Working With Disabilities

Last week i experienced more pain than ever before.  Previously the pain was all on my right side from the back and down the legs.  Last week i also had the same in the left side, lower and middle back and at about 3 times the pain i had previously experienced.

My medication has been changed to Tramadol and Diazapan both of which are making me sleepy.  As i had nothing planned for the weekend i took it as prescribed and slept on and off most of the day.  I am worried because next week i have some jobs to do and appointments to go to and the Pain Vs Sleep scenario will have to be dealt with.  I can reduce the tablets in the morning and then catch them up again after the appointments but is this the best way.

Any thoughts or experiences are welcome.  Thank you, Chris

The nice thing about medication is that there are so many out there to try if one doesn't work.  Listen to your body is the best thing I can say.  Maybe document your pain and your sleep for your doctor to see. Yes you can reduce it but I'd consult your doctor first.  It's hard to not let pain control our lives. Believe me I have pain all day every day and it's a pain in the butt.  I think you can have pain and deal with pain but also be able to function in daily life.  Just be safe about changing your meds on your own.  Maybe try to stay a little active when you feel like sleeping.  I don't know how mobile you are, but just getting up some times and taking a walk around your house or outside can snap you out of that nodding off feeling.

Best of Luck to you.  I've seen you post before nice to meet you, I'm Shelley.

 Pain can really change us...and when I have a fracture, I hate choosing between being alert and being able to function with a reasonable level of pain. Maybe your body is telling you that you do need more rest right now so if you can/when you can, listen. I'd also back up Shelley's suggestion to go see a doctor. There are SO many combinations that help different people for different reasons. Hang in there! 

 

I would contact your doctor, or pharmicist asap so they can try to tweak or change your prescription to something livable so your not tired all the time.  I know where you coming from though. I was given a prescription once and slept for two days! My doctor changed it immediatly once I came in the day after I woke up. I'm not sure but diazapan sound very familiar, it may have been that one. i'm not sure there is a "best way" to take this stuff other than the way your told by a medical profesional ONLY. These are pretty heavy drugs to be messing with the wrong way. I do know it shouldent be affecting you so bad though. The object is a better quality of life, something that can't happen if your always tired. good luck.

 Chris,

 

Hi ,Valerie here.  I googled your meds.  Tramadol is an opaite or narcotic.  Diazapan (sometimes spelled Diazapam- is valium)  Personal experience, I am allergic to all opaites, so I can't take any...not a good mix for me. I would personally have a healthy respect for any narcotic.   Both of these drugs are addictive, so do be careful.  I agree with Shelly's advice to you to document your reactions to the medications and share the information with your doc.  Just a word of caution, my sis-in-law became additcted to valium.  A psychiatrist prescribed it for her during a significant Mental Health illness, and she had to go through rehab to get off.  So, take care of yourself.  It's not the drug that is bad.  You may need it for a time,  just be careful about prolonged use of it.  The drowziness I think is normal from what I read, but you need to be cautious of "excessive drowsiness," (one of the side effects listed)  whatever that means...

 

Personally, I don't think "catching up" is a good idea.  From what I read, that sounds a little risky.  Can you call a "call back nurse" at your doctor's office and ask their advice?  Since they are the one's prescribing this to you, they would be the best to advise you...unless you ask a pharmacist.  I feel they often know more about drugs than the doctors do.  My mother's pharmacist ( prior to her death in 1999) once caught an error a doctor had made in  her medications...so it's important to check with them too. 

 

Most medications I take say if you miss a dose, to skip it and take it at your next scheduled time to take it. 

 

Just to remind you, prayer partner, you are not alone and are being prayed for...Please take care of your self, Chris.  Good job during your first week at the Power of Prayer. Your efforts were much appreciated.   As Carol in the group often says, Together We Can Do This!  

 

I suffer from what  we over in Living With the Pain of Fibromyalgia, call the FibroMonster. We are not all the same, and pain management can become quite complex and puzzling to the doctors.  Besides, none of us can really understand anyone's pain but our own.  What works to manage one's pain, clearly will not another. You sound like one of us! 

 

Take Care of Yourself,

Brighter Days to All,

Gentle Hugs & Prayers,

 

Valerie 

Hi Chris,

 

I wrote a reply, clicked on post and she disappeared into the wild blue yonder.

 

Short version....I am sorry to hear you are experiencing more pain now, pain sucks.  Sometimes the drowsy effect wears off when your body gets accustomed to the med, that happened with me and Flexeril.  I always felt all drugged up from that one.  The others I take seem to have a  more subtle drowsy effect.  I would rather be tired or sleeping than bearing this horrid pain all over my body daily/nightly.  I am praying for you.

 

Prayers and hugz,

Sherry

Hi Chris.........just want to reiterate.........reducing the tabs.......then making them up later.....is NOT a good idea......it's just not the way they're intended to work.........do what everybody suggests and take it up with your Dr.........good luck my man.......know you're in my prayers.....daily.......peace and love.....Norma

Hey Chris! Awww, bud. Sorry your pain has gotten worse. I can't add anything to the already excellent advice here. I agree you should contact your doctor to see about decreasing your meds. Good luck to you and hang in there!

 

Becky