Posted by Steve P. on July 18, 1998 at 04:34:41:
In Reply to: Re: Dealing with pain posted by harley on July 15, 1998 at 17:32:47:
Jude ,
I let my G.P. know in no uncertain terms that the unsettling anxiety which accompanies my shadow periods between full blown headaches was causing a MAJOR disruption in my life and in those who depend on me. Along with Imitrex which for me can usually abort if taken as soon as the shadow begins to escalate in it's familiar way although I find generally useless when awaken by the beast(by the time they wake me I'm usually moments from full blown pain) he prescribed ALPRAZOLAM 0.5 mg. tabs 1/2 to 1 tabs 3 times daily. These are a class of anti-anxiety drugs used to treat people who exhibit "classic" signs of anxiety-panic disorder. I looked in some med Journals and self-concluded that I don't qualify as typical of that unfortunate group. Godspeed to them to. But tis stuff did seem to calm me to the point that I could regroup from some of the mayhem wrought on my personal and professional life by my current episode. Now in third week of typical 8-9 week cycle. However the Alazopram did not reduce my pain one iota. half of yesterday and today I am mostly pain free with only whispering shadows and lots of grtitude for whatever is working at the moment. The moment: two days ago started my second - at my request- round of prednisone therapy. first round did'nt work. Also managed to convince my doc that these things really do hurt enough to warrant some type of pain relief. I mentioned this site, our growing group awareness and somehow convinced him that i really was @#*^! hurting so bad that I needed some kind of break from it all. Well doc wrote an RX for 30 tabs of Fioranol at dosage of one or two evey four hours as needed. I dont feel terribly drugged by these tyhings but have been taking them as prescribed and don't expect them to last very long. esp. with being awake 21 hours a day. Thanks prednisone for that. So I am not sure exactly why I am pain free today. Wether it's the Prednisone actually terminating this episode or the pain med or both or ?. My humble advice. If it hurts tell them. Tell them that you are not a junkie. not a whiner. Just a decent human being like themselves who is experiencing the most horrible PAIN. That at the moment you can't afford to be thier guinie pig. That the alternatives to our medical socities historical shortcomings in pain management (esp. it seems among G.P.s) run the gammut from serious long term depression to suicide to (so i've heard ) seeking out street drugs. We deserve to conduct our lives with at least a modicum of dignity.
Best to all andf I'll lat you know if I can figure out what works.
Steve P.