Any advice for me? Recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  

I have fibromyalgia also.I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago after two weeks of agonizing pain that I thought was the flu.The things I have found that help best are lots of water to drink,acupuncture at a chiropractor,swimming, cutting down on (out if you can) sweets and foods like pasta,breads and potatoes.I wouldn't recommend any prescription drugs.Try a supplement that is for before, during and after menopause.Even if are not dealing with perimenopause,menopause,or postmenopause,you can still take these supplements.I get the equate brand from Walmart,called Estroplus.They are in the aisle with vitamins.The less stress in your life the better you will feel too.Do online research also.I wish you the best of luck.
Stephanie

Well, I really don't have anything different. The Ultram and heating pads have worked for me too.. I have never tried Lidoderm. I have thought about asking for it, but it took me forever to get ultram added to my list of meds...takes awhile for them to get them to come around here. I have tried physical therapy too. I always left in more pain than where I started.

I really wish someone could come up with something that would help us.

Hi Pam3636,
I was diagnosed about twenty years ogo when it was new and no one really knew what it was.I went to doctors for a number of years prior to diagnosis being treated for everything from strains to water on joints.
I've tried an assortment of therapies and what I am taking now is working.I take 2 different antidepressants for sleep therapy and I take hydrocodone everyday.Some times I also take muscle relaxants.
Since you are new to it I would try to go as long as possible without pain meds of any kind.I took nothing first the first few years,then took,aspirin,motrim,etc for about 8 years then went up to ultram and finally to hydrocodone.
Neurontin was really bad for me because I had very bad memory laspses with it and would get lost.Hot tub works some.Physical therapy made it worst until I found a therapist that did reiki,massage,myofacial,accupressure.All of these things helped.
I was on all kind of diets and like everything else anything that did work only did for a while then back to the drawing board.
Best advice I can give is get lots of rest,learn right now how to say no,and try to sidestep stress.Get as much material as you can to educate the people you are around so they can be supportative,you're going to need it.
Good luck and if I can help in any way just ask.
Raydene

Just out of curiosity, why are you not sure if its the right diagnosis? I'm just wondering because I have some friends who are pretty sure I have it but I've not talked to the doc about it yet....I have a family memeber who has it but she also has some other serious health problems so she's very limited as to what she is even able to try really..

diagnosed after just 2 years! you lucky pup! I suffered for YEARS before I found a book & took it to the doctor who finally sent me to the right doctor to get a diagnoses. I'm still in lots of pain since I have lost so much ground from the pain for all those years without the correct help

The first doctor that diagnosed me said, "Exercise and in six months you will be better." What a crock! However, exercise is very important. You need to keep your muscles from tightening up; you need to keep your cardiovascular system going too. I have had fibromyalgia for 11 years. Only the last 5 have been better for me since I started walking. I started slowly. Don't push yourself! If you can only walk to the end of your driveway and back up, then start that way and slowly increase it. I walk over 3 miles every day. My legs hurt at night but, heck, they are going to hurt anyway so I have nothing to lose. I may hurt while I am walking so I slow down. The pain eases and then I can pick up speed again.

Something else I have been doing for the last 5 years is taking Mag-Citrate. It is a combination of Magnesium and Malic Acid and is a MUST for fibromites. I went off it when the three stores in our town that carried it ran out and my pain immediately increased. I take 3 of these a day (250 mg). Magnesium alone assists in over 300 bodily functions so is imperative.

To prove my point, I was taking 6-8 Tylenol 3's a day for the first five years of my illness. I have now reduced that to 1-3 a day.

I hope you find some of this information helpful.