After I started the Gabapentin over a week ago, there was immediate relief. I could press my skin in the hurt places and although it was still very painful, there was a noticeable difference. The restless legs and arms stopped, and I enjoyed the fringe benefit of getting groggy which resulted in amazing, beautiful sleep.
Then a few days ago I felt it... the dull, agonizing ache deep, deep in my arms. As I fell into sleep, there it went... jerk. My chest grew tight, the ache worsened until I had to get up.
The Gabapentin had stopped working.
I thought maybe it was a fluke so I upped my dosage the next day to three pills instead on one. This time I felt the ache in my legs and arms, and it felt like before I'd ever taken the medication... except 2x worse. The last two nights were horrible. I couldn't sleep and the pain was unbearable. I tried everything again- stretches, creams, pain patches, etc. I finally fell into slumber at 6A.M. this morning.
I feel that the Gabapentin is working for the Fibromyalgia. Not a cure, but it's a definite improvement, but for the restless legs it is not. I am very frustrated. I never thought I would ever say that I would prefer the pain of Fibromyalgia to restless legs and arms. I think that is because the Fibromyalgia changes up- the pain is never the same or in the same place. With RLS it's like being tortured. Imagine how aggravating it is every morning when your alarm goes off. That's what restless legs is like, except instead of a blaring noise, you have blaring pain snapping you back to reality as you drift off into dreamland, not to mention that it doesn't go away during the day. Luckily I have a follow-up appointment on October 3rd, so I hope we can figure something out. I do notice when I take Hydrocodone it does help with the restless legs syndrome. I'm not entirely sure why. I don't have many of these pain pills. Doctors are so hesitant to prescribe them, as if we are junkies. It's absurd.
The bonus is that I have started going on daily walks again around the block. It's only half a mile, but it's a wonderful feeling to be able to move my body. There is pain involved, and the Fibromyalgia is complaining, but so far I have been able to tolerate it, and I hope it lasts. I have missed regular exercise so very much.
This picture is from tonight after the walk. I feel refreshed!
I hope all of you are having a great weekend!
P.S. If you haven't tried the pumpkin spice latte (decaf & soy) at Starbucks I would so recommend that you do. It's my new crush!
