New Medication, Again

So, there were the two new drugs I was prescribed for my pain, one for the arthritic pain, and one for the nerve pain. The doctor wanted me to try the arthritic one for a week first, in case of side effects.

Smart doctor I have, I had a bad case of vertigo after three days and quit the drug,

I have balance issues related to my MS, but this vertigo was something very different. This left me reluctant to try again, but finally the doctor suggested we forget the arthritic med for now, but go with the nerve pain medication instead.

This may be because of new symptoms again. This pain I've experienced when I press my right foot on the break, to change gear. It's happened three times, and then there was the very, very painful cramp, charley horse, whatever I got in my right calf when I reached out with my leg. Wow, don't want that again.

Yesterday, I started the new med, twice a day dosing. So far, so good. About to start day two.

I can't say I feel good, been a long time since that happened, and the rain doesn't help my pain, so I guess it's wait and see.

I hate that new meds always have the same side effects...dizziness and fatigue. Like I don't battle with that every day.

I want the pill that does not constipate, does not make you gain weight, and does not increase the symptoms of MS I already experience. Not going to happen.

No More Sitting on the Fence

I have not been the most proactive person regarding my health. I have been indecisive about the new meds and have avoided making a decision. My bad.

At the same time, I am experiencing a new symptom. The first time it happened I thought it was a one time thing, but unfortunately not. Now I need to pay more attention. be aware of what might be a cause, or a trigger.

I was in the car, put it in gear, my foot on the brake and I experienced the worst pain, cramp, spasm? in my foot. I couldn't move, couldn't drive because I couldn't put any pressure on the brake. It passed after a few minutes, and I moved on.

Now, looking back, I'm trying to remember where I was, what I'd been doing.As that kind of movement to my foot only happens when I put the pressure on the brake, the only thing I'd done immediately before was walk.

Last night in bed, I reached out with  my right (same) foot to push the dehumidifier away and experienced the worst pain in my calf. I was overwhelmed with the pain, managed to get out of bed and, with some difficulty, able to press my foot flat on the floor until the pain eased.

The rest of the night I was afraid to move, afraid the pain would come back, but fortunately for me...it didn't.

Is this a nerve pain, if so, I better get my ass in gear, call my doctor tomorrow and make a decision on those new prescriptions. I had the bad side effect from the 1st one, a NSAID, and never started the 2nd for neuropathic pain.

Seems I'm going to have to take charge, finally.

Making Decisions

I'm in a quandry, do I give that new medication another try, and risk another episode of vertigo. or go to a similar drug that I've used before?

I felt so good for those few days, I was tempted to try again, but have now decided not to take the chance.

I had lunch with my daughter today, and realize I need to be proactive in my health care. Apparently my one granddaughter said something to her sister about my falling (during my vertigo episode), and they were both upset and worried. That led to the discussion at lunch as to the fact that they have never seen me well. As long as they have been born I have been gradually deteriorating.

I've consistently put the effort out to give them things to remember me by, the crocheted items, scrapbooks and their cookbooks. But the one thing they need from me now is time.

If I start to take better care of myself, I'll have more quality time with them.

I know the feelings I have for my grandmother, and if they feel the least bit like that, I need to be strong. Lord knows I love them all.

Update

Well, it's been four days off the new medication, and no more vertigo, thank goodness. My pain has been manageable, but I miss those three days when it was better, when I felt an uplifting of my mood, and was looking forward to more activity.

I think the weeks I spent in the Pain Management Workshop last year is worth a repeat. Maybe I'll not feel like such a failure and will try the other one, Living with a Chronic Illness.

It's easy to give in to the pain, when everything is a struggle. My neighbor and I commiserate with each other, but it is still depressing that she has just had her 90th birthday and walks all over town. Some days I find walking to the bathroom too painful.

It doesn't help that I'm losing upper body strength, and find holding my head up extremely fatiguing. I push through the standing, walking, sitting with no support, enough to get the groceries and family events. But pushing through has a cost.

I was on a different NSAID for over fifteen years, been off it for years, but will contact my doctor and see if I can try it again. I'm leery of giving the new prescription another try, even at a lower dosage.

Whatever works.

Vertigo

First off, I'd like to apologize to anyone who has suffered from vertigo, because I may not have been as understanding or empathetic as I could have been. I have balance issues with my MS, have to be touching something to stay steady, can't look up, can't be in the dark, but none of that compares to the vertigo I suffered when I woke up this morning.

I woke up and stood at the side of the bed to judge the pain, which has been much better since the new med. When I took my first step I was all over the place, slammed into the door frame of the bathroom, hit the wall and basically fell onto the toilet. What the hell was that, I wondered.

Didn't get any better so I spent most of the morning in bed, finally getting up so I could get something to eat to take my medication. Wondering if this could be the new pill, as opposed to a new MS symptom, I called the pharmacist. It is a possible side effect of the new med, so I didn't take it today to see if the vertigo goes away.

I feel somewhat better, though that's not saying much considering where I started the day. Not wanting to spend the day in bed I've been trying to sit up for awhile, and so far so good, until I stand and move.

It's been like standing on the deck of a ship in a storm, with rolling waves. At times I feel a little seasick.

My ankle still hurts from this morning, so maybe I gave it a bad landing in addition to hitting the door. And my elbow aches, so maybe I hit it too. I guess I'm feeling more pain, because I've not taken any pain relievers.

Tomorrow should be interesting. Will this be gone and I can say it's the medication, or an I being given another challenge with this miserable disease? Only time will tell.

Dem Bones, Dem Bones

Yesterday was day 2 on the new medication. I felt I had a bit more energy, and was moving around better.

I even managed to get the fairy lights attached to my black metal plant stand, with a lot of bending and reaching. I hate when I can hear the bones in my knee rub, and worried about the pain I would feel as a result, but there was none.

Today, I'm still moving better than usual, and pain is mild, a change for me.

My wrist aches, and is bothersome, but that may be my own fault for not sleeping with a brace on, to keep it straight.

I've taken today's pill, and am sitting here, upright, as directed. I'm not to lie down for at least a half hour after, in case of reflux I guess.

The sun is shining, the skies are blue, and my pain is being managed. Seems like it's a good day.