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I don't know your hearing situation, so I don't know if this would be helpful or not... There's an implant called a Baja that my Dad has because he lost total hearing in one ear. Might be worth checking out. I think the company that owns the cochlear implant bought out the company making the Baja, so its name may have changed. Dad also said there's something new being designed that uses the teeth to pick up sound vibrations. But since I don't know your situation, I don't know if this is helpful.View Thread


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Here's the longer version of my situation (I'm on a laptop rather than using the on-screen keyboard of my tablet, so I can type more before giving up). Oh, please pardon typos, etc. I can't see the font very well on my laptop.
I've been going through some pretty involved efforts to find the right medicine cocktail for my situation for the last couple of years. I had been coping for years with depression, fibro, and cfs, but when I hit hormonal changes mid-life, I ended up a physical and mental wreck. I've been on hormone replacement therapy for about 3 years, and am currently weaning off of it. I weaned off of Wellbutrin and Celexa late last summer and ended up wanting to be dead, so I was put on Cymbalta. Meanwhile, I had been on Lyrica for over a year and was boosted to 225 mg 2 times a day. I put on weight quickly and was seeing no pain relief. In fact, I was feeling worse. The Cymbalta saved me from wanting to kill myself, but was doing nothing for the pain. The Lyrica was making things worse. Both drugs are double-duty drugs for pain and depression. Savella is as well. They all work slightly differently and might not be listed for both conditions, but they all affect both pain and depression (in theory).
Anyway, my rhuematologist - Or rather, former rhuematologist - told me there was nothing he could do for me. Lyrica is his grand answer for fibromyalgia.
My psychiatrist, who has known me for years, ended up prescribing Lortab to help me survive the pain. And even though it just deadens the intensity of the pain, in the process it makes me able to get a little done around the house or manage to have a conversation over coffee with a friend. In other words, Lortab gave me a little quality of life back.
Then my neurologist, who is of the opinion that my chronic pain is causing my memory problems, asked me a couple of questions. Was Lyrica working? No. Was it causing weight gain? Yes. And then she said something complete unexpected - "that's unacceptable." Wow. I agree, but I never thought I'd hear that from a doctor. She then said we'd try Savella instead of the Lyrica.
Then I added in the confusion the next few days about Cymbalta, because I couldn't remember if I'd told her I was on it (I try to be totally forthcoming and transparent with my doctors, but my memory sucks). That's why I posted here and called my docs.
It's all sorted out now. I'm coming off Lyrica over two weeks, and off Cymbalta over one week. At the end of the Cymbalta I'll restart the Savella pack. I'll be careful. My DH is ready to tell me if he sees the anger popping up, or if he sees anything else that concerns him.
I'm making a bunch of changes close together. I know it isn't scientifically a good idea to make more than one change at a time, but if I did only one at a time, it would take me months or a year to phase these meds out and in. I've been on this merry-go-round long enough to have lost patience with the slower method. And I have an aggressive neurologist, thank goodness.
So out with the old and in with the new. And fingers crossed that Savella helps. Don't worry, though, I'm used to meds not working as hoped. If that's what happens, surely the doc will have another trick up her sleeve.
Oh, and yes, I take something to sleep - Restoril. And Xanax as needed for anxiety. And Singulair for allergies. And thyroid. And... I'm sure there's more. I just can't remember right now.
Oh, also, I dropped 5 pounds already, in less than a week, with the reduction in Lyrica. I decided to weigh because I realized I was peeing a lot even though I wasn't drinking that much more water than usual. Nice bonus. My clothes were all getting tight. Maybe they'll fit again.

Wish me luck, please! Thanks!! And please let me know anything else you think would be helpful or ask any other questions you have. I really appreciate the input from others that really get it!View Thread

I've talked to both doctors' offices over the last two days. My Psych told me to not take both, and therefore stop the Cymbalta. The Neuro agreed and gave me specific instructions for making the switch (thanks to fibro fog, i think i'd forgotten to tell her i was taking Cymbalta during my appointment on Wednesday). I expect I'll have a couple of rough weeks transitioning from Lyrica and Cymbalta to Savella, but I'm hopeful the changes will be worth it in the long run.
Again, thanks so much for answering my questions.
KarenView Thread

I hope we all can enjoy the holiday season without too much added pain and exhaustion.View Thread


I want so much to give in to the pain and exhaustion today and just hibernate. But I'll get my butt in gear in a little while and go to church. We have an amazingly talented trumpet player as a guest for some special music this morning, and when he plays, I close my eyes, hear the beautiful music and for a few minutes I feel no pain. It's totally worth getting out of the house today to go hear him play.
I hope you all have a beautiful Sunday.View Thread

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