Liz

[Guest guest]

I thought I sent an email yesterday, but it doesn't

seem to have arrived! I probably made a mistake.

Heidi - I NEEDED YOUR PAIN MEDS - WHATEVER THEY ARE.

On Saturday evening I had the most awful shooting pain

in my face and head. I thought it might, even

probably was, rp related; but I didn't want to take

extra pred and mess up my blood sugars if not

neccessary. I struggled through the night with a

couple of Aleve, which didn't seem to make a dent,

then tried celebred in the morning, no relief. So I

went to the ER at Cedars Sinai, they were very nice,

thought it was trigeminal neuralgia(said it was common

in people with rheumatic diseases) gave me a shot of

morphine and some neurontin. He said it would come

back, but I had to build up the dose of neurontin, and

to call my doc asap. Well the morphine did give

almost total relief. However when it wore off I was

crying non stop, and the girls dragged me back to the

er. Saw a different doc, admitted he didn't know much

about rp, but was quite happy to give me another

morphine shot and some vicodin, to get me through

monday morning and call Dr Hallegua.

When I saw him the next morning (how's that for good

service?) he said my right ear canal was swollen

closed (and by this time my face was swollen too, but

I also had some nasty green post nasal drip so he put

me on Biaxin for 10 days, and upped my pred to 20 for

10 days then to reduce pred by 2 1/2 per week.

Honestly, the pain was like someone hitting me on the

cheek with a hammer approx every 15 secs!!! It has

now reduced a lot and is livable with. I don't feel

great, but I do feel much better, thank the Lord!!

Sharon, if that is the sort of face pain you are

having - I have even GREATER sympathy for you - how is

it going? Love Liz

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