Pain Meds and Sleep Meds

[ladybug]

Hello.

OK, so I recently had an appt. during which I told my doc of severe pain every once and awhile that is not helped by tylenol. The pain is pleurisy and hurts when I breathe in or out on one side of my chest. Its rather normal, but I told the doc that it can get very severe... even to the point I feel I need to hold my breath. I also mentioned that I take ibuprofen once and awhile and that didn't seem to help either.

Now, I'm not saying I NEED an Rx controlled substance, but the more I think about it, the more I feel she should have suggested it to me for the pain. Instead, she just said, "Well, when it happens, you can certainly take a couple of ibuprofrens". Gee, thanks. I mean, if I'm in terrible terrible pain and can hardly breathe, doesn't it make sense to at least have something "stronger" on hand in case ibuprofren doesn't work? At this point, I just worry the pain doesn't get that bad (which it hasn't), where ibuprofren won't work. Then, what would I do?

I guess my main question here is, how do you get painkillers from your doc? Do they offer them? Do you have to be in severe pain when you go to your appt. so they believe you and want to help? I don't want to look like someone who walks in and says, "I want percoset", cause I feel like it will look like I just want to take it for the "high", since I'm not always in pain. So, what do I do? How do I approach the subject without looking like I just want a pain med for sh*ts and giggles?

Also, along those lines, I have had in the past an Rx for ambien when I was having anxiety attacks. I had 25 pills and maybe took 3 within a year, but now, they are way too old to take. So, how do I bring this up without looking like I just want the "valium" effects? I basically just want it on hand.... I would rarely take it.

So, how do I get these things to just have them on hand, yet not look like I want them for other reasons? I mean, usually, I'm in NO pain, and the clinic knows this.

 

[HairGirl]

You should tell your dr. just that! You want them 'on hand' I mean they can tell if you are asking for perscriptions all the time it might be for 'kicks and giggles' but tell them about the ambien that you didn't use them a lot but like to have them on hand if you need them. I would do that. My husband had Pleursey, and that does hurt!!!!!! You do need something stronger than Ibuprofren.

 

[wanderlost]

I have the same problem feling like my doc will think that I am just out for a high (and to be honest, I quite enjoy my rx pills - but by no means do I abuse them). I have finally gotten to the point where if I need something I just ask. Rarely have they said no if I seem informed about the pros and cons of the drug - also, I think if you aren't calling for a refill every three weeks, that also helps out the situation and your credibility.

 

[NoExcuses]

1st off, ambien is not like valium. You wont' get the same feeling, for sure - it's just to induce & maintain sleep.

2nd off - your doc should have no issue giving you pain meds.

I've been assertive with my pleurasy (and gallbladder attacks) and got some pain meds.... that's what they're there for for pete sake.

Pleurasy attacks are incredibly painful...and I dont' blame you. I want my pain meds on hand as a security blinket for sure....

THere should be no shame in this. You're not a drug abuser - you're a patient in pain (in fact, that quote came from my hospital... they're doing a pain management education thing...)

 

[JazzysMom]

When I had pleuresy in the hospital last year I refused to take anything besides Tylenol or Motrin. The doctor wrote orders for something stronger & the nurses always reminded me it was there, but I refused to. Did the same thing when I had my c section. I dont, however; tolerate the physical pain like I use to. Maybe I have just had enough of it over time & would accept something stronger now.....on occaision. I would tell them exactly what you said here. Our bodies deal with a lot & I personally know that pain can irritate things greatly.

 

[ladybug]

Thanks for all the ideas! I guess I need to get passed my feelings of embarassment and worry and just do it. Part of the problem is that I'm at a new clinic and don't want them to take it the wrong way. Plus, they're 400 miles away, so I have to email to ask for the pills, which seems even more complicated.

Thanks again for all your support!

