introduction

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/13/2003 11:15:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,

seleblanc@... writes:

> it only took you 1 year.

Hi Steve,

I was on meds for about 1 1/2 years, but once I decided I wanted off of them,

it took about 6 months. It took me about 9 months to lose 54 lbs.

Eunice

[Guest guest]

Greetings to all the group members and from the Philippines.

I am a 65 year old American Expat living in the mountains of the

Philippines.

I have had back problems since I was 32 and about 2 years ago it was

bothering me and a doctor prescribed 100 mg tramadol. I started

taking them once a day and felt better, especially when I did my 4

times a week exercise walking. In January 2007 I had a bad back

problem, mainly sciatica down my leg when returning from Hong Kong.

A orthopedist prescribed the tramadol and Lyrica. I started taking

the lyrica twice a day at morning and before bed a 150 mg dose and a

tramadol in the morning. I was also put on a exercise, stretching

routine. I got some good results and in May 2007 decided to get off

the drugs. I tried to do it cold turkey and experienced some

horrendus days, diarhhea, feeling like I wanted to stay in bed all

day, etc. I went to a doctor for he diarrhea and was found to have a

bacterial infection, hpylori prescribed antibiotics and it went away.

After a while I got back on the lyrica 1 150 mg a day to feel better.

In November I had a chest xray and after ct scans I was found to have

a massive hiatal hernia. This is the cause of the pain and

discomfort I feel in my chest and abdomen and is the cause of my acid

reflux.

I went to the Asian Hospital in Manila in January of 2008 and was put

thru a battery of tests, shown to be in perfect health except for

what was diagnosed as a bochdalek hernia, which is a rare congenital

hernia and the doctor who was in charge of the laparascopic

department said the operation had never been performed in the

Philippines and would take 8 hours and 10 if a thorascopic surgeon

was needed to push the stomach down from the lungs. I decided to get

out of Dodge and get a second opinion. In March I went to Singapore

and was diagnosed with the massive hiatal hernia and the operation

would take 3 hours, 1 1/2 half for the heart surgeon to cut through

my ribs, push down the stomach and a laparascopic surgeon would do a

fundial surgery on my esophagous as it had corroded and was to short

and then so me up. The part that made me get out of there was 6 days

in ICU recovery and the cutting into my chest plus 6 months recovery.

I decided since the doctor said it was not life threatening to get it

done on my next trip to the States.

After I returned here to Baguio I started up again on the 100 mg

tramadol and 2 150mg doses of lyrica. My wife started getting on me

for not remembering things, short term memory going to hell and

walking around in a daze, bumping into things etc. I then decided to

get off the lyrica and tramadol properly.

For the past 3 weeks I have dropped my lyrica to 1 dose of 150 mg at

bedtime and a 25 mg dose of tramadol when I get up. I went through a

anxiety at first but have stabilized. I do not know what dosages to

go through next.

My back pain mainly my sciatica has become worse over the past few

months and I have nerve pain down both legs and at times have trouble

sleeping.

I try to eat a proper diet and have gotten 10 pounds off to reduce

the size of my stomach pushing through the hernia and am now at 6'3 "

and weigh 175 pounds. I take many vitamins and minerals.

I hope this does not sound like a diatribe and appreciate any

comments from the group.

Bob

[Guest guest]

>

>

> > Greetings to all the group members and from the

Philippines.

> >

> > I am a 65 year old American Expat living in the mountains of the

> > Philippines.

> >

> > I have had back problems since I was 32 and about 2 years ago it

was

> > bothering me and a doctor prescribed 100 mg tramadol. I started

> > taking them once a day and felt better, especially when I did my 4

> > times a week exercise walking. In January 2007 I had a bad back

> > problem, mainly sciatica down my leg when returning from Hong

Kong.

Bob

I know people who have recovered from sciatica by going on a water

fast for one or two weeks.

[Note for Connie -- please trim post to show only part to which you are

responding. Also, it is almost impossible to find your comments because you are

not putting any space between your comments and the post to which you re

commenting. Place your cursor on the page below the post, then hit ENTER 3x.

This wil create some space. Thanks. --]

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob,You choose not to eat organic or is it for financial reasons?50% reduction is why you feel naff, tis way to much., I have read the eating for recovery section. I do not eat organic. The 50% reduction as I broke the 50mg tablet in half. BobI made a mistake I dropped to the 25 mg of tramadol from 50 mg tramadol/ What I think is a proper diet is usually a muesli with fruit and either yogurt or milk for breakfast/brunch. Maybe some fruit or local soup and noodles for lunch. For dinner I usually have mostly fish and chicken and some pork. Usually cooked without grease, rice or potatoes and a large portion of vegetables. Some cookies or goodie once in a while later and usually a large amount of fruit to munch on through the evening. Mostly bananas, mangoes, apples and grapes. When lychees are in season I indulge. I do go out to restaurants about twice a week and try to eat good food but once in a while get a pizza or other junk food/ Hope this helps you.