Strange things the meds do to our bodies -
 

Strange things the meds do to our bodies - the side effects the Dr's don't tell you about.

Hi guys,

I've started this thread because I'm curious about the strange things our meds do to our bodies and I'd like to know and if you're willing to share what your experiences are.

I'm taking some pretty serious meds like Oxynorm and OxyContin along with the Fentynal patch and a host of other bits and pieces, they still don't work but take the edge off my pain.*

My appetite isn't great, I don't feel like food anymore and I eat because the meds would probably cause ulcers and God knows what else.

I get terrible nightmares and my hubby wakes me up screaming, they are usually where I'm fighting or looking for something. Personally I think it's my bodies way of ridding itself of toxins and my search for a surgeon to help me and of course dealing with pain when you just have enough.

I suffer from awful over heating and the sweating is very annoying. Like a hot flush only it couldn't be.

FAO Ladies; my monthlys have stopped and I'm definitely not pregnant! Has anyone had this one?*

I've also gained about 4stone in weight which I truly hate because I'm uncomfortable in my own skin and the person staring back at me in the mirror is not me! I've hardly anything to fit me. Mind you I'm not getting out much because I can't walk far so I tend to live in sweat pants. Makes me feel very attractive indeed in this strange body of mine. I used to be very outgoing, gym, swimming and walking was my thing, stress therapy I called it!

I appreciate any feedback from anyone who feels like an alien in their own bodies and those that have gone through it and come out the other side and are now back to normal. Please PM me if you'd rather not post, I need a bit of support and my family and even my hubby who is great doesn't fully understand and he tries. I'm going through a very hard time right now and I'm so afraid that the next surgeon I meet will also turn me down, some have already done so by return letter and for no good reason.

Love to all and I know we all suffer or have suffered the most dreadful pain and I hope the SCS's out there are working, I hope to get mine back after I get any surgery sorted.

Sinéad xxxx :) :hug:*

Attractive
 

Oh dear Sinéad, you are beloved among us, for you bring the reality to home so openly and freely. It is that openness which endears you to all of us. [and no, I could not just write this in an email, because I am sensitive to your husband and his feelings] You hurt. You are in agony. You try doctor after doctor, and are refused, reminding me of my original unsuccessful quest through pain doc's recommendations to find a surgeon. Cast out because I AM A LAWYER. Bah!!

Then there was a young neurosurgeon, who, too late in my case took on the treatment of my lower spine. He did wondrous work, then later another surgery was performed by him to remove vertebral spur from the fusion outgrowth [I produce bone like some other produce scar tissue] then carefully, ever so carefully removed scarring from my spinal cord and nerve roots at S1. [oh yes, I generate scars like a veritable factory] Then his job was done. Pain doc's quest to manage pain via meds came next.

You know that story all too well, so lets delve into what you introduce. Irritability, increased weight [75 lbs to be exact] oh the word attractive, interesting how it is an issue for both sexes and yet each denies the issue as to the other. But, clothing, now that is a reality.... none of the clothes tailored for me at 225 lbs. my optimal weight when I was athletic, strong, big by genome..... none fit now, so gotta lose weight ultimately. Yup. I remember being prisoner to our bedroom in pain because meds took off the edge NOT the pain, while making me dopey [a character in some children's film].

So being drugged produced a mind reduced in capability [I did not even drive], a body swelled beyond its common bounds, drowsiness overwhelming, AND the coup de gras - suicidal ideation When weaning away from the med dependence was all but complete. Oh yes, how I despise meds. Necessary, I suppose. Tasteful, not in the least, and I CANNOT IMAGINE ANYONE who is reduced to the black market to obtain mind altering mood altering substances which are controlled for a reason.

Thus, here am I, off the meds, still overweight, and oh yes, since meds also produce some effect of stifling testosterone especially when used over a long period of time, that once muscular chest is now an item of concern for my pain doc, and embarrassment to me. Cloaked am I. Buying athletic underwear at Sports Stores for its compression factor. HAH!! And when I was a kid, people used to poke fun at older guys like me wondering whether they needed a %@$ , yeah, I would say attractiveness has gone to H e L L in a handbasket, all courtesy of the pharmeceutical world. Hallelujah. I am so blessed my dear wife loves me for the person who is living behind the overweight and misshapen mask of moi.

There you go,
An answer from a friend,
Mark56:o

Mark
 

As always thank you for such kind and straight talking words.

You are a true friend and although you make no secret that you were turned down because you are a lawyer makes very little sense when all you want is to rid the pain. One neuro surgeon told us it was because I was second hand work. In 1995 when I had my first surgery he wasn't a neuro surgeon but probably
an unknown Dr still learning his craft in the US so how this is logical is beyond me.

Chat soon, has Samson arrived yet or is DIL still confine herslf to bed unnecessarily?

