HiJeannine, and Welcome.My name is Loretta and I'm 61 with RSD 13 years following surgery and moved full body about 8 years ago. I take hydrocodone, 2 blood pressure meds. sleep aid Ambien CR Lorazepam,anti-anxiety med. Also take Cymbalta 120 mg.Just went off Lyrica about 6 months ago. Had been on Neurotin 3200 mg for 5 years, changed to Lyrica 400 mg. I liked the Lyrica a little better for burning pain. Both drugs stopped my spams, jerks, jolts, which were dailely and nightly. But I had such weight gain, and was concerned about blood pressure issue . I had never had weight problems or blood pressure. Of course pre-RSD I played tennis almost dailey, water skiied, snow skiied, swimming, aerobics, just active. I've lost 30 lbs since going off the Lyrica and only had a couple epidsodes of jerks. But had just received a call of a close friends death. So I'm grateful to be able to go off the med and not have seizeures. I'm swimming every day now-Arizona _and hope to loose the last 30 lbs by end of year.
We have had company for last 10 days, from Oregon good friends in the medical field. They come every other year. They retire next year, so we'll get together every year. My girlfriend is an alcohol and drug counselor and her husband neuclear med tech. Both have been so supportive. It's rare to have that kid of support outside the rsd world. My husband has grown so much in understanding over the years. My daughter and son in law are great too.
Happy to have to join us. I've learned so much from the caring ones on this forum, and not just about medical issues. I was misdiagnosed and not diagnosed correctly for 4 years. I had a very hard time adjusting to full body and 5 years ago found a psychiatrist neurologist and pharmacologist all in one. He really helped me emotionally and I had had 2-3 years of counseling when my parents died. In fact, my girlfriend that is here and I kinda started together in education and she went on to schooling and working in the field.
Don't worry about spelling etc. we all lost a little memory when it comes to that area. There is a book out by Michael J Fox I'm going to get called 'Always Looking Up' He had a difficult time adjusting to his Parkinsons disease. He is pretty far advanced now. Change in our health is hard isn't it.
We all need someone to talk to and listen. Take care, loretta