I'm smoking again. I don't think quitting will work until I'm more stable.

I do have my former practitioner's cell #, but I feel kind of strange contacting her since I won't be continuing to see her. I may just suck it up and give it a try.

I made an appointment with my psychologist (next week), but wasn't able to get in to see/ talk to anyone covering.

I also contacted the MS Center re: severe pain. I won't hear back until later this afternoon or tomorrow, but they're going to brain storm. My neuro may be able to suggest another med, or send me back to the rheumy, or refer me to someone else in Boston.

I'm not sleeping well again. UGH.

Thanks again for the advice.
-Kay

YOu are under alot of stress, I understand that smoking can help calm people down, I jsut know that right now is not the best time to try quiting.....but a better time will come when you are more stable.
Don't beat yourself up over this, you have time, you can do this.
bizi

Hey there Kay

yes don't sweat it if the not-smoking isn't happening right now.

sometimes we have to pick our battles... or at least schedule the ones we can control around the ones we can't.

don't give up on the over all idea. when things are more settled and you have settled in with a new doc, you can resume your efforts. you might want to do it with the help of a doctor and use tapered nicotine therapy.

~ waves ~

I do plan on trying again. I've quit before- once for 9 months, once for almost 2 years.

Dear Kay

that's great! you will be able to do it!

the last time i smoked was about two years ago but i don't know the exact date. i can't imagine starting again this time. before that my longest quit was for a year and a half many years ago. moving to europe this last decade destroyed me. when i got here, it wasn't even illegal - smoke everywhere, in the office in bars restaurants... when i got here i mostly didn't smoke. then i was on again off again a few months at a time. before quitting i had smoked more often than not for about a year.

there continue to be problems even now that it is banned in workplaces and public indoor areas... i don't get tempted though - actually second-hand smoke always bothered me. i used to get bothered even by the smoke coming off the lit end of my own cigarette...

~ waves ~

Hi, I'm Donna

And I have some issues with fibromyalgia. And at times we really look
at arthritis big time. Right now both are stable. But I need to remember
to call and get my neurotin refilled.

I also need to get some other refills. Ugh, I hate it when I realize this.

So keep posting, and I'll remember to look.

Donna

If the neurontin is working for you- great. If your pharmacy offers it, sign up for ready fill. They'll call you if you have had it filled, but haven't picked it up yet. I do reminders via my cell phone, so I can call and get another script before I run out of med.

Neurontin didn't work for me at high doses. Lyrica was approved by the FDA for treatment of Fibromyalgia, but treatment for MS is considered off-label and you have to do a trial of neurontin first.

Unfortunately, I have a higher copay for Lyrica:
neurontin is $20
Lyrica is $40

But it has worked for me, so it's worth it.

My MS neuro wants me to see another rheumy in Boston- the appt. isn't until Nov. 2nd tho. In the meantime she's going to increase my Lyrica to see if it offers me any relief. They considered stopping my Tysabri treatments for 1-2 months, but that's not going to happen. They think something else is causing the pain- not the Tysabri treatments.

In the meantime, I'll stay on the Arthrotec for now. I'm going to call my PCP next week to see if he's willing to up that dose.