Love Sinéad xxx :) :hug:

Sinéad
 

Hey, this is a great thread idea. I like it when we can discuss these other issues aside from SCS all the time.
Yep, this is what has become of us do to our struggles with chronic pain. But you know, things can always make a turn for the better and we might be able to be more happy with the skin we're in. At least, that's my internalized hope that I carry with me. :)
The weight gain for instance. Sinead I know exactly what you mean. When I was taking Lyrica, I put on over 40lbs as rapid weight gain. I hated EVERY minute of it....every breath I took, I hated. I was very very uncomfortable in my skin and like you said, couldn't recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. :(
Since then, tho, I've been off Lyrica for a couple of yrs and the weight has finally melted off. One thing that really helped me was being put on a thyroid medication due to my slow thyroid (hypothyroid). I think I've asked you this before, but have you had your thyroid checked? If it's underactive, one feels very tired all the time and weight gain is an issue, amongst other things.

I too am on heavy pain meds. Fentanyl and hydrocodone. The patches literally SAVE me from being disabled. If it weren't for them, I would not be able to get too far from my bed.
Between these meds and my back spasm med (Baclofen), I am having a problem with shorterm memory. It gets terribly embarrassing at times and I'm always making stupid mistakes due to forgetfulness.
Case in point: I bought a nice CD player today and it was in the back of my truck. I decided to stop and get gas and I was heading for the carwash and ALMOST went thru it with my new CD player in the back! Thank God my husband realized what I was doing! :eek:

So, yes, meds definitely cause side effects.
Maybe it's your meds that are causing your monthly's to be out of whack? I think you're still in your 30's right? So, one would think the 'change of life' wouldn't be starting yet. When I was in my late 30's, I was having alot of female problems and my dr told me that it is possible to start getting some signs of midlife change in some women.

And when I hit 40, EVERYTHING started going to #@&%! :eek:

This is all VERY frustrating......and we're all in this together. I think it really helps to bring it up like this and talk about it. Hearing other people share their issues somehow helps us to realize that we aren't alone in this.

Try not to let it consume you. I allowed that to happen to me and I fell into some pretty bad episodes of depression. A good friend said to me "You should try to see yourself the way God sees you"..... a beautiful creature. Let your good qualities and gifts come to the surface and realize that you are much more than what the weight scale is telling you. And like I said, there's a chance that something could be right around the corner that will help us turn ourselves around, such as losing weight and getting better pain management. We must not quit believing!

See yourself the way God sees you, dear Sinead

:hug: Rae :hug:

The main side effect I get from the pain medications is that they knock me out. I get so drowsy that after I take it I have to stop in the middle of what I'm doing and sleep for awhile because I just cannot keep my eyes open. Not exactly an option when you are in classes or trying to get school work done, which is why I usually only take them at night. Unfortunately, while it is hard to concentrate through bad pain, at least I am awake so it is the better option. Another big one I get is lightheadedness. And I also didn't have any appetite for a long while, Sinead, and now I'm wondering if that was from the medication I was on.

There are other medications I could only be on briefly, like Lyrica which caused one my legs to swell up and have a strong sensation of pressure, or Cymbalta, which gave me terrible headaches.

It is sad that these medications that are supposed to help us can do so many negative things to our bodies :grouphug:

Thank you Sinéad
 

We love you back here in the old US of A!!! Your prior "doc" who called you second hand work was well and truly a Fraidy Cat as we say across the pond. I mean, come on, you presented a case to demonstrate skill, and you are turned down for fear you might not present yet another "notch on the gunslinger's gun?" that is pure and simple insanity, timidity, insecurity of the highest level. So there!!!!!

Samson will arrive between now and Sunday, as on Sunday labor will be induced. I fly home on Saturday, leaving my beloved wife here to help in this home of ignorant refusal to accept advice. Believe it or not, when I rented a car for independence, DIL was proclaiming she would not take any more of this, meaning I was not subservient under her control. This wacko behaviour is not of my liking, so I will leave on Saturday as planned. Let her blow her top again when the stretch limo arrives Saturday morning to deliver me to the airport..... as she thinks Cleo and I are spending our son's inheritance. This is a real "go figure" situation.

God be with you, our Dear Friend Sinéad,
best regards to your hubby,
Prayers for the both of ye,
Our love,
Mark and Cleo :hug:zz:smileypray::smileypray:

Stranger in Mirror...
 

Yes, I see someone in the mirror I hardly recognize. Had a few lbs. more than I would like; but at least firm. Now after the last few years, the tummy droops, as well as the rest of the body. YIKES !!

I do have to say, for the most part, my meds do not make me too dopey (my husband might say otherwise). I do take 60mg's every 6 hrs. of Oxycontin = 240 Mg's per day and Oxycondone (percodet) 7.5/325 up to 4 times a day for breakthru pain. The constipation due to these meds is awful and because of so much straining (do take daily laxatives as well) have had the bladder drop and needed Cystocele surgery. Then because bladder being moved; lower bowel came down requiring Rectocele surgery.

