Tagged "chronic pain"

26 / 04

51 notes

// Request for Medication Info?//

So my mom suffers from chronic migraines even worse than I do.

She was recently given a new prescription for a topical cream for her migraines. It’s supplied by DermaTran Health Solutions and the prescription lists that it contains: Gabapentin, Naproxen, Pentoxifylline, Sumatriptan, and Tramadol.

It comes in a pump bottle, and she is supposed to apply one pump of the cream to the “back of the neck at the hairline and trigger points for headche” and rub it in for two minutes.

So far, she’s had some trouble even getting it out of the bottle. When she was able to get some of the solution out, it did lessen the severity of her migraine (though it didn’t get rid of it.)

We’re wondering if there’s something faulty with the pump bottles though, because she doesn’t always get the mixture out when she pumps. And when some does come out, it almost spits out at her. And it’s a very small amount.

Has anyone had any experience with this medication?

10 / 04

0 notes

chronicillnesscat:

[Image: 6-piece blue colored background with a Siamese cat.Text reads: “Meet someone with same condition as you. New best friend.”]

21 / 01

316 notes

10) Yes actually, I can. And I am.

9) I’ve had a job since I was 13. I graduated 8/1072 in high school, was the student speaker at UCC graduating with a 3.9, and then graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kean University with a B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences. I’m taking a year off of school to work in order to save money to get my Master’s degree. What was that you were saying?

8) You’re right. I want attention from those medical professionals who don’t think it’s necessary to look into the root cause of migraines more. I also want attention from pharmaceutical companies who tell me that the best thing for me is to keep taking a medication until I max out on dosage and have to start a new one. I want attention from the people who say “it’s just a headache”.

7) Stress is only one of my triggers. And I’ve found ways to manage that through yoga and exercise. Once you can control the weather - one of my biggest triggers - you get back to me.

6) Without the pain I wouldn’t have gained as much knowledge about my condition and be as informed. But I also wouldn’t have gained a mistrust of many medical professionals. If we’re going to talk kidney stones, I also wouldn’t have gained a lower functioning kidney due to hydroneufrosis of my kidney during my junior year of high school…

5) Absolutely. That’s why it’s called a migraine headache.

4) Wait, where are my oversized, superdark sunglasses?

3) So lucky that my muscles start to get sore from not moving! That’s why Idogo outside and try to function. I just can’t always do it well when I’m in so much pain.

2) My dad’s a priest. I work at a church camp during the summers. I have icons in my bedroom, wear a prayer rope and a cross everyday, and am on multiple parish’s prayer lists. I think I’ve got that one covered.

1) Why thank you. The weight I’ve lost is due to throwing up because of my migraines or just having no appetite. I’ve also learned the magic of makeup when I’m looking particularly sallow and pale. I’ve also learned how to fake it.

12 / 09

72 notes

(via rpeeze)

20 / 06

113 notes

// Does anyone else…//

feel like their entire body hurts after having a migraine?

01 / 02

3 notes

But You Don't Look Sick!

This is a great website for anyone who is chronically ill in any way to check out. And if you’ve never read the Spoon Theory, I’d suggest it!

This site reviews items that can help with chronic pain and also some medications. There are tons of articles and information on different conditions and other helpful information. This includes info for those suffering from chronic pain or conditions AND those who are in their lives.

It basically addresses those illnesses that aren’t visible to someone who would look at you, and how we cope with the world.

It’s a good site to check out, and is full of supportive people!

21 / 01

10 notes

// Kidney Stones//

So here’s another one of my ailments to discuss.

I had my first confirmed kidney stone during my Junior year of high school when I was 16. It’s possible that I had them before that, but when I was 16 I had a MRI and Ultrasound because of the pain and was told that I had kidney stones.

It was like that episode of Friends when the doctor tells Joey that he has kidney stones and he keeps asking “…OR?” but the doctor just keeps saying “KIDNEY STONES!”

So yeah. This is another thing that’s genetic in my family. However, of the kids in my family, I’m the only one who seems to have gotten this particular ailment.

So when I was 16 I had pain off and on due to the kidney stones. I was told that they were in my kidney and, well there’s not much else to do besides give me painkillers and tell me to drink lots of fluids.

However, while I was at work one day, I basically collapsed in pain. I had to get picked up and brought to my urologist’s office (whom I have not gone back to after my surgery because of the horrible ordeal I went through with this.)

Point is, I went to his office on a Thursday and was told “Oh hey, one of your kidney stones is blocking your kidney and your kidney is getting swollen. Let’s see if it passes by itself over the weekend. You’re gonna want to lay down with an ice pack and take painkillers. We’ll schedule surgery for Tuesday just in case it doesn’t pass.”

It didn’t pass.

I spent the weekend in agony. The only peace I had was when I was knocked out from the pain or the painkillers. I didn’t keep any food down over those 5 days and lost nearly 15 pounds because I was so physically sick. I could barely keep down water, but I kept drinking it because I knew I had to.

So on Tuesday morning I went to the hospital for my surgery. I had a ureteroscopy and the two stones were removed. In addition, I found out that I had a UTI, a bladder infection, a kidney infection, and hydroneufrosis of my kidney where it had swollen to nearly three times its size because the doctor made me wait so long for the surgery.

That was my traumatizing kidney story.

Since then I’ve had a few attacks here and there, and have gone to the emergency room twice I believe when the pain became unbearable. And also because I’m paranoid that a stone will get stuck and my kidney will burst or something.

So kidney stones aren’t something that there’s any one trigger or kind of treatment for. My stones are calcium stones, so I’ve been told to avoid oxalates (I’m lactose intolerant, so it’s not like I drink milk on a regular basis). However, I get conflicting information from people. I don’t have uric acid stones, so the medication that they make to treat kidney stones won’t help me. I have had people tell me that I should avoid grapefruit and berries, but then others tell me that the acid in lemonade can help prevent stones and that acidic fruits are good for me. I’ve been told that tea is a bad idea, but others say that tea can help.

I don’t know if it’s just another situation like the migraines where each person has a different reaction, but there’s got to be SOMETHING that I can do to help prevent stones.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to find out what that something is!

19 / 01

18 notes