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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 308
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 308
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Pete,
I am so sorry you are experiencing so much, physical and otherwise.
I hear you on the generic vs. brand on prescriptions. I recently changed some of my meds to brand, and although it is VERY costly to do so (as insurance does not pay from brand when there is generic - or at least I haven't figured out how to get them to do so), it has been VERY worth it for me. Definitely better response to brand than the generic! What are farce we are told to believe - and I used to be a supporter of generics. Maybe for some things (antibiotics?) they are okay, but with the newer-type drugs that are more specialized, maybe the generics are just too far off from the original.
On the MS/Not-MS issue....my biggest question to you is - if you are dx with MS - will you take any of the MS-meds (CRABs, Ty, etc)? If yes, and you whole-heartedly believe you have MS, then I would fight for the dx. I guess the dx also helps if you want to go out on disability - so it might be worth it then, too. If you have a PPO, start calling neurologists in your area (and further away, too!) and make some appointments. There is a doctor out there who can and will help you. If you have an HMO, then you might have a fight ahead of you, but it's your health, so fight for it.
Re: pain relief, have you tried the old standards for the headaches (topomax, neurontin, etc.)? Cymbalta has also been helpful for some for both depression and pain (especially nerve pain). Another thing I have found is that oxycodone in the form of percocet (which is oxy and acetaminophen) didn't help me as much as the plain form of oxycodone which doesn't have any acet. in it. Something about the acet., for me, that blocks the narcotic from being effective. Same thing with vicodin - I would use norco, as it has less acet. than vicodin. It wasn't until I had the HiCy treatment, when I wasn't allowed anything with acetaminophen, that I learned that oxycodone without the acetaminophen existed. Might be worth a try. Obviously, I am all for medicating symptoms - especially when there isn't much to help with the MS itself per se.
There is a doctor out there who can and will diagnose you. You know, I was diagnosed the very first time I went to neurologist - with my very first exacerbation/symptoms. Went for MRI and the lesions blasted right off the screen, so to speak. That, along with my physical presentation/exam, warranted a diagnosis. I guess some would say that doesn't happen....but it did with me. And of course, I knew virtually *nothing* about MS when I found out about it. I didn't know at the time that that usually doesn't happen (such quick dx).
Sorry this was so long....wanted you to know you were being heard by so many of us. Maybe you didn't want "help" in this form, but I am all about sharing any "knowledge" that has come my way.
Don't give up the good fight....you are worth it!! Reach out to us when you need it!!
~Keri
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