Pain And Changes In Weather...Am I Alone????

@rwinney some mentioned that starting a comment with the @....would generate an e-mail so the recipient knows they got a reply. I have never received an e-mail. I find these comments only when I come to the site. I've been starting my comments to you thinking you would see them. I'm replying to some comments but don't know if I'm seeing what everyone writes. I don't want to ignore anyone. I'll try posting a general comment saying basically that so people know I'm thankful for their comments. I'm trying the relaxation tips you gave but find it hard. No matter what position I'm in, I'm distracted by pain. I also seem to have a very active mind right now. I'm trying some of the relaxation music I found on YouTube. It's helpful during the day during waking hours. I tried one of the lovely 24/7 selections when I went to bed last night but I just couldn't fall asleep. Also EVERY time I fall asleep I dream. There not necessarily bad dreams but just not pleasant. I always wake up knowing I've been dreaming but they fade almost immediately. Sometimes I don't even think I make it into a deep sleep. The dreams...stories...situations...whatever you want to call them seem to start the second I hit that twilight sleep before deeper sleep. As most elderly people do, I wake up once or twice a night too. Between pain, waking up, so called dreams, some nights I don't get more than 3 or 4 hours real sleep. I'm tired. Talking about sleep...it's almost 4:30am so I better go to bed. Oh...that's another thing. I'm a terrible night owl. Always have been. I know about trying to gradually change bedtimes. For several reasons, that's not for me. By the way...there's a "bell" shape at the top of the page that says 95. I didn't notice it before. That's not notifications for me is it? I'll have to click on it and see what I find.

@rwinney some mentioned that starting a comment with the @....would generate an e-mail so the recipient knows they got a reply. I have never received an e-mail. I find these comments only when I come to the site. I've been starting my comments to you thinking you would see them. I'm replying to some comments but don't know if I'm seeing what everyone writes. I don't want to ignore anyone. I'll try posting a general comment saying basically that so people know I'm thankful for their comments. I'm trying the relaxation tips you gave but find it hard. No matter what position I'm in, I'm distracted by pain. I also seem to have a very active mind right now. I'm trying some of the relaxation music I found on YouTube. It's helpful during the day during waking hours. I tried one of the lovely 24/7 selections when I went to bed last night but I just couldn't fall asleep. Also EVERY time I fall asleep I dream. There not necessarily bad dreams but just not pleasant. I always wake up knowing I've been dreaming but they fade almost immediately. Sometimes I don't even think I make it into a deep sleep. The dreams...stories...situations...whatever you want to call them seem to start the second I hit that twilight sleep before deeper sleep. As most elderly people do, I wake up once or twice a night too. Between pain, waking up, so called dreams, some nights I don't get more than 3 or 4 hours real sleep. I'm tired. Talking about sleep...it's almost 4:30am so I better go to bed. Oh...that's another thing. I'm a terrible night owl. Always have been. I know about trying to gradually change bedtimes. For several reasons, that's not for me. By the way...there's a "bell" shape at the top of the page that says 95. I didn't notice it before. That's not notifications for me is it? I'll have to click on it and see what I find.

Hi Rachel: Thank you for taking the time to reply. To answer your first two questions....I will be 76 in January. I've been taking 10/325 hydrocodone/acetaminophen for years. I've lost track now but I think it's been at least 7 or 8 years. I just looked up hyperalgesia on Web MD and it makes sense to me. A number of times recently I've said to my husband...." I swear that sometime the pain gets worse instead of better soon after I take my dose of hydrocodone". Maybe I should be calling it generic Norco. I am positive the most severe pain I am experiencing is definitely nerve pain. I have also told my husband I think I have nerve damage of some kind that is causing a more intense sensitivity to pain so this all makes a lot of sense.
I am using many of the self help techniques you mentioned. They do help to some degree. I've had no luck with the one I was most interested in and that's meditation. OMG...my mind goes crazy when I try it plus I can't get into a comfortable position so my mind keeps focusing on the pain I'm feeling. I keep trying from time to time though.

I think I want to focus on the medication end of this situation to start. At times I get more pain relief from 1000 mg of acetaminophen than one 10/325 hydro/acetamin . I will contact my primary. My primary is not an MD He is a PA-C.... a certified physician assistant with 20 years experience. Obviously over the years I have seen many specialists but not recently. There are other issues regarding choosing a doctor and doctor's visits but I consider that to personal to discuss on an open forum.

Hi @cahnny, welcome back!!
You're email notification were turned off, so that's why you didn't get an email notification when someone replied to your post or @mentioned you by username. I turned your settings back on so you should get an email from this reply.

The bell icon with the red number are a tally of the notifications for discussions, groups and blogs that you follow. If you click the bell icon and then click My Notifications (View All), you will be able to see all the notifications and read and delete them.

