I just don''t feel well anymore...

[Gailey]

Date: 2/19/2010 4:54:40 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:10:31 AM
Author: gemgirl

Date: 2/18/2010 1:15:50 PM
Author: risingsun
gemgirl~please know that I don''t consider your posts on this thread to be ''threadjacking.'' We need each other! Thank you, whitby, for putting us on your prayer list. I know that you are trying to care of us. It means so much. I''ve never been so open about my feelings before, except with my DH. It''s difficult, sometimes, to tell him how I feel everyday, even when he asks...and he asks daily. I want to tell him I''m better. Some days I am. Some days the bottom falls out.

ETA: Whitby~I will try to keep you updated. If you are concerned, bump the thread and I will respond.

You really are such a sweetheart. I didn''t want to be disrespectful to your thread or to what you''re going through by talking about myself. It''s just that we have so many different things in common, it was hard to not say ''we''re in the same boat with a hole in it!'' I truly hope that all of your tests come back OK and I''ll be waiting to hear the news of your results. You are a very sweet woman and you deserve a break and some peace of mind.

Truer words....I will keep you updated. Please do the same

Two people baling out the boat will keep it afloat longer than one lady baling by herself. Long enough I hope, so that a bigger boat can come along and rescue you both.

XX

 

[MeowMeow]

Hi RisingSun. I hope you are doing as alright as you can be lately! I''m keeping you in my thoughts

 

[Arkteia]

Hi RisingSun,
I have tried to read the whole tread, especially your answers.
Needless to say how deeply I sympathize with you.
It is great that people at your work value your gifts as a therapist - I understand that your coming back to work is not going to happen anytime soon, as you said, but it is so important that they are waiting for you.
People have been giving you advices. I do not feel comfortable joining them since you have seen so many specialists but can not help myself - have you ever been on Fentanyl patch? The medication bypasses your GI tract and it could decrease the amount of side effects.
Suboxone is now used for pain. Subutex is a milder version of it, with fewer side effects. If you have not been on it, it is a viable option.
Remeron is a mild antidepressant but its side effect is decreasing nausea.
Lyrica has shown good results in patients with fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain.
And has anyone discussed Provigil? It does not have an official indication of fibromyalgia but some patients feel tremendous relief with it. If it works, it will also give you extra energy which I am sure you can use.
I have seen many patients with monoclonal gammopathy and multiple myeloma. As you may know, there are different types of myeloma and prognosis is totally different.
I am going to pray for you. Get well!

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/19/2010 7:26:55 PM
Author: MeowMeow
Hi RisingSun. I hope you are doing as alright as you can be lately! I''m keeping you in my thoughts

Thanks for the good thoughts, MeowMeow

 

[LostSapphire]

Hello Rising Sun

Hope you''re having a tolerable day. I''m having a rough go tonight so I''m trying to distract myself on PS (pain = shopping = $$ = YIKES!)

soft hugs

LS

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/19/2010 8:11:09 PM
Author: crasru
Hi RisingSun,
I have tried to read the whole tread, especially your answers.
Needless to say how deeply I sympathize with you.
It is great that people at your work value your gifts as a therapist - I understand that your coming back to work is not going to happen anytime soon, as you said, but it is so important that they are waiting for you.
People have been giving you advices. I do not feel comfortable joining them since you have seen so many specialists but can not help myself - have you ever been on Fentanyl patch? The medication bypasses your GI tract and it could decrease the amount of side effects.
Suboxone is now used for pain. Subutex is a milder version of it, with fewer side effects. If you have not been on it, it is a viable option.
Remeron is a mild antidepressant but its side effect is decreasing nausea.
Lyrica has shown good results in patients with fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain.
And has anyone discussed Provigil? It does not have an official indication of fibromyalgia but some patients feel tremendous relief with it. If it works, it will also give you extra energy which I am sure you can use.
I have seen many patients with monoclonal gammopathy and multiple myeloma. As you may know, there are different types of myeloma and prognosis is totally different.
I am going to pray for you. Get well!

