Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 Hi Gee, I picked up on the pain thread here, since I am being treated for severe chronic pain also. I belong to an online support list for chronic pain and that helps me deal with the lousy doctors I've got stuck with here in Maine. Anyway I have read that demerol is really bad long-term for the kidneys, I mean really bad! It's ok occasionally after a surgery, but not made for daily use. It causes irreversible damage! I can find the info if you're interested. I wanted to take this myself and when I found that out was really upset as it works so well for me, and I'm allergic to just about everything else (oxycontin, etc). I'm taking Norco now which is hydrocodone 10 tylenol 325. I'm hoping to be switched to either fentanyl or ms contin next month. I'll keep norco for breakthrough hopefully. I also wanted to get on something less damaging to the liver for long term use. The longer acting opiods are said to be much safer and are not processed by the liver as much? They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with the norco, so only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't even touch my pain of course, since the whole idea of pain medication is to take it before the pain gets out of control. If I'm not allowed enough to cover that then it can't possibly be much help to me. My pain doc made me go to a ton of different specialists and now I've finally been certified eligible to receive long term pain relief, geez isn't that nice of them? Grrrr! Now I have to wait a month for an appt. with them in order to get it though, can you believe it? If there were other doctors or options here, believe me I'd fire this guy. In fact I have decided--with agreement from my pcp--that if they don't do the right thing when I see them next, I will fire them and find a new pain doctor somehow someway. My pcp is willing to refer me to any Maine pain specialist, but not to out of state doctors, and he's not willing to treat it himself because I'm " complicated " what with the HCV and all the immune system stuff going on too Don't ya love it? >From: Mzgee1@... >Subject: Re: to Marty > > >Thanks Marty..I have been an Ibuprofen junkie for years!!!! and have taken >way over the normal doses (3,000 mgs. daily!) and NO my stomach didn't >crack!!! either did my kidneys...but I was very lucky to get away with that >as long as I did without a problem developing. Because of the HepC and the >Cryo and the Fibro, I have been on demerol to control pain for a long time. >This pain from the Interferon is not just 'flu-like' pain.......that I can >deal with. This is a 'don't let the sheet come in contact with my skin' >pain....or a ' Oh my God! Don't touch me! " pain. It is as if all my nerves >have been turned on or maybe 'tuned up' to a pitch that is way too high! I >saw my internist and got some long-acting pain med for the nights. At least >I was able to sleep 5 hours b/4 waking up! and then I was able to go back to >sleep. Thanks God! The question that continually arises and especially now, >is that because I do have a +RF, is Interferon now 'turning on' Rheumatoid >Arthritis? My internist believes it is all cryo. I guess only time will >tell and another RF done. I haven't had one done since '98. I have always >tested neg. for Lyme and neg. ANA. But have always had a +RF with a low >count. > I think I am getting 'used' to the pain...or at least I am not > surprised by >it anymore. Mornings are horrible, afternoons are bearable and nightime >...well...have I used the word 'TORTUROUS'??? but I'm working on that one >with a vegeance!! Thanks for responding. Take care, gee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 Hi Gee, I picked up on the pain thread here, since I am being treated for severe chronic pain also. I belong to an online support list for chronic pain and that helps me deal with the lousy doctors I've got stuck with here in Maine. Anyway I have read that demerol is really bad long-term for the kidneys, I mean really bad! It's ok occasionally after a surgery, but not made for daily use. It causes irreversible damage! I can find the info if you're interested. I wanted to take this myself and when I found that out was really upset as it works so well for me, and I'm allergic to just about everything else (oxycontin, etc). I'm taking Norco now which is hydrocodone 10 tylenol 325. I'm hoping to be switched to either fentanyl or ms contin next month. I'll keep norco for breakthrough hopefully. I also wanted to get on something less damaging to the liver for long term use. The longer acting opiods are said to be much safer and are not processed by the liver as much? They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with the norco, so only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't even touch my pain of course, since the whole idea of pain medication is to take it before the pain gets out of control. If I'm not allowed enough to cover that then it can't possibly be much help to me. My