I do take some vallium for muscle pain/anxiety which can make me a bit sleepy at times. Also take Ambien CR every night to sleep without pain. It is unbelievable how that removes the pain so one could just drift off to la la land without pain. (just have to be careful not to stay in la la land).

Of course, there are the meds for other problems than pain, like daily meds for edema, blood pressure, cholesterol, and the need for daily Priolsec (heartburn, etc. due to meds).

The short term memory.... now I am starting to wonder how much has to do with getting older, or is it my meds. Like Rrae mentioned, it's some of the small things, or maybe not so small, but would just mention someone's name and a minute later, couldn't recall the name again. Just things like that which after too often in a day, get a bit upsetting.

But....without the meds; especially the ones to treat pain and sleep, I don't know what I would do to get thru the day. Do they take all the pain away...no; but at least enough that I can still do much more than I could do if I did not have them.

We all need each other here on NT for support. Never know what ideas some might have to contemplate. So nice to have neighbors from "across the pond"here as well.

We are blessed to have one another.:hug:
With hope and prayers, we'll get thru..one day at a time.

(Gerry)

Mark, I am sorry to hear your experience to be there for Samson's birth turned out to be stressful. Maybe too many ideas were just not appreciated with a mother-to-be in distress. Hope the inheritance is really not an issue. That would be quite sad.

But....I guess Samson will make his showing by Sunday. Years from now, he will hear how everyone was anxiously awaiting his appearance. Happy days will soon be here.

Prayers for all of you.

(Gerry)

Well Gerry
 

It is all so sad from the perspective of the controlling attitude. This is not a product of pregnancy but was part of the fully equipped DIL our son married and whom we had never met until after the Justice of the Peace had pronounced them H and W.

I arrived last Friday late in the limo. First bad thing. I received a lecture on the benefits of frugality from a son who fails to recognize God had blessed us with enough to make it for seven years of drought with no income. Interesting, that, because in the years of plenty we had built an orphanage for children in Bangladesh to house and educate SOME of the children who are led like Hansel and Gretel into the city and abandoned by parents who cannot afford their upkeep. He riled at that expenditure as well, back then, because he thought it a waste. We saw it as God's good work.

So Saturday morn, I awaited a cab as family returned from shopping [I had overslept]. Son started in on me about renting a car, and DIL was standing behind him ranting, "I've just had enough, I've just had enough!" Enough what, oh, and by the way I was asked that evening whether we had managed to save "their" 12 place setting of sterling we had assembled out of family inheritance. Ahhhhh, I smell greed.

Instead, my wife and I pray our youngsters here in NC will find Jesus by opening their hearts to Him. He is scorned in this household, so Cleo and I hold hands and pray in silence at tableside before partaking. God will out here in this house of scorn. Interesting as well, when their first was stillborn last year this time we were told to leave our religion home, but God came with us anyway, and then as little mama was about to give up her babe, she cried out "isn't there a chaplain who can baptize our baby?" Toward what end? She had been the initiator of no faith welcome. So, being an elder, I took our son to the hallway, said I had annointing oil with me and would bless Lily if they desired. That was all it took,and I held Lily to bless her In nomine Patri, et Fili, et Spiritu sancti. Then I prayed and sang a lullaby I composed over her still and very small body.

Now very clear of mind without meds, I pray fervently for our children, as they are about to bring a little young man into this world.
May God and the Mother watch over him in all things,
Prayin for these and for all of you,
Mark and Cleo:grouphug::smileypray:

Oh Mark!!!
 

Mark its so sad reading your post...........I cannot understand how someone could be so 'cold' toward caring inlaws who are there to help and are only getting, what I would call nothing short of 'abuse'!!! It must be heartbreaking for both you and Cleo. Especially after the stillbirth of baby Lily last year was so heartwrenching for you all. I remember it so well it was a very dark time. So wouldnt you think this being such a joyous occasion that your DIL would look forward to what is going to make a huge change in their lives and STOP all this controlling behaviour and making everyone feel uncomfortable.

I feel you feel you HAVE to go home, whether you can get extra leave or not, because of her dreadful behaviour.......its awful to read and sad too.

I just hope that little Samson will make appearance before Saturday so that you can meet him and then bid your farewell in your LIMO and you GO AND GET your limo too. Dont mind what they think of you 'wasting their inheritance' you are alive and kicking and Cleo too so their inheritance is a LONG way off yet!!!!;)

I pray for you and Cleo and your family and hope this little baba makes an appearance very very soon.....

Take care

Jackie

dear gerry

all of what you said
actually you spoke and
wrote what i would
thank you for your Spirit

someone who cares

Hi there mis amigos :)
 

Hi all,

Thank you for replying to my thread and yes it has turned out to be a good question that no-one really brought up whether we just didn't think of it or maybe it's a bit taboo *but we do need to talk about the other side of our pain, how it affects your day to day living and the things that this pain stops us enjoying, our bodies have let us down.

