How do people cope with the side effects of their medication?

rev229

I am also on amytriptyline 10mg and fentanyl patches and some morphine so I guess the combination doesn't help. I am so fed up with feeling really awful. This is the result of a back injury caused by a car accident 2 yrs ago. Everyone assumes as I have strong painkillers I should be fine but it is the side effects of them that is really getting to me and will be on the anti depressents before much longer. I still need to carry on and function normally as I have DS who has special needs. No wonder she feels awful at times as she is on a combination of drugs for epilepsy although she can't sleep and I am very sleepy! I don't work at present but how do people work and cope?

ladylumps45

to be honest,theres no way i could work but my employers have been so good and are keeping my job open for me although ive been off sick for 3 years now.ive had meetings with them and they have written to my gp who says il never be able to work again as unfortunately one of my illnesses is progressive.
i loved my job and really miss it.rev229 im on some antidepressants as well!! no wonder really that i am!! it must be very hard for you with a child who needs alot of help too.it just goes to show that just because somebody looks normal,it doesnt mean there is nothing wrong with them.
pipkin,how did you get your children home schooled? i would like that to happen for my eldest.it would help alot.
what kind of things do the assessment people do and say?
the lady i saw who has arranged the social services assessment told me that instead of thinking about what you cant do with your children,we must think about all the love we give them and that we are there for them emotionally which is normally more important for children,to be there for them and give them our time.i know this is true for my 12 year old.
being a single parent must be extra hard for you as without my husband i really hate to think what would happen.x

pipkin71

ladylumps45 wrote: »

to be honest,theres no way i could work but my employers have been so good and are keeping my job open for me although ive been off sick for 3 years now.ive had meetings with them and they have written to my gp who says il never be able to work again as unfortunately one of my illnesses is progressive.
i loved my job and really miss it.rev229 im on some antidepressants as well!! no wonder really that i am!! it must be very hard for you with a child who needs alot of help too.it just goes to show that just because somebody looks normal,it doesnt mean there is nothing wrong with them.
pipkin,how did you get your children home schooled? i would like that to happen for my eldest.it would help alot.
what kind of things do the assessment people do and say?
the lady i saw who has arranged the social services assessment told me that instead of thinking about what you cant do with your children,we must think about all the love we give them and that we are there for them emotionally which is normally more important for children,to be there for them and give them our time.i know this is true for my 12 year old.
being a single parent must be extra hard for you as without my husband i really hate to think what would happen.x

have a look at this site re home ed, ladylumps

http://www.education-otherwise.org/

Another poster was asking questions about it not too long ago, here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1654949&highlight=home+school

Very true thinking about how we are there emotionally for our children.

When you have your assessment, they will look at what needs you have, what they can do to help with those needs ect. Under our local authority, there are four needs groups and it is only if you fall into the critical or substantial group that they can offer any help due to funding. It may be different for different authorities though.

Following on from my care plan, I now have help to pay for a cleaner once a week, and that has made a difference. I've had various different aids to help at home as well as some adaptions to make things easier.

Rev, my problems are the result of a car accident years ago. I also take oramorph on top of my other painkillers and sometimes feel really grotty - as well as fed up. It's only been since february that the pain is - for the most part - under control, or not as bad as it was and I do think the gabapentin is responsible for that. [I also take tramadol slow release amongst others]. Agree with what you say about people thinking you should be ok because you are on stron medication.

Do speak to your doctor about the side effects. I know how easy it is to fall into depression. I've read a few articles that link depression with chronic pain. Depression can also be linked to the medication. I'm in a cycle where if I don't take the prescribed medication, I end up in severe pain again, but if I do take it, I have to put up with the side effects

As you've only been taking the gabapentin for a couple of days, how you're feeling now may ease. I suffer from insomnia anyway, so am quite used to feeling groggy in the mornings.

Invasion

I'm on tramacet 175mg 4 times a day, and 50mg of diclofenac for pain, aswell as amitriptyline, all of which do very little for my pain, being under 18 it seems impossible to get anything stronger, plus, living in a small village, with doctors who see very few young people, let alone with chronic pain, doesn't help matters. Pain clinic will only offer accupuncture! Side effects wise I've got used to most of them, the itching from the tramacet drives me MAD still, and for some odd reason if taken at that time of month will make me physically sick through the early hours of the morning. Much as I hope I'll be rid of the pain by November, I can't wait to be able to work at getting some stronger painkillers, without having every door shut just because of my age. To be honest, the side effects I've had with these are minimal, compared to the fact that it goes a little way to helping with the pain, even if only making me care less!! Topirimate, epilim and numerous beta blockers are by far the worst I've ever taken, depression, hallucinations, pins and needles, altered taste, lost so much weight, nausea, zombie, insomnia and insane drowsiness, confused, spaced out, plus they did nothing for the pain!

mealone

Invasion wrote: »

I'm on tramacet 175mg 4 times a day, and 50mg of diclofenac for pain, aswell as amitriptyline, all of which do very little for my pain, being under 18 it seems impossible to get anything stronger, plus, living in a small village, with doctors who see very few young people, let alone with chronic pain, doesn't help matters. Pain clinic will only offer accupuncture! Side effects wise I've got used to most of them, the itching from the tramacet drives me MAD still, and for some odd reason if taken at that time of month will make me physically sick through the early hours of the morning. Much as I hope I'll be rid of the pain by November, I can't wait to be able to work at getting some stronger painkillers, without having every door shut just because of my age. To be honest, the side effects I've had with these are minimal, compared to the fact that it goes a little way to helping with the pain, even if only making me care less!! Topirimate, epilim and numerous beta blockers are by far the worst I've ever taken, depression, hallucinations, pins and needles, altered taste, lost so much weight, nausea, zombie, insomnia and insane drowsiness, confused, spaced out, plus they did nothing for the pain!

I do hope that you are taking stomach protection Invasion, diclophenac gives you stomach/duodenal ulcers.

If you dont mind me asking what is the cause of your pain?

Invasion

I'm not, it's not something my dr. ever mentioned, apart from making sure to take it with food, which I do. I have constant, very severe headpain, and have done for 2 years, a knee injury from a few years ago, which isn't severe and doesn't disable me but causes pain pretty much all the time, as well as lots of muscular and joint pain due to my ME, and possible fibromyalgia

tenacioust123

Invasion wrote: »

I'm not, it's not something my dr. ever mentioned, apart from making sure to take it with food, which I do. I have constant, very severe headpain, and have done for 2 years, a knee injury from a few years ago, which isn't severe and doesn't disable me but causes pain pretty much all the time, as well as lots of muscular and joint pain due to my ME, and possible fibromyalgia

Next time you go to your doctors ask for a stomach protector, after taking diclofenac for a couple of years I ended up with an ulcer.

mealone

I also have ulcers from diclophenac tina, I have had them on and of for 17 years leaving me with a scarred and narrowed duodenum.

Invasion you need a PPI (proton pump inhibiter) or change to cox2s but cox2a are nowhere near as good as diclophenic. Have you seen a rummy yet Invasion? If you havnt its the next step for a fibro dx which might help you get a better pain regime.

Invasion

Mainly Neurologists so far, no rheumatologist, will ask GP for referral though, have been meaning to mention the poss fibro to him again, most recent phone calls have been regarding hayfever! Will also mention acid inhibitors, thanks

ladylumps45

thanks for that pipkin.il have a good read up on it.