I hear ya Rrea! Seems like nothing touches my pain. My lastest trial is amitriptyline. Thought it might actually be helping, but now I think it was just a few good days that happen once in a while. Seems like they're selling us sugar pills, er sumpin', don't it? At least amitriptyline is a much cheaper sugar pill.

Yep, I hear ya.....
Ain't this just a fun pocket full of pozy's playing the pharmaceutic game?
To heck with trying to put together a financial portfolio!!
Let's just throw all our $$ in the drug industry. As if we haven't been thus far
Arrrg!

I got neuropathy after gastric bypass surgery, and my body literally cannot handle/process/absorb (don't know what the right word is) pills. Therefore, not only do none of the typical medicines for PN work for me (Lyrica, neurontin, amitriptyline, etc), but pain medicines don't even work at all (Tylenol with codeine 3 or 4 or Oxycodone). Luckily I was just put on the fentanyl patch--but the first one worked and the second and third have not. Frustrating... finally got a little bit of relief and now it's gone. If medicine truly is the only option for treatment, I'm a hopeless case.

That is odd that the second and third did not work....did you just pull it off then? That is a nasty wean! I assume you had other medication to take? Cold turkey off fentanyl is very difficult.

Stupid mosquitoes must like my meds....I got bit on the eyelid! They are like kamakaze pilots....they crash and bite...cripes, I itch everywhere, and am not sure my tomatoes or chickens are worth it....ugh.:( They care nothing about Deep Woods Off....I am more likely to die from the bug repellent than they are.:eek:

Where did I put my triamcinolone cream?? Ugh...thanks to the Morontin, I can't remember.:mad::mad:

Morontin.....
 

......is that in the same family as 'Dingbatazapine'?

......or....wheredidIparkmycarzine ?

Most definitely......I found the triamcinalone cream.....in my silverware drawer.

Morontin
 

Morontin...That's perfect!!! In the early stages of my slow Neurontin titration which began 20 days a go, I was very pleased that I appeared to be having good effects without any adverse reactions. I did notice that I was feeling more anxious, but blamed that on my tendency to experience this at times...and after all I was venturing beyond supplements because the discomfort had gotten to the point of interfering with my sleep. I became frustrated, however, that the initial good effects I saw with each dose increase did not appear to be long lasting...and I once again was not sleeping much. Although, I have a tendency to be anxious at times and a bit OCDish, I have never been seriously depressed. I suddenly found myself awake all night...having crying jags, and most frightening of all, questioning whether I wanted to live like this. So I wipe the tears from my exhausted eyes and actually read those labels placed on the Neurontin bottle by the pharmacist and there it is...mood changes, depression...thoughts of suicide. So off the Neurontin I go.. so yesterday, first day off, my neuropathy is at the worst pain level I've ever experienced. After having only slept a total of 2-3 hours during the past 3 nights, I finally fall asleep for a few hours awakening with the worst migraine I've ever experienced...BUT I'm no longer depressed, anxious or semi-suicidal...and my neuropathy, at least for now, is at a tolerable level... So this am, for me, Morontin is the perfect description for my recent adventures in the land of pharmacueticals. On the bright side, since I called in sick today and my son is home for the next 10 days, in between his out-of-state summer job and his return to college, and I'm feeling so much better...we're off to the mall together and out to lunch:) By the way, I know that others have had good experiences with Neurontin, and my intent in relaying my experience was not to discourage others from trying it, but to serve as a warning of its mood altering potential for some...and it felt good to vent a bit!

Thank you Lizziebeth
 

Good Feedback!

I'm glad you recognized that something wasn't right and took action.

I honestly feel as though I'm wasting my time in trying this med. It seems to work for others, but maybe I'm just wanting to see a big pink elephant in the room holding a neon sign saying "this med is working"......
The signs are subtle...and frankly after over a week and not feeling any difference, I'm probably gonna forget about it.

I just wondered if others remember if it took awhile to kick in or if some relief was felt sooner than not.

