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Suggest Alternative Medication For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Question: good afternoon and thank you for help:
I am a 42 y.o female. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I also have bipolar II. Wellbutrin does not help my fatigue. I am too exhausted to function. After a restless night of sleep on 200 mg of trazadone (klonopin works better), I wake up too exhausted to do anything. I am unable to work or exercise beyond cleaning the home. I keep the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet and no alcohol. I saw a new PCP yesterday and I am deeply disappointed that she showed NO compassion and no eye contact when I told her about how difficult this disease is. This disease is the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me. I've been dealing with this disease for about 16 years and unfortunately, it is not going away. I was doing some research online and found that thyroid medication can be prescribed and even though the thyroid panel may look correct. That was another frustration in this new doctor. She refused to help me in any way. She refuses to put me on thyroid medication. I cannot function without energy. Do I see a doctor that practices integrative medicine, a better psychiatrist, or an endocrinologist? How can I get a doctor to even care or to help me? Thank you so much. I don't want to live, but i'm not suicidal.
I am a 42 y.o female. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. I also have bipolar II. Wellbutrin does not help my fatigue. I am too exhausted to function. After a restless night of sleep on 200 mg of trazadone (klonopin works better), I wake up too exhausted to do anything. I am unable to work or exercise beyond cleaning the home. I keep the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet and no alcohol. I saw a new PCP yesterday and I am deeply disappointed that she showed NO compassion and no eye contact when I told her about how difficult this disease is. This disease is the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me. I've been dealing with this disease for about 16 years and unfortunately, it is not going away. I was doing some research online and found that thyroid medication can be prescribed and even though the thyroid panel may look correct. That was another frustration in this new doctor. She refused to help me in any way. She refuses to put me on thyroid medication. I cannot function without energy. Do I see a doctor that practices integrative medicine, a better psychiatrist, or an endocrinologist? How can I get a doctor to even care or to help me? Thank you so much. I don't want to live, but i'm not suicidal.
Brief Answer:
check diet; try relaxation, duloxetine & get tests
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
After reading your query I have come to know some basic problems in your case and will try to tell them to you.
I hope they will help you in getting better.
1. Stop caffiene. I know it helps you to keep awake but trust me an apple or its juice or simple walk or a fresh water bath will do it better! Caffiene helps you in short run but after the levels go down in body- it gives dullness more than before and even sometimes anxiety...
2. Try more salad and green veggies in diet. Cut down in sugar and take more complex carbohydrates..it will help both your body and mind and even pain symptoms somewhere.
3. Include more nuts and beans in your diet.
4. Everyone needs some inspiration...please get one- it can be soemone successful whom you like or may be a star or some player..stick its photo where you get to see it manytimes during the day.
5. Now medicines- wellbutrin is fine but duloxetine is more helpful in pain symptoms. So, if you can further raise wellbutrin its ok...else shifting to duloxetine may be tried.
6. Trazodone is good for sleep but it hardly gives refreshing sleep to many. I think you may try zolpidem 12.5mg ( discuss to your doctor). It is a sleep inducer and gives a simple dreamless and refreshing sleep to most people. Not addictive compared to others and effective.
7. Thryoid ,lithium , tricyclic antidepressants and some other drugs are recommended in resistant cases. You may try it but it will be better to try if only one drug can be of help. Adding taineptin can also be useful.
8. The most important thing is relaxation. This can help you a lot. Pacticing deep relaxed breathing can help almost anything in some way. It can even bring up your pain tolerance level of fibromyalgia. You can practice it after learning from some one. Or search the video on net and do it...
the catch here is dont sleep after doing it and feel the relaxation.
9. If your doctor dosent want to give you thyroid then ask him to atlest write you tests of thyroid antibodies and tsh. If they come high- then she or he can add thyroid to your current drug regimn without any issues.
10. Chronic fatigue can also be managed with modafinil- an awakening drug. It is taken in morning or afternoon before 4pm. It is effective . Talk to your team about it.
I hope the reply helps you in getting beter.
Wish you good luck and speedy recovery!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
check diet; try relaxation, duloxetine & get tests
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
After reading your query I have come to know some basic problems in your case and will try to tell them to you.
I hope they will help you in getting better.
1. Stop caffiene. I know it helps you to keep awake but trust me an apple or its juice or simple walk or a fresh water bath will do it better! Caffiene helps you in short run but after the levels go down in body- it gives dullness more than before and even sometimes anxiety...
2. Try more salad and green veggies in diet. Cut down in sugar and take more complex carbohydrates..it will help both your body and mind and even pain symptoms somewhere.
3. Include more nuts and beans in your diet.
4. Everyone needs some inspiration...please get one- it can be soemone successful whom you like or may be a star or some player..stick its photo where you get to see it manytimes during the day.
5. Now medicines- wellbutrin is fine but duloxetine is more helpful in pain symptoms. So, if you can further raise wellbutrin its ok...else shifting to duloxetine may be tried.
6. Trazodone is good for sleep but it hardly gives refreshing sleep to many. I think you may try zolpidem 12.5mg ( discuss to your doctor). It is a sleep inducer and gives a simple dreamless and refreshing sleep to most people. Not addictive compared to others and effective.
7. Thryoid ,lithium , tricyclic antidepressants and some other drugs are recommended in resistant cases. You may try it but it will be better to try if only one drug can be of help. Adding taineptin can also be useful.
8. The most important thing is relaxation. This can help you a lot. Pacticing deep relaxed breathing can help almost anything in some way. It can even bring up your pain tolerance level of fibromyalgia. You can practice it after learning from some one. Or search the video on net and do it...
the catch here is dont sleep after doing it and feel the relaxation.
9. If your doctor dosent want to give you thyroid then ask him to atlest write you tests of thyroid antibodies and tsh. If they come high- then she or he can add thyroid to your current drug regimn without any issues.
10. Chronic fatigue can also be managed with modafinil- an awakening drug. It is taken in morning or afternoon before 4pm. It is effective . Talk to your team about it.
I hope the reply helps you in getting beter.
Wish you good luck and speedy recovery!
Dr. Manisha Gopal
MD Neuropsychiatry
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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