Bit under the weather

breane
breane Member Posts: 392
edited 30. Mar 2009, 05:06 in Living with Arthritis archive
I try not to complain but the past week has really pulled me down.I caught a really bad cold which turned into bronchitis(two days in bed and that's not at all like me)then flare ups in both hands and wrists,the worst pain I've had so far.Sitting in the lounge at 3am in the morning having a good cry made me wonder if that's how it's going to be from now on. :cry: I'm 62 years young and last week I had to give up my part time work because my hands have become so bad.I loved my independence and OA has taken that away.Meds hasn't helped much and my GP won't give me anything stronger than Sopadol as he says I'm in the early stages of OA,diagnosed a few months ago.It's the small things that I find so frustrating,like squeezing toothpaste out of the tube,opening a packet of biscuits,combing my hair,even getting my meds out of their paper discs.I guess one of the worst things is lack of sleep,I am lucky if I get 1-2 hours sleep a night.I ask myself,is there life after OA? Sorry for the moan but it's 4.30am and at the moment I feel quite alone,thought a moan would perk me up!! Luv,Breane.

Comments

  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Breane,
    I'm sorry your in so much pain. I think sometimes that if gp's could be given arthritis just for an hour or so they would then be better at deciding what is really painful and what isn't. I also find any kind of infection makes my weak spots hurt much more, and I hope you are soon better. Have you been given a referral to a consultant or is the gp saying it has to get worse before that happens? Personally I have found when you have the right pain relief there really is life beyond OA BUT you need the right medication for you and as we are all different your gp should be willing to try something else. I really think you should go and see them and tell them that its not helping and could they please put you on something else. I hope you have a better day and a much better night to night. Take care, Cris
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Breane

    Loads of cyber hugs being sent your way. It is horrid not being able to sleep and things always seem so much worse in the middle of the night/early hours. I often go down and have a bowl of shreddies and take up a microwaved wheat bag thingy - that usually makes me sleep. There is life after oa but at the moment you are going through a bad patch. Be patient and kind to yourself, you deserve it. Happier days will soon follow.

    Hope you can smile today.

    Love
    Elna (())
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Breane
    Oh I am so sorry you are suffering at the moment.
    Things always loook awful and at their worst in the middle of the night.
    Everyone else is asleep and you are wide awake :(:(
    Solpadol is better than nothing, but have you tried oner the counter anti in =flams like volterol and ibuprofen? You can take them as well.
    Your pharmasict might be your best port of call.
    Finally next time you see GP you MUST take someone with you to support you and say how it is for you.
    I do hope you got some sleep in the end
    Best wishes
    Toni xx
  • petmad
    petmad Member Posts: 252
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Breane,
    I am so sorry you feel so low just now, as the others advise I would use the over the counter anti-inflammatories, but I would ask my GP to prescribe you one the next time you see him/her. I also find it helpful to have one of the gels as a back up, I use Traxam which my GP prescribes, but have also used voltarol. I find it very soothing to put this on a particularly painful area and it really does work for me in combination with oral medication. Hope your GP has a reality check, you should tell him/her that you have joined this forum, you have no idea the positive effect that can have regarding their attitude to your treatment. Linda
  • mistywillow
    mistywillow Member Posts: 711
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    petmad wrote:
    Hi Breane,
    I am so sorry you feel so low just now, as the others advise I would use the over the counter anti-inflammatories, but I would ask my GP to prescribe you one the next time you see him/her. I also find it helpful to have one of the gels as a back up, I use Traxam which my GP prescribes, but have also used voltarol. I find it very soothing to put this on a particularly painful area and it really does work for me in combination with oral medication. Hope your GP has a reality check, you should tell him/her that you have joined this forum, you have no idea the positive effect that can have regarding their attitude to your treatment. Linda


    Hi Breane
    Sorry you are feeling so low, pain does always seem so much worse in the middle of the night and the night seems so ooooo
    long :!: Just a few suggestions in addition to those made above
    I use ice on my hands when they are playing up Either in the form of frozen peas or if i have one, those gel packs that can be put in the fridge. I have RA so cold helps but some people are more responsive to heat and again there are lots of pads etc available at the chemist for that purpose. (a heat lover will come along and tell you what they use)
    Also there are appliances that can help 'aids to daily living' whether it be squeezing toothpase or opening jars. Maybe your GP could refer you to an occupational therapist at your local hospital because that is their thing.
    Hope this helps and that you are feeling better soon
    Gillx
  • vonski
    vonski Member Posts: 1,292
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Breane

    Sorry you're not feeling too good at the minute. Bronchitis will have taken it out of you and to have flare ups as well, no wonder you're fed up. Go back to your Dr. and ask for stronger pain relief. Maybe book a double appointment so you can tell him just how bad things are.

    Hope you feel better soon.

    Love
    Vonski x
  • debbierose
    debbierose Member Posts: 403
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hope your feeling brighter,
    i was in the same place as you a few weeks ago and posted on this site, I felt very low but took the advice posted ad saw my consultant, and ot, I didn,t realize what a poor state i was in,
    so chin up hin, make an appt. take some- one with you or write it down,
    good luck

    best wishes
    Debbie
  • greyheron
    greyheron Member Posts: 167
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just a quick message to say that I hope the sun has come out a bit for you since you started this thread. Be kind to yourself. Also on a practical level, I agree with what someone else said about seeing if an OT could advise on gadgets etc. - sometimes we're reluctant to consider these cos it feels like 'giving in' - but if it makes the job easier, I'm all for them. Take care, Wendy
  • colinone
    colinone Member Posts: 1,039
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Brean sorry your feeling so down and i understand what its like trying to cope with the endless pain. But your not alone you have us guys, I know things look grim at the moment but they will get better or you will learn to cope. I lost my job 3 years ago through RA and PA it took me a long time to come to terms with it and i still get fed up not being at work and not being able to do things. Im the same age as you and thought i would just go on working, A tip by the way regarding the toothpast i have the same problem and the new tubes dont help. Get a tub of smokers toothpaste and you can leave the lid lose and just dip in when you need it. As you say its the little things that get you down, use a knife to cut through the biscuite pack and if you get a number 3 from the barber you wont have to comb your hair for a few weeks lol thats what i do. I always Dressed in suit shirt and tie most of my life for work and now cant do the buttons or fasten my tie. I now dress in what i call sloppys easy to get on and off type stuff, Do you find that you are really tired go to bed and cant sleep for the pain or some other thing and the next day you feel worse. Well take care and keep your chin up i would have another chat with the GP and see if you can talk some sense into him.
    Colin
  • hezmarie25
    hezmarie25 Member Posts: 63
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Breane
    Sorry to hear you are having a bad time at the moment. Lack of sleep is no good to a healthy person never mind someone with arthrtis. It just makes the pain seem worse.
    Has your gp referred you to a specialist at your local hospital yet? I agree with the other posts that its a good idea to take someone along with you next time you see your gp, give you some moral support but also they can tell the doc what they see!
    I would go see your gp again and ask for a medication review and a referral to a specialist and perhaps the pain clinic.
    Take care and sending you a million hugs.
    Keep smiling
    Love Heather xx
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello
    Sorry you're not too good at the moment. I'm sure the spring sunshine will help a bit! :) Love Sue