Meds

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone.

I just wanted to ask for any opinions on the meds I'm taking. I take

Viokase 16 four times a day, four tablets each time. I take

Gemfibrozil 600mg twice a day. How does this square with any of you

on similar meds? I've tried to experiment with the Viokase by

increasing the dosage, and decreasing it, to see if it helps/hurts my

maintenance. So far, I'm unsure of the results. I'm worried of

trying to adjust the dosage too severely, as I don't want to initiate

a full scale atack. The Gemfibrozil, I've been told, is toxic at

three times a day dosage levels. It too, I'm afraid to back off of

too far.

I was in the hospital last week with an attack. First one that I

couldn't handle at home with the meds I have in two years. It's so

frustrating when the doctors don't know what they are doing, the

patient knows more than they do, and naturally, they don't want to

take our counsel...after all, they are the experts. They sent me

home after six hours, even though I complained that I couldn't hold

anything, water included down, I'd vomit it up, and was

dehydrating...I advised that I was on pain maintenance for

pancreatitis. Since I couldn't hold down anything, I couldn't take

my pain meds, and was in excruciating pain...they gave me an IV drip

for a few hours, and some fenigren (sic)for the nausea, and then sent

me home, against my wishes.

Four hours later, I was back, more dehydrated, more bouts of

vomiting, in terrible pain. Different Doc. He listened to me, put

me on an IV PUMP this time (he figured out that I was becoming

severely dehydrated by then), put me on some pain meds, and admitted

me to ICU. Stayed there four days. Went home, took about five more

days to fully recuperate. Meantime, the entire time I'm in the

hospital, my pain level on a one to ten, ten highest, never got below

a three-four, and was often at a six-seven, with their treatment of

my pain. Complaints didn't help. What do the rest of you do in this

situation? It seems cruel to leave us lying there in pain for days

on end.

When I first went home, I treated myself with my pain meds, and

pushed them to the max, in getting relief. After several days, I

returned to normal. I went six days without eating anything, four of

those days without water, two of those days without IV's. It wasn't

a fun week. I dropped 11-12 pounds. Probably mostly water.

I'm looking for any tips that any of you have, advice or counsel for

the next time I find myself in this situation. Please respond if you

can help me.

Thanks,

Verne

mindstepper@...

[Guest guest]

Hi - I thought they were a little dense about pancreatitis in our hometown, but

not as bad as you describe! when my husband has gone to ER they immediately put

him on IV and morphine and admit him to the hospital. When 5 cc dose doesn't do

it (never does!) they up him to 10. When he went to Duke they changed him to a

pump -- first morphine then Dilautin. It worked pretty well. The

self-regulated dose is so much better than suffering till the next dose is due.

Yet you use probably less on the pump than otherwise. He's on Oxycotin twice a

day with Oxycodone for break-through pain since coming home.

Ginny

Meds

Hi everyone.

I just wanted to ask for any opinions on the meds I'm taking. I take

Viokase 16 four times a day, four tablets each time. I take

Gemfibrozil 600mg twice a day. How does this square with any of you

on similar meds? I've tried to experiment with the Viokase by

increasing the dosage, and decreasing it, to see if it helps/hurts my

maintenance. So far, I'm unsure of the results. I'm worried of

trying to adjust the dosage too severely, as I don't want to initiate

a full scale atack. The Gemfibrozil, I've been told, is toxic at

three times a day dosage levels. It too, I'm afraid to back off of

too far.

I was in the hospital last week with an attack. First one that I

couldn't handle at home with the meds I have in two years. It's so

frustrating when the doctors don't know what they are doing, the

patient knows more than they do, and naturally, they don't want to

take our counsel...after all, they are the experts. They sent me

home after six hours, even though I complained that I couldn't hold

anything, water included down, I'd vomit it up, and was

dehydrating...I advised that I was on pain maintenance for

pancreatitis. Since I couldn't hold down anything, I couldn't take

my pain meds, and was in excruciating pain...they gave me an IV drip

for a few hours, and some fenigren (sic)for the nausea, and then sent

me home, against my wishes.

Four hours later, I was back, more dehydrated, more bouts of

vomiting, in terrible pain. Different Doc. He listened to me, put

me on an IV PUMP this time (he figured out that I was becoming

severely dehydrated by then), put me on some pain meds, and admitted

me to ICU. Stayed there four days. Went home, took about five more

days to fully recuperate. Meantime, the entire time I'm in the

hospital, my pain level on a one to ten, ten highest, never got below

a three-four, and was often at a six-seven, with their treatment of

my pain. Complaints didn't help. What do the rest of you do in this

situation? It seems cruel to leave us lying there in pain for days

on end.

When I first went home, I treated myself with my pain meds, and

pushed them to the max, in getting relief. After several days, I

returned to normal. I went six days without eating anything, four of

those days without water, two of those days without IV's. It wasn't

a fun week. I dropped 11-12 pounds. Probably mostly water.

I'm looking for any tips that any of you have, advice or counsel for

the next time I find myself in this situation. Please respond if you

can help me.

Thanks,

Verne

mindstepper@...

[Guest guest]

Verne,

the reason you were probably still in pain despite the meds

the doctors gave you is probably becuase the doctors forgot

to take into account that you are tolerant to the pain meds,

so they don't have as much affect on you as they would on

someone who isn't on pain medications all the time. My

doctor has increased my pain med dosages in the hospital.

Also, because of the problems with the ER, me and my doctor

worked together to write up a sheet of the standing

physician orders my doctors want the ER doctors to follow

when they have to treat me for either uncontrolled pain for

a short period of time, or a complete full blown attack

which would require admitting me. In those orders are the

dosages for the pain meds to be given me, the fact that my

enzymes levels DO NOT rise as I am end-stage for chronic

pancreatitis, the type of nausea meds to give me (as

phenergan doesn't work for me), etc. This might be something

you want to work on with your physician. Also, I have a

standard packet I give all new doctors and ER personnel that

has a summary of my health history (as I've got other health

problems too), which helps a great deal. If you want a copy

of the blank format I created and used for the packet, let

me know and I'll email it to you. It's a Microsoft Word 2000

file.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to

that of a licensed physician or health care professional.