Off to the Pain doctor tomorrow
- Thread starter susiestar
- Start date
trinityroyal
Well-Known Member
Wishing you luck, crossing all crossable body parts and praying that the pain doctor is reasonable and that you get the answers, and more importantly, the pain relief, you seek.
Trinity
Trinity
crazymama30
Active Member
Good luck. Hope you get a good one.
house of cards
New Member
Thinking of you and sending helpful vibes to the pain doctor...be helpful, be helpful, be helpful.
I am home finally. It was a LONG day. husband couldn't get off work early, so I ended up with an entire day to fill. I have a fave library branch that has a small loveseat i can lay on to get pressure off my hip. I spent 5 hours there.
The pain doctor was very nice, seems very understanding. he thinks he can help, esp as I already understand that the pain isn't going away. We are going to make it less severe, but there will always be some. I have known that for a long time. I just want to be able to do the dishes, cook dinner, run an errand with-o hurting so much that I can't walk the next day.
Right now he added keppra to work with my lyrica. he says that he thinks they can get some of the highly irritated nerves to calm down. He added atarax for the hideous nonstop itching I have lived with for 6 years (since LONG before I was on any pain medications that would cause itching - he is the FIRST doctor to really HEAR me when I said this.)
When I go back in 2 months he anticipates changing the long acting pain medication I am using and also changing my muscle relaxer. He just doesn't want to make too many changes at once.
He watned me to call my psychiatrist about a different AD. I am on prozac and doing well with it. I already heard back from the psychiatrist who thinks with my history that it would be nuts to change it. I have had bad, BAD reactions to any AD that worked at all except prozac. They either don't do anything or they make me terrified of various things (like going outside). So unless there is NOTHING else they can do, he says it isn't a smart choice.
I can expect to maybe get a call to do a random drug screening. It is all decided by the computer as to who gets called and who doesn't. And on some appts, problem most, I will have to be tested. I am fine with that. He says they mostly look for people who are very low or who are over the limit of what is to be expected given what they are prescribed. And it would take 2-3 "bad" tests for them to "drop" you. A BIG relief as there are pain docs who drop you with one abnormal test - with-o even talking to you!!
He also does not count pills. I don't have to take my medications in to be counted by the nurse. I WILL keep a log of days I ahve migraines or the flu or whatever and can't take my medications because I am ill. That was my big worry, to have not taken medications, be found low and get fired because I had a migraine.
Anyway, I think it was a decent, hopeful visit. And he was very gentle when he poked and prodded. Which I appreciate muchly.
Thanks for ALL the prayers, good thoughts, and pretzels!
Star, I was in a store that had a tin of fancy choc and caramel coated pretzels - and I thought of you! because you are so SWEET (and goofy!).
The pain doctor was very nice, seems very understanding. he thinks he can help, esp as I already understand that the pain isn't going away. We are going to make it less severe, but there will always be some. I have known that for a long time. I just want to be able to do the dishes, cook dinner, run an errand with-o hurting so much that I can't walk the next day.
Right now he added keppra to work with my lyrica. he says that he thinks they can get some of the highly irritated nerves to calm down. He added atarax for the hideous nonstop itching I have lived with for 6 years (since LONG before I was on any pain medications that would cause itching - he is the FIRST doctor to really HEAR me when I said this.)
When I go back in 2 months he anticipates changing the long acting pain medication I am using and also changing my muscle relaxer. He just doesn't want to make too many changes at once.
He watned me to call my psychiatrist about a different AD. I am on prozac and doing well with it. I already heard back from the psychiatrist who thinks with my history that it would be nuts to change it. I have had bad, BAD reactions to any AD that worked at all except prozac. They either don't do anything or they make me terrified of various things (like going outside). So unless there is NOTHING else they can do, he says it isn't a smart choice.
I can expect to maybe get a call to do a random drug screening. It is all decided by the computer as to who gets called and who doesn't. And on some appts, problem most, I will have to be tested. I am fine with that. He says they mostly look for people who are very low or who are over the limit of what is to be expected given what they are prescribed. And it would take 2-3 "bad" tests for them to "drop" you. A BIG relief as there are pain docs who drop you with one abnormal test - with-o even talking to you!!
He also does not count pills. I don't have to take my medications in to be counted by the nurse. I WILL keep a log of days I ahve migraines or the flu or whatever and can't take my medications because I am ill. That was my big worry, to have not taken medications, be found low and get fired because I had a migraine.
Anyway, I think it was a decent, hopeful visit. And he was very gentle when he poked and prodded. Which I appreciate muchly.
Thanks for ALL the prayers, good thoughts, and pretzels!
