youngone00
03-13-2007, 03:16 AM
I just got back from my PM Dr's, and things went soo much better now that I brought my father with me. I had an extremly bad weekend, so first thing this morning my father called (he also knows them all, he goes there himself) and explained it to them so they got me in at 1:30. When the Dr came in, my father asked the Dr if he can say something. So he went on to explain to the Dr everything, saying how I havn't got any sleep in a long time, and how he hears me up at night pacing around, and how I just cat nap during the day, how I'm in agony all day, in and out of the bath several times because it gives me a little releif. etc etc etc. He told the Dr none of my medicines are working, and I'm still in a ton of pain. He also told him about my ER visit. Well, finally the Dr said he is going to get this thing under control. He took me off of neurontin and skelaxin, saying if I dont notice them helping we shouldn't keep using them. He than asked how the oxycontin works. I said it worked a little, but not much at all. So from there we asked about going upto 40s, and the Doc said the next step we will do is try 20mg every 8 hours at three times daily instead of twice daily. He said from there, if that doesn't work, we will possibly try the 40's, or maybe even try something totally different called Kadian. He than left the percocet at 10/325 x3 times daily, saying he doesn't think I'll need more, he said he thinks the increase in the oxycontin will help me alot. I think it will help me myself. I'm really excited and hopeful it will. I also feel much much more hopeful, now that it seems like he is ready to help. He than said he wants to start seeing me every 3 weeks instead of 4 until we get this dealt with. So I'm looking forward to hopefully getting some relief! Thanks again to everybody for all of your support too, it really really helps me get through everything, especailly the tougher times.
Bryan
Bryan
Sponsor
IZZY'SMOM
03-13-2007, 03:29 AM
Hi Bryan~
I always read your posts every nite. Im so glad to hear that you are finally getting the help you deserve and need. Your post made me feel so good, and Im so happy for you, and hope that others will get insight and trust that if you keep on trying things will get better. You certainly have been thru the ringer, and my thoughts and prayers are with you always.
Sleep well, and Im so happy for you!
xoxoxoxoxox,
IZZY'SMOM:angel: :angel: :angel:
I always read your posts every nite. Im so glad to hear that you are finally getting the help you deserve and need. Your post made me feel so good, and Im so happy for you, and hope that others will get insight and trust that if you keep on trying things will get better. You certainly have been thru the ringer, and my thoughts and prayers are with you always.
Sleep well, and Im so happy for you!
xoxoxoxoxox,
IZZY'SMOM:angel: :angel: :angel:
youngone00
03-13-2007, 04:47 AM
Hi Bryan~
I always read your posts every nite. Im so glad to hear that you are finally getting the help you deserve and need. Your post made me feel so good, and Im so happy for you, and hope that others will get insight and trust that if you keep on trying things will get better. You certainly have been thru the ringer, and my thoughts and prayers are with you always.
Sleep well, and Im so happy for you!
xoxoxoxoxox,
IZZY'SMOM:angel: :angel: :angel:
Thank you soo much for all of your support, I really appreciate you taking yoru time to respond to me all of the time :). I hope your doin good, and I hope you have a pain free day tomorrow, or I guess since its 3am technically today? IDK, have a good night sleep lol..
Bryan
I always read your posts every nite. Im so glad to hear that you are finally getting the help you deserve and need. Your post made me feel so good, and Im so happy for you, and hope that others will get insight and trust that if you keep on trying things will get better. You certainly have been thru the ringer, and my thoughts and prayers are with you always.
Sleep well, and Im so happy for you!
xoxoxoxoxox,
IZZY'SMOM:angel: :angel: :angel:
Thank you soo much for all of your support, I really appreciate you taking yoru time to respond to me all of the time :). I hope your doin good, and I hope you have a pain free day tomorrow, or I guess since its 3am technically today? IDK, have a good night sleep lol..
Bryan
trowftd3
03-13-2007, 11:12 AM
Congrats on a successful doctor visit!
I hope the increase works for you and that your doc continues to listen
to you(and your dad)! That was great of him to go in and speak for you.
Take care.~Mush
I hope the increase works for you and that your doc continues to listen
to you(and your dad)! That was great of him to go in and speak for you.
