My sister talks to me today about epidural analgesy.

Hello.

This is not a joke.

My sister had a son a few months ago.

She tells me today that once she had epidural analgesy she was off of pain, absolutely.

I wonder if it possible to me to be out of pain this way, something like "epidural pump" or something like that, is this possible?, exist this kind of pain-killer?, perhaps it would be fine to my stomach.

Thank you.

Seymour, have been following your posts and hope you don't mind my "butting" in on your threads.

Why would you want an epidural (pump or otherwise)? An epidural numbs you from the waist down by closing off pain signals to the nerves. You wouldn't be able to walk as your longs would be numb, and you'd need a catheter to pee since you wouldn't be able to control your bladder (or your bowels, for that matter).

Have you spoken with your doctor about your pain levels, and how Tramadol is not easing the pain for you? Has the doctor tried a course of antibiotics (such as Flagyl) used to treat stomach and intestinal problems?

I understand the powerful need for pain relief, and I understand how terrible it is to suffer relentlessly. You ask some good questions but the person who needs to answer them is a medical doctor. I would suggest, if you haven't already done so, that you sit down with your doctor and discuss your pain needs, and possible actions you could take now to see if there's anything you could do to at least reduce your pain.

In the US, you wouldn't find a dr who would give you an epidural. Your sister is talking about childbirth and that is entirely a different type of pain that what you're having. You also would find a dr here who would give you a pain pump under the circumstances. Sometimes we just have to live and deal with the pain the best way we can. You're able to do things that many people who suffer from chronic severe pain aren't able to do. Try and keep yourself and/or your mind busy.

Mercy&Grace said...
Sometimes we just have to live and deal with the pain the best way we can.

but it should not been this way, don't you think?.

@Mercy&Grace Yes, in Spain we have  Psychologist, they are people that helps you with mental issues like pain and another issues.
But I do not need a Psychologist, I need a doctor that relieve my pain. I do not understand why a tylenol can help you in a middle head pain, and it is impossible to help me in my terrible abdominal pain.

Seymour:

I've been reading all of your posts, and I really feel bad for you to have such pain in your stomach. Many people here have made wonderful suggestions to you. I think that testing you for C-diff, H-pylori, parasites, and doing the colonscopy with biopsies for crohn's disease are great ideas.

Vickie has mention several times that you might have to use other things than oral pain medication to treat your pain. As has Mercy&Grace. If your Tramadol isn't working for your pain you need to discuss that with your Doctor and see if he's willing to give you something stronger.

I only chime in because of your repeated denial to see a Psychologist. I've had lupus for 26 years now, I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis, my lungs are shot and I require 3 liters of oxygen, and a year ago found out I have LGL Leukemia. I live in constant pain, it never leaves me at all. On a scale of 1-10 I'm always at a 6,7,8 always, depends what I do during the day. It's a HUGE struggle for me to do anything, and yet I do. I started seeing a Psychologist who specializes in pain management.

She has been a great help to me. She has helped me learn to get thru moments of so much pain, that I want to take my life at times. I've begged my family often to "put me down", I've told them if I were their cat or dog they would have done so by now. It breaks their hearts to watch me in such pain, but even more it really hurts them when I beg to die. I'm only hurting my husband and daughter so with my Dr's help I've learned how to curb those feeling and work my way thru those moments of severe pain and agony.

I truly belief that if you could find a Psychologist who works with chronic pain patients, you may find they are able to help you cope better. You're so right it shouldn't be that we have to just live with and put up with out pain. However, in some of our cases that's what has to happen. There is NO cure for anything that I have, I've been told this is as good as I will ever be, and in the case of my Leukemia, I'm only going to get sicker until I die.

Not much to look forward to but I have to try for my family to keep on going. I know you have a father and a nephew that you see daily and I'm betting that they love seeing you daily. You need to keep searching but you also need to seriously think about doing other things than oral medication and waiting for the Doctors to fix you.

I hope I've not offended you, I just wanted you to know that you don't have to have a mental illness to see a Psychologist. Having chronic pain issues, isn't having a mental illness, you're just trying something different to help yourself. Best of luck to you and I will continue to read your posts.

