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I went to my family doctor

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 2/9/2010 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Friends...
I just wanted to share...I went to my family doctor yesterday to talk with him about pain meds (again). I've been down this road so many times. I've heard all the information about how narcotics make the fibro worse. I've been on and off different medications...Lyrica (which I still take), Savella, Gabapentin (sp?) Cymbalta, Tramadol, Flexeril, etc. It's so discouraging. It's been about 3 years of an uphill battle. He gave me Vicodin at one point just for short term...and it did help me.

Anyhow, to cut to the chase, he FINALLY realized that at this point in my life, I'm ready to just manage the pain. So...he basically said he would send me to a pain specialist he knows who would give me the narcotic pain killers that I'm looking for. But, he made me feel like I was making a HUGE mistake, and he said that I would be able to get them from this dr. "unless he gets busted"!!! Oh my goodness. I felt like a lowlife! :( He also added that I would be there in about 5 years when the medications weren't working anymore and he would wean me off them so we could focus on the fibromyalgia instead of just the pain. :(

Anyhow...It made me feel bad, but I guess it's a good thing that I get to go.

We'll see...

~DonniesGirl

Post Edited By Moderator (Admin) : 8/23/2010 5:35:44 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 2/9/2010 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Donniesgirl,

I am glad that you are going to be able to see a pain specialist. If they start you on a minimal amount of a low dose pain killer such as vicodin, you will be able to maintain a minimal amount of pain. And gradually you will need something stronger, but I have been taking norco (which is a stronger vicodin) for a long time and have not had to go stronger. So don't feel bad, just wait and see what happens. I think this is a good thing, even though your doc makes it sound different. He is probably just worried about addiction, but if you are careful, you shouldn't have that problem.

So I am really happy for you. And I hope that you find what works for you.

Keep posting and let us know how it is going. When do you see the pain specialist? Soon I hope.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/9/2010 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm confused. I've never heard of narcotics making fibro worse. Narcotics, by their nature eventually cause a tolerance that necessitates higher doses and/or different medications. Maybe, eventually, the meds won't help enough but hopefully, by then, we'll have new meds or treatments for fibro.

Plus, if focusing on the fibro worked for you, you'd be doing that now and you wouldn't need pain meds.

Do you really like your family doc? You may want to look for someone else that takes your pain seriously and works with you to let you have a life worth living.
Posted 2/10/2010 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Karen..they haven't called me yet to let me know when my appt. is.  I do hope it is soon!  Yes, I think he is concerned with addiction.  I'm just telling myself it is necessary...just like my anti-depressant.  This is going to be my "anti-pain" medication.  :) 

Dagger...I've heard the the narcotics can make the pain seem worse than before once they wear off...leaving you feeling that you need more and more.  They've told me that fibro sufferers are more susceptible to this??  And what you said about focusing on the fibro...that's exactly what my husband I thought!  It didn't make a bit of sense to me when he said that.  

I am considering finding someone else.  It's discouraging.  :( 

As always, I appreciate your thoughts and support.  Have a good night.  :) 

Sincerely,

DonniesGirl 

Posted 2/10/2010 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Donniesgirl, I would be finding another doctor that didn't make me feel like crawling in a hole cause I am in pain. I hope you get in soon. I finally had to relent and I take a little vicodin when I can't stand the pain any longer. I don't take it everyday or even every week. I do understand that many on here have a lot more pain than I do.

 

Good luck.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 2/10/2010 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
Donniesgirl, I'm sorry you are going through that. I've had similar experiences. I just changed to a new doctor within the same practice that I go to, and part of it was because my doctor was treating me the same way. Even though she knows it takes me months to go through 30 xanax or vicodin, she still insisted on treating me like I was a heartbeat away from needing rehab. This other doctor didn't. He actually listened to me about my pain and recognizes that I am not making it up, and that I am responsible with the medication I am given. I take it only when I can't stand the pain any more, which means a minimal dose remains pretty effective for me. I also am not looking for complete pain relief, just a reduction to a manageable level that allows me to focus on my life, rather than my pain. So when I was given the chance to make him my primary doctor, I did it.

What a bizarre thing for him to say, regarding focusing on fibro? Why would we want to do that? Isn't the idea to achieve a level of pain relief that will allow us to focus on having a LIFE??

There ARE doctors out there who can be empathetic to your pain and won't treat you like a seeker just because narcotics happen to work for you. I hope it is an option for you to find one!
Posted 2/11/2010 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the support and kind words.  It means so much to know others really understand!  :) 

The dr.'s office left a message today for me to call them...I'm assuming about the appt. for the pain dr.  (I hope.)  I will call tomorrow and find out. 

CaliGirl2001, I completely agree.  I think we should be focusing on living life, rather than the fibro too!  I don't understand his thinking.  :( 

Thanks again...

DonniesGirl  :) 

 

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