Had doctor's appointment this week

I told my NP some of my concerns during my appointment to get a refill for my amitriptyline. He has given me a PPI for that lump in the stomach. He also said the lump in the back of the throat is probably related, and both from an ulcer that probably developed after the Naproxen. I didn't want to add that I had tickles in the back of my throat since this summer, sometimes severe enough to make me choke. I don't think that is the same thing, but it doesn't happen too often anyway. So we'll see what develops.

He is happy for my my facial pain has receded so much. He seems to be hopeful that once I get my tooth pulled in 2 weeks, the pain will disappear. I don't see how a bad tooth can cause lighting bolt type pain near the eye, or on the other side of the face, or even in the tongue for that matter, but once again, we'll see what develops. The background steady ache, or the cramping/ crushing pain is more concentrated near that tooth when it comes. Right now it is controlled, and I hope it stays that way for a loong time!

I mentioned to him that even though I was getting a refill for 50 mgs/day now if he should ask for 25 mg tablets, in case they want to raise it again if the pain comes back. That's what he has been doing each time I get more breakthrough pain. He said I was pretty much at the max for nerve pain, and if I needed more, they would try another drug in combination. I am upset about this as I know I tolerate the amitriptyline very well now, and it's proven to work. Also, in my research, I saw that there are different schools of thought for treating nerve pain with it, with the range being from 50-150 mgs/day. I don't want to tell him how to do his job though, and I do trust his instincts. Once again, we'll see, as I don't need an increase yet, if ever.

I mentioned my rib pain, and he thinks it was from straining too much doing my pilates, a twisting exercise for the side of the stomach. I hope it heals soon. It has been about 2-3 weeks now, and I haven't even been able to do this exercise in that long b/c my knee still won't bend. I am so tender there in the morning, and any type of twisting really hurts.

Hope you are all having a good weekend!
many gentle hugs,

i take 150mgs amitriptyline a day, as 3 tabs 50mg each at bedtime. i've gone as far as 200mg a day for several weeks as needed. i've been on this dosage for 6 yrs and it really helps. wicked dry mouth but its worth it

this has been approved by both my pcp internist and my psychiatrist who is very knowledgeable on psychopharmicology

I had a dentist call it "referred pain".

Once the tooth was pulled, it went away completely.

Feel better,

Yeah, Marlee... Doctors aren't on the same page because most of them have become so isolated inside their specialtes that they can no longer see or treat the whole person.  I just saw the Neurologist yesterday. I'd swear that, when he looked at me, all he saw was a bunch of nerves in the form of a humanoid. He could barely respond to my words.