Hi crasru,
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look into them. Are you in the medical field? You have much knowledge in this area. RE: Fentanyl, I have had adverse effects [stomach spasms] from anesthesia. Route of administration doesn't seem to make much of a difference. That concerns me about the patch. I have had tests done for opioid tolerance, which was done by IV. The spasms started almost immediately after administration

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:09:36 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Hello Rising Sun

Hope you''re having a tolerable day. I''m having a rough go tonight so I''m trying to distract myself on PS (pain = shopping = $$ = YIKES!)

soft hugs

LS

I''m trying to avoid taking my migraine meds, which sometimes trigger stomach spasms. I distracted myself last weekend by upgrading my diamond pendant. It''s beautiful, but as you said pain=shopping=$$=YIKES! What is going on with you tonight?

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:19:58 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:09:36 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Hello Rising Sun

Hope you''re having a tolerable day. I''m having a rough go tonight so I''m trying to distract myself on PS (pain = shopping = $$ = YIKES!)

soft hugs

LS

I''m trying to avoid taking my migraine meds, which sometimes trigger stomach spasms. I distracted myself last weekend by upgrading my diamond pendant. It''s beautiful, but as you said pain=shopping=$$=YIKES! What is going on with you tonight?

I''ve been doing ok for 3-4 months with the Tegratol. It keeps the nerve quiet. But today I had a dentist appt (I can no longer have any drilling or anything inmy mouth because it sets off the trigeminal nerve). Anyhow, it was just a cleaning. JUST A CLEANING FOR PETE''S SAKE. The dentist was so gentle, used no machinery, did it all by hand. But tonight I feel like the monster is wide awake and screaming (a.k.a. the equivalent of about 5 root canals in my mouth).

I''m so disheartened that such a mundane procedure can fire this thing up. it took me 5 months since the last flare up to get it quiet. DAMN.

ok, pity party over. Thanks for listening.

LS

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:24:47 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 2/19/2010 11:19:58 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:09:36 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Hello Rising Sun

Hope you''re having a tolerable day. I''m having a rough go tonight so I''m trying to distract myself on PS (pain = shopping = $$ = YIKES!)

soft hugs

LS

I''m trying to avoid taking my migraine meds, which sometimes trigger stomach spasms. I distracted myself last weekend by upgrading my diamond pendant. It''s beautiful, but as you said pain=shopping=$$=YIKES! What is going on with you tonight?

I''ve been doing ok for 3-4 months with the Tegratol. It keeps the nerve quiet. But today I had a dentist appt (I can no longer have any drilling or anything inmy mouth because it sets off the trigeminal nerve). Anyhow, it was just a cleaning. JUST A CLEANING FOR PETE''S SAKE. The dentist was so gentle, used no machinery, did it all by hand. But tonight I feel like the monster is wide awake and screaming (a.k.a. the equivalent of about 5 root canals in my mouth).

I''m so disheartened that such a mundane procedure can fire this thing up. it took me 5 months since the last flare up to get it quiet. DAMN.

ok, pity party over. Thanks for listening.

LS

I''m so sorry to hear this. Do you think this is caused by your former problem or is it originating in the nerve? When I had a root canal done, I went to the pain clinic and had the whole area treated by [I think] trigger point injections so the dentist could work on me. It is not a pity party. It feels awful. I have had that happen, too, but it is the nerve, itself, that is triggered.

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:30:34 PM
Author: risingsun
I''m so sorry to hear this. Do you think this is caused by your former problem or is it originating in the nerve? When I had a root canal done, I went to the pain clinic and had the whole area treated by [I think] trigger point injections so the dentist could work on me. It is not a pity party. It feels awful. I have had that happen, too, but it is the nerve, itself, that is triggered.

The trigeminal nerve had a compression on the brain stem. That was fixed with a neurosurgery last January. Unfortunately, the compression caused permanent damage to the myelin sheath as it took some time to diagnose and fix. So while the surgery relieved the compression, the nerve still flares up. And, I had 4+ years of dental/oral/jaw surgeries because the docs thought the pain was originating from my teeth. So I have damage to the trigeminal nerve at the front of my face as well.

It IS controllable, but the level of meds to keep the monster quiet would require me to quit my job, stop driving and stay home watching Judge Judy all day. That''s not an option for me. So we''re trying to work on med levels to keep things quiet. Problem is, everytime anything goes on in my mouth at the dentist, it flares up and takes months to get under control. Nerve Pain is SO HARD to deal with, huh?

Thanks for asking.

LS

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:36:40 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 2/19/2010 11:30:34 PM
Author: risingsun
I'm so sorry to hear this. Do you think this is caused by your former problem or is it originating in the nerve? When I had a root canal done, I went to the pain clinic and had the whole area treated by [I think] trigger point injections so the dentist could work on me. It is not a pity party. It feels awful. I have had that happen, too, but it is the nerve, itself, that is triggered.

The trigeminal nerve had a compression on the brain stem. That was fixed with a neurosurgery last January. Unfortunately, the compression caused permanent damage to the myelin sheath as it took some time to diagnose and fix. So while the surgery relieved the compression, the nerve still flares up. And, I had 4+ years of dental/oral/jaw surgeries because the docs thought the pain was originating from my teeth. So I have damage to the trigeminal nerve at the front of my face as well.

It IS controllable, but the level of meds to keep the monster quiet would require me to quit my job, stop driving and stay home watching Judge Judy all day. That's not an option for me. So we're trying to work on med levels to keep things quiet. Problem is, everytime anything goes on in my mouth at the dentist, it flares up and takes months to get under control. Nerve Pain is SO HARD to deal with, huh?

Thanks for asking.

LS

I'm sending a truckload of dust your way. I had hoped that your surgery had resolved the problem. Those flare ups sound miserable

When I had my gallbladder removed, I thought my spasms would be gone. They're not. What I call stomach spasms are just like gallbladder spasms. It would be great if, after undergoing surgery for a medical condition, the pain would be permanently gone. Please let me know how you are doing.

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:43:01 PM
Author: risingsun
I'm sending a truckload of dust your way. I had hoped that your surgery had resolved the problem. Those flare ups sound miserable

When I had my gallbladder removed, I thought my spasms would be gone. They're not. What I call stomach spasms are just like gallbladder spasms. It would be great if, after undergoing surgery for a medical condition, the pain would be permanently gone. Please let me know how you are doing.

Thank you Marian.

I'm off to bed. If I stay up any longer I'm going to outspend myself!

Keep well.

LS

 

[Maisie]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:43:01 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:36:40 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 2/19/2010 11:30:34 PM
Author: risingsun
I''m so sorry to hear this. Do you think this is caused by your former problem or is it originating in the nerve? When I had a root canal done, I went to the pain clinic and had the whole area treated by [I think] trigger point injections so the dentist could work on me. It is not a pity party. It feels awful. I have had that happen, too, but it is the nerve, itself, that is triggered.

The trigeminal nerve had a compression on the brain stem. That was fixed with a neurosurgery last January. Unfortunately, the compression caused permanent damage to the myelin sheath as it took some time to diagnose and fix. So while the surgery relieved the compression, the nerve still flares up. And, I had 4+ years of dental/oral/jaw surgeries because the docs thought the pain was originating from my teeth. So I have damage to the trigeminal nerve at the front of my face as well.

It IS controllable, but the level of meds to keep the monster quiet would require me to quit my job, stop driving and stay home watching Judge Judy all day. That''s not an option for me. So we''re trying to work on med levels to keep things quiet. Problem is, everytime anything goes on in my mouth at the dentist, it flares up and takes months to get under control. Nerve Pain is SO HARD to deal with, huh?

Thanks for asking.

LS

I''m sending a truckload of dust your way. I had hoped that your surgery had resolved the problem. Those flare ups sound miserable

When I had my gallbladder removed, I thought my spasms would be gone. They''re not. What I call stomach spasms are just like gallbladder spasms. It would be great if, after undergoing surgery for a medical condition, the pain would be permanently gone. Please let me know how you are doing.

Hi Marian,

I had my gallbladder removed about 13 years ago and I thought that would be the end of my stomach troubles too. I even had to go back for another ultrasound to double check the surgeon did take the gallbladder out and not just drain it. I have horrible stomach cramps when I take my migraine medicine but its the only one that actually works so I just have to put up with it.

I am looking forward to seeing your diamond pendant. I hope it went some way to making you feel a little better. Even if it was just for a little while. (((Hugs)))

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/20/2010 8:02:06 AM
Author: Maisie

Date: 2/19/2010 11:43:01 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:36:40 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 2/19/2010 11:30:34 PM
Author: risingsun
I''m so sorry to hear this. Do you think this is caused by your former problem or is it originating in the nerve? When I had a root canal done, I went to the pain clinic and had the whole area treated by [I think] trigger point injections so the dentist could work on me. It is not a pity party. It feels awful. I have had that happen, too, but it is the nerve, itself, that is triggered.

The trigeminal nerve had a compression on the brain stem. That was fixed with a neurosurgery last January. Unfortunately, the compression caused permanent damage to the myelin sheath as it took some time to diagnose and fix. So while the surgery relieved the compression, the nerve still flares up. And, I had 4+ years of dental/oral/jaw surgeries because the docs thought the pain was originating from my teeth. So I have damage to the trigeminal nerve at the front of my face as well.

It IS controllable, but the level of meds to keep the monster quiet would require me to quit my job, stop driving and stay home watching Judge Judy all day. That''s not an option for me. So we''re trying to work on med levels to keep things quiet. Problem is, everytime anything goes on in my mouth at the dentist, it flares up and takes months to get under control. Nerve Pain is SO HARD to deal with, huh?

Thanks for asking.

LS

I''m sending a truckload of dust your way. I had hoped that your surgery had resolved the problem. Those flare ups sound miserable

When I had my gallbladder removed, I thought my spasms would be gone. They''re not. What I call stomach spasms are just like gallbladder spasms. It would be great if, after undergoing surgery for a medical condition, the pain would be permanently gone. Please let me know how you are doing.

Hi Marian,

I had my gallbladder removed about 13 years ago and I thought that would be the end of my stomach troubles too. I even had to go back for another ultrasound to double check the surgeon did take the gallbladder out and not just drain it. I have horrible stomach cramps when I take my migraine medicine but its the only one that actually works so I just have to put up with it.

I am looking forward to seeing your diamond pendant. I hope it went some way to making you feel a little better. Even if it was just for a little while. (((Hugs)))

Maisie~does you doctor have any idea why this happens? I have stomach cramps and spasms at other times, too, not meds related. I was really shocked when the pain came back. HUGS to you, as well

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:19:58 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:09:36 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Hello Rising Sun

Hope you''re having a tolerable day. I''m having a rough go tonight so I''m trying to distract myself on PS (pain = shopping = $$ = YIKES!)

soft hugs

LS

I''m trying to avoid taking my migraine meds, which sometimes trigger stomach spasms. I distracted myself last weekend by upgrading my diamond pendant. It''s beautiful, but as you said pain=shopping=$$=YIKES! What is going on with you tonight?

I had to come back and reread the new entries in your thread because I thought I read something about a pendant upgrade........... So....... tell! You KNOW you can''t use the word "upgrade" and not share the details!
What did your pre-upgrade look like?

Then on the serious side, has your doctor checked you for H. Pylori? I had a very ugly two year bout with that stomach bug and it was a horrible ordeal. I couldn''t take anything but Tylenol (which does nothing to help me with pain).

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/20/2010 11:20:11 AM
Author: gemgirl

Date: 2/19/2010 11:19:58 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:09:36 PM
Author: LostSapphire
Hello Rising Sun

Hope you''re having a tolerable day. I''m having a rough go tonight so I''m trying to distract myself on PS (pain = shopping = $$ = YIKES!)

soft hugs

LS

I''m trying to avoid taking my migraine meds, which sometimes trigger stomach spasms. I distracted myself last weekend by upgrading my diamond pendant. It''s beautiful, but as you said pain=shopping=$$=YIKES! What is going on with you tonight?

I had to come back and reread the new entries in your thread because I thought I read something about a pendant upgrade........... So....... tell! You KNOW you can''t use the word ''upgrade'' and not share the details!
What did your pre-upgrade look like?

Then on the serious side, has your doctor checked you for H. Pylori? I had a very ugly two year bout with that stomach bug and it was a horrible ordeal. I couldn''t take anything but Tylenol (which does nothing to help me with pain).

I have been checked for H. Pylori and do not have it. RE: the bling--I''m getting some pics ready. I''ve asked my jeweler to take a comparison shot between the original and the upgrade and email them to me. I know it is my PS duty to post them

 

[Maisie]

Before I was diagnosed with gallstones my doctor was treating me for a stomach ulcer. When I was getting the cramps after my gallbladder surgery they started talking about sticking a tube down my throat to look at my stomach. I ran for the hills and never went back. I''m such a coward.

 

[Arkteia]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:13:16 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 8:11:09 PM
Author: crasru
Hi RisingSun,
I have tried to read the whole tread, especially your answers.
Needless to say how deeply I sympathize with you.
It is great that people at your work value your gifts as a therapist - I understand that your coming back to work is not going to happen anytime soon, as you said, but it is so important that they are waiting for you.
People have been giving you advices. I do not feel comfortable joining them since you have seen so many specialists but can not help myself - have you ever been on Fentanyl patch? The medication bypasses your GI tract and it could decrease the amount of side effects.
Suboxone is now used for pain. Subutex is a milder version of it, with fewer side effects. If you have not been on it, it is a viable option.
Remeron is a mild antidepressant but its side effect is decreasing nausea.
Lyrica has shown good results in patients with fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain.
And has anyone discussed Provigil? It does not have an official indication of fibromyalgia but some patients feel tremendous relief with it. If it works, it will also give you extra energy which I am sure you can use.
I have seen many patients with monoclonal gammopathy and multiple myeloma. As you may know, there are different types of myeloma and prognosis is totally different.
I am going to pray for you. Get well!

Hi crasru,
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look into them. Are you in the medical field? You have much knowledge in this area. RE: Fentanyl, I have had adverse effects [stomach spasms] from anesthesia. Route of administration doesn''t seem to make much of a difference. That concerns me about the patch. I have had tests done for opioid tolerance, which was done by IV. The spasms started almost immediately after administration

Hi again,
Yes, I am in the medical field. I am an adult and child psychiatrist, but I also had 2 years of Internal Medicine residency and while things have definitely changed since that time some are fundamental and remain the same.
I also treat opioid addicts. Hence Suboxone and Subites and knowledge of pain issues. And of course fibromyalgia is so closely tied up with depression you simply can not avoid treating fibromyalgia when you treat depression.

I want to mention one case...I know it is controversial. This woman has MS which is in remission and suffers from very bad pain. What happened was that I got a call from her neurologist expressing concern over the fact that he was prescribing her a strong medication for pain at high doses and I was giving her medication for anxiety - bad combination. Now she did not tolerate opioids, Ultram and many other meds.

So we sat down and thought of all the options, tried some, nothing really worked. Basically, in a while, things narrowed down to medical marijuana. It has two indications - intractable pain and nausea. I DO NOT PRESCRIBE IT. She went to pain clinic, tried it and it helped. She doesn''t buy it on the street or grows it for her own use - she gets it from a clinic.

Please understand me - I am not offering a drug (opioids are worse street drugs). I never tried it in my life. But in my state it is legal. There are many pros and cons for its use because habitual users also try to get a "white card" so that they are not culpable if they get pulled over. But it does help some people,especially wit MS.

Hopefully you won''t get angry with me for this posting. Since I am dealing with addicts I have my opinion on illegal drugs and irresponsible prescription of opiates. But since I have seen effect from medical marijuana I can not but mention it.

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/20/2010 2:31:48 PM
Author: crasru

Date: 2/19/2010 11:13:16 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 8:11:09 PM
Author: crasru
Hi RisingSun,
I have tried to read the whole tread, especially your answers.
Needless to say how deeply I sympathize with you.
It is great that people at your work value your gifts as a therapist - I understand that your coming back to work is not going to happen anytime soon, as you said, but it is so important that they are waiting for you.
People have been giving you advices. I do not feel comfortable joining them since you have seen so many specialists but can not help myself - have you ever been on Fentanyl patch? The medication bypasses your GI tract and it could decrease the amount of side effects.
Suboxone is now used for pain. Subutex is a milder version of it, with fewer side effects. If you have not been on it, it is a viable option.
Remeron is a mild antidepressant but its side effect is decreasing nausea.
Lyrica has shown good results in patients with fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain.
And has anyone discussed Provigil? It does not have an official indication of fibromyalgia but some patients feel tremendous relief with it. If it works, it will also give you extra energy which I am sure you can use.
I have seen many patients with monoclonal gammopathy and multiple myeloma. As you may know, there are different types of myeloma and prognosis is totally different.
I am going to pray for you. Get well!

Hi crasru,
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look into them. Are you in the medical field? You have much knowledge in this area. RE: Fentanyl, I have had adverse effects [stomach spasms] from anesthesia. Route of administration doesn''t seem to make much of a difference. That concerns me about the patch. I have had tests done for opioid tolerance, which was done by IV. The spasms started almost immediately after administration

Hi again,
Yes, I am in the medical field. I am an adult and child psychiatrist, but I also had 2 years of Internal Medicine residency and while things have definitely changed since that time some are fundamental and remain the same.
I also treat opioid addicts. Hence Suboxone and Subites and knowledge of pain issues. And of course fibromyalgia is so closely tied up with depression you simply can not avoid treating fibromyalgia when you treat depression.

I want to mention one case...I know it is controversial. This woman has MS which is in remission and suffers from very bad pain. What happened was that I got a call from her neurologist expressing concern over the fact that he was prescribing her a strong medication for pain at high doses and I was giving her medication for anxiety - bad combination. Now she did not tolerate opioids, Ultram and many other meds.

So we sat down and thought of all the options, tried some, nothing really worked. Basically, in a while, things narrowed down to medical marijuana. It has two indications - intractable pain and nausea. I DO NOT PRESCRIBE IT. She went to pain clinic, tried it and it helped. She doesn''t buy it on the street or grows it for her own use - she gets it from a clinic.

Please understand me - I am not offering a drug (opioids are worse street drugs). I never tried it in my life. But in my state it is legal. There are many pros and cons for its use because habitual users also try to get a ''white card'' so that they are not culpable if they get pulled over. But it does help some people,especially wit MS.

Hopefully you won''t get angry with me for this posting. Since I am dealing with addicts I have my opinion on illegal drugs and irresponsible prescription of opiates. But since I have seen effect from medical marijuana I can not but mention it.

I am not at all angry about your post. I have been a licensed mental health and addictions therapist for many years. I believe that medical marijuana has its place along with harm reduction as an appropriate intervention in certain cases. Our state does not permit the use of medical marijuana. The control of pain has been very difficult because most pain meds, including all narcotics, are a trigger for stomach spasms. OTC meds are not any better. An occasional Fiorinal or Ultram can help, but using them for more than a couple of days starts the cycle again. I very much appreciate your input. Please feel free to offer suggestions any time.

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/20/2010 12:22:40 PM
Author: Maisie
Before I was diagnosed with gallstones my doctor was treating me for a stomach ulcer. When I was getting the cramps after my gallbladder surgery they started talking about sticking a tube down my throat to look at my stomach. I ran for the hills and never went back. I''m such a coward.

When I had "the tube" last year, they put me out. I didn''t feel a thing. If you need to have it done, ask for anesthesia in advance. Truth be told, I also ran for the hills the first time the tube was mentioned to me, too

 

[Arkteia]

Date: 2/20/2010 3:13:38 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/20/2010 12:22:40 PM
Author: Maisie
Before I was diagnosed with gallstones my doctor was treating me for a stomach ulcer. When I was getting the cramps after my gallbladder surgery they started talking about sticking a tube down my throat to look at my stomach. I ran for the hills and never went back. I''m such a coward.

When I had ''the tube'' last year, they put me out. I didn''t feel a thing. If you need to have it done, ask for anesthesia in advance. Truth be told, I also ran for the hills the first time the tube was mentioned to me, too

Actually I am so much afraid of losing control over what is happening that I insisted on having gastroscopy without anesthesia. It was not that bad (although not ecstatically pleasant either). But Maisie, there is different between a period of unpleasant sensations that you know is going to end and chronic pain. Like childbirth - some people prefer epidural, some prefer to go through the process without it (since it may lengthen the period of childbirth). But again, you know that it is going to end. Like post-surgical pain. When it doesn''t, life becomes very different.

Ringsun, since you have problem with joints...are you a carrier of B27? Usually in these families there is preponderance of ankylosing spondylitis and Reiter''s syndrome. But it may also have unusual presentations. Someone has mentioned consulting an infectious disease specialist; I concur, he probably should be put on the list of doctors to see.

 

[Maisie]

I hate the idea of being knocked out for the procedure too. If the pain became so serious and regular that I was worried I would definitely have the tube. I know as a parent that I have to be sensible and make sure I take care of myself.

 

[crown1]

Date: 2/19/2010 11:43:01 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/19/2010 11:36:40 PM

Author: LostSapphire

Date: 2/19/2010 11:30:34 PM

Author: risingsun

I''m so sorry to hear this. Do you think this is caused by your former problem or is it originating in the nerve? When I had a root canal done, I went to the pain clinic and had the whole area treated by [I think] trigger point injections so the dentist could work on me. It is not a pity party. It feels awful. I have had that happen, too, but it is the nerve, itself, that is triggered.

The trigeminal nerve had a compression on the brain stem. That was fixed with a neurosurgery last January. Unfortunately, the compression caused permanent damage to the myelin sheath as it took some time to diagnose and fix. So while the surgery relieved the compression, the nerve still flares up. And, I had 4+ years of dental/oral/jaw surgeries because the docs thought the pain was originating from my teeth. So I have damage to the trigeminal nerve at the front of my face as well.


It IS controllable, but the level of meds to keep the monster quiet would require me to quit my job, stop driving and stay home watching Judge Judy all day. That''s not an option for me. So we''re trying to work on med levels to keep things quiet. Problem is, everytime anything goes on in my mouth at the dentist, it flares up and takes months to get under control. Nerve Pain is SO HARD to deal with, huh?


Thanks for asking.


LS

I''m sending a truckload of dust your way. I had hoped that your surgery had resolved the problem. Those flare ups sound miserable

When I had my gallbladder removed, I thought my spasms would be gone. They''re not. What I call stomach spasms are just like gallbladder spasms. It would be great if, after undergoing surgery for a medical condition, the pain would be permanently gone. Please let me know how you are doing.

hi! since you mention you continue to have pain that is like the gallbladder pain it makes me wonder if you have been checked for sphincter of oddi dysfuntion? just a thought. i have not read all of the posts so sorry if this has been mentioned before.

 

[risingsun]

crown1 and crasu~I am not familiar with the conditions you have mentioned. I will look into them and discuss with my doctors. Thanks for the input.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 2/17/2010 3:52:47 PM
Author: risingsun

I went to see my surgical dermatologist for a follow up visit today. He took five skin biopsies. This has happened before and everything turned out all right. I hope that this lot does the same. I'm at the CA center for tests on Friday, but won't know anything until the following week.

Marian,

Did I miss reading about the results of your biopsies or have you still not received them? I am holding you in the light.

Hugs,
Deb/AGBF

 

[risingsun]

Deb~no results yet. Let's hope that no news is good news. Thank you for keeping me close.

 

[Haven]

Just wanted to pop in and say I''ve been thinking of you, Marian.

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/20/2010 7:19:56 PM
Author: crown1



... since you mention you continue to have pain that is like the gallbladder pain it makes me wonder if you have been checked for sphincter of oddi dysfuntion? just a thought.

Crown1~I think you are onto to something. I had my gallbladder removed and have had biliary spasms since that time. I looked up the information on the Johns Hopkins website and their data was right on target. We live only a couple of hours from Hopkins. I will be seeing my GI in a few weeks and will bring this to his attention. He has been treating me according to the medical protocol. My second opinion from UVA supported his treatment plan. Hopkins is one of the few hospitals in the country that are qualified to take a surgical approach to treatment. It does seem, however, that the diagnosis and treatment can come with its own considerable risks. I''ll be taking this one step at a time, but the possibility of being free of this pain would be a miracle, after dealing with it for all these years.

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 2/20/2010 8:10:40 PM
Author: risingsun
crown1 and crasu~I am not familiar with the conditions you have mentioned. I will look into them and discuss with my doctors. Thanks for the input.

marian,

i have sphincter of oddi (type 3, i believe), and it hurts like a mother. i had my gall bladder removed when i was in my 30''s; i had my first spasm *after* the surgery while i was still in the recovery room. not good. sphincter of oddi is not unusual in women who have had their gall bladder removed, tho i was being treated for all sorts of gastro stuff for years without anyone mentioning it to me. the pain is right up there with billary spasm, gall bladder spasm, and so forth.

i get a lot of gut pain as a result of my back problems; i''ve wondered how often you have massages, marian? i reached the place some years ago where my body felt so rotten all the time that i decided to do something for it that simply felt nice. i find massage is also deeply emotionally relaxing - are you physically able to go this route or would it be too uncomfortable for you? i find that pain = cramp/muscle tightening = all sorts of problematic stuff. i get a LOT of nausea due to muscle tightening around my stomach/diaphragm due to my back, and a lot of it is decreased somewhat with massage. it''s not an overall cure obviously, but it sure helps deal with the symptoms, and the symptoms *are* a great deal of the problem, in my experience.

thinking about you....

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/21/2010 12:35:42 PM
Author: Haven
Just wanted to pop in and say I''ve been thinking of you, Marian.

Thank you Haven. It means a lot to me.