just shouting against the wind...

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User] Posts: 0
edited 1. Oct 2013, 05:12 in Living with Arthritis archive
I know this is not very elegant. I know it does not help or change things. But here I sit and wait if a new medication kicks in or not. Instead of doing what I relly should do: work. I'll give it another 20 minutes. I really should work. But I simply can't. This time it is really, really bad. With all the usual side- effects like endless sleepless nights and fear for the future.
Oh- it's just a rant. But there is nobody to talk to. So it's writing into the wind instead.
It hurts so bad I hardly can breath. And it never really ceases. It's all a question of quality. The quality of pain. Right now it's first class quality pain.
Without being able to work it will be getting worse without any doubt. Adding stress and uncertainty. I really don't know....
Well- just a rant.
And of course there are lots of people with the same problem.
Sorry...

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh caliban, I empathise, I know this feeling all too well and the fact that others have this is not relevant to you: this is your time to complain. The grinding, on-going and un-relenting pain does wear us down, the only thing to do is take the dullers, distract ourselves and do our best to get on with things. What doesn't help is sitting there focusing on the pain etc, that always make it worse. When you say work, what do you mean? Everyday chores or going out to paid employment? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • jt58
    jt58 Member Posts: 14
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Dear Caliban

    Have another rant - it might do you good. I used to read the arthritis magazines but got a bit disheartened reading about all those people who must cope a lot better than I do and have an actual life...

    Hope it eases JT
  • DebbieT
    DebbieT Member Posts: 1,033
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    ((((hugs))))

    Wot meds are you on? Have you tried slow release ones & do you use something like paracetamol several times a day every day? It's just they build up in the system, in the background & can help long term.

    I'm sorry if that's all completely obvious & unhelpful:?

    xxx
    Healing Hugs
    Debbie.x
  • Colin1
    Colin1 Member Posts: 1,769
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Caliban I haven't read the other responses just in case it influenced my response. First of no-one is the same you my friend are unique. don't let anyone tell otherwise. Really bad pain, lack of sleep, fear, uncertainty, anxiety
    and stress, the more we go through the worse it gets, the worse it gets the more we suffer. Control the pain and you will begin to control other aspects of your life. find some degree of self comfort. You need to see the GP don't think they really understand unless you have a really good GP, Have you got a rheumy nurse if so and you cant get to see the consultant you need to ask the rheumy nurse for an urgent appointment to discuss the management of your pain. Don't just put up with or try this and that make the phone call and stop pissing in the wind.
    Colin
    WHEN GOD GIVES YOU LEMONS MAKE LEMONADE
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It's not writing to the wind, caliban, it's writing to us who understand and empathise even though we can't take the pain away or hurry the meds up. If it helps, keep going. We're listening.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh- thanks to all of you! I'm not always online, since I'm not branched to the www. I live rather off- track. And sometimes that complicates life. Though, to be frank- normally I really prefer to live where I live.
    To answer dreamdaisy's question: I'm farming. Well, probably not the best thing to do in the current situation, I know. On the other hand I'm convinced physical work helps a lot to stay agile. I wouldn't want to do anything else. Even if it IS difficult at times. Well- it is impossible, right now. Sometimes I have no problem at all for months and months. Sometimes it's just one nasty night or day. But it happens, as right now, that it simply won't go away. But you know that all, I reckon.
    Medication is a difficult one, though. Yes, I take Paracetamol, but it simply doesn't help. I don't know why, but I don't feel any difference. Anti- inflammatories are very tricky. In fact I can't take them because of another problem I have. They simply don't go well with the medication I have to take for that one.
    And, yes Colin, you are right here: It is a vicious circle. The problem pops up in moments of emotional stress, for example. Or banal financial stress. I guess those are the moments when your immune system lies low and the disease takes over more easily. With all the side- effects. And, voilà- the vicious circle begins. I simply have to work to keep my independance. And I like work.
    I'm sceptical when it comes to medication and I like to reduce the intake to the absolute inevitable. And my GP is not very competent, to say the least. I will have to find someone more competent. To get an appointment with a specialist you have to wait a couple of months around here.
    Yes, it helps to have an exchange with people in the same boat. I do not know another person with this kind of a problem. Ideal would be to find a doctor who suffers with this disease.
    And again: Thank you all!
    But I have another question to ask: One of my customers (an elderly Lady) was a doctor and she advised me to see a anthropsophic doctor. Has anybody any experience with this? I'm a bit fed up with the so called specialists. They usually see only ONE aspect of the matter. And I'm convinced a more...holistic?... point of view would be more helpful.
    Thank you again!!!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sometimes our bodies let us know in the only way that they can that, for the time being, enough is enough. Mine is doing that today, I'm in for a rough time but I shall pace myself and keep activity to the absolute minimum. Farming, eh? Crikey, that is work and a half. I guess if livestock is involved you cannot take the time off that you need. I have no answer. :( I am sorry. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh- no livestock involved. Apart from my cat, of course. Fortunately only (organic) fruit-trees and vegetables. But my season is still on and I hardly can afford the loss now. Nothing to be done, though. I simply can't open the stall today.
    Right now I'm doing the same as you- keep it to the minimum.
    I'm really sorry you are in for a rough time. But welcome to the club! Let's roughtime together! Wanna dance? :) Argh...
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    caliban wrote:
    The problem pops up in moments of emotional stress, for example. Or banal financial stress. I guess those are the moments when your immune system lies low and the disease takes over more easily. With all the side- effects. And, voilà- the vicious circle begins.

    Definitely, caliban. It thrives on stress. However, there is more to pain relief than paracetamol and I hope you can find something.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    caliban wrote:
    The problem pops up in moments of emotional stress, for example. Or banal financial stress. I guess those are the moments when your immune system lies low and the disease takes over more easily. With all the side- effects. And, voilà- the vicious circle begins.

    Definitely, caliban. It thrives on stress. However, there is more to pain relief than paracetamol and I hope you can find something.

    Yes- my chainsaw, for example! :) And sometimes my cat is a great relieve at night. I simply put her where it hurts the most. (And I always thought she's just another lilly-on-the-field) But you are right, of course- there should be something else than paracetamol on the market. If this continues I'll be a computer crack in no time AND I'll lose my healthy tan! I never spent a whole day in front of a screen before. I can hear my ripe pears calling for picking though I'm in town since the early hours.
    I'm convinced we should be able to ban most of the pain by evading stress. That's another challenge, I guess.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    caliban wrote:
    there should be something else than paracetamol on the market.

    Co-codamol? ie paracetamol with codeine. Here in the UK you can buy the lowest dose one over the counter but I don't know what the situation is in Spain. Just remember, if you go down that route, that the main ingredient is still paracetamol so, although you could combine them with paracetamol (ie two cocos at breakfast, two paras at lunch), you must only take 8 tablets (2 every 4 hours) in total each day whichever way you combine them.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello caliban
    Please don't a apologize for the rant..we are all here to support one another...the others have said it all..so here some hugs from me..(((()))xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for the hugs, Barbara!!!
    And I will ask in the pharmacy about the co-codamol. I never heard of it. My GP gave me ixprim once. Yes, it helped against the pain, but I vomited all day long. Not really an alternative.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Following years of NSAIDS wrecking my stomach, I now take all meds with food. Even a small plain biscuit is enough to make a difference.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You know, all this medication gives me the creeps. Plus I have to be very careful because of this other problem. And sometimes I simply don't trust the doctors too much. They usually see just ONE aspect of a problem without taking another into account. For example: when this nasty thing in my head happened I was anorexic. Of course they noticed that in hospital, but they did not take care of it. Simply because it is not the job of a neurologist to care about something that happens underneath the head. I don't know if I'm able to make myself understood here, but somehow I really would like to find a doctor who is able to see the whole thing. I guess it IS complicated. But it should be possible, I hope. Right now I'm really worried. The "whole thing" concerns the day-to-day life as well. As Colin 1 said before. I don't get any benefits at all and have to earn my living. And right now that is simply not possible. ( Not true- due to my problems I don't have to pay for health insurance. And that helps, of course.)
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I do see where you're coming from. I got my first stomach ulcer courtesy of the NHS. I was in for three weeks for my first TKR (Yup. Three weeks back then!) and they insisted I'd to swallow my meds, including NSAIDS, when given rather than letting me wait for the next meal. Things are more relaxed now though.

    I have learned over the years, though, that we must all take responsibility for our own health. Whenever prescribed something new I recite the litany of my past illnesses, ops etc. I leave nothing to chance. Plus I take as few meds as possible. It always seems the least problematic route.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had a stomach ulcer when I was twenty. Due to stress and lots of coffee, I guess. My old GP precribed me something for (or better- against) the ulcers. When I read the description and all the possible side- effects I asked him if that is the best he can do. He was in his seventies back then. And very nice and old- fashioned. He understood my problem with the medication and advised......cabbage-juice. I tried it. It tastes awful, but it helped. Not immediately, but after 4 or 5 weeks the ulcers were gone. Oh- and I stopped drinking coffee, of course. Years later a customer of mine had the same problem. I told her about my cabbage- juice experience. And she brought me a huge present after a couple of weeks, because it helped her as it helped me before.
    Of course stomach ulcers are not comparable with our little problem at hand. But I'm convinced we can do better in a lot of cases, than a massive intake of chemicals. No misunderstanding, please. I'm not against medicine as we take it. But I'm convinced there are lots of "softer" alternatives for a lot of ailments. If I only knew where to find them.....