**This post is a day late because of medication changes, which is also the subject of the posting. Sorry for not getting this out, I can only pray that the next two days go well. Tom
This week we’re looking at my own issues with chronic pain. Today, that would be my wonderful relationship with my pain medication. I know we’ve talked about medication before, but I can honestly say, I wasn’t completely honest before. I mean, I didn’t lie, unless you count lying by omission. So, it’s time to come clean about me, my chronic pain, and the medicine that’s suppose to keep it at bay.
I tried several types of medication early on in my quest to vanquish my chronic pain, but there was not a pill that was up to the task. The morphine pills put me to sleep for 23 hours a day. The oxycodone wasn’t as harsh on my wakefulness, but the pills had a terrible side effect on my stomach. My upper stomach turned raw and my lower intestines stopped working completely. I know how much you want to hear this, but it’s full disclosure time. On a normal day now, I have to use a powder laxative (I use Metamucil, although Mirilax is also good) and a stool softener. Even then, it’s not always, well, pleasant. With the pills, I used the powder twice a day and three laxatives, but it didn’t work at all. No, the only thing that covered my pain was a patch; Duragesic to be precise. I tried the generic form, fentanyl transdermal, but that was not the real thing; I needed the brand name. The generic would fall off before the 72 hours was up and it didn’t give the relief the brand name did. I must use Provigil (Modafinil) to combat any lethargy from the narcotics in the patch, but I need it.
The two main drugs that I use today, not only help with my pain, but also have joint side effects that include: nausea, constipation, gas, heartburn, dry mouth, flushing, sweating, confusion, mood swings, and back pain. That’s right, back pain is a side effect, brilliant. The sweating doesn’t help the patch stay on either. In the last few months, the effectiveness of the patch isn’t the same as it had been at the start. I need to change my patch every 48 hours, but that’s not protocol which is strange because I know several people who have found the same problem, but you would think I was the only one who has ever asked for this. After two and a half months of dealing with the doctor and the insurance company, and the pharmacy; I finally was able to get a prescription for my patches to change every 48 hours. Of course, that’s not the end of the story, the pharmacy doesn’t carry enough of the patches on hand, won’t hold my prescription for more than a day or two, but takes a week to get the other box of patches. Brilliant…again. Whether insurance will pay for this is also up in the air. My medication is needed, but isn’t easy; it’s a love/hate thing. How about you? Do you have medications you use for your pain? Is it an easy path? What kind of problems have come up? I have yet to meet someone that has had an easy go of things when it come to medication.
I don't have to take any kind of medication for pain but my wife does and she hates it. Her sciatica pain is unbearable at times. She has been dealing with it since last Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that Ron, I really know how bad that pain can get. She is in my prayers. Last Christmas was a while ago, I certainly hope she gets better. If you think of any help I can offer, please let me know.
ReplyDeletewell sir...
ReplyDeletedon't ask me how i got here but man can i ever relate to PAIN and what you're going thru! i have rhuematoid arthritis and ostreo. i'm rotting away inside. i tell folks that i'm a sixty one year old man in an eighty-five year old body with a soul of a man that's lived two life times. i'm so sick of pain (both ways) that i'm ready to go "home." my doc put me on 24/7 a few month's ago because i told him that i'm just plain tired of living with it. now i take low-level oxycontin and oxy-codone which helps. but i take Sensa-S instead of metamucil. MUCH BETTER! plus i take dyclophenic, methrotrexate(chemo pills), fRolic acid, phosomax, and testosterone patches. oh yeah! and remcade infusions. i'm the velcro man too. it holds me together. wrists, knees, and ankles. it gets tiring, for sure. lost the will to live a couple of years ago. if it weren't for God putting somebody in my path, i wouldn't be here. not that i want to be here now....:) hang in there man, that's all we can do. i hear you on the mood swings too. i tell folks to stay away from my blog because of my mood swings and depression that i can fall into easy. but i'v also got some ptsd remnants from nam and from being abused by a pedophile as a child. don't know which is worse the pill or...the memories.
Thanks so much for sharing all of that; you are certainly being put through the ringer! It reminds me of Mother Teresa when she said, "God only gives us what we can handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much!" When I hear a story like yours, I feel like I shouldn't dare write about pain & suffering. Someone like you has been through far more than I could ever imagine. I do want to thank you for your service, I grew up during 'Nam and joined the Army in '80 because of guys like you. No glory or Rambo hopes, but you guys did what was required of you and I just wanted to do the same. As for the abuse, I can't imagine how memories of that and 'Nam can fit in one person. If you ever want to have an ear to chew, I'm available. I'm glad the Spirit brought you here. We haven't met, but God knows who you are, and my prayers go with you. Someday, you will be home. Until then, remain at your post and be vigilant. God bless you. Tom
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