It is great to hear from you again and to see all the comments your return has generated and suggestions people have for you and each other. Did you know their is a group dedicated to Sleep Health? See here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/sleep-health/

Like you, I have trouble with focus for meditation (a little Attention Deficit, perhaps) especially when I am in pain. What I find helpful is to focus on a specific thought or idea as I move. The movement is usually walking, but sometimes it is rocking in my most comfortable chair. Somehow trying to be still just makes me more aware of the pain

When I was really ill, nearly unable to move off the sofa, I found restful sleep was the most difficult thing to achieve. In my case, it seems the more I move in the daytime, the easier it is to sleep. That deep fatigue I feel isn't really physical tiredness, like from a "good day's work" - just more of an emotional exhaustion - so physically moving helps me get to actual tiredness. This might be by walking - even around the house, doing some stretching exercises, or even doing (yuk) house chores.

Yes, the bell at the top of the page is telling you that you have 95 notifications. They are arranged from newest to oldest. You can click on the ones that interest you to read the full text, or click the "trash can" on each one that doesn't.

Has your weather gotten better so you don't ache so much?
Sue

@sueinmn Hi Sue: Yes I think you're right about the exhaustion being emotional sometimes although, since I haven't been getting much sleep lately I do think I'm getting overly tired which is probably making my other issues worse. Actually sometimes I think it's a viscous cycle. You should know I'm in a wheelchair so taking walks and most forms of exercise are not an option for me. I do get as much movement into my day as I can. I stand up and use my wheelchair as a walker and walk a little around the house until my back just won't take it any more. I figure..don't use it..lose it...lol. Weather...oh no. It's been a roller coaster of up and down barometric pressure and pretty much one storm after another. This time of year a lot of people call this area the Pacific Northwet..hahaha

@rwinney some mentioned that starting a comment with the @....would generate an e-mail so the recipient knows they got a reply. I have never received an e-mail. I find these comments only when I come to the site. I've been starting my comments to you thinking you would see them. I'm replying to some comments but don't know if I'm seeing what everyone writes. I don't want to ignore anyone. I'll try posting a general comment saying basically that so people know I'm thankful for their comments. I'm trying the relaxation tips you gave but find it hard. No matter what position I'm in, I'm distracted by pain. I also seem to have a very active mind right now. I'm trying some of the relaxation music I found on YouTube. It's helpful during the day during waking hours. I tried one of the lovely 24/7 selections when I went to bed last night but I just couldn't fall asleep. Also EVERY time I fall asleep I dream. There not necessarily bad dreams but just not pleasant. I always wake up knowing I've been dreaming but they fade almost immediately. Sometimes I don't even think I make it into a deep sleep. The dreams...stories...situations...whatever you want to call them seem to start the second I hit that twilight sleep before deeper sleep. As most elderly people do, I wake up once or twice a night too. Between pain, waking up, so called dreams, some nights I don't get more than 3 or 4 hours real sleep. I'm tired. Talking about sleep...it's almost 4:30am so I better go to bed. Oh...that's another thing. I'm a terrible night owl. Always have been. I know about trying to gradually change bedtimes. For several reasons, that's not for me. By the way...there's a "bell" shape at the top of the page that says 95. I didn't notice it before. That's not notifications for me is it? I'll have to click on it and see what I find.

@cahnny Hello. Im sorry to read you've been having heart issues. I hope you're feeling better.

I see you have had instruction from Colleen on your email/comment concerns. Having notifications turned on is helpful

Have you had a chance to look into the sleep health conversation yet? How has your sleep been lately?

Thinking of you.

@cahnny Hello. Im sorry to read you've been having heart issues. I hope you're feeling better.

I see you have had instruction from Colleen on your email/comment concerns. Having notifications turned on is helpful

Have you had a chance to look into the sleep health conversation yet? How has your sleep been lately?

Thinking of you.

@rwinney I'm losing track of comments. Things keep popping up that keep me from visiting this site so when I do come I can't find where things left off. Sorry if I don't reply fast enough or miss a comment. I saw the cardiologist. I'm going to wear a ZIO patch for two weeks but he thinks I'm ok. He said not to worry about the skipped beats and short episodes of high blood pressure. He went over tests my pulmonary specialist had done in the last 6 months and was happy with results...echocardiogram, lung/heart CAT, blood work, pulmonary tests. I'm on oxygen now so levels are good. There's always something. This time it's my thyroid. I have Graves disease. I assume that it's still called that. I had my thyroid "removed"/"deactivated" some 30 odd years ago via radioactive treatment. Went in a special room...guy in a "space suit" came in and left a canister marked radioactive on a table and told me to open the canister, remove and swallow the pill inside after he left the room. I did. It's my understanding that pill eventually stopped my thyroid from functioning. I've been taking levothyroxine ever since. Yearly test results have been fine for years and years. Suddenly 5 months ago I had a TSH result of 5. something so my primary ordered a repeat test which I had done last Friday. TSH had shot up to 19.1. I'm trying to get in to see the endocrinologist who originally adjusted my dosage levels years ago. Right now it looks like I can't see him until February. Not sure how bad/what side effects TSH of 19 will have while I wait to see him. COVID has made it harder to get appointments because some offices have been closed. So that's where I stand right now. Lots of back/neck/nerve pain, concerned about my thyroid, checking out my heart (think it's ok), just finished getting certified for permanent 24/7 oxygen at home. Hubby has a few issues also but they seem to be under control right now. We're just plodding along here...lol