Medication question...Help!
 

Okay....I need to ramble now.....

My neuro has told me that I have to try to reduce the stress in my life...if I am going to get better....stress....reduce it??? I have 4 kids, and work full-time...I have 4 kids...(the oldest is 14y and the youngest is 2Y)...and even though.... I do have an absolutely wonderful husband....but he also works full time and owns his own business...so there are times that he is not available.

I do fine at work because it is earlier in the day...by the time I get home....mainly when I get in my car after work...I start to get really cranky....then, by the time I get home... and I start to hear the yelling, getting ready for supper, baths, homework, signing slips and giving snack money/lunch money/etc....and then getting everyone ready for bed...whew!! Even when my hubby and I tag team the kids...it still really wears me out sometimes....the doc had orginally put me on 60mg cymbalta for the neuropathy pain in legs and anxiety..this has really helped because I was started to get anxious about talking..fearing my speech would be slurred...

..so, after realizing that I am never giving me a decent break between work...and work at home....:thud:.So......I called him on Tuesday of this week and explained some of my stress and how I am having a hard time relaxing...so he adds Xanax (spelling?) .5mg every 8 hours prn anxiety...this has been a god send...I can be in such a bad mood...and stressed to the max...and this small pills just instantly chills me:inlove:....and I can be a better mom...(not yelling or feeling stressed)...I feel like reading them books and playing barbies...and I even feel like smiling more at my husband.....:hug:

He has also given me lortab 7 with high dose of ibroprofen... for my headaches. This is a wonder drug for my headaches. I didn't ask for this strong medication..I was a very leary about taking it...until I had to!

My fear is that is all of this okay? I do not want to get addicted to anything...but I really did need a "chill" pill to help me relax....The neuro said that stress just causes MG to flair....

Are these normal meds for people like us with MG? I guess I am just really getting paranoid!:yikes:

:Writting:

Hi Stepanie,

When I was first diagnosed my Neuro said "avoid stress" I asked how and he said " just don't get stressed" ok I thought, I'll buy an Island in the middle of nowhere, when I win lotto:D:D

medication is one of my greatest annoyances with MG. I take 3 tablets for mg, the rest are for the side effects of those tablets:rolleyes:!!!! one is an anti depressant, which I couldn't live without. Its all very frustrating.

I have a wonderful GP, who before prescribing me another tablet for another problem, checks it out to see it won't react with all my other medications. But I've decided that as he gave me a new one last visit I might print out a list of all my medications and take it to him just to put my mind at ease that they don't interact.

I'm sorry I cant help with whether any of yours are addictive, maybe you could talk to your pharmacist(mines great with all things medication)
Dont get paranoid, you may have to start taking something else:eek::D
hope some of this helps and I'm not just rambling:o
Kate

Hi Stephanie,

Wow, you sure are busy. Stress is the worst, so I wouldn't stress out about the meds. I agree with Kate about talking with your pharmacist. He/she would know more than your Dr. when it comes to meds. Take care.

Pat

Xanax is my friend :rolleyes: I have to admit it helps me a lot. Have you thought about going on disability? I know it can be hard to get but your Dr. should be able to help you, I was on it until I went into remission. Sadly I am now out of remission and my Dr. put me out of work for the last 7 months {lost my job because of it} I was hoping to be able to go back to work but it doesn't look good. so I will have to apply for disability again :( as for the other meds you are talking about, I don't know anything about them as I react badly to just about every medication including MG meds.

I am scared about disability as I am the one who carries the insurance for the family...and if we had to purchase a health insurance policy to cover the family....I am so afraid that having a pre-existing condition could cause a major problem...I have heard that many insurances do not cover those expenses related to it....besides I absolutely love my job. I could not imagine not working...I hate MG!:(

Stephanie

that is a tough one carrying the insur. noone noone should go a day without it!! i have several horror stories from when i was younger and friends went without for just a month or two! i think of all the things i had go wrong that i couldn't postpone for 1 month. meningitis, sepsis which needed 10 days iv antibiotics 3 times! is working at home an option part timefor some of a day or week instead of being there in person 40 hrs? i ended up on disability for something else 8 yrs ago so it's no longer a worry for me. hope everyone is having a good w/e!!!

Hi Steph!
 

OK.......the lortab can be addictive - IF you take it when not in pain.........I too have to take pain meds to help with my teeth and back - a great source of anxiety......I also take xanax for stess....all of my docs are aware of how much I take and when.....I am also scared of becoming addicted, but tylenol just does NOT cut it for me and I don't want to ruin my liver with it.........:(


As for the job situation.....I know EXACTLY what you mean! I cover my family (and stepkids) so disablility is going to be tricky, but it does sound like you need a BREAK! I know you love your job - so do I - but MG can get really bad really fast if you are too stressed........4 kids can do that to you! LOL!Not to mention LIFE!:D

Right now I have to take my xanax and pain meds.....once all of ths clears up I won't - simple as that! Just do not DRINK while in the meds!