For me? I KNEW I had to get off when.....
 

there were 'spidery shadows' lurking in my peripheral vision! Not only did I NOT take the increased dosages that prescribing neuro were doling out? I changed Neuros! Saved my life, doing that!
Weaned off of neurontin in about 10 days and onto other meds in increments. Got what was left of my mind back AND I could speak to someone in complete sentences and not fall asleep in the middle! [I'd been sleeping 18 hours a day on neurontin, hefty doses too]
I LOOVE that phrase: MORONTIN!
Didn't do diddly-spit for me other than turn me into a zombie.
It took two other tries on different meds until I found one that worked for me. But some folks swear by the 'N' pills and I guess I am different? But then, we ALL ARE different.
As for bugs? I avoid them whenever possible. I WELT amazingly after any insect bite, always have, but it's worse now. No tolerance whatever. I used to use SkinSoSoft until a few years ago when they'd changed the formula, it now includes sunflower seed extract oil [which in concentrate is toxic according to the FDA] and I'd broken out in hives you can't imagine! I squint at 'ingredients' for anything going on my skin for the SSEI poisons...
Citronella [sharp, not sweet types] and lavenders as cleaners or repellants are my 'friends' now.
Hope this all helps somehow? :hug::hug::hug:'s - j

As for your cream? Seems like you put it in a good, safe place!

Well this was an interesting thread....I too have been feeling rather odd lately, like spooked to go to bed, and morose in the morning (that could be a movie title....morose in the morning) anyway....this is some odd feeling....I didn't think about it being Morontin...now I wonder....I think I will back off and see if that is it....cripes...I think it is best not to tinker with Mother Nature.

I have actually been thinking...is it the approach of Fall? Lessening of light? Am I depressed? I am neurotic? Why cant I sleep? I dunno....could be Morontin. I didn't bother to read the side effects thinking I would automatically have every one....maybe I should have read it. Thank you.

Sorry the Morontin (neurontin) is not working for you cyc, so far I am getting some relief from it, and I must be lucky I feel less depressed on it than I did on the cymbalta which is an antipressant. I hope sleep comes soon. I also take a sleep supplement with herbs in it and I find if I forget to take that I have trouble sleeping.

Oh, I am so touchy with meds, that they give me baby doses....

I think if I stay at a lower dose, like 300 to 600mg per DAY, I will be OK.

I am just a freak of nature.:o

Finally!
 

Hey by golly! :)
I think I AM getting some relief! It's the 2 wk mark for me and I have to admit....something seems 'different' .....as in a "Good" way!
I can't explain it! I too have been up late in the nite, but I have a couple of sleep ammunition commodities at my side if need be.... Melatonin is a good one, and it's a natural supplement.

I actually am feeling a bit like the 'other' me.......that 'me' of 6 years ago....who was actually FUN to be around! And the pain level has changed for the better.....
We'll see. Maybe I'm just in a happy little 'wishful thinking fog', but I really think I'll give this med another month

OR! Maybe it had something to do with the elephant rides?!

So glad you are feeling better Rrae.

Elephant rides would make you feel better!

Well, for now, I am canning the Neurontin.....just feeling way to goofy emotionally. A feeling of dread, for no good reason...I mean, if any mortal creature can say they don't have dread...which is really impossible...mortal creatures are just good at denial and for some reason, Neurontin strips me of my ability to deny.

So, I dunno what....stay on this minimal dose of Vic, since that does take off the edge....do a med holiday now and then to bring down my tolerance, and just live like this I guess.....use denial.

I gotta go clean my coop....my chickens are clean and I want to keep them that way.

PLEASE? THO? just don't go...
 

