Time to take my life back!!

[kiddthekatt]

Hi all;
   I have had it!! I am tired of hurting all the time, tired of the constant pain and tired of taking so many pills every day that don't work. I feel like a pharmacy, and I'm tired of being weighed down everyday by pills when I am going to hurt anyway.  
   I have an appointment with my Rheumy Monday and he's going to be surprised. I've decided to come off all the meds that he has me taking, and get myself clean. I plan on keeping my Zoloft, and I have to have my blood pressure meds and cholesterol meds. He has me taking Ultram ER, flexeril, Restoril, another muscle relaxer I have to take in the am, and  I still hurt like he!!. I'll continue with my vitamins and supplements but I've had it with the rest.
   I've told him several times that the Ultram ER has stopped working, he wants to keep upping the dosage. I already take 400mg a day. I have had more relief with the Lorcet that I had left over from my knee replacement than with anything, yet he refuses to give me a script. I'm going to ask for a referrel to a pain management clinic tomorrow, I don't have to have a referrel to go, I have open access insurance and go to any doctor that I want. I am asking as a courtesy to my Rheumy. If he doesn't  give me one, I'm going to get a copy of my medical records while I'm there and contact a pain clinic myself.
    I'm also going to contact my internist and tell him that I've had it. He's been my doctor for a long time, and he knows my body as well as Ido. He knows that when I tell him I hurt all over, I damn well hurt all over. I would much rather take a Lorcet 2 or 3 times a day than to keep taking all this **** that keeps my tummy upset.
    I need to have knee replacement surgery on my eft knee, but my Rheumy keeps telling me that he would preferr I not, well guess what? He's not the one that can barely get around because of the fibro pain and the pain of having a knee bone on bone. It'sd time to get my life back and start making a few decisions myself.
  
Thank you all for listening while I vent. But I have had it. If he won't listen to e, I'll find a doctor who will.

gentle hugs
Angel

[jbssquared]

By the way, Ultram isn't worth the bnottle it comes in.  If you want some recomendations, let me know.

jbssquared

[jbssquared]

You have made an excellent decision.  I had the same problems you have had and I reached the end of my tollerance.  I made an appointment with a pain management doctor, walked in, and told him I was sick and tired of being in pain, not being able to think, and having "NO" quality of life and I wanted it taken care of right then.  He did.  I'm on medications now that control my pain and I got my life back.  I'm actually happy now.  Go ge um, Tiger.  Best of luck.

[kiddthekatt]

Hiyas;
   Thank you guys, I actually feel almost normal, the pain is still around but it is now controlled, so far so good. Dr. Ali is a wonderful doctor and I am so lucky to have him, when I hurt I get cranky and threaten to trade him in, but I do have to admit that he has taken very good care of me.

I promised him that I would be very careful with the percocet and nottake it unless I really have to. He shook his finger at me and told me no!! You use it like I have it scripted!! Yes Sir! I felt like an old banged up six year old.

Well I think I'm going to put that pillow back under the head and close my eyes, Take care of yourselves..........................

gentle hugs
Angel

[VaBreeze]

For real!!!  I'm so glad to hear this Angel.  I hope you had a great rest (prob. the best you've had in quite a while).  You take care of yourself.

xox

[selmaS]

can we clone ur dr??....lol....that's awesome.sounds like he'll have u feeling better after some rest.



Godspeed
"selma"

[kiddthekatt]

I went to my Rheumy this morning and he finally gave me a script for percocet for the break through pain. He could see without asking how bad my pain was He gave me a cocktail shot and in no time I was feeling some relief. He also gave me a script for the UTI. He gave me a card with his cell number on it and told me that at any time at night or weekends that I felt the pain get out of hand to call him and he would meet me at rhe ER.

I came home and went to bed, I feel like I've worked a 24 hour shift, ugh!  Thank you all again for your replies.

gentle hugs
Angel

[john4321]

reviews

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drugs-treatments/rating/transfer-factors

[john4321]

there is a product called immune26 made from egg powder , online reviewers say their fibro is gone ! I am taking transfer factor plus capsules for 3 days and already feel the energy . Immune26 is next to try .