It will get better - it really will!

Big hugs!
Erin:D

Erin, did you say drink?..LOL We have a bar/poolroom in our basement and the bar is fully stocked, everyone that comes over says "Joan you are the only person I know that has a fully stocked bar and doesn't drink" alcohol and MG just don't mix well. :cool:

Hi Joanmarie!
 

Erin,
I have never been a big drinker either. Just never liked the way it made me feel...like you, I have enjoyed a glass of wine or even a frozen drink occasionally with a friend...but honestly, I never drunk it all...it either melted or got lukewarm....then it was gross!

I guess that is why I am nervous about the medication...but it has helped me...I have heard of horror stories of people getting "hooked"...but if I continue to use it like the doctor ordered....I am hopeful that it will all be okay! I have not had to take the pain medication at all since my headache has left....but I might need it again after my next IVIG dose in a few weeks!

Oh, do any of you take ambien to sleep? I have heard that it can cause problems with MG patients...I have a prescription from my family doc and I have taken it every once in awhile if I need it....and my neuro never mentioned it when he was going through all of my meds. That is one nice sleeping pill....

I guess you could say...that I am cleaning my home medication cabinet...and seeing what I can and can't take anymore. I am just surprised how my medication schedule is getting more and more complex since I have been diagnosed with MG. :winky:

Stephanie

i have had to take potentially addicting meds for yrs increasing in strength and types for another illness. was worried in the beg. so i split percocet and after awhile it was determined i was not an addictive personality since i cut wayy back on the meds whenever i had operations or procedures. yes i worry sometimes but i've seen a pain spec for 20 yrs and there are veryy strict rules to follow. now i take as directed and follow rules and stay relativley pain free[sometimes] i've had all the things done that i can and so far there is nothing else to do for my pancreatitis[which i was born with-many people get it from too much alcohol] so like with the mg-i try to get it before it gets me!!

Cricket - regarding insurance...

If your husband has an incorporated business, have him look into getting a small group insurance policy with both of you on it - if the company has more than two people it's considered a group policy. Some states (check to see if yours is one) require that if you move from one group policy to another, pre-existing conditions cannot be excluded.

Check with your prospective insurer to see what their requirements are for insuring a small group before you make the jump - our insurer required that we present our previous year's tax information, which included K-1's (I think) showing that we had both made more than minimum wage the previous year from the business, and we had to show that the business had been incorporated for at least two years, I think.

Stephanie and Erin - I like you, never liked the way alcohol affected me - I think it's because instinctively we felt the effects of MG, which I know on me started long before it MADE me take notice!

Stephanie, I have a job I just love too. The people are so wonderful and my job is challenging and rewarding. I'm fortunate that EVERYONE I work with have been willing to jump in and cover for me while I've had to be out, and my boss allows me to set my schedule when necessary. They have set me up with a laptop loaded with the programs I need to do at least part of my job from home.

If you have a job that you can do any part of from home, maybe in the evening when things slow down a little, perhaps you can work something out until you get your MG under control again.

Take them information about your disease, and be real honest in that you can't say how long it will take, but that you love your job so if there is any way you can work a shortened schedule for a while to help you to recover, you would love to do that.

If that doesn't work, can you have your 14 year old give you a while when you first get home to kind of switch gears? Maybe take an hour to read and unwind a little before you have to put on your mommy hat? Naturally, your children will want some attention when you first get home, but then if you can lock yourself away for just a little while..... I feel for you! I was fortunate that my MG didn't hit really hard until my kids were 16 & 18. But my husband does have his own business that I do the books for - needless to say, everything didn't get paid on time when I was struggling, and the books fell behind for a while.

Another thing that really helped me was seeing a psychologist. She gave me some very helpful tools and suggestions about how to deal with my emotions, anxiety, and concerns of the future when I had my first serious bout. It's surprising sometimes how they can simplify something we make so difficult. I know it's another "appointment" to pile on, but can be well worth the time and money!

As for the drugs, the pharmacists are definetly the best source for finding out which drugs can interact and the addiction factors. It sounds though like you would recognize if you start wanting them when they're not really needed. I was on Actique suckers (Phentenyl) for breakthrough pain from my neck for a while. LOVED them, but figured out I started thinking "oh, my finger hurts a little - I'd better get an sucker" and that was the end of them! I won't get another script for them - ever (well, if they said I was terminal and it would be in the next couple of months I'd beg for them! HA HA)

Good luck, I hope you find some good resolution that you are comfortable with.

BIG hugs - I know you need them right now!