There is nothing easy about Fibromyalgia – but there are some ways to ease the pain , if only if it IS for just blocks at a time. The muscle pain from fibromyalgia is one of the most common types of chronic widespread pain in the U.S. It affects millions of Americans. Yet many people do not seek out the prescription assistance they need due to increasing prescription drug costs.  Many people are having great success with a integrated health approach of diet, exercise and prescription medicines such Lyrica, Cymbalta and Neurontin. RX Aid works with the drug companies to give you access to these medications.

Gentle Exercise

Studies show that strengthening exercises using free weights decrease pain and even reduce depression in people with fibromyalgia. What’s most vital with strength training is not the weight, but the range of movements you take your muscles through.  If you can’t get out of the house, find a trainer through FitOrbit or another online training source and make sure to tell them about your condition. Another option is some mild Yoga. Gaiam.com has some very good dvds- some are especially for Fibromyalgia. Basically, just moving- whether it’s Tai Chi, walking, Yoga or deep breathing is a key elements for Fibro Suffers.

Anti- Inflammatory Foods

There  is a lot of talk about  anti- inflammatory eating.  What exactly does it mean?

Prescription Options

Analgesics. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may ease the pain and stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. However, its effectiveness varies. Tramadol (Ultram) is a prescription pain reliever that may be taken with or without acetaminophen. Your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) — in conjunction with other medications. NSAIDs haven’t proved to be as effective in managing the pain in fibromyalgia when taken by themselves.

Antidepressants. Your doctor may prescribe amitriptyline to help promote sleep. Fluoxetine (Prozac) in combination with amitriptyline is effective in some people. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) may help ease the pain and fatigue associated with fibromyalgia. And milnacipran (Savella) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of fibromyalgia symptoms.

Anti-seizure drugs. Medications designed to treat epilepsy are often useful in reducing certain types of pain. Gabapentin (Neurontin) is sometimes helpful in reducing fibromyalgia symptoms, while pregabalin (Lyrica) is the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat fibromyalgia

Organizations such as Fibro Together and  National Fibromyalgia Association can  also help with up to date medical information and support.  No one should be without the medication for a happy, healthy life.  We can help you obtain the prescription you need without the paperwork hassle.  Get the prescriptions you thought you could never afford.

Kids need their parents to be happy and healthy.

Special thanks to Mel Majoros from the The Cancer Warrior , Angella Hamilton from Inner Tough Girls and Empower Radio for hosting the podcast on cancer Survivorship and the ways RX Aid can help.

RX Aid will always give you the most up to date information on health and wellness.

Join us on Facebook to ask questions, share a story or share a tips that has helped you in your journey to wellness.

RX Aid is a prescription assistance company helping you get the medicine you need. We take the stress out of paperwork so you can concentrate on staying healthy. We are patient advocates continuously searching for the best programs and most up to date information so you don’t have to.

Cervical Cancer Can Be Prevented

Whether you believe in the HPV Vaccine or not, one thing about the cervical cancer commercials during the airing of the Academy Awards will hopefully mean more women get screened for cervical cancer. Knowing the risks and ways to prevent cervical cancer is part of the battle.

There is heavy controversy around the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline, but regular PAP smears and using condoms can play major factors in cervical cancer prevention.

While the HPV infection is a necessary cause of cervical cancer, the following risk factors also may contribute to cervical cancer progression:

Sexual activity at a young age

Other sexually transmitted infections (e.g., HIV and chlamydia)

RX Aid supports women in the journey of a healthy lifestyle. If you need help quitting smoking, please contact us for prescription help.

Other Related Articles :
Ten Signs Women Should Know

Partnership to End Cervical Cancer

Question and Answers About Cervical Cancer

John’s Hopkins Center has released the difference between having ‘senior moments’ and the early signs of dementia. People who actually have the signs of dementia will not recognize it themselves. it is up to family and friends to take notice and get help. There is help available, but many people will not seek it out themselves. They are unable or unwilling to deal with the diagnosis.

