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Post by cherry on Mar 25, 2007 13:37:54 GMT -5
Hiya, has anyone had any success or have anything to tell about cutting back on prescription painkillers? I have just realised I have not really kept to my resolution to cut down on prescribed stuff and try to manage this myself. I take NSAIDs, and am currently on 600mg of etodolac per day. I know NSAIDs have to be essentially 'built up' in the system ready to counteract the pain signals when they start. Ideally I only want to take them 1 week before my period is due to start, which is generally when the fun begins. Better still can anyone recommend an NSAID they have tried which works well for endo but isn't too rough on the stomach (I have previously overdone it with ibuprofen so my stomach is sensitive!) Has anyone cut back on NSAIDs, and did it work out ok? I am very aware of how much better I feel away from artificial hormones like the pill and injections and HRT, and I just don't want to be doing any unnecessary damage to my liver. I just realised today I take this stuff a bit too readily and when the real intense pain starts it doesn't seem to counteract the pain at all. I am thinking my next period I will have to go to the hospital for painkillers, which make me sick as a pig! Endo is so fun! Appreciate any input xx
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Post by ouchy on Mar 25, 2007 14:13:15 GMT -5
I used to take Naproxen Sodium (NSAID) with quite a high level of success, and I'd only start taking it a couple days before my period was due (that "dull achy" time). I would add the milligrams until I would achieve the potency of the prescription version of it. I did some experimenting and found that I could actually take less than the dosage for the prescription equivalent and still find relief. I would say to find a dosage that works for you and then start cutting back to see if you still find relief. I did have to start before the bulk of the pain started, though.
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Post by Tiff on Mar 26, 2007 17:46:38 GMT -5
What exactly is NSAID, I have been perscribed vicadin and percaset and neither really work unless I take it at the very instant I feel a little cramp. If I take it once the pain really starts to bother me it is too late and it does not work.
I use to take a lot of these types of pain killers and chose it was unhealthy and have made a drastic change to avoid meds as much as possible( Even though a few times a month it is impossible). I have found cook books for endo and have found the diet does help a little bit with the pain. I have also tried hollistic steps to help and some do work. I try to take baths with oil like lavender and chamomile as soon as I feel pain and that has helped to relax my body and not stress over the pain. I have found that for me stress really makes it worse.
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Post by ouchy on Mar 26, 2007 20:09:53 GMT -5
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Post by kb on Mar 28, 2007 10:33:46 GMT -5
I wouldnt say ive had success in cutting back really. Ive learnt to cope with the pain pretty well, but my activity is restricted severely because of it, so dont know if its truly a good thing.
I find no matter how good my tolerance is, there are times the pain is more than i can handle, and lately that has become more and more often. If im busy, i find that there is no choice but to take the drugs.
I have changed my life to the degree that i rarely do anything that makes the pain worse, which limits my activity to the computer and books, and might cook dinner on a good day, so again, maybe better just to take the drugs.
If i am in better spirits, i can handle the pain better, distraction is a wonderful way to cope with the mild pain. Hot baths are my saviour, and often the only part of the day i feel good at all. Yoga is also good, and some poses provide alot of relief. All these things stop me from reaching for the drugs as often. But im far from an expert, i often have started crying before i take the drugs, not good to let urself get to that point for the sake of not taking drugs.
Its hard isnt it though, im young, if i was 80, i wouldnt be so bothered about being reliant on pain relief, but at 26 it upsets me to have to take it at all, so ill do all i can not to take it, when i do take it it works well, but i find these days even though i only take it for severe pain on the odd occasion im developing a tolerance.
I find now that i need to either take 2 tramadol rather than the 1 that used to be enough, or i have to combine it with panadol.
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Post by cherry on Mar 30, 2007 17:14:04 GMT -5
I also hate that I am reliant on chemicals, and it isn't a year since my original diagnosis. Luckily it was only the first few days off the pks that I felt major pain, just after my period finished. I will definitely keep an update on how it's going (you'll find me lurking in Rant and Rave Space after the 10th of each month... ) I still get once a day or so, a bad sudden pain but usually it's over pretty quick or I can distract my way through it. I think that pushing through it and trying to carry on with your normal activities takes a lot of strength and is good for building character too. I learn a lot about my body and how to cope by doing normal stuff and exercising through the pain. My real test will definitely come in a fortnight, but that's the week I am back at uni doing intensive revision and the month after, I am doing a week long fieldcourse, standing around all day taking measurements and it is a male dominated course so the only other woman is a lecturer I don't get on with. The last period I had pains that caused me to collapse even while taking the painkillers so I'm a little worried what could happen. Upside is I will be on my period when I see the specialist so he will see firsthand what I get like. Overall I am happy so far about not taking the painkillers outside the period/PMS stage, I feel a little more in control with such an unpredicatable disease xx
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