Meds Not Working

breane

Hi,I don't like to keep moaning about pain but the past week mine has got so much worse even though my GP has put me on different meds. I now take Omeprazole once a day, anti-flams twice a day and Sopadol 4 times a day and none of it seems to be having any effect.I'm finding every day a struggle to get through and although my o/h is very good,I don't like to keep asking him to do things for me,I do try and be independent. From starting in my hands and wrists last Dec. the OA has spread to shoulders,arms.knees and soles of feet.I'm waiting to see the rheumy June 24th(he will confirm I also have RA due to my last blood tests) and that will be my first appoinment with him and I'm just hoping he can give me better meds which will have some effect.The ones I'm on now I'm feel I'm taking for nothing as they have no effect. I see my GP next week and I will ask him for sleeping tablets as the lack of sleep isn't helping.Are any of you on sleeping tablets and do they work for you?Sorry for having a moan on this lovely sunny morning but I guess I am at a low ebb at the moment. Breane.x

madwestie

Breane, I am sending you big Hug.
I am sure that the rheumy will be able to give you different meds if it is ra then they will give you meds to try and stop the disease gettings worse which in my case has helped greatly with the pain.
Ask your gp if there are any other combinations of painkiller that you can try some work for one person but not for another.
It is hell not sleeping are you able to get a nap during the day.

As to independance we all want to fight for ours but sometimes we have to accept help just for a while. my ra is good at the moment apart from my hip (a pain in the bum or hip as hubby says) but on the bad days i have to ask him to help with all sorts. so if you have to ask for help a bit more at the moment don't worry there will be other times when you can help him.
I have never had sleeping tablets so i can't help there i'm afraid but hopefully someone else will be able to advise.

Tracey

angel1

Breane hello, What lovely sunny morning? Send some up here!! Seriously though, I`m so sorry that your pain is worsening. Isn`t it miserable when you are taking loads of stuff, and it`s not working? I was on Diclofenac, and Co-codamol, and pain was bearable most days. When I saw my GP last week, she took me off Diclofenac. Apparently there are now some concerns about this drug, especially if - like me - you are taking medication for blood pressure. She has given me Tramadol, but I don`t find these as effective, at least not so far. Mind you, it says one daily, and the pharmacist said that will not be enough to touch the pain. If I double up, I`m going to run out after two weeks. Don`t know what to do for the best. I do have a really good sleeping tablet though - Zopiclone - which gives me a good nights sleep, and no side effects. Hope this helps.........Angel.

breane

Hi Angel,I will definately ask my GP about the sleeping tablet you are taking.Hopefully it would work for me too.I think he's being cautious in prescribing new meds for me before I see the rheumy but he sould be able to help me with a sleeping pill.Here in Berkshire it's warm and sunny,going to be a beautiful weekend. O/H going to get the barbie out this afternoon so a break from cooking for me.If I could, I would send a few rays of sunshine to you. 8) A day like this helps to make you feel better in yourself. Breane.x

breane

Hi Tracey,My o/h is very good and always says why don't I ask him for help and unless I ask him,he's not to know if I do need help. :? Trouble is I'm so independent and like to do everything myself but I guess I will have to give in a bit more and accept I can't do some things.I'm one of those people who can't catnap during the day.I have tried but my mind starts racing with things I should be doing.I do keep busy during the day as I know that helps the joints but the nights are terrible,pain,pain and more pain and hardly any sleep. Going to put a bit of pressure on my GP on Wed. for something stronger.I know the rheumy will alter all my meds when I see him in June,but that's over 4 weeks away.Need to get it sorted before my hols in July.Hope you have a good day and are having some of this beautiful sunshine. Breane.x

emmarose33

Hi, I can't remember if you replied to my post about omeprazole? Basically came to the conclusion that if I take it at the same time as my other meds they don't work. So make sure you're not doing that, have a couple of hours gap.
If you are already doing that then I can't offer much more help. Just to say I know how you are feeling.
We have lovely weather today though, and summer is coming, I'm sure it will help your joints to some degree. Get lot's of rest.
Take care.

woodbon

HI, Sorry about all the pain and problems it brings. I know its good to be independant and I prefer it, but, if you think about it, asking for help will help you to do things, rather that waisting all your strength trying to something, getting upset because you can't and then having to get someone to do the job for you. For instance, my overhead kitchen units are too high for me now, I have a job to raise my arm above my head, and even if I force it my grip is weak and I drop things if I need something from that cupboard, pans Oxo is kept there, I ask for that to be got down for me, then I can make the gravy myself, I can do a little ironing if someone lifts the board out and buts it back. This may sound silly and obvious too you and I'm sorry if I'm goint on, but even if I were fine, I'd still expect my husband to share chores, we always have. But I know its hard, and I don't always practice what I preach :oops:

I take 20mg of amatryptilne (sp?) at night and that helps me to sleep. As well as co-codamol 30/500.

Hopefully, when you see the rheummy, he will sort out medication for you and you will start to feel a lot better.

Lots of love Sue.

page35

Hi breane
i have RA and have pain in most of my joints now also dont sleep very well. I only started my meds about 7wks ago so still hoping they will kicking sometime soon, was told they will take about 3months to start.
anyway when you see the rhuemy tell him your going away in july as he may be able to give you a steriod injection. it really helped my pain for a few weeks and if your going away you want to feel the best you can. off course we are all diffirent this is just something that helped me, but its worth asking about.
enjoy the sun
page

lindalegs

Hi Breane

It seems a long time to the 24th June when you're in pain doesn't it - it would be great if our Rheumy's were as available as our GP's? Although your GP does sound supportive and approachable.

I know you're still in a lot of pain but how do you know if your meds aren't working unless you've tried to come off them :?: - some meds do seem to take the edge off our pain but don't take it away altogether. Also some medication needs to build up in our system before it becomes effective - have you given it chance? During my bad times I rely on paracetamol, 2 tablets every six hours so that I can take them throughout the night, if necessary - but I know these don't work for everyone.

As for being independent, when you're not very well you can waste valuable energy trying to do something that would take other people only a second and you end up very frustrated and stress is very bad for arthritis - so you could be compounding the pain. (I love Sue's gravy advise ) Save your energy for doing something you enjoy doing and let others help - it's hard for them seeing you struggle. Save being independent till you're on the mend

Hope this helps.

Luv Legs

breane

Thank you all for your advice and support. I thought I had a good pain threshold until arthur came along.I think I cope fairly well during the day but when I rest or go to bed,the pain is much more severe.Strange how that works! I am going to try not to over stretch myself and I will start asking for help. O/H is very good and today he made me a batch of cheese straws to cheer me up(his cheese straws are the tops,eat one and you want to eat the lot!!) He's a very good cook and will often make meals at the weekend so that's a great help. Off to sit in the sun for a while,hope you all have a good Bank Holiday. Breane.x

frogmorton

HI breane
Poor poor you
While you are at it try getting some amitrip for nights I have 25mg and it helps so much. - Sleep is so important I beleive.
Glad you have such a good OH and that you are enjoying the weather a bit.
I was Miserable before I got my meds too. I was in agony and nothing worked at all.
You will get it sorted.
take care
Toni xx

breane

Hi Scottishlass,The anti-inflamms I'm taking are Naprosyn(naproxen)one twice a day and each tablet is 500mg but they havn't helped with the swelling.This morning my feet are swollen and stiff.Another bad night,I think I slept for about 3/4 of an hour,the rest of the time I was just sat up in bed.Pain almost eveywhere. Eventually got up a 5.30am just to start taking pain killers but they don't help either(sopadol).As each day passes I feel I am getting more grumpier,I guess that's what pain does to you.My Gp is doing to have to take the pain more seriously as I don't think I can go on like this for another 4 weeks till I see the rheumatologist.There,that's my moan for the day!!.Not a nice thing to brighten up your Sunday morning.Sorry about that. Breane.x :?

mrsmopp

Hi Breane

Sorry to hear your not feeling to good. Iv been up most of the night also. Really bothered with hot sweats, think its the increased dose of prednisolone. Iv been sitting on the sofa most of the night reading, gives OH some peace. Really hope you feel a bit better as the day goes go. Take Care. x

breane

Hi Mrsmopp,It's awful when you have to sit up all night,the night seems so long doesn't it? I've started sleeping in the spare room just to give my o/h a good nights sleep as my tossing and turning is starting to keep him awake and he has an early start for work.But when the pain gets too bad I go downstairs and try to do a few jobs(quietly).He recently bought me one of the Nintendo DS Lite systems so at least I can have a go on that to pass the hours away!! Doing the Brain Training ones at the moment,just what I need,Im sure the meds mess with your mind at times.Hope you've got a lovely warm day where you are.That cheers us up a bit. Breane.x