Re: aka

[Guest guest]

,

I know that you feel like giving up. We've all been there. Some of us are there with you right now. This countries medical "care" sucks. The "care-ing" has been taken out of medicine, and the bottom line (what they'll get paid) is what is important. It sucks.

You're right--your rheumatologist is a bastard, and an idiot when it comes to pain control. You know you don't have "mild" pain-- the pain from arthritis caused by sarcoidosis is horrid. You need pain meds.

Prednisone is a Cortisteroid. It works by bringing down inflammation very, very quickly. You know the side effects, weight gain, mood swings, possible diabetes if you're on it long term, depression and anxiety, along with the inability to sleep. Generally, it does not upset the stomach. So that is a good thing.

Imuran is an immunosuppressant. It works by modifying the immune system response--and as with all the DMARDS--works to stop the destruction that arthritis does to the joints and ligaments. Other DMARDS are Methotrexate, Plaquenil, Arava and Cytoxan. Yes, these meds can be a bit harder on the stomach, but they can give you other meds to stop the belly problems before they start.

Remicade, Enbrel and Humira are all BRMS. Biological Response Modifiers. These carry a higher risk of blood cancers, but don't seem to have alot of problems with stomach pain. If you do have a problem, they stop you from using it immediately.

NSAIDS-- None Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs are the Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Cataflam, Voltaren, Daypro, Feldene and more. These drugs in the "over the counter strength" that you are using-- are great if you were playing baseball and strained a muscle, or had a headache, but they really don't do anything for serious pain.

If you get them in prescription strength--(I take 800mg of Motrin 3 times a day) then ya, it's eventually going to bother the stomach. So my MD has me take Tums Extra STrength with it.

The Analgesics-- Acetaminophen (Anacin, Excedrin, Tylenol) Tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet) Darvocet, Percocet; Oramorph SR--morphine, Darvon, Oxycontin all cause stomach problems. However, they do stop the pain. You need to take them with food, and drink lots of water to help the kidneys and liver stay clean.

, every medication will have the risk of side effects. If you were to take too much Sweet and Low in your tea, it would have side effects. What I'm getting at here is we can worry about the possible side effects-- or we can get on with life. By using the meds, and doing what we need to do to lessen or stop the side effects of the --for you, stomach ulcers-- the MD can give you Vicodin and Pepcid. Vicodin for the pain, Pepcid for the stomach acid.

I know you're in a sucky place to get medical care. I know that the MD's have heard you say you can't take anything because of the stomach ulcers. So they're just giving you the bare minimum-- and you're getting worse.

I wanted to explain again the use of antidepressants in pain control. When we are in pain, our brain sends out chemicals and hormones to fix what is "hurting." when our bodies are ransacked by by these chemicals, we either feel more pain, or less pain.

If you are in constant pain-- this chemical balance gets screwed up. We end up with too much Seratonin, and too much Epinephrine and too much Cortisol in our blood stream-- and we can't sleep, we end up in more pain, and we get depressed-- because all these chemicals--Seratonin, Ephinephrine, and cortisol-- are out of balance.

The antidepressants regulate the Seratonin, Ephinephrine, and cortisol. When those get back into normal balance, not only do we feel less pain, but we aren't as depressed, and we can sleep--which gives our bodies a chance to heal.

Your Rheumi isn't saying "you're depressed- you nutcase" he's saying, "Your brain chemistry is screwed up and we need to give you an antidepressant to get that chemistry in balance."

Hang in there . You've come so very, very far-- and it's not time to give up. I do hope your SSDI attorney is working on your case to get you some benefits and income.

Tracie