Cold Turkey on this stuff! I was lucky in that I'd eased off of it in less than 10 days and onto my other goodies? But, going CT off of such stuff can lead to real short term and possibly critical med issues.
I KNOW that you won't CT on this med, As I respect your knowledge and good sense too much. But others? They don't know about such things.
I truly hope others don't think I've condemned Neurontin? I don't think I have. But, it sure didn't work for me in that waay too many of the cited side effects? Well, were 'side effecting' ME! I know others need it to live and get by. For me, the S/E's were worse than the help the med should have been doing. Therefore, I'm soo cautious about adding new meds, and even supplements to my 'regime'.
Pain aside? [THAT'S a given?] I hope you get thru this all.
:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:!!!!!!!!!!'s - j

Wishful stinking
 

Yeahhhh.......this Neurontin thing, i just dunno...
I'm reealllly giving it the good ol' college try, but just don't know.
I think perhaps I may have attributed an exceptionally 'good' week -- on this med, when in fact I've had weeks like those few and far between during the whole PN nightmare.
Today, to be quite frank I feel like I've been hit by a freight train loaded with the Rockie's finest coal. For nooo apparent reason (?)
We had a huge (tropical-like) storm last night here in the mid-lands, so maybe the weather has something to do with this setback, but I'm pretty much second guessing this med working for me.
God Bless America for those it has helped.
But for me, i think i just need to let it go. (taper of course)
Still unsure tho, (and a bit cranky :eek:), and they say never make decisions whilst thy mentality is in high gear.....:plain:

GRRRRRR, grass stains on my white capri pants.....stupid chickens!

I have 7 wayward birds that insist on squeezing thru the 3 by 3 inch squares in the electric fence....teenage birds (one has grown too big to fit and stays put).....and they go rummage in my garden, which is fine, since I am not selling what is in there....it's gourds and not edible stuff, but, I don't want them in contact with wild birds, especially during migration.....darn things....

I chase them back 4-5 times per day, and no, I can't put in any more fencing. I just took down that plastic snowfencing stuff, that kept them in but pulled down my electric fence poles. Ugh....I am almost ready for chicken soup, but these chickens are so pretty, I want them for chicks next spring. I think they will have pretty chicks....if I keep a few, which hubby says is not happening, but, you know....wooops. I think I need a few replacements, don't you?

Anyway, I am tired of running thru the asparagus yelling rwwwarrrr, and shaking a stick, then running round and round the fenced area, still yelling with my big stick, then catching these wayward youngsters and dropkicking them over the fence....(ONLY KIDDING) they are nicely launched into an orbit that lands them safely in the middle of the run....these are my pretties now, I wouldn't hurt them....not even a feather is missing. They are petrified of me, and the others come to me when I say 'chick, chick, chick, chiiiiiiick.' What a dilemma. This was the batch I got later and the older bigger chicks kind of pick on them, no matter what I do....they are not real mean, they share the coop and food, but they just act like 7th grade girls.

Chickens are not so different than people. This is more entertaining than watching CNBC. No?

Yes they are and more entertaining:D

Sounds like your chickens give you a lot of joy Cyclelops, it's our pets (animals) that help us get through this thing PN. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and would not be without them.:circlelove::circlelove:

doc put me on 300mg lyrica and 25 mg amtryptoline first day. was in la la land for a week. Stopped cold turkey, no problem because I didnt know about side effects. I can still up or down dosage of anything without much grief. Folks dont try this at home!!!!

Oh, I have 3 labradors too! I have had some pretty large menageries! Yes, my animals do give me a lot of joy. So do my kids and grandkids.:)

Ok I'm DONE >:(
 

This Neurontin thing is just making me question the law of physics in general!! :eek:
It's obvious that it hasn't helped one iota with the pain.....and I've been a border-line bipolar mess since I've started this!
I've read on a couple of the other forums here at NT something to do with 'Depression Induced Neurontin'......and it's no secret I've battled depression for years.....
But GOODLORD I've had 2 episodes during this 6 week trial, one was a complete mental breakdown in which I truly wanted to DIE. Just SICK OF IT!
And 2 wks later I am beginning to feel another mental decline!
I'm tapering off this stuff.
I'm sick of being a medication guinea PIG :eek::eek:

Oh yes, not to mention the complimentary 2 week titration packet of SAVELLA my doctor wanted me to try!
And yes, I've read the nightmares, so just peg me stupid and call it good.

