Had my appointment on the 2nd and really like the new doc. We went over the MRI in detail and she told me there is nothing going on with my brain. The real problems are with my neck and the herniated disks. There are 3 of them. the closest one to the top of my spine is the worst.
What I am experiencing are nerve- tension headaches. She also told me I am caught up in a cycle of pain, anxiety. depression that keeps things going up and down. She gave me a script
of Amitryptiline, 10 mg to take. There is a slow upgrade to the amount each night. But she did tell me it does take a bit for my body to get used to it. So far, it has been better.
I still have the anxiety about everything connected with these headaches: money, health insurance costs, keeping my job..etc.
I have been on FMLA since 2 Dec and worked some...mostly part time hours, a very flexible schedule, thanks to a great supervisor. But even while at work and my attempts to make things better and as normal as I can, there is always something keeping me from being able to just dismiss the strange feelings in my head.
The doc told me there are other options and I feel comfortable with her.
At least this doctor explains things to me in a way I can understand. I told her about my fears of heavy drugs since I have a heart condition. She said we can start low on the amitrypt and see how that works. At the same time, she ordered my med records from my GP to check out my last EKG.
She told me about the success she has seen with some patients using Botox.....but this is something my insurance will not pay for unless documented that it is needed as part of my healing. Yes, Blue Cross Blue Shield.
I am now having issues with my abdomen and pain in the left quadrant.
I have had bouts with diverticulitis, infected lymph nodes in the groin...and after a number of rounds of antibiotics, still having some pain. My gastro doc ordered another CT scan but I hope any pray it's not something more.
I try and keep positive and tell myself I am doing the best I can.
I try not to anquish over the job when I can not go in. People at work just think I had a breakdown. My depression and anxiety attacks were pretty obvious in January.
I know I can't get disability and since I turn 62 in Aug, I can't put in for retirement for another 10 months.
There are days when I can't manage to get out of bed when my head is tingling and the nerve pain is all over the top and sides...that I just want to rip my scalp off. Hard to describe but I know there are others with the same thing happening to them.
I am open to taking whatever medication I have to take that will allow me to function as best as I can. I am looking forward to my next appointment with the new Neuro doc. Just hoping that my stomach issues are soon resolved...the pain is tolerable but still need to know what it's from. Gastro doc gave me Synmax Duotab to take and it seems to help.
Sorry to have gone on and on.
Just wanted to give an update to my last posts.
I always look forward to hearing from others in the forum... I know I don't have it as bad as some others. Wish we could all just wake up one morning and everything painful would be gone. How great it would be just to have no pain, no anxiety, no depression and self confidence that it's going to be alright!!!!
Post Edited (jpjax) : 2/15/2011 6:14:39 AM (GMT-7)