From the daily meds log…No, it’s not literature, I know

Had a rather unusual thing happen yesterday, day 16 of the [sym*bal*ta]: for no known reason in the middle of the afternoon (usually a rough time for me when pain gets around 5-6) this strange sensation came over me: I felt happy! It had been so long it sort of scared me as I’d almost forgotten what it was like to revel in the moment for its own sake…. So….maybe it’s the [sym*bal*ta], he says.

Thought I’d cut & paste my meds log, sort of a diary so that when I see the Dr or want to refer back I have some sort of record of things: no, it’s not my most creative work…but here’tis for the detail-conscious out there:

Aug.23, 2007: Day 16 on [sym*bal*ta] — yesterday had a strange feeling suddenly mid-afternoon, I think it’s called ‘feeling happy’, for no apparent reason.? Hardly remembered what it felt like!

Was on my feet for about2-3hrs, which usually leaves my feet and lwr extremities hurting bad — closer to 7 — and me rushing to lie down.. Not yesterday. Also,only took 2 Ultram all day, in the a.m. w/1choline.
Mid afternoon also had better immediate term memory recall.

Today feeling some neuropat hy a bit in thighs to knees, minimal in feet(which are always a bitch); mood still pretty good.(can’t remember when things felt this much relieved…but am on guard against false hopes, placebo effect etc.) I’ve accommodated it for so long my cns doesn’t ‘remember’ what non-pain is like?

Itching episodes have not returned. Still get my skin turns & stays red when scratching (Amio dar one?) but no constant itching.

Told you it wasn’t Hemingway…

[sym*bal*ta] & neuropathy — an attempt to deal w/post fusion neuropathy

Well, learned a few things after a consult with a friend who is neurologist (I’ve never used him before because I don’t like mixing business & pleasure — but, I got zip from umpteen other specialists…another story there).

First, Neuropathic Pain & Itching:

As my neuropathic pain has, in the last 2 years, moved into first place over my surgery site and sciatica pain, I’ve been considering trying [leer*i*ka] or [sym*bal*ta] which have been getting some decent double blind longitudinal research saying they help some with neuro pathy; it’s mostly diabetic neuro pathy but thought I’d try anyway.

So learned 1 VERY important thing (so far) from my friend Tony the Neurologist:

[zohkor] makes neuropathy worse! Also can aggravate skin issues associated with neuropathy! You won’t find that in the Harvard Medical Review, but Tony said that he sees it all the time, and he himself experienced the onset of neuropathy when starting zocor. Sure enough, about the fifth day into stopping zocor I noticed that the near constant itching I’ve had for so long just went away. As it’s just over a week now it’s too soon to conclude this about the[zohkor] (for me), but thought it worth mentioning in case its helpful to others with neuropathy.

2. Considering [sym*bal*ta] (an SSNRI, selective seratonin & norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor) different from the SSRI’s (Wikipedia has good links & overview HERE ) has been not only an effective anti-depressant, but allegedly relieves secondary depression symptoms (headaches etc) as well as depression –

SO…started on 60mg SR (slow release, 1/day). After 2 weeks if I don’t get relief for the neuropathy and tolerate the [sym*bal*ta], then up it to 120mg(SR) a day.

Not noticing much on Day 7, but these things (SSRI etc) take sometimes 6 weeks to start working, varying greatly from person to person.

My hope is that I’ll get double bang for my buck as it were. If the [sym*bal*ta]eases the pain I will try to cut back on my tramad **ol (taking 50mg x2 3 to 4x day; AND, treat the depression which seems to come with the CP (chronic pain). In my dreams I would take no meds…but I’m also on Amioh da rone a heart rhythm drug with major side effects, and without it my paroxysmal atrial fibrillation puts me in a high risk group for stroke, hear attack, so guess I’m stuck …but that’s not to relevant here…

On another seemingly unrelated thing, I noticed a significant change in my libido since stopping the zok or, as well as overall improvements in tumescence,if you know what I mean.

If anyone reading this has any experience with (or good links) re: experiences with neuropathy meds like [sym*bal*ta] , would love to hear from you.

Med changes…again!

Neurologist informed me that my zocor is probably worsening my neuropathy! That fits as it started worsening about the time I started the statin drugs. sheesh. Also, will try Lyrica so have to stop the Celexa. Funny thing…slept great last night without either of those 2….

Still too much going on ITRW for me to spend more than a few minutos here. Do want to explore a few themes time permitting…

• The difference between pain and suffering.
• Chronic pain causation loops + or – ).
• Whatever else tickles my fancy :}