Quote:
Originally Posted by Megan403
Hi Friends,
I saw a doctor recently who is really trying to help me get my pain under control. He prescribed me percocets and gabapentin 300mg. For now I am taking the gabapentin about an hour before I go to bed at night. But, I still feel slow, groggy, clumsy, and can't focus well when I wake up. The doctor wants me to start taking it in the mornings as well in one week. I just honestly don't know how I am going to work when I take these in the morning. I can hardly walk straight about an hour after I take one and it feels like I have a hard time seeing straight. They also make me really sleepy. Do the side effects start to decrease with time? I am still 1 1/2 months away from working at my job long enough to meet the waiting period for STD and LTD.
So my next question is, are there any Canadians here on government disability for CRPS? If I get laid off or don't meet the waiting period at work I don't know what I will do for income.
Thanks so much for your help everyone
Megan
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Welcome Megan,
Have you taken note of when in the morning the affects start to taper? For instance if you feel groggiest for 3 hours after you awake then taking the Gaba 3 hrs earlier would help. You could also ask your doctor to re-write the scrip for 100mg and take it 3 times per day rather than taking all of it at once. The side affects do decrease over time but, it takes some patience and working closely with your doctor to tweak the dosage amounts and the timing of when you take it, to best suit your needs. Keeping a journal of side affects, timing of dosage, dosage amount and how each medication impacts you during the most important part of your day and then discussing this with your doctor will help with this adjustment period. Be sure your doctor understands what is most important to you ie; mental clarity during working hours or how meds affect your ability to sleep etc., It is easy for doctors to overlook how the meds affect our personal and work life because they are more focused on treating the CRPS first.
I really hope you are able to continue to work so that you are eligible for benefits if and when you need it.