How Long Opiods Can Be Used For Fibromyalgia?

Question: Hello, I am 45 yr. female. Was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease. Since then, I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, as I literally have extreme pain from top of head to bottom of feet..unable to sit for more than 10 min. Pain goes from 3-10 depending on day/time. My PCP has me on 15 mg. oxycodone 4 times a day and a muscle relaxer. I do not take the whole 15 mg. pill at one time, as I have to break them in half so that I can have almost a "continuous" relief from pain. My pain is VERY extensive. I have a disabled husband and son and a 15 year old..and I am the only one that can drive to get groceries, etc. My pcp is forcing me to go to pain management, which when I went about a year ago, was a horrible experience, and I feel that my pcp should be able to take care of my needs..since she is doing so for my husband's pain meds as well. I asked her why she is insisting for me to go to pain management and she won't give me an honest answer. Apparently it's for liability reasons. I have never used drugs nor ever had a bad urine test. I don't know what to do at this point?? My family relies on me..and yes, I have tried physical therapy. And majority of pain is in muscles/nerves. There is a new "self-pay" pain clinic in area, but I don't want to be accused of "doctor shopping"..Please help. I would in no way possible be able to handle this type of pain without medication. NOTE: I have tried extensively to obtain referrals from my pcp to get diagnosis for continual systemic yeast, but she refuses to do so..

I am unable to take anti-depressants and Lyrica. I have researched everything that can be done for this. But the most important thing is, I don't understand why my pcp won't address the problem that is causing all of these symptoms..which is candida, all over and inside my body. She has tried numerous anti-fungals but I still have candida. She will not offer me a referral for a specialist and she will only give me "enough" Fluconazole to keep me from dying. I am just having a hard time understanding this. Thank you!

The candida started soon after the Lyme and RMSF. I have had it continuously in my mouth and throat. I have had it in fingernails and toenails. I have had vaginal candida continuously, and you can smell it coming from every pore in my body. It is around my anus, and my scalp itches continuously. My hair has fallen out greatly. It is also in the corner of my left eye..I am sure I am unable to list all of the locations. But it is destroying my life. The thrush in my mouth is so horrible, and has been there for 2 years or more and 3 antifungals will not cure it...she just refuses to send me to a specialist to get a true diagnosis and treatment.

This is what I don't understand as well...she will not perform "cultures", and it is obviously a huge problem! It is affecting my brain as well. But she will not give me cultures or a referral to a specialist that would be able to perform these cultures. I am getting so very depressed because of this.

Thank you so much for your responses and I understand that this is difficult for you being that you have not had a chance to examine me. But I can tell you this.. the doctors and specialists are diagnosing me with "fibromyalgia". I do not believe in such a diagnosis. I believe that this is just a diagnosis that a physician gives when they cannot or will not make a correct diagnosis.

As far as the cultures are concerned, I live in a very rural area, and the closest doctor is 30 minutes away. Apparently they haven't the ability to take cultures..don't know if it is from not having the proper equipment or whether they are just ignorant. But I am starting to wonder if there is a reason why my doctor doesn't want to send me to an infectious disease specialist, especially because I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever in the last two years.

Would you have any insight on WHY my physician continually refuses to refer me to a specialist whom can perform these cultures properly?

Oh, I almost always have a low grade temp. of 100.1 or so...my blood pressure drops VERY low every few weeks. I wake up in sweats, and of course I am in immense pain even on potent pain meds.

And not sure where you are from, but in the US, you cannot just go to a lab to be cultured and you cannot see a specialist without a primary doc's approval.

I understand what you are saying about the fungus being localized, BUT I am sure you know that the yeast can get into the muscles and nerves and brain as well, which is where I am having all of my problems.

Thank you!