Larry,
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
I'm sorry that you suffer with pain also. I find
that family and friends don't really 'get it' (what chronic pain means)
though they think they do. But I don't blame
them, they try.
I take Effexor XR, an anti-depressant that I think
is in the same family as Cymbalta. Can't say
I've noticed much help. I wanted to take Cymbalta,
but my doctor wasn't familiar with it. My Mom takes
Cymbalta for depression, and it seems to help her
a bit. Next time I see my PCP I'll ask him to switch
me to Cymbalta.
Take care,
Kevin
Larry Throne wrote:
Regina & Kevin,
I am so sorry you guys are having to deal with so much pain. I wish I
had an answer for you. I take cymbalta 120mg daily to "cope" with my
pain and discomfort. As I recently shared with my doctor I don't feel
like the cymbalta really does anything for the pain it just gives me
enough "something" to live with it all. It seems like the older I get,
the more I hurt. There is no magic cure, especially for us folks with
neuropathic pain. I took neurontin and even topamax off and on over
the years. They helped for a while but after several years they seem
to just not cut it anymore.
I gave up on doctors helping with the pain. I have worked with doctors
for many years and one of them who is a close friend told me the
problem is that other than Rx a bunch of narcotics most doctors hate
to hear about pain. If they can't fix it they don't want to hear about
it. I can't take the narcotics any more due to dependency problems and
besides, they really didn't stop the pain. They just made me loaded to
the point I didn't really care about anything. I do have to say that
bio-feed back helped some. It really only helped me learn to relax and
I'm not sure it does anything about the pain. When I am hurting I get
so tense and that leads to irritability, sleepless nights and
depression. I know this sounds pretty negative but what I have found
is that as the days go by, and I look back. I realize I survived, I
made it, I'm okay. I still hurt but I'm okay. And as the old saying
goes, "God won't give you more than you can handle, I just wish he
didn't think I can handle so much!" Hang in there, this to shall pass!
Keep being vigilant with the doctors to ensure there is not something
they can do but hold on, life is really worth it.
Larry in Oklahoma where I feel you pain my friends and I wish I could
help.
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From: /Regina Rummel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/
To: /tmic-list@eskimo.com/
Subject: /[TMIC] Venting!/
Date: /Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:53:42 -0800 (PST)/
I am sooooooooooooo scared!
I AM VENTING. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE I CAN SHARE THE FOLLOWING WITH:
Just a few weeks ago, it became obvious that I am getting
gradually worse every day. I felt vulnerable using the cane and
started using the walker. Following are the latest symptoms:
The throbbing, weird, feelings in my legs gradually moved up to my
buttocks.
Last night, and since then, they reached my crotch...
The fatigue is worse than ever. Just reaching in the frig. for
water, yogurt, fixing piece of toast or a little salad, cleaning
up a few dishes is a challenge (more so every day). I have to sit
down to brush my teeth. I can't get dressed without leaning
against the bed or sitting down.
Standing even holding on to something is difficult.
I feel so lightheaded.
I don't sleep well and hate starting on sleeping pills.
Feb. 13, I lost my appetite and feel slightly nauseated a lot of
the time.
My scalp and ears are burning and itching more than ever.
Sometimes, I think I'm even too tired to be depressed if that
makes sense.
The sypmtoms that some of you describe seem to come up overnight.
With me, it's always gradually, but consistently.
I must be honest and say that I don't trust the doctors. The last
time I saw the neurologist, she said that we could try the IVIG
treatments which didn't do a thing for me. But I sense when I
talk to her (even though I think she cares) that there is nothing
that can be done for T.M. Today, I'm afraid to get in the tub to
wash up and wash my hair even though I do it sitting on a chair.
Something is going on with my biological thermostat. I can be
freezing and after a while, I'm so hot, I have to turn the heater
off.
I do the exercises from therapy on my own. They wear me out but I
do them anyway because I don't want to atrophy.
I saw the rhum. on the Feb. 12 shortly after all this started.
She made me stand on tippy toes, and made me do something else
holding on to a table, checked my arm strenght, took notes as she
said that I was doing much better . She didn't seem curious about
my walking in with a walker for the first time since I've seeing
her for the past 10 years. It's as if what I was telling her
didn't register. She thinks Neurontin has something to do with
this and advised me to stop taking it and see the neurologist. I
called her the next day to request that she orders an MRI which I
have scheduled for tomorrow. The neur. appointment is on March 14.
If it weren't for my daughter who lives next door, I think I'd
soon have to hire someone to stay with me, or live in a nursing
home.
I hate waking up in the morning.
I made arrangements for my funeral last week.
My will is current
I'm organizing all the papers and notes my daughter will need when
I die. Soon I hope.
I hate this life!
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