AnneH

Open Epilepsy & Seizures

Boy I identified about the picking. As I was reading your story, I was nearly finished picking yet another bald patch. By the weekend it will have to be shaved off although that's a bit tricky with all the sores I have made as a deterrent to noticing the pain I am in.

Treatments

Ativan Working / Worked

Doctor only had me on it for a month. I can't remember why he stopped it suddenly but said I needed another drug. May have clashed with the tegretol?

Dilantin Working / Worked

Had to stop, made me feel cobwebby all the time; almost in reverse.

Tegretol Working / Worked

Have been using for 18yrs and when my levels go haywire is the only time I'm aware of their effects. They leave me mor clear headed than any other drug does which allows me more input into my own life.

Acupuncture Working / Worked

Open Chronic Pain

3 car accidents over 24yr period. 1st one put me in chair for 4yrs then 12yrs walking aids. Next one was only short time after being free of aids so knocked me round in all areas. Got broken neck during surgery due to pressure used so had 11mths traction. On the 3rd day(!) after being mobile again I was hit by car breaking leg in 5places, shattered patella, tibia, fibula wired, screwd, plated, fused all to know avail. 7yrs on and am still on sticks trying to stay out of chair. Hydro some relief

Treatments

Acupressure Working / Worked

worked for 2 years when a surgery went wrong and had to have more surgery done. Acupuncture never worked for me again.

Heat Working / Worked

Heat pk still use daily often for neck but icepacks work better for leg. Doesn't ease the pain but loosens the range of movement.

Meditation Working / Worked

Gave up trying as the only way I could be still in one position long enough was to be doped up which counterracted the point.

Methadone Working / Worked

Short term only as I got addicted fast then had the battle of both the pain and the new pain. Side effects mentally rule out most meds for me as I'm also a sober/clean alcoholic/addict for 15yrs. Took 8yrs to get drug free last time so am very careful of what is worth taking.

Morphine Working / Worked

Same as methadone. Addicted too fast, needed too high a dose coz my head would ell my body I'm in agony when I probably could have managed better with Tramadol. Ergo, I don't touch those type meds unless urgent for that one day.

Oxycodone Working / Worked

On severe days I will use oxy but won't go above 20mg x 2 in a day and for no longer than 3 days before I have atleast a fortnight break.

Physical Therapy Working / Worked

On and off binges of physio dependant mostly on my mental well-being I've noticed. Ultrasound does give short term relief. Had one deep tissue massage and ended up with soft tissue tears. Haven't tried it since through fear of happening again although told it was a rarity that it did once already on me.

TENS Working / Worked

Sadly didn't work as I believed it would be "The" one to work.

Restoril Working / Worked

It is very effective when I've not left it too long to take a mild dose. It does the job well and allows me freer movement when taken early enough otherwise I don't bother coz I know I'll need a lot more than 5mg and my addictive mentality is in charge. Use hot pack, paracetomol lay down and pray for relief or sleep.

Open Self-Injury

Spent a few stints in psych wards due to self mutilation according to 'them'. All I know was I got temp relief when I could focus on one pain only. Makes sense to me even tho I know its not logical. Having gone thru the DT's numerous times and using sharp things to scratch at them helped but others had me put away again. Nowadays I seem to have a cycle of tearing bald patches and making sores to scratch at.

Treatments

Group Therapy Working / Worked

It was forced so I didn't try to participate.

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

Felt like I was never being heard - just a lot of nicey nicey sayings and a pat on the back for still breathing.

Talking Working / Worked

Have only once been completely honest needing a solution if there is one and was ridiculed so have not tried until this.

Time Working / Worked

Open Alcoholism

I'm AnneH, 47 y.o recovering alcoholic/addict with 15yrs abstinence dealing with life sober. Some 24's are awful bloody long.

Treatments

12 Step Program Working / Worked

I'd be dead without them.

AA Meetings Working / Worked

My only sanctuary from both the booze and my head. Always encouraged by them.

Al-Anon Working / Worked

Did 3 meetings and waled out of all 3 thinking any wonder I drank! Obviously not ready for it.

Antabuse Working / Worked

Drank on it and ruptured my spleen.

Cold Turkey Working / Worked

The only time I have never got off one substance by using another - no Retox this time and amazingly I've been clean/sober since.

Open Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)
Type: Trichotillomania

Until 5 minutes ago I had no idea that my baldness and head sores had a name. Let alone that anybody else does it. I'm going to read some of your posts to see how you deal with it.