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Open Chronic Pain

i have chronic pain from cerebral palsy, CFIDS, possible fibromyalgia, chronic lung disease, painful bladder and endometriosis

Treatments

Chiropractic Adjustment Not Working

did not work. felt good at first, then more back problems later. perhaps i picked the wrong practioner. he was the only one to accept medicaid patients.

Cymbalta Not Working

horrible in side effects. increased anxiety/panic attacks, shooting pain in the back of head, nausea.

Flexeril Not Working

the side effects included increased arthralgia and painful walking

Heat Working / Worked

this is an excellent temporary relief that lasts for a while depending on the severity.

Lyrica Not Working

side effects not worth it. experienced increased pain and confusion. plus i almost instantly needed more to keep the pain at bay after a week of trying it at a low dose.

Marijuana Working / Worked

this works well but affects short term memory and increases fatigue.

Meditation Working / Worked

works when concentration is possible; need to try more often for more success. do get more relaxed and centered when i do try.

Neurontin Not Working

took the pain away, but extreme exhaustion at minimal levels, along with increased depression and confusion

Oxycodone Working / Worked

in 20-30 mg per day, some tiredness but not extreme like other meds. moods more labile, for which i take valium. nausea remedied by eating with food.

Physical Therapy Working / Worked

gentle pilates, stretching, and yoga style workouts are best for me. using the body ball and large rubber bands for stretching and resistance training were helpful

TENS Considering

Open Mononucleosis

i had my first bout with mono (epstein barr) when i was 16, and haven't been without chronic cold/flus and EBV flares for more than a few months at a time.

Treatments

Relaxation Working / Worked

this works when im having a flare. i try to stick to low impact but strengthening exercises like stretching and range of motion if im in bed for a while.

Meditation Working / Worked

helps for centering and positive energy generation

Dietary Modification Working / Worked

i try to eat antiinflammatory foods as much as possible. this includes taking out many common foods like wheat dairy sugar refinedprocessed goods. also im big on veggies and fruits nuts and seeds brown rices and beans and fish and eggs. i try to go organic as much as my budget will allow.

Open Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Treatments

Reiki Working / Worked

is wonderful when i can afford it

Open COPD & Emphysema

i have adult reactive airway disease. i cannot tolerate most common chemicals for cleaning, pesticide, formaldehyde or fragrance. dust is bad too. i also have atelectasis that makes it difficult to breathe sometimes. this summer i'll find out what that's from.

Treatments

Albuterol Working / Worked

works sometimes. i use it when going to the supermarket or library or anywhere else where there could be offensive chemicals

Breathing Exercises Working / Worked

after talking to practitioners it did help to remind me of ingrained breathing patterns

Open Epilepsy & Seizures

i found out i had seizure tendencies with my first eeg this year.

Treatments

Lamictal Working / Worked

helps with mood, pain perception and reducing seizure activity. must take low dose and watch for sudden changes in mood that happen infrequently and limited in their duration. still, the drug helps me to function much better, at 80% instead of 40-50%

Open Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

i have ptsd from rapes, threats, homelessness, emotional/mental abuse

Treatments

Art Working / Worked

it's a creative way to tap into my subconscious and get things out in a way i can control and also heal

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Working / Worked

to check my thoughts, and re-examine what is fear and what is reality

Guided Imagery Working / Worked

i use this when in crisis or need something to distract me right away. it helps me to keep cool and calm.

Music Working / Worked

some music is bad, other helps to distract or strengthen me, my core or soul

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

this helps to a certain extent, but to have to talk about it too much can be triggering at certain times. i've had to know my boundaries, and be aware when to 're-guide' therapists into helping me instead of me educating them or following into their conceived notion.

Supportive Care Working / Worked

support groups can help a lot

Talking Working / Worked

when i need to

Open Fibromyalgia

fibro from neuromuscular conditions (cp and cfids).

Treatments

Acupressure Working / Worked

Vitamin B12 Working / Worked

Marijuana Working / Worked

helps to reduce pain

Open Stress Management

i've always thought about stress management, but wasn't sure what would really work for me. i hope to join this site for insight, info and hoping to help others as i fumble my way through life, lolz

Treatments

Physical Exercise Working / Worked

passive stretching, elliptical, stationery bike, some modified yoga/pilates helps

Breathing Exercises Working / Worked

learning how to breathe from my diaphragm instead of my throat gives me more oxygen to think clearly and be sure to expel all the stale air from my lungs. to keep focuses sometimes i try to meditate with some positive images or thoughts

Open Asthma

the pulm gave me albuterol and said i had reactive airway, like asthma for common chemicals in the air, furniture, cleaning products, etc. i also don't do well with dust, humidity and dander.