Star, I was in a store that had a tin of fancy choc and caramel coated pretzels - and I thought of you! because you are so SWEET (and goofy!).
oh good i'm sorry i'm late to this and didn't wish you luck. yet i'm glad it went well it sounds like it did. are you satisfied with-the visit? yea i'd say doing dishes and normal life stuff is a necessity or even taking a walk for yourself...... i hadn't realized it had gotten so bad. im sorry
(((hugs)))
(((hugs)))
Jen, yeah, it has gotten that bad. Many days it is agony just to walk to the BATHROOM in our bedroom! At times it is a 5 min trek - ONE WAY!! EVery little movement takes my breath away some days.
So, I want a normal life back. I am blessed to have my husband and parents doing all they can for me, and Jess of course. And Jess and thank you understanding that I really AM trying. but this is no life.
Yes, I am satisfied. I am also very relieved. The doctor believed me (I have had some that didn't), the staff was nice, I asked questions about things others have told me about pain docs and pain mgmt clinics and my fears/worries about those were allayed. The doctor doesn't think we can make changes just 1 at a time. He says if they take too long, ANYONE with pain as bad as mine ends up feeling suicidal. He does NOT want that. So we are making changes in 2 things at once. This itme it is adding a medication that will take 2-3 months to see if it helps and 1 medication that will work quickly if it works.
He is giving me plenty of time between visits to let the medications work, but not so much time as to feel like we are wasting time. AND he gave me some idea of what changes he wants to make next.
So, I want a normal life back. I am blessed to have my husband and parents doing all they can for me, and Jess of course. And Jess and thank you understanding that I really AM trying. but this is no life.
Yes, I am satisfied. I am also very relieved. The doctor believed me (I have had some that didn't), the staff was nice, I asked questions about things others have told me about pain docs and pain mgmt clinics and my fears/worries about those were allayed. The doctor doesn't think we can make changes just 1 at a time. He says if they take too long, ANYONE with pain as bad as mine ends up feeling suicidal. He does NOT want that. So we are making changes in 2 things at once. This itme it is adding a medication that will take 2-3 months to see if it helps and 1 medication that will work quickly if it works.
He is giving me plenty of time between visits to let the medications work, but not so much time as to feel like we are wasting time. AND he gave me some idea of what changes he wants to make next.
Star*
call 911........call 911
Susie*
I am happy happy happy - and goofy with anticipation to believe that you just MAY be on the track to less pain. Oh what a dream that would be. Prozac isn't ANYTHING to be messing with - OMG that's what landed me in the hospital last year. Stopping it. - no way hose` I'd rather be beaten with a feather. UGh....Tell your new doctor if it's not broke - DO NOT FIX.
And relief for your itching? TA DA........I was looking for an all over body scratcher.....then made up my mind that I was just going to send you a dozen scrubber pads and some glue for you to put in a door way - itch to your hearts content.
kinda like a wall scratcher for the Bruce.
You must be tougher than you think because if I hit a love seat in a library for 5 hours - I would have snored. lol.
Glad to finally FINALLY hear SOMEONE is listening to you.
Hugs & Love
star - i love chocolate pretzels.....what did you get me? lol
I am happy happy happy - and goofy with anticipation to believe that you just MAY be on the track to less pain. Oh what a dream that would be. Prozac isn't ANYTHING to be messing with - OMG that's what landed me in the hospital last year. Stopping it. - no way hose` I'd rather be beaten with a feather. UGh....Tell your new doctor if it's not broke - DO NOT FIX.
And relief for your itching? TA DA........I was looking for an all over body scratcher.....then made up my mind that I was just going to send you a dozen scrubber pads and some glue for you to put in a door way - itch to your hearts content.
kinda like a wall scratcher for the Bruce. You must be tougher than you think because if I hit a love seat in a library for 5 hours - I would have snored. lol.
Glad to finally FINALLY hear SOMEONE is listening to you.
Hugs & Love
star - i love chocolate pretzels.....what did you get me? lol
DammitJanet
Well-Known Member
Im glad it went well. I have used atarax before and it can work well. Hope it does for you. I wouldnt change the AD either if it is working. Of course, I am terrified of AD's...lol. You will have to let me know how the Keppra works. I had thought of trying that but I am leery of it because I have heard some negative side effects for people with bipolar. A few have more irritability and anger issues on it and that is just not what I need...lol. I am also a bit afraid to add another neuroleptic to my mix.
I really want to hear how all this goes for you. I had forgot about the testing. Yeah they do that and it feels weird to me...like they dont believe me. I have such a hang up about the whole drug addict thing.
I really want to hear how all this goes for you. I had forgot about the testing. Yeah they do that and it feels weird to me...like they dont believe me. I have such a hang up about the whole drug addict thing.
Star - LOL on the scratch pads in the wall. My dad has this MAJOR love of back scratches. As a teen he would agree to most anything if I asked while scratching his back. One year for Valentines day my mom got one of those green door mats that is like fake astroturf. She hung it up on the wall outside their bathroom for him to rub his back on. It looks funny but has worked for all these years!
