are just looking for attention. Good Luck to you

Caz

Hi I'm from Wisconsin too. Grew up in Watertown.
Pain all the time is hard. It makes me angry, frustrated, sad and tired. Many times I just want to give up. No one around me seems to understand. The doctors don't seem to care at all. Everytime you mention pain to them they just give you that quick brush off. Like "Yeah, yeah ,yeah, shut up I don't care, Everybody has pain".

People can be cruel when they don't understand. That look you get when you tell people you don't know what's wrong with you. That's for sure a good example and hard thing to explain.
People are so superstitious too. Like most people think if your sick it's because you deserve it somehow. Either your just weak or you did something bad.
Or they think I'm only trying to get attention. If all I want is attention I'll pull down my pant's on a bizzy intersection. That should get me plenty of attention.