Pain Meds (Long)

[Guest guest]

Mareth writes:

Well, maybe you should ask your doctor how people with FMS are supposed to get

the " proper sleep " when we hurt so badly that we can't get comfortable

long enough even to fall asleep, let alone stay that way long enough to wake

up rested? Thank goodness my pain doc doesn't take this attitude!!! I was

in his office, practically in tears, a couple of months ago because I'd been

getting an average of 2 one-hour naps a day for weeks.

He asked why I wasn't able to sleep and I explained that it was the pain, so

he prescribed Kadian for me to take at night, in addition to the Oxycodone I

take during the day. It has helped a great deal. I still hurt, but it

takes the edge off the pain so I can finally fall asleep. I also get 15

Ambien (5 mg) to take a month, on nights that I'm really sleepless, but I

try to horde those like gold...

Hi Mareth,

I have talked to my Rheumy about that very thing. He told me if I would put

forth an effort to lose weight and exercise, my sleep would improve. He looked

me up and down and said " Obviously, you're not doing that. "

He seemed happy that I finally did get into counseling and that my shrink has me

on Prozac, Neurontin and Klonopin. He plainly told me " Treat the Depression and

the Fibro will get better. " Funny, I wasn't depressed until the Fibro got so

bad, but he didn't want to hear that.

I told him, the Neurologist, the shrink, the counselor, my family doctor...all

of them, that Naprosyn wasn't helping much at all. I told them that I know

people who have Fibro whose doctors have them on Darvocet, Lortab, Oxycontin,

Kadian, even Methadone, because they're pain was so bad. You should have seen

their faces! They all said " Oh no, you don't ever want to get on anything like

that Jacqui " . The Rheumy suddenly looked at me weird and said " I do not write

pain medication prescriptions for Fibromyalgia patients. " and my visit was over.

Before ya'll ask...he's the only Rheumy in the area that will accept Medicaid. I

was thinking of trying to see a Pain Management doctor. I talked to my mom's

about it and he told me he would reccommend exercise and proper sleep. He said

he does see Fibro patients, but does not give them pain medication.

So, I take the Naprosyn, along with the Nexium my GI put me on to help the Acid

Reflux and stomach pain that is causing. I spend the majority of my time in bed,

because I don't feel up to doing anything else.

Take care!

{{{Hugs}}}

Jacqui

Jacqui McCallister

Age: 39

Dx'd with FMS: 1995, but symptoms since 1984

Approved for SSI Disability: June 18, 2002

Additional Illnesses: Papillary Thyroid Cancer spread to lungs, Intra-Ocular

Migraines, TMJ, Allergies, Periodontitis, Mitral Valve Prolapse,

IBS, Osteoarthritis, MPS and CFS, Congenital Hip Dysplasia, Osteopenia, Bunions,

Heel Spur, Light/Smell/Sound Sensitivities, Motion Sickness, Sleep Problems,

Depression, Anxiety

Location: Ridgeview, West Virginia USA

Divorced, no kids. One furbaby, Jasmine, my Himalayan cat

Hobbies: Internet, Country, Rock and Gospel music, TV, Horror Movies, Days of

Our Lives, Trivia games

ICQ#: 126676406

Yahoo Messenger ID: jacqui_mccallister

Email: persephene@...

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.381 / Virus Database: 214 - Release Date: 8/2/2002