Janet, Keppra seems to be an interesting medication. Jessie has taken it for 3 years now. At first it made her feel like she had a cold. She was miserable for about 2 weeks. I am hoping not to get that. We know it was the medication because she stopped the medication for a few days and felt better almost at once, but as soon as we started it again it came right back.
The drug tests don't bug me. They can look ALLLLL they want. Not going to find anything wrong if they do the right tests. And since this isn't a rapid test it problem will be fine.
As for prozac, I am not one who gets all the funky side effects. All it does is help me feel more like me. It yanks me out of that black hole and into the sunshine. I have taken it on and off for about 2 decades. No withdrawal either. EVERY other AD I ahve tried exept elavil has made me totally nuts or did nothing. No middle ground. On several I have been terrified of EVERYTHING (of things like the bed sheets, and once I thought the dresser was plotting to pull me into it - crazy things), also a lot of creeping agoraphobia. I have NO intention of asking anyone about any other AD. I won't try them even if they did say OK. Not with my track record. I have gone along and tried every other "next great thing" in the AD world. I am DONE. Prozac does what I want it to.
And as for sleeping on the love seat in the library - I was hurting too much to sleep. I am out of pain medications, so it was an agonizing day. I should get medications in today or tomorrow. I am hoping for today. REALLY hoping.
Thanks to all!
Janet, Keppra seems to be an interesting medication. Jessie has taken it for 3 years now. At first it made her feel like she had a cold. She was miserable for about 2 weeks. I am hoping not to get that. We know it was the medication because she stopped the medication for a few days and felt better almost at once, but as soon as we started it again it came right back.
The drug tests don't bug me. They can look ALLLLL they want. Not going to find anything wrong if they do the right tests. And since this isn't a rapid test it problem will be fine.
As for prozac, I am not one who gets all the funky side effects. All it does is help me feel more like me. It yanks me out of that black hole and into the sunshine. I have taken it on and off for about 2 decades. No withdrawal either. EVERY other AD I ahve tried exept elavil has made me totally nuts or did nothing. No middle ground. On several I have been terrified of EVERYTHING (of things like the bed sheets, and once I thought the dresser was plotting to pull me into it - crazy things), also a lot of creeping agoraphobia. I have NO intention of asking anyone about any other AD. I won't try them even if they did say OK. Not with my track record. I have gone along and tried every other "next great thing" in the AD world. I am DONE. Prozac does what I want it to.
And as for sleeping on the love seat in the library - I was hurting too much to sleep. I am out of pain medications, so it was an agonizing day. I should get medications in today or tomorrow. I am hoping for today. REALLY hoping.
Thanks to all!
Marguerite
Active Member
I'm glad it went well, Susie. And about the SD - I wouldn't worry. Hevwould have been hoping you could change it but if you can't, I am sure he will take it in his stride.
The thing is, these guys specialise in pain management, as well as in the various problems you can get with different methods and different ways of handing it all. They've also heard patients who have productive, creative soutions to problems and they use every idea they can get, to help as many people as possible.
We see our pain specialist about every two to three months. husband & I see him together, although we are two different patients. He does things entirely different with us both. I'm currently trying to cut back on my pain medications, but only because I think I can, not because the pain doctor has told me to. My specialist makes sure that all the paperwork is filled in so I can get my medications plus he's built in plenty of leeway for me to take mre if I feel I need to, as long as I tell him so he can keep an eye on it and consider authorising a change if needed.
They also can help with non-drug methods of pain management, dependimng on what is likely to work in your case.
Getting pain controlled (not eliminated necessarily) can make a huge difference in your life. If I can't get my pain medications into me (a gastric bug, for example) then I'm in big trouble and it's a trip to the ER for me. But when I do - I get a lot done, I achieve a great deal.
We do what we can, when we can. It's all we can hope for, and sometimes it's better than we expected.
Marg
The thing is, these guys specialise in pain management, as well as in the various problems you can get with different methods and different ways of handing it all. They've also heard patients who have productive, creative soutions to problems and they use every idea they can get, to help as many people as possible.
We see our pain specialist about every two to three months. husband & I see him together, although we are two different patients. He does things entirely different with us both. I'm currently trying to cut back on my pain medications, but only because I think I can, not because the pain doctor has told me to. My specialist makes sure that all the paperwork is filled in so I can get my medications plus he's built in plenty of leeway for me to take mre if I feel I need to, as long as I tell him so he can keep an eye on it and consider authorising a change if needed.
They also can help with non-drug methods of pain management, dependimng on what is likely to work in your case.
Getting pain controlled (not eliminated necessarily) can make a huge difference in your life. If I can't get my pain medications into me (a gastric bug, for example) then I'm in big trouble and it's a trip to the ER for me. But when I do - I get a lot done, I achieve a great deal.
We do what we can, when we can. It's all we can hope for, and sometimes it's better than we expected.
Marg