I gather we all or most of us have a problem with what we see in the mirror, I take 600mg of Lyrica per day and I'm convinced it is this that has caused the increase in weight because it's not what I'm eating or the portion sizes and no matter how much I tried I couldnt lose an oz so thank you Rae for reassuring me and all those who read this thread.*
As for the short term memory, mine is completely useless, I have to write everything down on my iPad and I have one of those medicine boxes so I know if I've taken my meds and if not then I know why I'm in agony.
The constipation and bladder problems are an awful combination of the meds and the problems they cause.

Gerry do you have a cholesterol problem? Is this something you had before your back problems or is it a side effect of these awful but necessary meds.

I haven't experienced much lightheadedness that Yellow describes but I bet some of your meds or a combination of them is causing it. I'm taking 160mg of Cymbalta and I thankfully haven't noticed a problem with them but that doesn't mean that people wdon't, I read somewhere Cymbalta is an appetite suppressant and I've had some of this too but it's up and down, we had KFC as a treat for dinner this evening and do you think I could manage it, nope! Such a shame! :)

Mark, my heart goes out to you and Cleo with your DIL, she sounds like a strange character, it's your money and you should spend it how you see fit and they shouldn't think about inheritance, I think it's just selfish, life is for living here and now, it's not about keeping money for a greedy DIL and I've told my parents the same thing when anyone jokes about it. *Perhaps they are barely making ends meet at the moment and a limo might be seen as flaunting it a bit.*
I can also see where they are coming from with not wanting God in their house, where was God when they lost baby Lily? I think this will change overtime but it must be hard for you when it's now they need God the most. Please God all will go well on Sunday and Cleo will be back home to you soon enough, how does she cope not having a car to escape. Are your DIL parents around to help. I love to have my MIL around when things are going on but I still want my own Mam more, I think that's just human nature.

Thank you all for your replies and please God we can all eventually come off these meds and get on with more important things.

Love to all
God bless

Sinéad xxxx :) :hug: :hug:

Mark....I so agree with Jackie. Is it possible, they would rather not have parents/in-laws there at all? Maybe the question should be asked. How difficult this must be for Cleo to remain there as well.

God is there......whether you and Cleo are there or not. God will not leave. Of course, God always gives free will to call upon Him. Can only hope and pray for them.

Gerry

Ahh the beautiful portrait- Behold I stand at the door
 

AND KNOCK!! I love that image, and dwell upon it whenever I meet someone new and am allowed to let them know I feel blessed, how are they? I can just see Christ at the door to their heart knocking, and I am ever excited by the uplift in their eyes when they recognize what I have said. How sad DIL and our son even before Lily was born would not allow Christ spoken in their home [for each was raised with a Christ focused home]. Even so, we pray.

Back to meds. I was on 1,800mg Lyrica per day when released from my neurosurgeon back to my pain doc specialist. He genuinely feared for my liver as I had been on such quantities of Lyrica for nearly two years under surgeons care since surgery had been so frequent in those early days of our seven year famine. Doc took me down off of Lyrica with a preference for Neurontin another nerve pain med which I ultimately weaned totally from among the opiates as well after SCS implantation.

I have been so glad to get away from the pain meds. Now on gout med..... something or other I have forgotten the name, and need to scope out the bottle. Gout. Ick. Amazing how it feels so like peripheral neuropathy with the undying burning of the feet and lower legs. He did allow as how were it not for the FACT my legs below the knees are stark numb, gout would feel so much worse. I am just amazed numb limbs which cannot feel penetration of glass can sense gout's burn. I am totally confused.

So, sign me confused,
And the limo? It was actually less costly than taking Super Shuttle, how about that? I used to ride limos all of the time for work. Hah!! Inheritance, Bah! I told my parents to spend it all on disposables and such, you know, eating out, having parties, enjoying themselves, cruises, and such. Precisely what they did until Dad came down with the Alzheimers curse.
But these kiddos, they are receiving a boatload of prayers Christ will touch them on the shoulder with responsibility as they take on parenthood,
Thus for all of you and these younguns, I pray,
Cleo will be well, for she is protected by Christ, and I am the sole one who is demonized as non-submissive,
I readily submit to Christ,
Mark56:grouphug:

Sinéad ....I had the cholesterol issues for years prior to any of these problems. Actually, my cholesterol has improved (in spite of my cutting the simvastatin in half due to all the articles about statins and PN) since I munch every evening on a container of dry multi-grain Cheerios, my cholesterol has improved. I think they might be right about their commercials regarding cholesterol. I have not changed my diet. In fact, my eating habits are not good. I do not have much of an appitite; but do eat and enjoy sweets.