Hugs,
Barbara

Seymour you came here asking for help and day after day we watch you suffer. We offer you everything we have and tell you over and over that until they can get a clear diagnosis for your pain helping you by meds could cause even more problems. When your dealing with undiagnosed abdominal pain giving you many of the meds we use for pain could straight up here kill you!! I imagine this is a lot of the DR's reluctance in treating you aggressively with narcotics, antiinflammatory meds, etc. Those meds can have a devastating effect on the gastric system, bowels and intestine and the liver.

You have been given some of the best medical advice that the US has to offer free!! Now if we can only get you to use it.

I told you way back when that the stress from your pain and constantly worrying was contributing to the pain and that relaxing would keep you from clenching your gut adding to more pain and discomfort.

We know your pain is not in your head but believe me when I say your head can effect your pain. Seeing someone who can teach how to control the way you "think and interpret your pain" can help you understand it is a treatment form most of us use. Many PM clinics here require that you be also under the care of a mental health Dr. Pain in and of itself wrecks havoc on your sanity after awhile.

We have urged you to keep looking for the reason for your pain and if the Dr you are using isn't finding it then get another one!! The more looking the better your chances.

There are many many reasons for abdominal pain and the bowels are only one. Have they checked your pancreas, liver, gall bladder? All those need to be looked at and looked at again. Have you seen infection control to check for fungus and bacterial infection? Parasites?

My point here is that your pain is such that you need a team of DR's specializing in different areas not just one. Get a appointment with a University and Teaching hospital over there.

A nutritionist would maybe be of some help so that is the reason I say university clinic, all the specialist under one roof and a lot of people looking for the right answers.

Barbara Lee gave you her heartfelt thoughts on the why you should be in the care of mental health. We have given you everything else so put it to good use. Be open to try things that maybe haven't worked in the past, they may work this time. In the CP journey you have to be able to be open to about anything if there's the slightest chance it will give you some relief.

Vickie, you said what I've been thinking about saying only you did so much better than I could.

Seymour, you have gotten some excellent advice both here and on numerous other threads. You seem to have zeroed in on pain meds as the answer to your problems and ignore (at least that is how it appears) the many other valid posts on your thread.

Don't discount the need for a psychologist to help you deal with your pain. Sadly, it's possible that no "real" reason will be found for such horrible pain and discomfort. If that should happen (and it is possible though not likely), you will need to decide how you're going to deal with it. Sure, you can pump narcotics into your body which will make you feel better but may also leave you with other, possibly more serious, medical issues. Is this what you want for yourself? I don't know any person with genuine chronic pain who wants this.

People who suffer from chronic pain for any length of time are willing to try just about anything to help - whether it be through a psychotherapy, yoga, or other forms of relaxation and stress reduction. And don't kid yourself: being in the kind of pain you describe is stressful - physically and mentally - so don't discount the benefit of seeking the help of a mental health professional.

You've gotten some excellent advice from people who know what they're talking about and have been dealing with various conditions and illnesses. Many here suffer relentless pain and yet they must go on with their lives: they have a family depending on them or a job they must keep if they are to survive. Most of them have found positive ways of dealing with their suffering. Remember, we usually can't control what happens to us but we do have control over how it affects us. Don't let your pain define you - get the help you need (medically and psychologically) to help you get through this rough time.

@Barbara Lee First of all: thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I want to tell you that I have visit a psychologist since 2 months, but he told me again an again that it is all in my head, and I cannot live with that...because I know it is not true , you know?. I have abdominal pain and green diarrhea all the days, this is not in my head. Same as you I am always at 6,7,8...in a scale 0-10. It is not easy to live with that constant pain and Discomfort. The worst part is not the pain, it is the discomfort, it is the feeling that I will live in a constant flu-like symtoms.
You are not offending me when you told me that perhaps I need a  psychologist specialist in pain. Perhaps it is true.

@Sephie I don't ignore any post, believe me!. In fact the wors is not the pain itself, the worst part is the discomfort that affects all my person.

@Metro thank you very much. Hugs from Spain. I have almost exhaust ALL of EVERY option, but I feel without strenght right now.

@Sephie I will get the results of my biopsies next week. I am afraid. But I want to be out off pain because this is not life.
thank you for your support. Kisses from Spain.