courage

I went to see Dr E on Thursday afternoon for a follow-up appointment, and even though there was some confusion (they had canceled my appointment but forgot to call me), Dr E and his PA worked me into the schedule since I was there.

The appointment went very well. We went over the success I've been having with Dr P's regimen. My pain levels are significantly lower than they were a few months ago, and December was actually a very good month. Unfortunately (and I explained this to Dr E) the stress of unemployment has hit me harder in the new year, so I'm back to frequent days where my pain is 5+; I went from 12 such days in December to 27 in January. I know that the stress and anxiety are exacerbating my Migraine pain/symptoms and IBS.

Dr E suggested I add a low dose of Celexa (citalopram) to my regimen to help deal with the anxiety and depression related to the unemployment situation, since the emotional upheaval is having such a negative effect on my head. He specifically suggested Celexa because it has a low side effect profile and has seen success with it in his patients (and few side effects). He remembers well the trouble I've had in the past, so he's starting me on a very low dose. He thinks that the Celexa will probably be a temporary thing to help me get through the unemployment stress, so I may try going off it when the job situation changes.

We also discussed my current triptan, Amerge, which usually works pretty well for me with few side effects, but can take 3 or 3.5 hours to work. I'm keeping that as an option, but he also gave me a scrip to try Axert.

Overall, it was a very good appointment.

I finally picked up my scrips for both drugs yesterday afternoon, but I hadn't quite worked up the courage to try the Celexa last night. Those of you dear readers who have followed my blog for a while may remember that I've had some very strange and severe reactions to meds, most recently Lyrica and even Botox. After my double reaction to the Lyrica and Botox last fall, I told Dr E I wanted a complete break from any prescription preventive meds for a while, which was when he referred me to Dr P. I feel I've made great progress with my new regimen so far, though I still have some way to go.

So tonight, I'm going to try the Celexa. I make it a point not to read the potential side effects on the pharmacy leaflet myself; instead, I read all of the other information and have DBF read about the side effects. This method has worked well for me in the past.

It's still scary, though. These are powerful drugs we take to try to address our Migraines, or, in this case, my anxiety and depression. I can say I would not be as ready to try the Celexa if not for Dr E; without even looking at my chart he remembered the severe reactions I've had in the past. (He once mentioned to me that I redefine medication sensitivity and he would have to be extra cautious in my case.) The headache specialist I saw before Dr E never would have understood this, or have been willing to individually tailor my treatment.

Chronic illness requires a lot of courage: courage to continue on through pain and sickness; courage to try new medications; courage to face the unknown, trial-and-error nature of our treatments. Tonight, I will screw my courage to the sticking-place and try a new drug. Hopefully, it will make a difference in my emotional state and help my head to calm down.


Be well,
MJ

finally, a rescue (medication)

Since getting my first Botox injections two weeks ago, my pain levels overall have decreased, even though my ongoing migraine still hasn't quit. My base pain level is now a 2 out of 10, rather than 4. I still spike as high as an 8 weekly or so, but overall I'm feeling a bit better.

This weekend was not so great, between intense sunlight, gross smells from neighbors' apartments and a broken elevator, meaning 4 flights of stairs. Sunday afternoon, DBF and I went to run some errands and by the time I got home - climbing up all those stairs - my pain was at an 8 and holding steady. Ice packs weren't doing anything.

So I decided to try some Relpax, which was the third time I took it. Both times previously, it had made me more tingly on my left side and sort of woozy, but I was willing to try it again.

Once again, it made me tingly. Very tingly. And then part of my face went numb. *sigh*

So I called Dr E's office first thing on Monday morning to let him know I was having trouble. He called me back toward the end of the day, and after a 10-minute discussion, he called in scripts for Amerge - as a "gentler" triptan option if I'm not tingly - and Fioricet - as a rescue if I am tingly.

All I could think when I got off the phone was that finally I have a doctor willing to prescribe me a rescue medication. My last doctor's attitude was "pain pills don't work", end of story.

I tried the Fioricet last night, only a few hours after picking it up from the pharmacy. It brought my pain levels down pretty well, so I'm happy to add it to my arsenal. It's not likely something I can take at work, which still leaves me without something to take if I'm tingly and in pain and at work. I haven't tried the Amerge yet.

I'll be calling my doctor again next Monday, to give him an update on the Botox progress. I should be able to let him know how both the new meds work out for me, too. I'm happy to finally be making some progress; I just wish it didn't take so darned long.

*sigh*

I have much more to say, but it will have to wait for another evening. So, for now, check out June's Pain Blog Carnival.


Be well,
MJ