SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: headaches (pain rating 5); left groin pain (pain rating 4); ovarian pain (2); lower back pain (4); leg pain (5); pain on right side (4); lower ab muscles weak; hot flashes/night sweats; problems with sleep; hoarseness.
My headaches started coming back today so I headed it off with the Fioricet. I halved the dosage to see what would happen; could it stave off the headache and then I remain functional? I did okay. It didn't completely take away the headache and I wasn't as dizzy. So this is better. I'm hoping it's something I can fall back on if needed.
The weather was okay today where I am so I got out and walked a little. I'm still having a lot of pain my torso and down my left leg into the shin. It's not easy to walk; I don't always feel up to it, but if I can walk down the block, it's better than nothing.
I forgot to mention last night at the concert, I forgot everyone's names. These are people I know well and for several years. Strange.
I really don't think I can tolerate the Lupron for a third shot. Unless something dramatically changes over the next week, I'm going to cycle off. The journey has been to costly... personally, financially, professionally. I feel as though it has impacted very aspect of my life. I don't think it has helped anything and made everything much worse. Very frustrating!
Showing posts with label Fioricet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fioricet. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
April 18: Surviving in the new normal
SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: headaches (pain rating 7); left groin pain (pain rating 3); pain on sides (5); general lower back pain (3); lower ab muscles weak; white noise in ears; chest pain (5); mental confusion; hot flashes/night sweats; needle-like feeling in legs; exhausted.
I made it through my rehearsal. It wasn't my best singing though I don't believe it was my worst. I had the lovely experience of a migraine and a hot flash during. Plus, when I felt the headache coming on, I had taken 800 mg of Ibuprofen to see if it would buy me some time (still was wary of the Fioricet) which rendered me hoarse. Oh, the life of a singer.
I felt tired and anemic while singing... like I was using a 10th of my voice. Tomorrow proves to be another long day as we have to drive to my sister's wedding. My spouse reworked his schedule to go since I still cannot drive.
Good news is that Fioricet seems to be very effective against these headaches. Finally something that works. The side effects from the Fioricet are becoming more tolerable. I hope to drive longer distances soon.
Must close for now. So tired and tomorrow includes 10 hours of driving.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
April 17: Discriminating Evidence
SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: headaches (pain rating 7); left groin pain (pain rating 3); pain on sides (5); general lower back pain (3); lower ab muscles weak; white noise in ears; inner ear pain (7); chest pain (5); mental confusion; hot flashes/night sweats; exhausted.
So, yes, I am a casualty of the migraines today. I've been resisting using medicine to see which drug was causing what effect, and, I just hate taking meds if I don't have to. But today I had too. My head pounded with my pulse, even as I was laying down. I could count my heartbeat instead of sheep.
A big question in my mind is just which of the side effects are from an estrogen surge and which are from the Lupron. Definitely the headaches are from the estrogen surge; it's well documented. The confusion... I'm not sure. I know that menopause can cause confusion, but a little air headedness seems different than forgetting one's address, the way to a venue you have been often, etc. in my mind at least. So this is why I am a little bothered by this and trying to discern what is causing what.
I have some new info I am going to follow through on. Here are the links:
http://www.endometriosistreatment.org/
This is Dr. Redwine, who makes some very interesting arguments about endometriosis and treatment. He's a specialist. I'm considering sending him my records for review, which only costs $125 (that's reasonable in my book).
http://www.pelvicpain.com/
This is Dr. Cook, who also makes some interesting arguments re: pathology, what endo looks like, etc. I know for certain when I last went in, my doc just looked for the dark lesions and did not do any tissue samples. As a result, my pain never went away.
I don't know if these doctors are the answer but 1) they take insurance (which wasn't true of Dr. Nezhat in Atlanta who is a world-renown specialist. I don't have $30k+ to throw around on this); 2) I am willing to try another laparoscopic in lieu of a hysterectomy, if they have a different approach and a convincing argument for their techniques.