.......:o......good morning ? ....

Rrae,
I can certainly relate to the Neurontin induced depression. As I described in my last post on this thread, Neurontin led to a feeling of hopelessness that I've never experienced before. The good news is that my mood rapidly returned to baseline after I discontinued it. By the way, I was told to just stop the Neurontin because I had only been taking it for 17 days, however, within 24 hours of stopping it I had the worst headache that I've ever experienced. I am currently finding some relief with low dose Elavil. I hope you feel better soon. Take care, Liz

OK, I will plunk away with this cast....at least a few of my fingers are free....

MY CURE for chronic pain is a good solid bout of acute pain....the I think I am gonna die kind. Now things dont seem so bad....well, for a while. I am just glad the hand-bone pain has subsided to a dull roar.

Then, of all things...my kidneys dumped on me.

I am off everything but my trusty vicodin, and the smallest titch of pramipexole I can handle. I think if I had left things up to the docs, I would be freaking dead. PN seems the least toxic option, au naturale.....ugh. For me to have neurontin work, I would be a puddle....just a blob in a low spot...a miniswamp witout a name.

pardon the errors.....I am in a cast, in pain and acidotic.:mad:

Good grief!:Sigh:

Good to have you back at NT, but didn't expect that your kidneys would go plop and you'd be in acidosis land. Do you know what happened?

One thing that's still 100% intact is your clever sense of humor. And you're probably right - if you'd left everything to the docs, you might have found yourself in a new, very small home. Great that you know as much as you do.

Hope the pain give up the ghost at least somewhat.

Sheltiemom

Kidneys!?!!
 

Oh DEAR! What's up with the kidneys Cy??
Not good!
I'll check out your other thread (Surgery/Speedy Recovery) in case you explained there, so you don't have to repeat.
Glad the bone pain is subsiding......just please take it easy! And, like Sheltiemom says....don't lose that sense of humor!

Thank you lizziebeth for your reply....glad you're doing better on the Elavil.
:hug:

I didn't got much worse on Neurontin as well. It was a period of deep realization and zombification at the same time. Aches I had never had before and Neuropathy got much worse. I fear that this is what most people go thru, but are not so lucky to come to the realization that the medication only begets more medication. When I stopped the Neurontin, I was able to create a baseline from where I could identify what triggers my pain. Once I identified my triggers, I was able to avoid them more and more. I noticed that leaning this way or sleeping that way set it off. So now I was able to avoid the triggers and pain. As well I developed a routine and began walking as much as possible.

I will admit at the time I was taking the Ayurvedic herbs- Bacopa and Gotu Kola which was tremendously helpful coming off the Neurontin as some of its effects mirror that of Neurontin. But, those herbs also combat oxidative stress, lift mood and most importantly don't make you worse. Later I realized the importance of antioxidants and supplements in combating this thing. Although my regimen has changed much over the past 2 years, one of my most helpful supplements has been Pomegranate Extract. I think it is the Nitric Oxide stimulation(circulatory) it affords in addition to its role in combating oxidative stress.

Oh, it's just the same old hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, low bicarb, high chloride, normal anion gap thing=distal renal tubular acidosis.

Only thing that worries me is the doc wants me to stick with ivig, and my thought is that at this point...that is not a good idea.

I feel like poo, and am up 10-20 times per nite too pee.....so, between poo and pee....that sums it up.:(

I am off to see some renal and endocrine wizard next to see how much iatrogenic damage they can cook up.

I had the sense not to take that huge increase of diltiazem they ordered fir me, two weeks ago....some little birdie told me not to....good think or my calcium would have dumped....

Oh, and I am also off to medical genetics....can hardly wait.

The surgery went well....but was quite painful...akin to putting one's hand in the tracks of a Sherman tank.