I was given a script for Cymbalta a few years ago by my former Pain Specialist . I really felt terrible. Very tired; just wanted to lay down. I was getting depressed because of lack of ambition. Also, really affected memory quite a bit. Only stayed with Cymbalta for a short time. My sister-in-law came down with shingles this past November. One of the meds she was given was Cymbalta. Her mermory was really affected. My husband took her to a new doctor who took her off all meds. Eventually, he wanted to put her back on the Cymbalta because she complained of some pain and the doctor thought she might have some depression. I had asked my husband to please ask the doctor to hold off on the Cymbalta. Thank God he did. Joyce is back to her old self. I'm sure the Cymbalta alone was not the total cause of her previous memory problem; but could only relate what had happened to me. Everyone is different and if the Cymbalta is helping you; that's what counts.

Prayers coming your way.

Gerry

p.s. Husband's father was from County Cork, Ireland

Gerry- Many Thanks!
 

If that is what Cymbalta does to memory, a person in my line of work cannot afford to suffer memory lapse [It was horrible when portions of my memory were erased by the concussion from the wreck], so I am GLAD you mentioned memory!

You see, Sinéad? THIS is precisely WHY your thread was needed!!! We gotta share and learn. Goodness gracious sakes alive [my dear Grandma R used to say that, hands on hips] we have needed such a thread for a good little while!! Before you know it, MrsD or Chemar will boost you to Sticky Status... then you will be FAMOUS!!!

May I have your autograph before it becomes too expensive to collect?:D
I am not so much "tongue in cheek" here as recognizing the good you have done,
Yup,
I reckon you could say we are all blessed,
Oh, my, did I write something off point?
Prayin,
Mark56:grouphug:

I have been on meds since Feb '05. I was on Neurontin and then changed to Lyrica. I was also taking Zydol, Protium, Amitriptyline, Tylex, Neurofen, lido deem patches. Lignocaine and Ketamine infusions.

In Sept '08 I met with my pain Consultant. Immediately he took me off Lyrica. I had gone from a confident, strong, assertive woman to a bumbling mess. I thought at first my memory going was my age!!!! But have since learned that it was the Lyrica causing the memory loss. Oh my it was so debilitating. Bad enough having to deal with all the pain of my back problem but
Then having to put up with the memory loss was worse!!!! Holding a conversation was just impossible. Just as well I had to be retired early from work as I doubt I would have been able to hold down my job with all those meds.

As regards my headaches. I'm told they are 'overuse' of medication migraine!!!!!
Well what can I say. Guilty. But then without them I can't function. At the minute I'm on Zydol, Baclofen, Protium, lidoderm patches two per day plus Neurofen. I stopped the Amitrypteline as I felt they definitely weren't helping with the eye distortion. But the meds definitely have had a terrible effect on me over the past seven years.

I have my stim plus the meds to keep me going. I can't go without the meds but my mind is a little clearer. Well as clear as it can be for my age too, which doesn't help;)

Jackie :grouphug:

This is my first post as a new person on this site. I relate very much with what you say. You are not alone.

So Glad to See YOU
 

Welcome Inthesameboat!!! This is become a family of wondrous people who reach out in support, each for the other. Our founder and riotously funny Rae will no doubt be along and wrap her arms of gentle love completely around you win welcome! As for me, it is a glory to see you here, and I hope you will find this forum to be fulfilling as I have over the years I have participated here!

Thank you for sharing on the medications thread lovingly started by our dear Sinéad, a delightful and deeply in pain young lady from across the pond in Ireland. She had the insight to think "well, there should be something said about what these meds do to our bodies." She is so right.

A hearty grouphug for you in welcome!:grouphug:
Prayin,
Mark56:)

I was on atenolol for several years for migraine prophylaxis. I can't say it helped one iota in that respect, but it was required by our ins. co. (another case of insurance companies playing doctor) in order for them to pay for the Maxalt I needed as an abortive.

Now I find (or am trying to make the link) that the atenolol may indeed have been the cause of my peripheral neuropathy (PN), so apparently it WAS doing something... just not what it was supposed to do.

Many of the meds I've been prescribed I simply don't/won't take. It's a constant weighing of benefit vs. virtual incapacitation for 1-2 days from what I call medication "hangover".

I've been given something for anxiety that I'm just plain afraid of because it may have caused my wife's worsening tinnitus.

I went through the gammut of anti-depressants, anti-seizures, and anti-what-have-yous for chronic pain, all to no avail, and all robbing me of any/everything but existence (zombification to some of you).

Having PN, I also have a scrip for gabapentin, which fortunately, I was able to talk the neurologist into writing for much less than he wanted/tried. This is another zombifying concoction for some people (myself included) with some nasty side effects. I had to take it a few times, but fortunately, I responded well to R-Lipoic Acid, and haven't needed the gabapentin since taking the RLA daily.

A lot of people fear acetaminophen (Tylenol, Panadol, paracetamol) because of its long-term effect on the liver. They don't have to. An inexpensive anti-oxidant supplement - N-Acetyl Cisteine can protect the liver for those who (need to) take meds containing acetaminophen.

I was on asacol for a time for (misdiagnosed) Crohn's Disease. All it did was exacerbate my symptoms, and did permanent damage so now I cannot take NSAIDs at ALL (save one, and I still have to be very careful).

I've learned, despite having faith/trust in my doctors (it's taken me a long time to assemble my team) to research everything on my own before having any prescriptions filled. On occasion, I've had to call back and discuss alternatives, which I can usually make a case for. No meds have been perfect, but some are less harmful/risky than others. Ironic that medicine often boils down to the lesser of evils rather than the better of solutions (though they'd like to equate them).

My wife was on a statin for a time for high cholesterol, and those meds can be very scary indeed. I found online that niacin can lower cholesterol as well as statins (and while not without some risks/SEs) without many of the worst risks/effects. She started on Niaspan - a prescription sustained release niacin, until we found we could get the exact same formulation OTC for less than 1/10 the cost. Her cholesterol is doing fine. SHe's about to have it tested again in anticipation of lowering the dosage.

That's all I'm thinking of at the moment; some of these things have had an effect on my memory as well, particularly with my vocabulary. I was never a Wm F. Buckley (or even close) but I could often understand what he was talking about (with a dictionary handy :D)

Oh, yeah... I put my foot down at Dopamax/Stupamax, and got dropped by a doctor for doing so. I know it's helped some people, but the risk wasn't worth it for me.

Doc

Time for a "We're Spending Our Kids' Inheritance!" bumper sticker and a copy of Die Broke: A Radical Four-Part Financial Plan left in obvious plain sight. :icon_twisted:
http://www.amazon.com/Die-Broke-Radi.../dp/0887309429

Doc

We intend
 

To fund a foundation for the care of situations so very like that Ginnie and Eva describe..... that is if my next invention, and it is a doozie, takes off as the market place can do for it. Our patent lawyer is still trying to pick his jaw up off of the floor.

A second foundation for a special needs child we have, and the others should do very nicely.

So...... are you selling the bumper stickers Doc?
An interested customer,
Moi:cool:

Nope, but I've seen many of them. Hold da phone...
... I don't see the bumper stickers, per se, but T-shirts, license plate frames, and more useless junk for greedy kids to complain/sweat about can be found googling the phrase....
Google: "We're Spending Our Kids' Inheritance!" (include quotes)

Doc

There Ya Go Doc
 

A whole knew product line for you. Bumper stickers, and in order to avoid potential copyright infringement, change it up, no Quotes- Yup, we spent their inheritance! That oughta do, charge $2 at a retail outlet near you, cost $0.10 to produce, a dollar to the retailer and you capture 90 cents per to cover shipping to retailers, staff [hire people with cardboard signs] and a workspace. Goodness, if you sold a million, that is $900K for cheap workspace, workerbees, shipping. Not bad.
Sorry, hard for me not to think about potential business endeavors,
Sheepish,
Mark56:o

Been down that road, including copyright issues. It's the overhead that kills you. I shot my health on my last business - 16 hr. days, 10 years without a vacation... No thanks.

I've got all the ideas I'll ever need for businesses, but not the health, stamina, capital, or wherewithal (much less interest) to undertake anymore.

Maybe all those potential business endeavors could be your legacy to those kids(?) :rolleyes:

Doc

Well......
 

Got a business running around the globe right now. Have a new patent to process for a shift in business and medicine as though going from candles to lightbulbs, so I am assembling the initial team for proof of concept and have 12 for that. We are working.... and goodness, the notion is not to just enrich by legacy children of our bodies, but people around the globe who need help, thus the foundation idea. I was being funny earlier, now I am not, and my patent lawyer who is picking his jaw up from the floor said he feels the newbie project is bigger than Gates.... I corrected him, for it is bigger than all Gates combined. Thus the planning for a foundation to reach out and help a whole passle of folks. God will show the way.

Kinda humble in that way,
ya know,
God gives dictation, I am the stenographer,
That sorta thing,
Yup,
Mark56 [in awe]

Doc,
 

Just want to thank you for so much info on the previous page. I take Oxycodone with Tylenol about 4 times a day for breakthru pain. Taking all that Tylenol for the past few years adds upl I will look into the N-Acetyl Casteine. Also, will look into the Niacin for lowering cholesterol.

Still like the Bumper Sticker idea!

Gerry

NAC is what's used intravenously in hospitals to treat acetaminophen toxicity and overdose. Consideration to combining/including it in all acetaminophen meds has been given consideration, but dismissed because of cost, and that it would amount to a patentable change that would drive prices skyward. Instead, they decided to (somewhat recently) lower the maximum daily dose recommendations.

Information on taking NAC prophylactically is now out on the web, but difficult to find/separate from the toxicity/OD info. (else I'd post it - neglected to bookmark it at the time :Doh:) Here's a link to the first mention I found years ago - a compendium of discussions compiled by Steven B. Harris, M.D.
http://yarchive.net/med/tylenol.html

It gets really interesting about halfway down ±.

Doc

Please do, Gerry. It's an option, but not for everyone (what is?)
Wife had some initial flushing, but between taking an aspirin or vitamin C 1/2 hour before the niacin, doing this at bedtime, and acclimation, it hasn't been a problem.

Doc

Doc, with all the Tylenol I take, not sure aspirin a good idea. I take Prilosec daily. Asked doctor, a while back about taking aspirin for inflamation and he said if your stomach could handle it, then okay. Did not handle well at all. Already take multi-vitamin with C so maybe the Niacin is not for me. But will seriously consider N-Acetyl Casteine when next ordering from Iherb.


(Ger)

Liver aides
 

Yes, thanks Doc for the N-Acetyl Casteine idea.
I've been using Milk Thistle to help protect the liver, as that was the only one I knew of. At one time my liver enzymes shot up pretty high, so my pain doc lowered my hydrocodone from 10/500 to 10/325.
Even just that small amount of decrease really adds up in the amount of acetaminophen not being consumed.

Rae
:hug:

More sad news and let downs
 

Hi guys,
Today I had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon to see if he could help me me feel better in any way, it didn't go well. The Dr wont agree to anything. Even if it is possible to operate on top of the nerve root the the best he can offer me is only 2% success rate. He examined me and because today there was no evidence of the nerve impingement he took the view that it didn't exist and part of my problem is psychological, unfortunately i have heard such BS before, how can anyone that is clearly in pain put an act on. Although I wasn't expecting a good outcome I'm terribly upset as is my husband and my family.*
I have an appointment with my Pain Consultant tomorrow and im hoping he might agree to two scs's one for my back and one for my leg. Although I've just read that Nevro have brought out one SCS to cover both back and leg pain.

We know that 2 scs's can be done and we know Pain Doc can in theory do it but..... I'm very messed up I don't know what to think but I'll be okay, I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow with Pain Doc.

Chat soon, I hope everyone is doing okayish.

Good night, it's almost 2am here!

Sinéad xxxxx :hug: xxx

Sinéad
 

Sorry to hear you had a really upsetting time with the surgeon. Unfortunately, even though these surgeons are familiar with post surgical pain, that's as far as they can comprehend.

If the Nevro is coming out with an SCS to cover back and leg; might be worth waiting to do. Hopefully the Pain Specialist will at least be able to give you something to help control pain until then. Keep us updated.:hug:

(Gerry)

I think it's important to note that the side effects seem worse when pain pills don't work. Now that i have the pain pump and the pain is gone :)))) the opiate side effects dont seem that bad in comparison. Stick to your guns and be your own advocate when it comes to pain.. It will get better.

Milk Thistle???
 

Rae- how in the world did I miss this one???? Milk Thistle? You mean those fantastically tall weeds with the spikes which make one bleed and all of the beautiful purply flowers atop??? That milk thistle?? I knew they had a white substance in the blossom casing, but did NOT realize I could have been a bazillionaire selling the stuff...... sounds like something which would be a controlled substance. Yup.
I dunno,
I try hard to stay up on these things,
Even as a little kid when they would reach out and GRAB me as I would ride a horse too closely in a backwoods glade,
Too dumb to know,
Too shortsighted to realize back then,
Darn,
Mark56 glad it works for you!:D:hug:z

Mudrat is RIGHT, and Sophie, I am sorry...
 

Mudrat gets the ADVOCACY AWARD [drum roll, trumpest sound] :Good-Post::winner_first_h4h::winner_first_h4h::winner_f irst_h4h::highfive: We only give this award sparingly for those whose posts truly inspire the pioneer spirit of Standing Up For Oneself. Good Job Mudrat!!! You are so on target!!!

Dear Sophie- We gather around you in hugs from near and far supporting you and your husband in seeking an end to this PAIN profile in which medicine practice has left you. I believe some need to practice more in laboratories before seeing needful people [I tire of referring to us as Patients, for we have surely long ago lost any patience we had for THAT kind of medical work]. I, for one, hope you may be seen as one for whom Nevro may be a solution. You never know, if it works for you many of us around the world could wind up migrating to the Emerald Isle for a Nevro of our own. But then that politician to whom Ginnie referred might just fear too many people might cause the Isle to flip over or sink [omigoodness sakes alive!!!! I can still hear my Grandma's petite voice call out such an exclamation].

Do you have enough room there for all of us to migrate? Are your taxes acceptable? Are jobs plentiful, and may we apply for citizenship and even, perish forbid...... vote?

