Hi, I'm new here and have a question - Pain Management Message Board

PurlOne · 07-13-2003, 12:50 PM

Hi Everyone
I"ve been lurking for a month or so reading the various posts and am encouraged by the friendliness and caring of the various members to introduce myself and ask a question. I'm female, in my 50s with 2 grown children and the best guy in the world. I apologize to those who think they have the best guy but really...he lives with me. My family is very caring and supportive and I'm lucky enough to have a pain management doctor who worked around my sensitivity to an amazing amount of drugs unil we found ones that didn't make me toss my cookies every hour on the hour. I have stenosis and herniated disks in my neck and extensive nerve damage in my right back and shoulder all from osteoarthritis. MS Contin ER and MSIR keep the pain tamped down most of the time and Provigil keeps me awake. My question concerns my eyes and whether or not the opiates are causing a problem. I have a hereditary condition that I can't remember the name of (or spell if I did remember it) that keeps my eyes from focusing properly unless I wear glasses. It never bothered me much until a month or so ago when I noticed that I've been closing one eye in order to focus on a book or my knitting or even the computer screen. My eye doctor isn't sure what's going on but gave me a prescription for new stronger lenses that "might" help. "Might" in this case costs $300 which is pretty much out of the question right now. I'm wondering if it's because of the opiates and if any of you might have similar symptoms and how you're coping with them. I feel like I should be wearing a parrot on my shoulder to go along with my squint.
Thanks for any help,
Kathy

lindao1 · 07-13-2003, 03:21 PM

Hi, Purlone! Welcome! I'm no dr. or expert but it sounds like you have what I have and that is astigmatism. Things appear out of focus.

I've been on Oxy 40 mg 3 x per day and when I first began the med., it did seem to make my astigmatism a bit worse. But after I became use to the med(didn't take long) it got a lot better and now doesn't bother me at all.

Like I said, I'm no expert but since I've experienced what I think is the same thing, thought maybe this would ease your mind a little.

Nice to talk with you. Perhaps one of the other wonderful and more knowlegable people on this site may be able to provide more (or different) info. Good Luck, my friend. Lindao1

PurlOne · 07-13-2003, 05:48 PM

Hi Lindao1
Yes you're right about the astigmatism but I think there's another name for this particular kind. I've been on these meds three years and this squinting business just started. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for your input.
Kathy

cuppa t · 07-13-2003, 09:46 PM

hi purl one, (knit one too? lol)
sorry can't speak to your problems, but i too am a 'newbie' and find the discussions and interactions on the board quite helpful. yours caught me because i have asked my pcp for a referral to a 'pain management' person, i don't even know if they are qualified doctors, so i don't know what to expect. i am changing docs also, mine has gone from bad to worse. was diagnosed with claudication in '99 and it is so bad i had to DEMAND a referral to a vascular surgeon. all my pcp did was give me rx's so have lost confidence in him. this was his last chance, back in may of 2001 needed 3 walk in visits to see about pain/full feeling i had, which he told me was heart burn. i told him it wasn't heart burn, i know how that feels. well on the 18th of the month, around 4pm had to go see him again for the same thing, nurse takes my bp, and shouts out 'it's mrs ******* with heart burn again'!! 8pm that night, i was on the table in the er undergoing a triple by-pass!! with what they told my hubby, was a 20% chance of survival!! gave him the benefit of the doubt, but like i say, he's gone from bad to worse. anyone else have this kind of problem with their doctors? hang in there purl 1 someone else will probably be able to give you the info you're looking for. stay happy! cuppa

PurlOne · 07-14-2003, 02:32 AM

Cuppa T
Most of the pain management doctors in my neck of the woods are anesthesiologists-fully qualified doctors. They're the best at pain management as far as I'm concerned. I try to stay away from the ER whenever possible and hope that, in the future, you can too.
Nice to meetcha!
Kathy