 

[dream2live]

I understand where you are coming from when it comes to the pain medication. You would think that pulmonary doctors would be educated enough to know that after you have coughed and coughed and coughed to the point that you feel like you have broken a rib, that would be a good time to prescribe a painkiller. The problem is we hear sooo much of over prescribing in the news and some doctors being prosecuted because their patients overdosed on medications that were prescribed by that doctor. So, I think that has alot of influence in the way doctors think in when to prescribe and how much to prescribe. It's best not to go in and tell the doctor what pain medication you want. It's better to explain the pain you are having, the severity of the pain, how often it happens, and taking motrin does not help. I would ask your doctor to prescribe you a pain medication, and if he/she refuses, question why and what can be done for the pain, and ask should you get a second opinion. I don't know if this helps, but I do know where you are coming from and what it feels like to be in pain in the lung area, and you feel like nobody understands or comprehends. Good luck and Godspeed.

 

[Renegade]

I go to a pain clinic for my Cf related pain issues. If your Doctor is compationate and has come to realize that they did a study and found that there is a common link with pain associated with CF, he should write you a letter stating what you suffer from and send you to a pain specialist. What they do is give you a test and that test can tell if you truly suffer or your looking for pain meds for other reasons. (If you know what I mean.) My Pain Doctor mails the prescriptions to my pharmacy every month, mainly for my sinuses and sometimes abdominal pain and cheast pain (lungs) and I see my pain Doctor every three months and he does a checkup on me to see how I'm doing. I've been seen by a pain specialist since 1996. And they can also help with sleep and anxiety issues. They make you see one of thier Psychologists and they make a recomedation to the Doctor if meds are needed. Anyway that might be an option for you.

 

[ladybug]

Renegade...

Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I'll bring it up if nothing else works. I would rather not add more doctor appts for something that SHOULD just be rx'ed by my regular doc. Also, it presents a problem when my doc refers me anywhere else, cause I'm usually only there for the cf clinic and then fly back to my home 400 miles away. So, they generally don't know anyone to refer me to here in Vegas (and, I'm terrifed to go to anyone here, but that's another story! lol)

 

[anonymous]

hi everyone,

its me Kerri again..i mostly browse through the group but the pain medication caught my attention..i had a port a cath placed in March of 2004..BIGGEST mistake of my life...it hurt,did'nt feel confertable from day one..no blood return...basically i knew there was something wrong with it..the doctors did'nt believe me at all,they kept on saying well if the meds go through its fine..but guess who ended up getting addicted to fentanyl..the patch...it did hurt..but then i would just say i needed more cause i got so depressed that noone believed me <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">..well 9 months later my port got intfected.and part of the infection broke off amd it went into my heart..and i almost died..Columbia in NYC saved my life=the children's hospital...my old center was LICH btw..once it healed...which was 6 weeks later i was off of the pain meds but i couldnt function without them-so off to daytop i went..which was pure hell..but the point of this long story is that i have so much anger..that if they would have removed the port i would'nt have become addicted/dependant to all those meds...so PLEASE make sure u get someone to listen to u...pain is a horrible feeling..and not many doctors take seriously...


Kerri-21 with CF

 

[Renegade]

Wow. That's a long way to go for a Dr's appt. The Cf Center in Atlanta sends all patients with pain issues to the Doc. I used to see there. I have since moved out of state. My Doc. in Atlanta went so far as to set uo an appointment for herself and my pain Doc, so she could educate him on the chronic pain issues of Cf patients. Now that's going the extra mile for your patients and now all of the CF patients who suffer from chronic pain go to that pain Doc.

 

[MANDI]

I HAVE CFRD AND MY DR. GIVES ME MONTHLY SUPPLIES OF LORCET, VALIUM AND AMBIEN. NO PROBLEM! ANY DOCTOR WHO TRULY KNOWS ABOUT CF AND DIABETES SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE PAIN, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL THAT COMES WITH THESE DISEASES. I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU TALK TO YOUR DR. ABOUT THIS AND HE SHRUGS IT OFF, GO AND FIND A DOCTOR WHO KNOWS WHAT HE/SHE IS DEALING WITH!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK- THERE IS NO REASON YOU SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE PAIN AND INSOMNIA, THAT IS WHY THESE MEDICATIONS WERE MADE!!!!