Take care.~Mush
TraveltoSL
03-13-2007, 11:38 AM
Hey Bryan,
I'm happy to hear that you were able to bring your dad in and help communicate what you have been going through...
If I could make a couple of suggestions to discuss with your Dr. next time??? Again, please know it's just my opinion to take or leave")")
I, too, am on the Oxycontin 20mg, 3 times a day (every 8 hrs) and that really made a big difference with me since it really doesn't seem to last for the 12 hours and this helps it stay in my system more steadily and do a better job for pain coverage...
My suggestions would be to talk to your Dr. about a depression medicine since I feel that it works for us with chronic pain two-fold...First, I have never been "officially" diagnosed with depression but feel the negative and "depressing" effects of living with chronic pain....No matter how strong we feel mentally, it takes a great toll on us day after day, year after year with living with the pain....It's taken a big toll on my life with having so many changes...I happen to be on Cymbalta, but there are many that work very well to help us maintain good mental health which I personally feel is JUST as important as our physical health....These types of medicine also help with the pain in many different ways as well....
I also see a pastoral counselor who is so wonderful to help talk things out with and vent a lot....just like coming here....but it's nice to have a face to face with someone who for me, keeps me moving forward and helps with a life plan in all the changes that have occured because of my surgeries and pain....
Also, I think it's been a HUGE benefit to have a prescription for a sleep aid since it sounds like you are up most of the night not getting any rest....This is CRUCIAL to our pain levels and "dealing" the next day....If our bodies do not get the restorative sleep/rest....it just keeps magnifying the pain and each day gets worse and worse...
I don't want to be a "pill" pusher here and always recommend trying the natural things first...f but feel that maybe just starting by talking with a therapist about your pain....especially the effects of having to deal with this at such a younger age and you even said it's effecting your "love life' negatively which must be very devastating as well....I would even bet that the majority of us here on this site are on some type of depression mediciation that helps us with our moods and living with pain as well as the actual physical effects of the pain....
Again, please know it's just my opinion but I feel very strongly about paying attention to our mental health just as much and also trying to do everything we can do get the best sleep as possible which is not provided necessarily by the pain meds...Just by reading all your posts, I can see how this has taken such a mental toll on you through the roller coaster of dealing with Dr.s trying to even get adequate pain relief...This happens to all of us....
There are, of course, many natural ways to help you sleep like melatonin, teas, herbs, etc. that you need to make sure don't interact with your meds....but for me....I tried all of those over the years and didn't work but now I take Ambien when needed and that has made an incredible improvement in my sleep which is blissfull:):)
Ok, done with my rambling.....I certainly hope that the change in the Oxy can help you get more coverage on your pain and the switch of seeing him every 3 weeks as well....
I am seeing both my surgeon and pain mgmt. Dr. on Thursday for my 3-4 month check up after my last surgery and hope I can get a great fusion progress report:):)
Blessings,
Ingrid
I'm happy to hear that you were able to bring your dad in and help communicate what you have been going through...
If I could make a couple of suggestions to discuss with your Dr. next time??? Again, please know it's just my opinion to take or leave")")
I, too, am on the Oxycontin 20mg, 3 times a day (every 8 hrs) and that really made a big difference with me since it really doesn't seem to last for the 12 hours and this helps it stay in my system more steadily and do a better job for pain coverage...
My suggestions would be to talk to your Dr. about a depression medicine since I feel that it works for us with chronic pain two-fold...First, I have never been "officially" diagnosed with depression but feel the negative and "depressing" effects of living with chronic pain....No matter how strong we feel mentally, it takes a great toll on us day after day, year after year with living with the pain....It's taken a big toll on my life with having so many changes...I happen to be on Cymbalta, but there are many that work very well to help us maintain good mental health which I personally feel is JUST as important as our physical health....These types of medicine also help with the pain in many different ways as well....
I also see a pastoral counselor who is so wonderful to help talk things out with and vent a lot....just like coming here....but it's nice to have a face to face with someone who for me, keeps me moving forward and helps with a life plan in all the changes that have occured because of my surgeries and pain....