Treatments

Albuterol Working / Worked

Open Blindness & Visual Impairment

retinoschisis, nearsighted in one eye

Open Codependency

i've been in a cycle of codependent relationships starting with me and my family.

Treatments

12 Step Program Working / Worked

worked somewhat to understand some underlying issues present in my family and affecting me to this day as a child of alcoholics

Reiki Working / Worked

helps to refresh and renew my spirit

Talking Working / Worked

i hope that DS dialogue with peers will help

Open Transgender

i'm just a guy born with a female body. started testosterone for valentine's day 2008. i'm here to connect with others. i've been out to my family for 4 years, and to close friends as well. my partner and i have been together for 5 years now. the difficulties i've had with coming out is with medical providers (except the clinic where i get my hormones), some family, and finding work.

Open Rape

i've been raped more than once and feel a lot of shame. like, why didn't i see it coming? some guys manipulated me and used me because i didn't know ppl were like that. or i wanted or had to trust them because of a situation i was in, then they tried to take advantage.

Treatments

Talking Working / Worked

okay. although no one in my life now really wants to hear about it, except some ppl online who uderstand

Open Pleurisy

i had chest pain in the lower right area for years (since 2003? or so) and this past year got scanned and dx'd for atelectasis in the subpleural cavity. the pulm thought it might be related to asbestos exposure from past work rehabbing houses, but they are going to scan be again over the summer to make sure it doesn't change in size. the pain flares up during colds/flu, winter, stress or certain chemicals (perfumes, soaps, deoderizers, etc)

Open Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

at least 5 years? this year seeing urologist. he says cant see any inflammation by using a video cath, but i'm due for a cystoscopy in jan/feb. he's telling me to try limit certain foods/drink which help. the pain seems to be in the urethra and other times the bladder as a whole. especially if i've to go really bad or even after voiding. rarely *during* and i've not had a UTI recently associated with it over the past 3-4 months. uro thinks spastic bladder from cp/neuro issues

Open Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

had it since late teens to cause a problem. now i try to eat smaller meals, cut out processed grains/sugars. this helps.

Treatments

Dietary Modification Working / Worked

see story above. no processed grainssugars

Open Urinary Incontinence

started with urgency in 2001, then more regular frequency episodes since 2003. now in 2008 i've mild incontinence. the uro says it could be from spastic bladder from neurological issues

Treatments

Ditropan Not Working

no, it caused me to retain more urine (bad for UTIs), get constipated and dry mouth, even at low dose.

Kegel Exercise Working / Worked

does work for emergencies, sometimes when on the road.

Open Environmental Allergies
Type of allergy: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

started noticing chemical/environmental sensitivities starting in 2003 living in a sick building (mold), then got worse in 2006 when chronically exposed to asbestos/concrete dust in my living environment. since then the scent of a dryer sheet or VOC can send me into a seizure (2007-2008). fun.

Open Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

diagnosed in feb/march (after test results took a while from gi procedures). intermittent pain, spasms, constipation 1-3 times per week. i avoid sugars, most dairy, fried/fatty foods, red meat, alcohol, fragrant & certain cleaning chemicals and that seems to help. my large bowel is malformed (long & winding, with sharp turns) but otherwise normal.

Treatments

Acidophilus Working / Worked

helps with constipation relief if taken everyday. i take it a few hours after antibiotics treatments to keep the flora there for as long as possible.

Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Working / Worked

cleaning and perfumed chemicals, avoiding read meat, sugar, fatty/fried foods, most dairy,alcohol to avoid more flares

Ginger Working / Worked

for frequent nausea

High Fiber Diet Working / Worked

aside from eating a lot of veggies and beans and whole grains, i take benefiber without any additives. helps with constipation.

Probiotics Working / Worked

see acidophilus. i take the form with only minute amounts of casein, since a lot of dairy exacerbates asthma and sometimes IBS.

Magnet Therapy Working / Worked

for nausea on inside of wrist 2.5 finger widths from the inner crease

Marijuana Working / Worked

helps to reduce incidences

Open Hysterectomy

hysto in june