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Posted 3/1/2013 7:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have what is probably a really goofy question, but for me is a real problem... I have not been placed on any meds yet, and am concerned when I am..
eyes
I am a redhead, with freckles..and fairly light skinned...and NOTHING works for me when it comes to medication. sad
For example, I get migraines, and have to go to the e.r. for a cocktail of dilaudid, toradol and demerol..I get 2 of those about an hour apart..after which it only takes the egde off, and not much else. In fact after the last trip for a migraine, I got my shots and then had to drive my mom to an appt 4 hours away from home!
The only medication that ever really helped me was darvocet.. mad
so, I am concerned with what will work for me.. AND, finding a doc that understands that redheads have a rough time with meds..
The pain I have now in my abdomen and back, neck and shoulders stays between a 7 & 8 all the time..when I was in hospital recently, they had me on 4 mgs of dilaudid orally, and 6 mgs i.v., that only took the slighest edge off...I am terrified nothing will work for me...
(And just my luck I am allergic to codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol and percocet..) shakehead
Posted 3/1/2013 7:42 AM (GMT 0)
Mrsbugzy-you might be surprised how the more milder pain meds work better, especially for fibro. Narcotics sometimes makes people pain worse. I wouldn't worry about it, until the problem approaches. The only thing is please don't drive after receiving narcotics. Even if you think your not that affected by them, they still make a difference in your judgement. It's extremely dangerious for you, mom and the ones on the road. We want you around.


Many of us have gotten away from heavy narcotics. I would of never thought it would get better without them. Actually they were causing me more pain at the end. I am so happy my Dr. encourage me to get off them. Many Dr's are trying to steer clear of giving narcotics for fibro. Hopefully you can find something that works well for you. It takes some time to find the right regimine, so don't give up.

Post Edited (ak angel) : 3/1/2013 12:51:25 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/1/2013 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
What kind of a reaction do your allergies cause when you take narcotics? If it is itching, a lot of people get that. Do you get a rash too? I am just curious...

I am sorry you have so much difficulty taking narcotic medications. But as Ak Angel said, there are other things that you can take to feel better. And sometimes the weaker meds are enough. I did good on norco for years. But you are alergic to that.

Have you ever tried celebrex? It works good for pain but can be hard on the tummy. You might want to try that and take it every couple of days instead of everyday. I only take it when the pain is really bad because it bothers my tummy badly. But it might not bother you. I believe it is an nsaid...

I hope that you feel better soon. Keep posting...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 3/1/2013 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
When I was in horrible pain, had difficulty walking, I was given Vicodin. It did absolutely nothing. Then they tried Tramadol. Again no relief. But when a rheumy put me on ibuprofen with food and a muscle relaxer, what a difference it made for me! I also use Tylenol, malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 supplements to help with pain and fatigue. Stretching exercises, walking and pacing myself fill out the line-up of what I do. Oh, keeping a positive attitude has really helped, too.

My massage therapist suffered from migraines for years but recently stopped eating anything with tomatoes in it and now she isn't getting the migraines! She eats other nightshade foods but tomatoes were the culprit for her. So you might want to see if that helps you. Keep a food diary and see if you can pinpoint any foods that might be causing your problems.

Sherrine
Posted 3/1/2013 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am also a redhead with pale skin. I have never heard before that we are more medication sensitive. Post-fibro dx, I have noticed several meds where the side effects were greater. I have problems with statins, sulfas, and amphitryptiline.

Usually, I try to cut the med in half. Then, take it every other day. Does morning or night change the reaction?

Exercise, food, and sleep/rest can help. Supplements can also help to an extent.
Posted 3/1/2013 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
Mrsbugzy, I can't take any of the hard-core drugs either. Not only the crazy stuff meant specifically for Fibro (Lyrica, Cymbalta, etc) but also, I can't take any kind of prescrip pain meds (Vicodin, Codiene, etc) either.

All of this stuff ^ whacked me out with one strong negative side effect, or another.

But to be quite honest, I take WAAY more Ibuprofen than I probably should.... mostly for aches and pains of being an old guy (48), that tries to workout like a teen ager :) ....or for cracked molars... etc, etc.

When "Myself 09" said > Exercise, food, and sleep/rest can help. <

YES !!! ^ X's 1000 ! And for at least 1 person out of how ever many, it can eliminate Fibro symptoms by 95% !

My best advice is to do whatever you can to make yourself better > without drugs.

Best wishes,
Fish

PS, The only light weight, purely natural, unproccessed, drug (probably safer than my Ibuprofen) which might help you, we can't talk about on this forum :( 

Posted 3/1/2013 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Did they try gabapentin on you?
Posted 3/2/2013 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
I also got away from the narcotics. It has made a difference, because they weren't very effective, and the side effects (mainly constipation) made the fibro worse. I've been taking tramadol for years now, and I just stick with that and ibuprofen. I also take zoloft, and trazadone along with a tiny dose of xanax for sleep. and a I don't think there's any med that truly controls the pain.
I've been through the gamut of different meds. I finally figured out that less is more. If I'm eating and sleeping well I feel better. When the weather is good, I feel better. I wish there was a magic med, but I probably won't see it in my life time!
Posted 3/2/2013 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Anything sweet tends to cause me to get headaches. I can handle a small amount of sugar, but have to watch out if I overdo, or I pay big time--especially the next day, with a dull migraine for hours.

Ditto for too much salt--I pay later!! :(
Posted 3/2/2013 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Mrsbugsy,

I'm a redhead too, with the skin to go with it (2 basal-cell carcinomas on my face by my early 50s) and yes, I've read more than once that we need more pain control when we have surgery. There seems to be evidence that we're more sensitive to certain stimuli and less to others (than people of other colorings) because of some gene mutation.

You know, I really liked Darvocet too, and was bummed out when they took it off the market. I sure hope you do find something that works.

Debbie
Posted 3/3/2013 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I guess I should have been a little more specific..currently I am on no meds as I have not gotten in to the pain clinic yet (where I was reffered), so the only meds I had were the ones they gave me when they discharged me from the hospital...
And goodness, I now realize how much I sound like a druggie!
Slight recap: I have had SEVERAL major surgeries, and after some I didn't even need pain meds by day 2 of post op ( that was putting my arms back together after a 15 foot fall from a roof and shattered BOTH arms at the same time)...
It would be great if a simple muscle relaxer and some ibuprofen would help..but with the stomcah issues I've had..I can barely do tylenol/motrin..
As for my side effects, not just rashes (I wish), but it causes me to be HYPER..almost like I was on speed kind of hyper..and did nothing for the pain..Just makes me lay there, imobile, still in pain, and my mind and heart bouncing off the walls...bad psychedelic trips I guess you could say..
Oh well..Hopefully they can come up with something soon! Thanks for the feedback~ I appreciate all the help :)
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