Also, I think it's been a HUGE benefit to have a prescription for a sleep aid since it sounds like you are up most of the night not getting any rest....This is CRUCIAL to our pain levels and "dealing" the next day....If our bodies do not get the restorative sleep/rest....it just keeps magnifying the pain and each day gets worse and worse...
I don't want to be a "pill" pusher here and always recommend trying the natural things first...f but feel that maybe just starting by talking with a therapist about your pain....especially the effects of having to deal with this at such a younger age and you even said it's effecting your "love life' negatively which must be very devastating as well....I would even bet that the majority of us here on this site are on some type of depression mediciation that helps us with our moods and living with pain as well as the actual physical effects of the pain....
Again, please know it's just my opinion but I feel very strongly about paying attention to our mental health just as much and also trying to do everything we can do get the best sleep as possible which is not provided necessarily by the pain meds...Just by reading all your posts, I can see how this has taken such a mental toll on you through the roller coaster of dealing with Dr.s trying to even get adequate pain relief...This happens to all of us....
There are, of course, many natural ways to help you sleep like melatonin, teas, herbs, etc. that you need to make sure don't interact with your meds....but for me....I tried all of those over the years and didn't work but now I take Ambien when needed and that has made an incredible improvement in my sleep which is blissfull:):)
Ok, done with my rambling.....I certainly hope that the change in the Oxy can help you get more coverage on your pain and the switch of seeing him every 3 weeks as well....
I am seeing both my surgeon and pain mgmt. Dr. on Thursday for my 3-4 month check up after my last surgery and hope I can get a great fusion progress report:):)
Blessings,
Ingrid
Fabrashamx
03-13-2007, 12:08 PM
Bryan,
So glad to hear you are feeling better about finally getting control of your pain! Have you noticed an improvement yet?
I agree with everything Ingrid said, the antidepressants really really help me, not only to cope, but with the fatigue and the negative thoughts.
This doctor sounds great, that was a really good plan to take your dad with you, It helps to have someone to advocate for us. Is this the doctor surgicaldisater recommended? Or your old one?
I hope its not the loony that offered you actiq pops, that was just horrifying.
Let us know how its going, a lot of us read these posts every day to see how you are doing and have been hoping you would find some relief, I was thinking you would have to be hospitalized before they could find something that worked for you, Glad to know you have a doctor working agressively to help you find the right thing or combination of things to get you some quality of life back, because at the end of the day, thats what its all about. Being able to read or enjoy a meal, even, without that nightmare trapped animal feeling of constant horrible pain.
Hope everyone has a good day today!
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
So glad to hear you are feeling better about finally getting control of your pain! Have you noticed an improvement yet?
I agree with everything Ingrid said, the antidepressants really really help me, not only to cope, but with the fatigue and the negative thoughts.
This doctor sounds great, that was a really good plan to take your dad with you, It helps to have someone to advocate for us. Is this the doctor surgicaldisater recommended? Or your old one?
I hope its not the loony that offered you actiq pops, that was just horrifying.
Let us know how its going, a lot of us read these posts every day to see how you are doing and have been hoping you would find some relief, I was thinking you would have to be hospitalized before they could find something that worked for you, Glad to know you have a doctor working agressively to help you find the right thing or combination of things to get you some quality of life back, because at the end of the day, thats what its all about. Being able to read or enjoy a meal, even, without that nightmare trapped animal feeling of constant horrible pain.
Hope everyone has a good day today!
