[TheWillforLife]

Hello all,
I am not sure exactly where to start. I have never really talked "socially" about the last few years. So I guess I can start with a few years ago; I started noticing a slight pain in my gums and teeth, I figured it was just a cavity or a normal Dental problem. I went to the dentist got my cavities filled and was sent on my way. Much to my dismay, the pain was still there, this type of situation kept on going ( I switched up to a sleep dentist because I am tad loony. I also needed a great deal of work done.) Absolutely none of the work had helped with my pain, While this was all going on I had lost my job and a few friends. It is hard to focus when constantly in pain ( as many of you know) As time went on the pain started to increase and spread. It was no longer just the right side of my mouth but now the left.

Ill skip...I do not wanna bore you guys. The pain had spread to my entire mouth and started to move up my cheek effecting my ability to open and close my eye. In the last few months the pain has started to move into my left leg. It is mild in my leg but something that I can not deny. I have seen neurologist and doctors but have had very little help from any of them. I would be prescribed anti-depressant and sent on my way. Sure my mood would greatly improve but I was still in pain. Honestly, being happy and in pain is, well, unsettling.

I also have several digestive issues that have not been taken seriously. I have had a endoscopy and a colonoscopy with no answers as well as minor blood work. When they do not find anything they stop looking. There is no concern and that is it. It doesn't matter what I eat ( I am currently doing the gluten-free thing but) I still get sick. My mental state is fragile and I get so confused. ( having a very hard time sorting my thoughts for this post. Its already taken me about an hour)

I am in recovery (been clean since June 12, 2007 and refused Narcotic pain killers throughout this whole ordeal Not that any doctor has offered but I personally am not O.K with taking them based on my recovery status but I am still treated as an addicted and not a patient of pain.) At times I believe they are right....it is in my head.

I am currently seeing a shrink, who specialize in pharmaceuticals. He is supportive and even suggested that I could have crspd,
He has prescribed
Lyrica (sever hypermania),

Neurontin( ive never been in such a fog my ex girlfriend got worried for me because I was unable to process anything),

Cymbalta ( which made me go completely insane)

Topamax( gave me very bad headaches and in turn broke up with my girlfriend who was nothing but supportive for more then 2 years), and a laundry list of other medication and had no luck with them. I am sensitive to medications and do not seem to adapt to them even after months of being on them. I was on Tramadol but I started to have some unsettling male issues and Tramadol seemed to exacerbate the problems. ( Tramadol was a huge leap for me, I do not care its "non-narcotic." It feels like a pain killer and can carry the same abuse pattern of drugs. Taking it made me very uneasy. it took months for me to agree to take it.

I am at a loss. I am having a bad night and well I do not know what to do. I will be seeing a new doctor on Monday to establish a new Primary care doctor and to tend to a few of the male issue that have developed. I want to tell him everything that is going on but its overwhelming to explain. It feels like every part of my body and mind is falling apart. At the same time I do not want him to think I am exaggerating, or fishing for drugs. I apologize for the long thread. To me, It just looks like a 26 year old in recovery complaining. I have lost all of my friends over the last 3 years. I have no one to call friend.

It is not that it bothers me so much but I used to be a popular, athletic person with a good job, great girlfriend and many friends. I am great at hiding whats going on so I appear to be this guy who dresses well, turned his back on his friends, who can laugh, play pool and free load off his parent. I deal with things by laughing at them, but that does not mean I am happy or dealing with things well. It would feel great to just break down and cry myself stupid, in fact, that would be very beneficial. But I can not. so I laugh.

(Not TMJ, and I forget the other ones that were ruled out, but it is not the "more common" neurological disorders. I put the more common in quotes because I do not want people to think I am minimizing anything by any means. everyone's pain is different and everyone's pain is serious. ) I have read many threads from this forum. From those threads I have concluded you guys know what I am talking about. bad doctors, no results, etc...that is why I am here. I do not expect answers just people to relate to. So yeah that it is it I guess.

[St George 2013]

I am so sorry for all the pain and issues you are having. I'm really not a good one to give advise so I'll let others come behind me who know so much more than I do. I have small fiber neuropathy that started in my feet and hands and is now moving up my legs and is in my upper right arm. My neuropathy is a result of diabetes and 6 rounds of chemo. I live with pain 24/7 and I'm only 9 1/2 months into this condition. I'm on 1800 mg of gabapentin a day and 60 mg of Cymbalta at night....so far nothing has helped. But I'm scheduled for a visit to Emory in Atl in March and hopefully they can give me back some quality of daily life.

Wow....you've been clean for 7 years this year...that is Awesome. It takes a very strong person to do that

I'm pretty wide open so I have no problem sharing my issues with my family and friends....lol.....I'm sorry that you've lost friends over this and maybe your closest ones need to know what is going on with you. Do you have the support of your family ? I sure hope so.

Please keep us posted and I'll follow up to see what kind of replies you get.

Hang in there.....you will meet many friends here...caring and supportive people with lots of information.

Debi from Georgia

[Darlene]

TheWillforLife,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Just have patience on the lost of friends, in some time the friends will meet you and keep you entertain. The last friends are the ones that are lost.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene