endometriosis causing pain....making me want my pain meds...

[hope08]

so i have been thinking....and wondering what to do. if you do not know, i have 'legitiment' health problems, to where i was perscribed my pain meds to begin with. they helped me to get up and go to work, function, etc. i do not have cancer, or any life threatening disease (just to clear that up) i have endometriosis (which causes pain a lot) and on top of that many stomach problems. i have been told that taking pain meds is bad for my stomach, but it was the only thing that seemed to help the endo pain. i had tried everything else to no avail, and went for the pain meds. i know that my problem was also, if i had some pain i would take them, but not neccessarily very severe pain. a lot of it was that i was so afraid to be in that much pain again (had to go to the ER twice before they finally did surgery) that i would take my pain meds the first sign of pain. and then of course that led to dependency. the last time i got my RX filled was in the beginning of november, and i am due back this month. i want to go, yet i don't want to go. i don't want to live with pain every day, but i don't want to be on pain meds every day either.

it is wearing me out and i am not quite sure what to do. as far as talking to my doctor, well he is a greedy %^&$# and i am looking for a new one, so i can't really go to him and expect good results. he is the one that told me changing my diet wouldn't even help my situation!!

any advice, greatly appreciated!

[hope08]

oh good Lord. that sounds not fun at all....just keep me in your prayers as far as finding a good doctor to helP!!!

[avisg]

ohh yeah for about a year and ahalf .......then the pain would start to come back ....I did this until about 28 ...at 26 i got a tubal .... after that they lasered one more time cleaned me out . the doctor figured the tubal would help lessen the endo and it did ....then at 32 it all had to come out ...
avis

[allaboutmary]

I know , I was very very lucky.  I did grow fibroid tumors in my late 30's but no endo.  The doctors were surprised.  After the surgery they told me if I wanted children I must get pregnant right away because it would most definatley grow back.  
Did you get any relief from the pain inbetween surguries?
Mary

[avisg]

WOW it not coming back is odd I had to get mine lasered  every two years from 17 on . They went threw my belly button so many times that it is unusable anymore for surgery.......
avis

[allaboutmary]

I had horrible endometreosis. I was in my 20's and had no children. I had a wonderful doctor who opened me up and lazered all the chocolate cysts and endo seeds out.  I had stuff attached to ovaries, tubes and uterus. I was a mess. He lifted my uterus out and even cleaned up behind it ( I know sounds funny) lol  He said it was one of the worst cases he had ever seen.  It was painful for a week, but I had great results and no pain from endo after that. It didn't grow back either, which they said was unusual. That was many years ago. I know they have even better procedures now that they sometimes can do it laparscopy ( a few small holes). If this is an option for you I would highley recommend it. Then you could be free of these pain pills. Keep trying to find a doctor to free you of this pain.
Back then I did not take pain pills only advil and many hot baths to ease pain.  Hang in there !   Mary

[hope08]

first off, let me say thank you for such good feedback. it really helped. it is so hard to find someone that has endo around here, so i am always on different websites, trying to get more info....congrats on having some wonderful children also. did you ever get on the lupron shots or anything when you did have the endo? any surgeries to remove it? i have not been to a pain specialist, although i would like to go, to get more info on managing pain and all. i did email one around here to just see if they even had endo patients, and they said they did and had a procedure for it. it is called hypogastric plexus nerve block, ever heard of it? sounded to me like masking the pain, not fixing it. something along the lines of they find the nerve that is signaling to your brain the endo is causing pain, and then they do something to the nerve....kind of creeped me out. with me being young still, i am afraid to take any 'drastic' measures in all this. and that is another reason i was concerned about pain meds, and meds all together. if i am going to have this for another 20 plus years, i don't want to be on pain meds for that long, seems like forever! it is just really scary, and i have yet to have someone around that can really understand, its hard. i feel like i am complaining about not feeling well way too much and it may be getting on peoples nerves. i don't have a lot of close friends anymore, and the last time i said "i don't feel good" my boyfriend responded with "when don't you not feel good?" and that kind of hurt my feelings. but anyway, don't want to get all sob story on you, just letting you know the tip of the iceberg!

[lil' plum]

I also had endometriosis years ago that led to major infertility problems although thankfully I was able to conceive and carry my son to 7 1/2 months.  He now is 6 ft. 5 inches tall and healthy as a horse.  Then we adopted......she has been an "adventure" to say the least, then when I remarried I ended up raising my step son so I have been a mother 3 times, but all in different ways.  With that out of the way, I'd like to give you a little information about the words "addicted" and "dependent"  When a patient is addicted to pain medication it is usually because they are not taking the pain meds in the way they are meant to be taken.  If they are looking for that "buzz" they can't find it unless they take more meds than their pain requires.  Being "dependent" is a whole other story.  After becoming 100% disabled due to 7 back surgeries (long story) my body has become dependent on pain meds in order to get out of bed.  There is no "high" but these meds do help stop pain "messages" from getting to the brain.  I'm with a pain specialist who monitors the level of pain.  They can tell the difference in people who are addicted and those who are dependent.  If I was to stop taking my meds, my body would probably go into shell shock for about 3 days, however psychologically I wouldn't be freaking out trying to find my next "fix."  But if I was addicted, then not only would my body have to go thru withdrawals but my brain would need reprograming or be washed clean of the drugs.  The habit of taking medication would have to be stopped, and these very strong drugs are extremely difficult to stop cold turkey if you are taking them for the wrong reason.  Most addicts are looking for the "buzz"......but chronic pain patients are looking to have their pain lessened.  It's a whole other game.  Addiction vs. dependency are totally different.  I was on one of the stronges opiates there is and due to some "difficult" side effects I just quit taking them (of course under a dr's supervision.  Even though someone is not trying to get high, their body stills expects that medication.  So that's the reason for being weaned off of it under a doctor's supervision.  So I wouldn't worry about becoming addicted to a drug if you are taking it with the sole purpose of helping your pain.  But if one is taking a mind altering medication the same way alcoholics drink alcohol......to get high, then that's when it becomes a problem.  I would say to keep the lines of communication with your doctor open.  Explain your fear of becoming addicted.  But in my opinion (and I'm not a doctor but I do have a lot of experience with chronic pain) just the fact that you are worried you might become addicted is a sign of someone who isn't interested in getting that "addict's high."  I hope this helped.  And YES, endometriosis is extremely painful.  It can be debilitating, and it's one of the reasons women are in such pain during their cycles.  Sincerely, Lil plum

[avisg]

are you near dayton ? or columbus

[hope08]

ohio, why?

i believe the closest doctor that i have searched online with semi good results about endo, it in PA. That is too far :( If i had the money i would go wherever i needed to!

[avisg]

where are you from ?

[hope08]

no i have not had children. talk of a hysterectomy was up (just because that is the only thing they can do to 'cure' it, even though its not %100) but i am so young, and making a decision on whether or not i want kids ever can't be done right now. who knows if i will?! the big problem with finding a new doctor, is finding one that has knowledge on the disease. there is no cure for it and so little is known about it that a lot of docs don't know where to begin as far as treatment goes...

[LIZZIE LOU]

please excuse this reply if you have already posted this in the past.

i was just wondering, since you are so young, if you have already had any children.

[avisg]

Then by all means look for another doctor, if he is not will to treat you .
Masking your symptoms is not  fixing  your  problem .If all he has done put  you on  pain meds then there are many other things that can be done .

[hope08]

I have never heard of that medicine. Is it a nsaid, non-inflamm, narcotic, hormone...? the problem with my doctor, is i have reccommended things to possibly try (that are non narcotic) but he doesn't seem to want to venture away from pain meds and hormones...which is why i am looking for a new doctor now!

[hope08]

bumping this for ppl to read about in my new post....urgent care....

[bmc1976]

Have you tried Etodolac? I actually had it prescribed for siatic pain. I read up on it on the internet and it's mainly prescribed for stomach cramps during pms. I've tried many different non narcotics and that was one of them. My wife took one the other day for cramps and she said it worked wonders. Just thought I'd throw it out there.
Brian

[Angel929]

Pain killers are called "Pain Killers" because they get rid of pain.  If you are in chronic pain, and as long as you are taking it as prescribed, then do what you have to do.  A lot of people, like me, started that way.  Just keep in mind that people become addicted when you take this stuff for a period of time, and as long as you are aware, by all means..... Dont suffer!!!  This is what these meds are suppose to be used for.  Good Luck and take care!!
Angel929

[shelly405]

Painkillers/meds are for pain. If you have the type of pain you say (And I know, I had the same problem) then Vicodin is not going to hurt you too much more.

I love this board and have learned much from it, but there is a distinction between being in pain and NEEDING meds and taking for the hell of it.

If you can take your pills as prescribed until you get through this - then do it. And don't feel guilty because you need them. I am probably going to get jumped for this, so I am hunkering down for it...

I have chronic/constant pain, and I have talked to my Dr. about addiction, and believe it or not, she says the best thing to do (in my case) is to try to find an alternative to Vicodin, but continue to take something.

It really bothers me when folks say since you abuse this, you can't have anything, ever, even if your limbs are rotting off. And yes, I am stone cold sober right now, haven't had ANYTHING in weeks. And yes - I am in pain. I know this may sound a bit acidic, but if you need pain meds, you need them. Don't feel bad about it.
Shell

[avisg]

There are MANY other options that can still be tried . The med I am talking about is Ponstel...

[BlotOutTheSun]

well most will tell you not to use at all, but really it doesnt seem like your left with much of a choose, unless they have a medical breakthrough to solve endo or somekinda new medicine for it, im not telling you to take pills by no means, but i hate to know someone has legit pain and still has a strong will not to take pain killers, i dont want to make a suggestion either way, ill keep you in my prayers, good luck

[BlotOutTheSun]

well most will tell you not to use at all, but really it doesnt seem like your left with much of a choose, unless they have a medical breakthrough to solve endo or somekinda new medicine for it, im not telling you to take pills by no means, but i hate to know someone has legit pain and still has a strong will not to take pain killers, i dont want to make a suggestion either way, ill keep you in my prayers, good luck

[BlotOutTheSun]

well most will tell you not to use at all, but really it doesnt seem like your left with much of a choose, unless they have a medical breakthrough to solve endo or somekinda new medicine for it, im not telling you to take pills by no means, but i hate to know someone has legit pain and still has a strong will not to take pain killers, i dont want to make a suggestion either way, ill keep you in my prayers, good luck

[BlotOutTheSun]

well most will tell you not to use at all, but really it doesnt seem like your left with much of a choose, unless they have a medical breakthrough to solve endo or somekinda new medicine for it, im not telling you to take pills by no means, but i hate to know someone has legit pain and still has a strong will not to take pain killers, i dont want to make a suggestion either way, ill keep you in my prayers, good luck

[BlotOutTheSun]

well most will tell you not to use at all, but really it doesnt seem like your left with much of a choose, unless they have a medical breakthrough to solve endo or somekinda new medicine for it, im not telling you to take pills by no means, but i hate to know someone has legit pain and still has a strong will not to take pain killers, i dont want to make a suggestion either way, ill keep you in my prayers, good luck