pain doc made me go to a ton of different specialists and now I've finally been certified eligible to receive long term pain relief, geez isn't that nice of them? Grrrr! Now I have to wait a month for an appt. with them in order to get it though, can you believe it? If there were other doctors or options here, believe me I'd fire this guy. In fact I have decided--with agreement from my pcp--that if they don't do the right thing when I see them next, I will fire them and find a new pain doctor somehow someway. My pcp is willing to refer me to any Maine pain specialist, but not to out of state doctors, and he's not willing to treat it himself because I'm " complicated " what with the HCV and all the immune system stuff going on too Don't ya love it? >From: Mzgee1@... >Subject: Re: to Marty > > >Thanks Marty..I have been an Ibuprofen junkie for years!!!! and have taken >way over the normal doses (3,000 mgs. daily!) and NO my stomach didn't >crack!!! either did my kidneys...but I was very lucky to get away with that >as long as I did without a problem developing. Because of the HepC and the >Cryo and the Fibro, I have been on demerol to control pain for a long time. >This pain from the Interferon is not just 'flu-like' pain.......that I can >deal with. This is a 'don't let the sheet come in contact with my skin' >pain....or a ' Oh my God! Don't touch me! " pain. It is as if all my nerves >have been turned on or maybe 'tuned up' to a pitch that is way too high! I >saw my internist and got some long-acting pain med for the nights. At least >I was able to sleep 5 hours b/4 waking up! and then I was able to go back to >sleep. Thanks God! The question that continually arises and especially now, >is that because I do have a +RF, is Interferon now 'turning on' Rheumatoid >Arthritis? My internist believes it is all cryo. I guess only time will >tell and another RF done. I haven't had one done since '98. I have always >tested neg. for Lyme and neg. ANA. But have always had a +RF with a low >count. > I think I am getting 'used' to the pain...or at least I am not > surprised by >it anymore. Mornings are horrible, afternoons are bearable and nightime >...well...have I used the word 'TORTUROUS'??? but I'm working on that one >with a vegeance!! Thanks for responding. Take care, gee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 Hi Gee, I picked up on the pain thread here, since I am being treated for severe chronic pain also. I belong to an online support list for chronic pain and that helps me deal with the lousy doctors I've got stuck with here in Maine. Anyway I have read that demerol is really bad long-term for the kidneys, I mean really bad! It's ok occasionally after a surgery, but not made for daily use. It causes irreversible damage! I can find the info if you're interested. I wanted to take this myself and when I found that out was really upset as it works so well for me, and I'm allergic to just about everything else (oxycontin, etc). I'm taking Norco now which is hydrocodone 10 tylenol 325. I'm hoping to be switched to either fentanyl or ms contin next month. I'll keep norco for breakthrough hopefully. I also wanted to get on something less damaging to the liver for long term use. The longer acting opiods are said to be much safer and are not processed by the liver as much? They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with the norco, so only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't even touch my pain of course, since the whole idea of pain medication is to take it before the pain gets out of control. If I'm not allowed enough to cover that then it can't possibly be much help to me. My pain doc made me go to a ton of different specialists and now I've finally been certified eligible to receive long term pain relief, geez isn't that nice of them? Grrrr! Now I have to wait a month for an appt. with them in order to get it though, can you believe it? If there were other doctors or options here, believe me I'd fire this guy. In fact I have decided--with agreement from my pcp--that if they don't do the right thing when I see them next, I will fire them and find a new pain doctor somehow someway. My pcp is willing to refer me to any Maine pain specialist, but not to out of state doctors, and he's not willing to treat it himself because I'm " complicated " what with the HCV and all the immune system stuff going on too Don't ya love it? >From: Mzgee1@... >Subject: Re: to Marty > > >Thanks Marty..I have been an Ibuprofen junkie for years!!!! and have taken >way over the normal doses (3,000 mgs. daily!) and NO my stomach didn't >crack!!! either did my kidneys...but I was very lucky to get away with that >as long as I did without a problem developing. Because of the HepC and the >Cryo and the Fibro, I have been on demerol to control pain for a long time. >This pain from the Interferon is not just 'flu-like' pain.......that I can >deal with. This is a 'don't let the sheet come in contact with my skin' >pain....or a ' Oh my God! Don't touch