[VaBreeze]

You expressed my sentiments exactly..."at times it hurts so bad I want to cut it off with a dull butter knife."  I feel that same way Angel.  I had my first leg surgery (had two fractures with one going from my knee to the ankle.  My tibia had a plate and bone grafting; my fibula still has a plate holding it together and remains broken.  After a year the bones had not healed so back in for more surgery to place growth hormones and magnetic electrodes.  I had my knee replaced last year because the cartlege was shot.  I can only flex to 75 degrees and that's after two manipulations.  My deep peroneal nerve is gone and the other is working at about 80%.  I totally understand the pain you feel.  Even after the knee surgery it still hurts and I then developed RSD there.  It spread for whatever reason.  I have difficulty when the weather changes...that exploding feeling.  I too have Ultram and nothing else for pain.  It's so depressing some days.  Sometimes I wonder if an amputation would have been better, as sad as that sounds, but then i'd probably have phantom pain.  

You do have rights...you do deserve to have your pain treated.  If nothing else, he could prescribe something for you to use for the breakthrough periods.  Yes, if he doesn't listen then definitely find someone who will.  I'm calling a neurologist next week because i'm not very pleased with the way my PCP is handling my situation.  

Keep in touch and I pray everything goes better for you during tomorrows visit.  

xox

[kiddthekatt]

Thank you Breeze for the advice. I'm not going to stop on any meds until I talk to my Rheumy tomorrow, as bad as I want to just throw them all in the trash, the thought of something going wrong scares me enough I'll keep taking it all until I know.

I know I can't have my left knee replaced, but at times it hurts so bad I want to cut it off with a dull butter knife!! This coming March 22 will be 2 years when I started the knee ****. My first OS did the partial and the revision in 8 weeks time, the second OS went in on Oct 22 and revised to a total. The first OS made such a mess of my tibia I can not have another revision on the right knee period.

If the components get screwed up in any way, as far as coming loose or infection or anything, I have two options open to me. Fusion or amputation. I have 6 inch post in the femur and tibia  now, the only thing left is the hinged component and my leg bones are too short. I went to PT 3 times after the total and the OS stopped me from going because the bones were brittle. I worked slowly at home and got my flexion from 55 to 115 on my own.

Right now the TKR knee is starting to bother me. When I have a flare in my lower limbs, I swear that knee is going to explode. The Ultram works ok as long as I don't have that break through pain and when that happens, I have nothing to help get me a little relief.

I'll let you know how it goes in the morning, and thanks for caring Breeze, it sure helps to know that people in todays world is still compassionate.

gentle hugs
Angel

[VaBreeze]

Please be careful when you decide to stop taking certain meds.  There can be serious withdrawal symptoms should you do that.  

Otherwise, I really understand where you are at right now.  I'm feeling the same way with the pain.  I feel that I have to let you know about having the knee replacement hon.  I had mine done because it hurt and my kneecap cartalege was shattered.  I thought ok...the surgery would relieve the pain and i'd be able to walk better.  Having fibro slows down the healing process...that's what i've discovered.  Because of the surgery I have RSD in my knee now and i've had it manipulated twice, but can only bend about 70 degrees.  AND...it still hurts, moreso than before the surgery.  If your rheumatologist receommends against it, there must be a good reason.  Please consider that having the surgery may not help you as much as you feel it would.  

I'm not sure about where you live, but here most pain clinics will not see you unless you've been referred by another doctor.  I think it's because the clinics are just overwhelmed with those seeking pain relief.  You may want to check into that also.

I know how it is to be in chronic pain...i've been like that for 3 years straight.  I feel for you hon and wish I could make it go away for you.  Please know that i'm not trying to discourage you in any way...i'm just trying to give you a heads up on some things before you make any decisions.  I have those days where I think I just don't want to go on this way, so I understand where you are.  

Please let us know what happens tomorrow and I wish you the best of outcomes.  Take care.

[PlateletGal]

Hi ! I'm so sorry that you are going through this. I know that my complaint is mostly fatigue, but there are days (especially those when I'm herxing) that I have widespread pain. I'm almost always in a good mood, but I noticed when I'm in extreme pain... that is very difficult to do.

Are you taking any supplements for your pain ? The reason why I ask is because another member tried D-Ribose (as I did) and had success. The studies on D-Ribose show that most people w/ both CFS and fibro benefit from this simple sugar.

If you get fed up with your physician.... remember you have options. You can google, "Co-Cure's Good Doctor List" to find a list of physicians in your area that ROUTINELY treat and diagnose fibro & CFS.