Let me say that, and this is in NO way a brag, I've had Fibro for over 15 years. Living in a large US metro area, you're "subject" to any and all new "methods" and medications for handling Fibro.
My doctor recommended meds years before any of us saw them on TV or thought that they might be prescribed for chronic pain/Fibromyalgia.
These explanations, dear reader, are to give some credibility to the information which I present to you. I will go through any and every medication you have heard of and maybe some you haven't or wish you haven't!?
; )
That said, let's begin at the beginning.....
When I was first noticing a problem, I had just finished a course of "hormones" for endometriosis. The injections were called "Lupron" and to be honest, I was a guinea pig because this hormone was used mainly as chemotherapy for men's prostate cancer.
I had this all over ache and weak feeling. I had gained at least 40 lbs, and I had trouble walking unassisted. My joints hurt, particularly my knees and I had constant pain in my back.
The doctor that administered the Lupron, had also performed surgery on me and was "keeping me going" on Vicodin. This made it almost impossible to work. He also was getting a bit unnerved as most "non pain clinic" doctors do, at having to prescribe opiates on a continuing basis. He referred me to a pain clinic and I have been there ever since.
At the pain clinic, the doctor increased the "dosage" of my vicodin as well as putting me on a "Duragesic" patch. This patch was placed on my upper chest and "transdermally" fed a steady stream of fentanyl (synthetic morphine) into my system. Initially I felt relief, however soon, I felt breakthough pain and he increased the dosage on the patches as well as supplying me with a med called "Oxy-IR". The latter was an "instant release" of medication for relief of breakthrough pain (pain that isn't being covered by your main pain medication).
As time went on, changes/increases were made to the patch dosage and administration. I would change the patch more frequently if it wasn't working, BUT only with the doctor's OK.
Next, the pain management doctor decided to try something called Neurontin. He explained that this was normally used for seizures, but was now being used for peripheral neuropathy (diabetic foot pain,etc.) and other types of chronic pain. It lessened the pain signals to the brain. Well, all it did for me over a period of a year, was wear a horrible hole in my stomach and I had to stop it and go on Nexium for GERD.
I noticed NO change after going off of the Neurontin, but he DID recommend that I wean myself off slowly which I did, or I'd suffer a siezure possibly. Frightening.
When I finally consulted a rheumatologist, he placed me on "Nortriptyline" and I went off of that within a week because of double vision.
So, now, this far into my Fibro experience, about 2004, I had tried:
Duragesic patches - narcotic med delivered through the skin
Antidepressant - (Nortriptyline aka Pamelor) this was a tri-cyclic antidepressant and it gave me double vision. Went off of it, the week I went on because of this side effect.
Neurontin - made me tired and wore a hole in my stomach. (Antiseizure medication).
Nexium - to heal the hole in my stomach (for GERD, etc.)
Ox IR - breakthough med (opiate).
Vicodin - Narcotic pain reliever combined with "tylenol"(Acetominephin).
If you have any questions on my experiences up with the above mentioned medications, please let me know.
I will continue on Part II tomorrow explaining more medications tomorrow. Please stay tuned and again, please ask questions. I have a pretty clear memory as to how these medication worked and how they affected me.
Blessings...............
Mo M.
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