So maybe these links will help as well. I found the information on their sites to be very helpful at least and it certainly got me thinking. Hoping for a good day tomorrow as I have a rehearsal with a conductor.
So, yes, I am a casualty of the migraines today. I've been resisting using medicine to see which drug was causing what effect, and, I just hate taking meds if I don't have to. But today I had too. My head pounded with my pulse, even as I was laying down. I could count my heartbeat instead of sheep.
A big question in my mind is just which of the side effects are from an estrogen surge and which are from the Lupron. Definitely the headaches are from the estrogen surge; it's well documented. The confusion... I'm not sure. I know that menopause can cause confusion, but a little air headedness seems different than forgetting one's address, the way to a venue you have been often, etc. in my mind at least. So this is why I am a little bothered by this and trying to discern what is causing what.
I have some new info I am going to follow through on. Here are the links:
http://www.endometriosistreatment.org/
This is Dr. Redwine, who makes some very interesting arguments about endometriosis and treatment. He's a specialist. I'm considering sending him my records for review, which only costs $125 (that's reasonable in my book).
http://www.pelvicpain.com/
This is Dr. Cook, who also makes some interesting arguments re: pathology, what endo looks like, etc. I know for certain when I last went in, my doc just looked for the dark lesions and did not do any tissue samples. As a result, my pain never went away.
I don't know if these doctors are the answer but 1) they take insurance (which wasn't true of Dr. Nezhat in Atlanta who is a world-renown specialist. I don't have $30k+ to throw around on this); 2) I am willing to try another laparoscopic in lieu of a hysterectomy, if they have a different approach and a convincing argument for their techniques.
So maybe these links will help as well. I found the information on their sites to be very helpful at least and it certainly got me thinking. Hoping for a good day tomorrow as I have a rehearsal with a conductor.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
April 14: The other shoe
SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: headaches (pain rating 5); left groin pain (pain rating 1); pain on left side (1); general lower back pain (1); lower ab muscles weak; white noise in ears; hot flashes/night sweats; exhausted.
So this was the third time in the last month in which I had two consecutive days that were okay. This has happened approximately a week apart each time. Is this a pattern? The other two times I had some of my worst days immediately following. Tonight, I could feel the headaches ramping again and I took a Fioricet. It seems to help... I think? We'll see what tomorrow brings. (Tomorrow is also my 2nd shot).
I received an informative email today from a brave gal in Canada who has a similar story to mine. Frighteningly, she had been doing okay on Lupron after she got past the initial flare until her fourth month. Then all hell broke loose. I do not understand how this drug works or why that would happen to her. Her side effects were so severe that she discontinued use and did not complete the full six months. She is now sixteen weeks past her last shot and described herself as someone that feels like an old woman. Prior to this treatment, she was athletic and slim.
Is there any kind of comfort level that can be reached for those of us that get the side effects or are we left navigating our lives as though we are walking on eggshells waiting for the other shoe to drop?
So this was the third time in the last month in which I had two consecutive days that were okay. This has happened approximately a week apart each time. Is this a pattern? The other two times I had some of my worst days immediately following. Tonight, I could feel the headaches ramping again and I took a Fioricet. It seems to help... I think? We'll see what tomorrow brings. (Tomorrow is also my 2nd shot).
I received an informative email today from a brave gal in Canada who has a similar story to mine. Frighteningly, she had been doing okay on Lupron after she got past the initial flare until her fourth month. Then all hell broke loose. I do not understand how this drug works or why that would happen to her. Her side effects were so severe that she discontinued use and did not complete the full six months. She is now sixteen weeks past her last shot and described herself as someone that feels like an old woman. Prior to this treatment, she was athletic and slim.
Is there any kind of comfort level that can be reached for those of us that get the side effects or are we left navigating our lives as though we are walking on eggshells waiting for the other shoe to drop?
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