Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

First off, thank you all for your quick & helpful responses�I'm sorry I didn't respond as efficiently, but I am very appreciative of everyone's support!

As for meds -- I am taking Elavil for sleep right now, and it's knocking me out pretty good. However, I still wake up constantly throughout the night (sometimes gasping for breath, with this weird sucking in snort thing�it scares the dickens out of me!)�which is probably due to sleep apnea, as that runs in my family. Has anyone here had to deal with that? I am afraid of going off the Elavil, since I wasn't able to fall asleep AT ALL before it, and am assuming the meds will only make it harder to sleep on my own�But I don't like how completely groggy it makes me feel throughout most of the day�by the time I start to feel 'alive', and normal, its bedtime and I have to calm myself down again!

I'm starting to see physical therapy and have slowly reintroduced exercise into my schedule � though swimming feels like I'm lifting a couple of cinder blocks over my head with each stroke. And the shooting pains down my arms and legs usually cut my sessions short. *Sigh*, what happened to the days when my lung capacity was the determining factor???

Also, I am supposed to see counseling/psych, but there are no appointments available at the school's center for another 2-3 weeks�.It's that crazy time of year when students are stressing out and trying to drop out of classes, which they need a counselor's approval to do�I'm already starting to feel LOADS better now that I've started getting some rest (not the most peaceful sleep, but at least I can THINK POSITIVELY now!)

Ruchie � thanks for the fibro frog fighter

I have posted my email addy now, so feel free to email whenever. I'll definitely look into the magnesium malate as a sleeping aid�and ((((hugs)))) back!

Tissy � you are right, I am in the middle of the worst flare-up I have ever had! Which is probably why the doctors have just finally diagnosed the fibro. And with a mild case, do you ever find that people treat you as though you can't possibly have anything wrong with you, since you do have good days where you "appear" normal?? I'm getting that from everyone who has seen me in my better days�I get the idea that they think I'm making this up for attention, or a way out of my work. If only!

LS, you should write a self-help book for fibro! You definitely have a way with words! It's so nice to talk to others with fibro, because they talk as though they were living in my body�.and truly understand what I'm going through. Thanks for all of the info on the meds � I'll ask my doctor about Ultram.

Linz � you are right about the anti-inflammatory, i'm not sure the naproxen is working at this point�and I did not like the weird chest pains I was getting as a side effect. For now, I'm using Tylenol and the elavil� And what is Celexa? And thanks for the tip on Mark Pellegrino, I was going to ask if anyone recommended any books to start out with.

Thanks again to everyone! And {{gentle hugs}} to all!
-Heather

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Heather

"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"

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