Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Crappy news, plus some AWESOME news . . .

Tuesday, i went to the Pain Specialist, who is supposed to get me off the Tramadol so I can start LDN, right?

A couple things happened. First, he wrote me THREE new rx's, one for a sleeping pill ( ) and one for the lidocaine patch ( it's completely useless, even on my hands. Numbs the skin, and that's it) and one for Clo-something, that's for the withdrawal symptoms from going off the Tram. ( it SO tactfully says on the bottle - "Take one twice daily for WITHDRAWAL" - let's just announce that Bridget's a narc junkie, why don't we?)

He also wants me to up my Neurontin, which I've been taking at 300mg for depression (and it's working GREAT!) to 1800 mg! Multiply it by SIX, when it's already working . . . but he said that's for pain, not for depression. Then, he wants to start me on Cymbalta in a couple of weeks. (has anyone tried this? Is it nifty?) So wait, that's ONE rx that I'm going off of, and what,FIVE new ones? grrrr

BUT!!! This is the REALLY awesome spiffy part!!!

He's sending me to a Pain Psychologist (a real one, not the quack counselor I had before who told me to "kill your pride a little at a time. You're never going to ride a horse again, and you need to accept that" (evil biatch) and here's the AWESOME part -

HE HAS AS!!!!!


The pain psychologist has AS. Isn't that the coolest thing you've ever heard? I think I'm in love. Really.

I see him Monday . . . can't wait.

So . . . I'm a nervous wreck because I'm going off the crappy-poo pills and there I was all prepared to do it cold-turkey (I took time off work, and my dad was coming up to take care of me and keep me from killing myself - I've done this before) and he said no, let's just do it a little at a time, over FIVE WEEKS. So, instead of a clean break after a week, I get to do a low-grade anxiety (I have a history with anxiety - i was house-bound for a whole winter 2 years ago, and I'm TERRIFIED of going back to "that place") and a general feeling of the FLU, plus being rather spacey and stoned, for over a month. THEN, I can't start the LDN until I've been off this stuff for 10 days, so this is putting off my wonderful Second Chance even longer . . . I've already gotten in trouble at work for spacing out, and Thursday I had to call in ANYWAY because i was so sick and stoned I couldn't drive.

grrrrrr

So yeah. That's the update to my doc's appt.

OH!!! And my newest nephew, Gerint Daniel Seely, was born Monday night, all healthy and spiffy. He's number 22, and #23 is on his way (actually 23 is my 3rd GREAT-nephew) next week. I love nieces and nephews . . . and babies in general . . . I want some . . .

Gerint is the first one to be born in Albuquerque, where I can go cuddle him right off the bat!

ooooh ooooh and Sunday makes SIX MONTHS SMOKE-FREE!!!! GO MEEE!!!!!!

Love y'all. I'm takin my stoned little butt to bed now . . . lol

,
Bridge

Hi Bridget

It sounds like you have a good doctor there, a doctor who doesn't want you to become unglued while your coming off your medication. He is a doctors who wants to see you around for your new nephew. Congratulations

Is the new medication making you stoned or is it too soon to see how the new medicine is helping during this cut back stage?

You new pain Psychologist sounds like he is going to be a good doctor, someone who understands, and someone who will finally get you some answers.

Congratulations on your six month aniversary of being smoke free. You deserve many hugs.



Gerri

HI Bridget,

That sounds like agood doctor's appt. Like you, I don't quite understand the trade off with the meds.

Are you saying you have 22 nieces and nephews with another on the way? That's outrageous! How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have 3 brothers, 1 sister and only 9 nieces and nephews.

Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. Be sure to let us know how it goes. congrats on the no-smoking .

Hugs, Wanda

Bridget, you crack me up! I wonder if you'll even remember writing this post in a few days Congrats on the change in meds and the pain psych guy, as well as the new nephew and the 6 months smoke-free you (I can smell your minty fresh breath from here!). Hope everything works out well for you.

Pete

aloha bridge

i hope this all works out for you...

as kind of your guide to the darkside, could i be allowed the observation that 1800mg of neurontin for a
two hundred pound me would be a dossage far beyond recreational and approaching blotto, blutto, bozo.
oh...it's not an anti-depressant either; it's for nerve pain and tremblors...seriously, though i took 900mg
for a while and you could have carted me around on one of those wheeled-tables the ambulance people use.

23 nieces and nephews...republicans ?

all the best
aB

Hey darlin'!

Wow, you've had quite the emotional roller-coaster ride this week, haven't you?!! That's fantastic that this new doc has AS!!! Someone who will KNOW what you feel like inside. Just awesome. Yipee for you! As for all the other stuff...I'll keep my fingers crossed for you honey. I've been thinking about you lately and wondering how things have been...

Write me if you need to vent at all...you've been a great help to me in the past and I hope that I can return the favor.

Trina

hi and welcome...yes my doc put me on Cymbalta last week on 30mg for to take 2wks and then he want me to start 60mg....for now it work great with no complaints...now i wake up from being so tired and more alert I also take tramadol...be well Pat

((Bridget )) Just thinking of you. I have taken Neurontin in the past but nothing like the dosage he is putting you on. I hope it and the Cymbalta help you.

Coming off the pain meds is the pits isn't it? I have been weaning myself off the MSContin and have been at 1 - 15 mg. pill daily for 6 days now so today is the day I go without tonight. I am still taking Lortabs but have gone from 10 mg. to 7.5 mg. I just felt like I was not myself. Taking all those pain meds and Xanax to sleep. He did cut my Pred to 5 mg. and that has helped my sleeping.

Hope you feel better soon. I am anxious to hear about your dr. appt.

Hugs.
Possi

I concur with AlohaBen's comments regarding the dosage for the Neurontin. I have (supposedly) trigeminal neuralgia and have scoured TN support group newsletters from Texas and Australia hoping to find a more reasonable way to manage the symptoms (ouch!!!). One thing that seems to be rather consistent among the users of this med (and some of the other anti-seizure/anti-convulsant meds) is the intolerable side effects at high dosages. May want to reaffirm your doc's plan. Good luck!

Hey Bridget, I wish I could find a pain psyc like that . Does he have a brother?
Anyway, I'm a bit confused, Neurontin is for nerve pain, why were you on it for depression? Cymbalta is a good one. I know several people who have taken it. Be careful with the big doses of the Neurontin. I took Lyrica ( the new and improved Neurontin) for about 6 months and had terrible headaches from it. I wasn't on near the doses you are. I'm sorry the Lidocane patches didn't work, but glad I heard it from you before I asked for it. How did you quit smoking? I stopped 4 times over the last 30 years and just can't stay off. Good for you, you go girl
Anyway, I hope things go smoothly for you.
Cindy