The (FDA) has approved two types of medications to treat cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. These drugs affect the activity of two different chemicals involved in carrying messages between the brain’s nerve cells.

1. Cholinesterase (KOH-luh-NES-ter-ays) inhibitors prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine (a-SEA-til-KOH-lean), a chemical messenger important for learning and memory.

These drugs:

Support communication among nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels high.
On average, delay worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months for about half the people who take them. Some experts believe a small percentage of people may benefit more dramatically.

Three cholinesterase inhibitors are commonly prescribed:

Donepezil (Aricept), approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Rivastigmine (Exelon), approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Galantamine (Razadyne), approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
2. Memantine (Namenda) works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a different messenger chemical involved in learning and memory.

Memantine:

Was approved in 2003 for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease. Is currently the only drug of its type approved to treat Alzheimer’s. Temporarily delays worsening of symptoms for some people.

If you think a loved one might have early signs of dementia, seek help as soon as possible. Do not delay in getting the help you need. RX Aid can help you with the prescription paperwork so you will not be denied the assistance you or a loved one needs.

The 10 Signs of Early Dementia

John Hopkin’s Guide to Dementia

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“In Centerville, Ohio when the snow really falls and the elderly
still living in the privacy of their own homes are not able to shovel
their driveways , many call a number that notifies men and women that their
snow shovels are needed. So, out of the goodness of their hearts these men
and women show up at the homes of elderly and freely shovel their driveways.
There is only one problem, often the good people are busy and are not able
to be there when ALWAYS needed. Also, you cannot expect the ‘best’ snow
shovel job as it is being done freely! Hence, the elderly might do well to
hire and pay someone (a professional agency) to make sure their drives are
ALWAYS shoveled and shoveled properly. This is all very similar to the
prescription assistance business. If you want something done right and done
well….well, it might cost you a couple of dollars. “

Then I asked about the Doctors. Couldn’t they help people get the prescriptions they needed? I answered my question when I thought about my experience with Doctor’s visits. When was the last time my Doctor offered  help ( voluntarily ) with prescription assistance ? In reality, doctors offices do not want to be involved in prescription assistance because it takes TOO MUCH TIME and they receive NO COMPENSATION! Fair enough.  They have to make a living. They could give it to their office staff to help with- they could even hire a specialist to work on it- but more than likely, it would not be $20.00. After all, isn’t that the same amount as your co-pay for an office visit?

I started to get the picture. I had the answers I needed about why people had to spend a little money to make sure their prescriptions were being taken care of  with no interruption of delivery.  My decision to come on board had been solidified, but I needed to run to an appointment with my tax man. Yes, the same tax man I pay money to make sure I get the most refund and no audit from the IRS. I mean, it would take me half the year to fill out the paperwork correctly. I wish he only charged me twenty bucks!

Seasonal Affected Disorder is real. Yes, you should get outside. Yes, you should exercise and eat healthy. But if those things should fail- get help sooner rather than later. Most anti depressants take a few weeks  to notice a difference.

Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Lexapro and Effexor can cost on average $200- $400 per month. You should  get the medicine you need. We can help.

Have you suffered from SAD and tried everything ‘under the sun’?

What helped? What was hype?

You can find out more about Seasonal Affected Disorder at the Mayo Clinic

** This blog is for informational purposes and not intended as medical advice. Please see a licensed professional for a medical diagnosis.

CNN’s Top Empowered Patient Tips For 2010 states “Being an empowered patient means doing more than the bare minimum. It means taking an active part in your own health care.”

The help is out there.  RXAid is here to help, other patient advocates are here to help. But when your sick and tired, trying to find help seems overwhelming and sometimes impossible. I get it. It feels hard but, it doesn’t have to be. Don’t wait any longer for assistance in getting medication that could dramatically improve your quality of life.