me! " pain. It is as if all my nerves >have been turned on or maybe 'tuned up' to a pitch that is way too high! I >saw my internist and got some long-acting pain med for the nights. At least >I was able to sleep 5 hours b/4 waking up! and then I was able to go back to >sleep. Thanks God! The question that continually arises and especially now, >is that because I do have a +RF, is Interferon now 'turning on' Rheumatoid >Arthritis? My internist believes it is all cryo. I guess only time will >tell and another RF done. I haven't had one done since '98. I have always >tested neg. for Lyme and neg. ANA. But have always had a +RF with a low >count. > I think I am getting 'used' to the pain...or at least I am not > surprised by >it anymore. Mornings are horrible, afternoons are bearable and nightime >...well...have I used the word 'TORTUROUS'??? but I'm working on that one >with a vegeance!! Thanks for responding. Take care, gee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 Hi Gee, I picked up on the pain thread here, since I am being treated for severe chronic pain also. I belong to an online support list for chronic pain and that helps me deal with the lousy doctors I've got stuck with here in Maine. Anyway I have read that demerol is really bad long-term for the kidneys, I mean really bad! It's ok occasionally after a surgery, but not made for daily use. It causes irreversible damage! I can find the info if you're interested. I wanted to take this myself and when I found that out was really upset as it works so well for me, and I'm allergic to just about everything else (oxycontin, etc). I'm taking Norco now which is hydrocodone 10 tylenol 325. I'm hoping to be switched to either fentanyl or ms contin next month. I'll keep norco for breakthrough hopefully. I also wanted to get on something less damaging to the liver for long term use. The longer acting opiods are said to be much safer and are not processed by the liver as much? They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with the norco, so only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't even touch my pain of course, since the whole idea of pain medication is to take it before the pain gets out of control. If I'm not allowed enough to cover that then it can't possibly be much help to me. My pain doc made me go to a ton of different specialists and now I've finally been certified eligible to receive long term pain relief, geez isn't that nice of them? Grrrr! Now I have to wait a month for an appt. with them in order to get it though, can you believe it? If there were other doctors or options here, believe me I'd fire this guy. In fact I have decided--with agreement from my pcp--that if they don't do the right thing when I see them next, I will fire them and find a new pain doctor somehow someway. My pcp is willing to refer me to any Maine pain specialist, but not to out of state doctors, and he's not willing to treat it himself because I'm " complicated " what with the HCV and all the immune system stuff going on too Don't ya love it? >From: Mzgee1@... >Subject: Re: to Marty > > >Thanks Marty..I have been an Ibuprofen junkie for years!!!! and have taken >way over the normal doses (3,000 mgs. daily!) and NO my stomach didn't >crack!!! either did my kidneys...but I was very lucky to get away with that >as long as I did without a problem developing. Because of the HepC and the >Cryo and the Fibro, I have been on demerol to control pain for a long time. >This pain from the Interferon is not just 'flu-like' pain.......that I can >deal with. This is a 'don't let the sheet come in contact with my skin' >pain....or a ' Oh my God! Don't touch me! " pain. It is as if all my nerves >have been turned on or maybe 'tuned up' to a pitch that is way too high! I >saw my internist and got some long-acting pain med for the nights. At least >I was able to sleep 5 hours b/4 waking up! and then I was able to go back to >sleep. Thanks God! The question that continually arises and especially now, >is that because I do have a +RF, is Interferon now 'turning on' Rheumatoid >Arthritis? My internist believes it is all cryo. I guess only time will >tell and another RF done. I haven't had one done since '98. I have always >tested neg. for Lyme and neg. ANA. But have always had a +RF with a low >count. > I think I am getting 'used' to the pain...or at least I am not > surprised by >it anymore. Mornings are horrible, afternoons are bearable and nightime >...well...have I used the word 'TORTUROUS'??? but I'm working on that one >with a vegeance!! Thanks for responding. Take care, gee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 --- WebMistress <gina@...