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
morgyporgy
03-13-2007, 02:08 PM
it is such a relief when our drs. actually hear us. glad your dad going helped. i am so happy for you and i sincerely hope your new dosing does the trick. god bless, katy:angel:
surgicaldisaster
03-13-2007, 02:12 PM
Hey Bryan! YAY!!!!!:D I am soooooooooooo happy for you....sometimes having a witness to our daily agony really makes an impact on the Dr. and it obviously did for you and I am thrilled for you. It sounds like you may be on the right track finally to some well deserved relief. I mean really, hmmmm, what have you been asking for....to be able to sleep like a human, not a cat! To not be in agony all the time....and to quite simply be treated as well as most animals are treated for petes sake! I DON'T think that's asking a lot!! I am so glad he HEARD you. Are you still going to see Dr. Rubinfeld, just to see what he thinks, or just see what this guy might finally be able to do for you? I am just so happy, it's nice to read some good news :) . Anyway, keep us posted o.k., been thinking of you lots!!! Take care, and enjoy the victory of being truly listened to for a change!! Surg:wave:
babs17
03-15-2007, 12:45 PM
Hey Bryan....good for you. Smart to bring someone with ya...esp b/c of your age. I am considered to be a bit younger as well for having CP (I'm 32), and its tough spot to be in b/c people assume that you are not experiencing the same losses of someone who for example....has 3 children. Or exxageraing your symptoms b/c you don't know bad pain yet at your age or b/c your lifestyle that is, being single, makes you need to get out of the house more, so they assume you feel better b/c you are more active. I've been experiencing severe pain now for 5 1/2 years and I just started to see a pain managnement doctor, and just found this site, and I am so grateful.......so so so grateful. It was a horrible feeling being alone as a CP patient. I too bring my parents with me to the doctors....b/c if my explaination of my pain is not getting thru to the doctor, I can let my parents explain how worried they are about me b/c of the daily pain they see me experiencing. AND, TraveltoSL is right on the money about seeing a counselor b/c of your age. I highly reccomend that! Its a way of healing the pain from the inside out....and I am sure that you are interested in ANY way to decrease your pain level at this point. :)
I'm very happy that you have a doctor on your side, and a caring father! God speed to your pain pills...hope they work soon!
BTW...what town is your PM MD in? I see you are my neighbor in NJ!
I'm very happy that you have a doctor on your side, and a caring father! God speed to your pain pills...hope they work soon!
BTW...what town is your PM MD in? I see you are my neighbor in NJ!
youngone00
03-16-2007, 05:23 PM
Thanks for all of your support everyone. Babs, my Dr is in Toms River. Surg, Im actually not sure if I'm still going to see Dr Rubinfield. I want too, but its like so hard to just get up and go around the block never the less an hour in the half or two hours away. I still havn't canceled, and probaly will go because even though he increased my dosage to 20mg three times daily, I'm still in tons of pain. It does help more, but I dont think making it three times from two was the answer. I want to call and go back to him (since he was saying how he wants to take control of it) on Monday and see what he says. Last appointment he mentioned trying Kadian, which if that works I will try anything, but I cannot handle to start something else, and than start at a real low dose, and have to go up and up and up until something finally works. I cant live with this any longer, I need a break from it. I'm going to call Monday and ask the receptionist to have the Dr call me, and I'm going to ask him if he wants to see me or should I just go into the ER. I can imagine no Dr will say ER, because from what I read on here it makes them look bad. I'm tempted to just take two 20s at the time until I see him, try it 2x daily, but than I'll be the bad guy. So I'm just gonna sit here in a ton of pain I guess. Its probaly the weather, but Im just having a really bad last couple of days, and today, forget it. Sorry for goin on I just dont know what to do anymore..
Bryan
Bryan
surgicaldisaster
03-16-2007, 06:39 PM
Oh Bryan, I am so sorry you are still hurting so badly...my heart goes out to you, it really does. I would definately call the Dr. on Mon., or maybe you should call his service, so at least he know what is happening, and will realize it's that bad for you to call on a weekend. That's what they are there for after all. Even if he can't do much, at least he will know ASAP. Possibly he might even meet you at the ER(?) ya never know, I think it's worth a try, my gosh, I'd hate to see you go through this until Monday. Please hang in there, and let us know what you decide to do, but I would call...maybe you don't have to suffer till then....I will say a prayer for you! Surg :angel: :angel: :wave:
rayefaye
03-16-2007, 07:48 PM
Hi Bryan, sorry to hear you're not doing so well.:( I know the weather plays an important role for me. I wish I had some suggestions but I don't, so hopefully you'll get to feeling better soon.
Linmarie
03-17-2007, 01:03 AM
Brian,
I do hope you can get some relief soon. It seems like forever when we can't seem to get any pain reduction at all. Hopefully, you won't have to wait until Monday.
Prayers,
Linmarie:angel:
I do hope you can get some relief soon. It seems like forever when we can't seem to get any pain reduction at all. Hopefully, you won't have to wait until Monday.
Prayers,
Linmarie:angel: