Hello Blondie, this is Kathy (aka nini53), please feel free to call me Kathy
First of all, I have dealing with cp for at least 11yrs. I have had to make many changes in my life. I worked outside the home for my entire adult life, when I became disabled I didnt get out of my bed for almost 2 years unless it was to go to doctors appointments. I was and am a single parent. My girls were still in high school when it became impossible for me go work.
For me that took along time to adjust to, its like your entire self worth revolves around your job/career.
Anyway, after struggling for many years, I have made peace with myself and have become pro-active instead of re-active. One of the things I have done is to take my first round of meds at 5 to 5:30 am. This gives the medicine a chance to work by the time I have to get up, which is usually 7am. I take 60mg of morphine 3xday, I take 10mg of percocets 3xday, neurotin 3xday and usually at night and sometimes in the afternoon I take 25mg of promethezine. The promethzine is for helping not get sick to your stomach as the narcotics tend to make some people ill. Let me be brutally honest with you, I take the prometh. because it helps me sleep at night.
Although I no longer work outside the home, I have 2 grandchildren ages 9 (a girl) and 5 (a boy). I gotta tell you when the boy came along it was like being with someone from outerspace. I only had girls so I had no idea what to do with this very different male person. I have adjusted and even I think he is posessed sometimes I love him just as I do my girls.
So I take my meds first thing in the morning wait until I can feel some of the pain going away. The percocet works fast, while the morphine is time released. I take my next round around 12 noon or 1pm. This makes sure I am top of things before they start really hurting. My bedtime meds I take between 6:30 or 7 pm. This almost assures me a good nights sleep. I gotta tell the promethezine seriously knocks me out.
I hope this is somewhat helpful, of course everyone has there own way that works best for them. Here is hoping you are having a very low pain day, and gentle hugs to you. Please let me know if I have been helpful and if not, we will keep trying until we do.