I Digress too much methinks,
Sinéad, we surround you and your husband with a :circlelove:
Prayin,
Mark56:hug:zzz:grouphug:

Hi Sinéad,

I think that's a loaded question. Most pain patients' pain is invisible, and it is not clear that they are in pain if there are no outward signs.
Many articles on talking to doctors about pain admonish things like:
If overtly expressing emotions, and in some cases "acting out", weren't fairly common occurences (I am not implying/suggesting in any way that this applies to you personally), these articles probably wouldn't be cautioning patients about it.

I think the problem is somewhat of a catch-22. A common stigma for pain patients is not being believed, and a natural & understandable reaction to that disbelief is emphasis, whether conscious or unconscious. Then that emphasis is construed/perceived as putting on an act - or faking - even when the pain & suffering are very real.

There was some off-topic discussion of related/similar behavior/phenomenon in this recent thread (beginning in post #2):
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread168642.html

Doc

Even if that were true, it doesn't mean that the pain isn't just as real, having the same long-term effects.

One term often thrown around is "psychosomatic" (i.e. "all in one's head"):
Today, psychosomatic medicine is something quite different:
Further obfuscating things is something called psychogenic pain:
So again, even if your pain had a psychological aspect (and I'm not implying/suggesting that it does) it is not something to be disbelieved or dismissed. It is not, and should not be, the "dirty word" that it once was, and all doctors dealing with pain in any way should know this by now. For your surgeon, or any doctor, to say something like that is, IMO, ignorant. I hope that your pain consultant is not as remiss in his education/thinking.

Doc

Pretty Cool Doc
 

My wife had wondered before the radiation therapy scan of my bones recently why I seemed to glow in the dark.:D It must be the compound radiation received in numerous diagnostic CT scans over the past seven years after the wreck. Doggone it. Here I avoided smoke smoke smoke that cigarette my whole life only to be irradiated as though I had been standing on deck at Bikini Atoll during some random weapon test [of a weapon probably designed by one of my relatives come to think of it]. Perhaps Lawrence Livermore should have been named Liverwurst......or Liverworse.:eek:

I heartily agree with the approach to presentation in a doc's office as emotionally even as possible..... rather a hard task even for me and my stony lawyer war face when pain was so dang bad I would actually break down in tears running doen my face as I attempted to control myself in front of clients before the big crash of my body in December 2005 just prior to my emergency back surgery. It tends to capture unfaltering attention of a surgeon when your body stops working in all respects from the waist down. Things become frantic when they realize the bladder and bowel cannot void at all, besides the fact of leg function gone. It becomes a real gee whiz we should do something moment. Aw shucks, I missed the opportunity to be delivered via ambulance to the office of His Highness Ortho Max who proclaimed for my medical file the nature of my profession. Dag nab it all anyway....... a stellar moment of demonstration and instead of taking that, I was hurried to an OR for fix this now and several hours, all day in fact, of pretending to be an object on a slab in a cold room where serious carving was occurring.

Dear me, I slipped a cog that day, when I should have first gone to Ortho Max for a demonstration of "this is what happens when you 1234 up on a diagnosis and dismiss someone due to vocation. I should have been a pianist. That would have been the trick.

Tell you the truth Doc, I tried so hard to present unemotional at appointments, because I know from court rooms emotive witnesses are yearning to be broken. Docs also are aware of this point, possibly from acting as expert witnesses in cases. Believability is key. Veracity is measured on the meter of how the witness delivers testimony unless FACTS overwhelm.

In my case, FACTS ultimately overwhelmed. My pain doc remained my champion throughout my Social Security and Workmen's Compensation cases by reason of his actual belief of the facts despite his having seen me cry.

Ortho Max? I believe he would be better suited as a fertilizer sales person, for he assuredly knows how to hand out fertilizer by the truckload. Does fertilizer sound about right Rae and Pooh? You are both farm ladies with creatures productive of fertilizer....... N'est ce pas?

Oh, and I believe Sinéad knows precisely what brand of fertilizer I mean.... true Sinéad? Yep, you have experienced it as has EvaBlessed, Ginnie, Saffy and so many others, like Tchr_012. Yup.

Psychologically writing, perhaps each should be given the true pain meter rather than the 1-10 scale to illustrate the invisible pain. A lump of clay. Depending upon the suffering individual's creation with a lump of clay, pain would be clearly demonstrated. As for me, I think it would illustrate a fist print then dropped into the hand of the inquiring physician with words descriptive of the agony one would feel so impacted. Yep, a lump of clay. Read your Bible, if you have one, notice its many references to clay. Perhaps there was good reason for such illustrations.

But then, I digress......
Sorry,
Mea Culpa,
Moi56:grouphug:

Munch a lot of fireflies, do ya? :rolleyes:

Doctors, lawyers, cops, poker players.... just about any profession that deals with large numbers of the public at large - day in, day out - develops a knack for BS/lie detection, encased in a shell of cynicism.

Maybe doctors especially (to the point of paranoia), having their licenses/livelihoods/freedom on the line every time they put their moniker on a slip of paper authorizing dispensation of controlled substances.

Doc