> wrote: > They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with > the norco, so > only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't > even touch my pain > of course, , Did you see the article I sent in on 7/18: Lack of toxicity of acetaminophen in patients with chronic hepatitis C? It states up to 3 grams a day is safe in those with hepatitis C. In fact, it is one of the safest things for us to take. Maybe you should take a copy of this with you. Acetaminophen is only toxic to the liver in large amounts and/or with alcohol. This information has been pretty slow filtering down to the non-GI docs. The GI doc I was seeing when my biopsy was done prescribed Vicoden (500mg acetaminophen + 5mg hydrocodone) for pain, (yes, I did have some pretty bad pain AFTERWARDS, not during!), and while on treatment my next GI (who specialized in diseases of the liver) also prescribed the same Vicodin, and told me I could take one or two every 8 hours. This is also what my GI told my dentist to prescribe when needed. Actually, after writing all this, probably your best bet is to get your new GI to write them something saying what is safe for you to take! Hopefully, he will be one experienced in HCV. Take care! ===== Claudine claudinecrews@... __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 --- WebMistress <gina@...> wrote: > They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with > the norco, so > only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't > even touch my pain > of course, , Did you see the article I sent in on 7/18: Lack of toxicity of acetaminophen in patients with chronic hepatitis C? It states up to 3 grams a day is safe in those with hepatitis C. In fact, it is one of the safest things for us to take. Maybe you should take a copy of this with you. Acetaminophen is only toxic to the liver in large amounts and/or with alcohol. This information has been pretty slow filtering down to the non-GI docs. The GI doc I was seeing when my biopsy was done prescribed Vicoden (500mg acetaminophen + 5mg hydrocodone) for pain, (yes, I did have some pretty bad pain AFTERWARDS, not during!), and while on treatment my next GI (who specialized in diseases of the liver) also prescribed the same Vicodin, and told me I could take one or two every 8 hours. This is also what my GI told my dentist to prescribe when needed. Actually, after writing all this, probably your best bet is to get your new GI to write them something saying what is safe for you to take! Hopefully, he will be one experienced in HCV. Take care! ===== Claudine claudinecrews@... __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 --- WebMistress <gina@...> wrote: > They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with > the norco, so > only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't > even touch my pain > of course, , Did you see the article I sent in on 7/18: Lack of toxicity of acetaminophen in patients with chronic hepatitis C? It states up to 3 grams a day is safe in those with hepatitis C. In fact, it is one of the safest things for us to take. Maybe you should take a copy of this with you. Acetaminophen is only toxic to the liver in large amounts and/or with alcohol. This information has been pretty slow filtering down to the non-GI docs. The GI doc I was seeing when my biopsy was done prescribed Vicoden (500mg acetaminophen + 5mg hydrocodone) for pain, (yes, I did have some pretty bad pain AFTERWARDS, not during!), and while on treatment my next GI (who specialized in diseases of the liver) also prescribed the same Vicodin, and told me I could take one or two every 8 hours. This is also what my GI told my dentist to prescribe when needed. Actually, after writing all this, probably your best bet is to get your new GI to write them something saying what is safe for you to take! Hopefully, he will be one experienced in HCV. Take care! ===== Claudine claudinecrews@... __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 24, 2000 Report Share Posted July 24, 2000 --- WebMistress <gina@...> wrote: > They are very concerned with my tylenol intake with > the norco, so > only allow me a very limited amount which doesn't > even touch my pain > of course, , Did you see the article I sent in on 7/18: Lack of toxicity of acetaminophen in patients with chronic hepatitis C? It states up to 3 grams a day is safe in those with hepatitis C. In fact, it is one of the safest things for us to take. Maybe you should take a copy of this with you. Acetaminophen is only toxic to the liver in large amounts and/or with alcohol. This information has been pretty slow filtering down to the non-GI docs. The GI doc I was seeing when my biopsy was done prescribed Vicoden (500mg acetaminophen + 5mg hydrocodone) for pain, (yes, I did have some pretty bad pain AFTERWARDS, not during!), and while on treatment my next GI (who specialized in diseases of the liver) also prescribed the same Vicodin, and told me I could take one or two every 8 hours. This is also what my GI told my dentist to prescribe when needed. Actually, after writing all this, probably your best bet is to get your new GI to write them something saying what is safe for you to take! Hopefully, he will be one experienced in HCV. Take care! ===== Claudine claudinecrews@... __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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