Pain meds with hepatitis c,fibromyalgia,rheumatoid , spinal disease

[apple6604]

What drugs are safe and most effective for someone with hepatitis c, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid, spinal diseases,stomach problems, and general anguishing pain everywhere...??? I have just been diagnosed with hep c after being monogomous with a partner who (very much) wasn't. I attributed a lot of my symptoms to the fibromyalgia, stress and other ongoing conditions that I already had. I need all of the advice and help I can get, as I've been clueless since the symptoms began approximately 4 1/2 years ago.
Sincerely,
Clueless (apple6604)

[Rbeth]

Hey apple,

You're probably not as clueless as you think, but rather living in what I tend to call "participative iatrogenic 'not heaven'. The first question I really want to ask is do you want to treat for your hep c and try to cure? I ask that because, & I understand, you're in a boatload of pain and that's hard, but you haven't asked about hep c and treatment options, which if successfully treated could very well alleviate many of your symptoms. You have received THE BEST advice here to go to your ID( treating doctor) & have a full medical history assessment. Your doctor will know the most effective and least harmful approaches for your body & surely your gastric issues. PPI's or H2blockers seem to be a mainstay with many of us for GI issues & pain( from GERD to  
Gastro paresis & most in between. I speak w/ my own experience to all physical complaints you've mentioned & it can whirl your head. However, I've been able to stay free from all narcotics with fibromyalgia, 7 disc herniations, elev RF( which is not uncommon to see with HCV) not always indicative of RA., & generalized feeling just crappy. I'm so sorry your in so much pain & yet there is a way out that might not be so harmful to your liver & body as a whole. I also live in Florida(southeast) & perhaps we could personal message each other, I may be able to point you to people who can truly direct you. Again, you must not go this on your own~ your doctor is the only one who can oversee your conditions. THAT IS A MUST, for your health.
I'll send you a personal msg that you can respond to if you like.
Wishing you the very best,
Randy

[Sarah1949]

I could share what I take for my pain but it really won't do you any good because when you go to the pain clinic they will tell you what you can or can't take, I found they weren't real willing to listen to me. :) When I went to my pcp with my pain issues she did not hesitate to give me the drugs but she also had documentation of all the issues I was having and lab/test results.So, what I'm saying is it is hard for doctor's to prescribe anything for you without lab tests that indicate a specific concern known to cause pain. They have to be very careful nowadays given the present political climate around drugs and abuse.

[AWorriedMom]

I am truly sorry to hear about all these problems and your trouble with the doctor. However, I have to stick to my answer that you need to discuss medications with a physician. No one here has a medical background that I know of. You have lots of issues that are likely adding to your pain. Some types of pain need one kind of drug and other types need another. And then there is the "monkey wrench" of liver disease to make it an even more difficult decision. I hope a pain clinic can help you and I hope the PCP or ID doc can refer you. Wishing you the very best.

[apple6604]

I have my first appt with Infectious disease in a couple of days. I am seeking a new primary, as I went to my first visit with the current one for some antibiotics (I was terribly ill with congestion for several weeks, for the umteenth time). She (within 4 minutes of conversation and no questions of my reactions to various drugs, and very little of my medical history, any bloodwork) tried to change the medications that my Dr had put me on (that finaly eased my symptoms of chronic stomach pain, and headaches due to spinal diseases, neck surgery and injury). She tried to switch me to Nexium (which I just found out can have a severe impact on my liver at this point, an anti-depressant, which make me suicidal And also just found out the one she was prescribing was detrimental in my condition)...got angry because I refused the new meds and insisted that I came there just for the antibiotic and something to help ease the pain (tylenol). I'd Lived in New Mexico before moving to Florida, where medical marijuana use is legal. I'd given up all previous narcotics for the alternative. Now in Florida where medical marijuana is illegal, I have to go back to drugs to help ease the chronic pain. It took me about 3 weeks just to get in to see this Dr, in the meantime, it's my understanding that I will have to go to a pain clinic and need a refferal from a primary Dr. I'm trying to go in armed with as much info as possible, due to the mistakes this Dr could have made with me, had I not been on my toes. I am currently trying to find a new primary who will be more thourough next time, and I wonder if Infectious Disease can reffer me to Pain Clinic. Sorry this is so long, I wanted to me thourough in my explainatiion of my situation. Thank you Very Much for your reply.