Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

I want to start a new post entitled “ SIDE EFFECTS “
I was told by the makers of Tramodol that if one person complains about something that complaint needs to be listed. Some of the the commercials on TV these days have speed readers stating all of the possible side effects. I’m aware of 2 comedy routines about side effects from medications that are < IMHO > well done and a few pharmacists with a sense of should add them to the rx order. If laughter is “ the best medicine “ then let’s make each other lag as often as possible
A priest a minister and a rabbit hopped into a bar one day....

@mamacita Hi I haven't posted to you in awhile but follow our same fibromyalgia problems. I'm sorry you where miserable with the recent flare right after you had one I had one . I'm in the same boast as Karen00 rheumatologist are pretty non existent here . Right now my PCP gave me a Medrol pack and said take when I need it . I want to go back on Lyrica but she wont give me a script for it so guess have to see my pain Dr. and talk to him maybe he can ?

Yes,@lioness, Gabapentin is considered a street drug now. A narcotic, or the kind of medicine that cannot be called in. One has to have a prescription and deliver it to the pharmacy to be filled.

Lyrica is in the same category. There are side effects and I am having to learn how to deal with them. I cannot subject my family or my self to the level of pain that I endured this last go round. I cannot go back.

My city is about fifty thousand or so. The Rheumatologists here do not appear to be very willing to help people with Fibromyalgia. It's almost as if they too think it is all in the patients mind, that it is one of those "fashionable" chronic illnesses....

It is very difficult to find someone who will take you seriously here. I don't want to go to UAB, because it is over an hour's drive one way just to get there.

Thank God my CRNP believed me when I told her I wanted to get back on Lyrica and Flexeril at night. She was happy to write me prescriptions for both. I had gotten off both of them because I was tired of taking medicine for every single thing. I was taking supplements and had a decent measure of success. But out of the blue, nothing worked.

With Fibromyalgia, you never know how long the "run" will last. In the meantime, I will do all I can to stay as healthy as possible.

It was a delight to hear from you. Let's do this again!

Mamacita

captainmidnight

@mamacita Just read your post saying that gabapentin is now a scheduled drug as is lyrica,, What State are you, I have read this in other posts, Why is gabapentin and lyrica taking this turn, My doctor and pain doctor kind of push for the gabapentin for my neuropathy, fibromyalgia and mortons neuroma, My pain doctor just called in the gabapentin and oxycodone, I will have to show ID for the oxycodone, My word, what is happening out there to question gabapentin and lyrica I was an addiction counselor for 28 years, retiring 7 years ago, I had never seen or heard of those two drugs being sought after, Many people with medical issues find relief with gabapentin and/or lyrica, I am surprised I have heard no problems with pain management prescribing oxycodone, When a medication is used for it's intention and is monitored there should not be a problem, Unfortunately there is abuse with so much out there and I certainly understand, but it is sad that for those who are helped by the medication must also suffer, I believe every one should be cared for on an individual basis, There will ALWAYS be drugs abused no matter what restrictions are placed, but for many, such as me, I am taking a medication and not abusing a drug, I live in Maryland, I am so glad they didn't take Tide pods off the market after it was found kids were eating them to get "Who the hell knows"

@lioness I don't understand why the doctor wouldn't prescribe Lyrica. Your pain specialist should be able to help. Did your doctor give his reason for refusing to prescribe?

I was gradually increasing my dosage of Lyrica when all of the sudden I had such a reaction I was in the hospital for 3 days. The bummer is that it was helping my neuropathy pain.

Jim

@mamacita What are they doing to us who need these drugs. Ridiculous I'm going to see my pain Dr. tomorrow and talk to him . I,ve been taking supplement also for the fibro but they aren't working as well any more.

@jimhd I don't know why she wouldn't prescribe it but I'm switching to a new health plan where they have a rheumatologist where I'm at now there is known. I also am seeing my pain Dr. Tues and talk to him

Hello,@summertime4, Mamacita here , aka Jane. I tried to do a little bit of investigative work here before giving you an answer.

I live in North Alabama, and we, unfortunately, have the dubious distinction of having one of the highest opiate consumptions per capita in the nation.

Hydrocodone works great for me. But neither the Rheumatologist nor the PCP will prescribe it for me. This was at my request. From many years ago.

Hydrocodone affects perception. I told the medical folks not to prescribe anything for me that might affect my ability to drive, make decisions, or care for our precious Grandchild.

Little did I know back then, in the 90's, that Fibromyalgia would get progressively worse. I have come to regret that decision.

But in this environment of drug users, drugs are frequently used in ways that they were not prescribed. I have heard of people injecting or smoking or huffing just about every drug you can imagine.

I have not located any articles to back that up.yet. But I will be looking for them. I did look at an article by Ramsey Archibald, @al.com. Where the opioid epidemic hit Alabama hardest. Two counties that have the most drugs in the state are a short drive from my door.

Foster care numbers are at an all time high. Families are torn apart. Children don't know who they can trust anymore. Enabling seems to be the name of the game. But someone with diabetic neuropathy and severe Fibromyalgia like me, well, I have to be convincing to the medical establishment so that they understand I really am in as much pain as I say I am.

To be fair, they do not wish to get in trouble themselves. Around this town, one of the high schools was known as the "pill" school. The other the "alcohol" school. I personally knew of a Sunday School class that refused to have their social at my friend's house because alcohol would not be on the menu .

I hope I have answered at least some of your questions. Thankfully, the medicines that truly help us are not as difficult to procure in your part of the country. May it remain so.

Mamacita

Good afternoon, my name is Tom