wami

Open Chronic Pain

I have pain almost everywhere. The main and worst pain...my RLQ (abdomen), R side, R lower back, R hip, and R leg. It is constant and always severe. I also have constant headaches always R sided. Also have spinal stenosis.

Treatments

Hydrocodone Somewhat Helpful

Hydrocodone Somewhat Helpful

Cymbalta Somewhat Helpful

helping more with headaches

Dextropropoxyphene Not Working

Duragesic Patch Not Working

made everything worse...had such bad side effects, will never use again

Heat Working / Worked

helps sometimes

Hydrocodone Somewhat Helpful

Hydromorphone Somewhat Helpful

Morphine Too Soon to Tell

Naproxen Not Working

Oxycodone Not Working

Physical Therapy Not Working

TENS Somewhat Helpful

Open Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I am always tired and fatigued. I don't or can't sleep too much, no matter how hard I try. I realize it doesn't help anything and it would help if I could.---Found out today (12/20/07) that I have 3 different forms of chronic fatigue---reg (I guess), Epstein-Barr, and a version that apparently is European. That's why "I feel like crap", according to my doc.

Treatments

Ambien Somewhat Helpful

Still can hardly sleep/insomnia

Rozerem Considering

decided not to get due to side effects

Xanax Working / Worked

doc up'd dose and wanted it for sleep and anxiety

Zanaflex Working / Worked

Open Migraine Headaches

I have suffered with migraine headaches since childhood. Gotten worse since gotten older. Constant headaches/migraines. Working on treatments to make it better.

Treatments

Fioricet Somewhat Helpful

Nerve Blocks Not Working

Topamax Working / Worked

took for 4yrs

Ultram Not Working

Zomig Working / Worked

works better than Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, Amerge, also use Goody's Powder or Excedrine Migraine when needed

Atenolol Somewhat Helpful

supposed to be a preventative, but I don't know, does help with blood pressure, but mine is usually low anyway

Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Working / Worked

Botulin Toxin Not Working

Cymbalta Somewhat Helpful

Dextropropoxyphene Not Working

Excedrin Somewhat Helpful

Fioricet Somewhat Helpful

Imitrex Not Working

Inderal Somewhat Helpful

Keppra Not Working

anti-seizure meds for preventatives, also have used Topamax in the past (for 4 years), used Neurontin in the past (2 different times) and it did not work

Lodine Not Working

Nerve Blocks Not Working

Promethazine Working / Worked

helpful

Seroquel Not Working

Stadol Somewhat Helpful

Open Dizziness & Vertigo

I am almost always nauseated, and never have an appetite. I get dizzy often, pretty much everyday, just off and on...drives me crazy sometimes -- now I have been passing out and have this feeling like I'm banging my head on the wall. No one knows (or cares) what's going on, HORRIBLE!!

Treatments

Promethazine Somewhat Helpful

took it for so many years for the nausea that it just stopped working, also is helpful with migraines

Promethazine Considering

Antivert Somewhat Helpful

doesnt really help at all

Open Arthritis

Open Raynaud's Disease

Open Sjogren's Syndrome

Open Anxiety

Full of stress, worry and anxiety all the time, sometimes having chest pains, headaches, etc

Treatments

Breathing Exercises Working / Worked

sometimes

Breathwork Working / Worked

sometimes

Klonopin Working / Worked

used in the past 4x a day (story with this one)

Positive Thinking Somewhat Helpful

try to think positive, but hard to

Xanax Working / Worked

take everyday

Open Health Care Reform

Please refer to my journal entries on Sept 27, 2007 and Oct 29, 2007.

Open Mononucleosis

Just diagnosed today (12/20/07) with Epstein-Barr. Have had an enlarged spleen for such a long time and lymph nodes swollen for almost 2yrs and doc says it is all from EBV. Always extremely tired and fatigued.

Treatments

Famvir Too Soon to Tell

doc said this is also used for cfs but will take years before I will feel better.

Open Asthma

Treatments

Advair Not Working

made asthma worse, couldn't breathe when used this

Albuterol Working / Worked

used in the past since was a child all the way until a few years ago when switched to Combivent

Combivent Working / Worked

was on for several years until summer 07 switched to Proventil HFA when had Bronchitis and fluid in lungs

Duoneb Working / Worked

now have a nebulizer

Open Gastritis

Treatments

Nexium Somewhat Helpful

took in the past and also just recently put back on, been taking for about 2mos and haven't really noticed any changes

Prevacid Somewhat Helpful

took in the past

Tagamet Working / Worked

helps with the nausea--sometimes

Open Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Treatments

Bentyl Working / Worked

took in the past

Colace Working / Worked

Miralax Not Working

Probiotics Considering

considering for several ailments

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

Both Hubby and I have depression because of everything going on and NOT getting better despite all our efforts.

Treatments

Celexa Working / Worked

took in the past

Cymbalta Working / Worked

currently on, was prescribed for my Fibromyalgia and Migraine Prevention, but I'm sure it helps with the Depression too

Music Working / Worked

music helps me get by

Paxil Working / Worked

took in the past

Positive Thinking Working / Worked

try to think positive

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

didn't really help much

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

love, support and encouragement from hubby

Zoloft Working / Worked

took in the past

Open Alopecia Areata

CAN'T STAND IT!!!

Open Bedrest

Bedridden atleast 80-90% of the time since 2/19/05-----Read all about it in my very first journal.

Open Degenerative Disc Disease

Been diagnosed in the past with DDD, Spinal Stenosis, Arthritis in spine and bulged disk. Have had C-spines, epidurals, and other back procedures done, along with PT and aqua therapy and nothing has helped.

Open Dry Eyes

Sjogrens Syndrome//"severe" per eye doc

Treatments

Restasis Too Soon to Tell

per eye doc will use forever

Open Stress Management

Treatments

Music Working / Worked

music helps me get by

Patience Working / Worked

trying, better then used to be

Xanax Working / Worked

for stress and anxiety

Open Infertility

Can't get preggy and some diseases that I have prevent it. Feel like the most precious thing in life is being taken from me and hurts so badly.

Treatments

Adoption Considering

hubby and I have discussed this several times and want to but also want our own too.

Open Shingles

Just diagnosed yesterday (01/24/08) with shingles. I am guessing it is with everything else. Known for years that I have HSV2, but diagnosed recently with not only HSV2, but HSV1, HSV5 (EBV), and HSV6. Also was diagnosed with Coxsackie B4 Virus. Very depressed, just cannot get better no matter how hard I try.....

Treatments

Famvir Working / Worked

using for all these ailments as well as for cfs doc said it will take years before I will feel better. am on 1gm 3x daily he is worried about my kidneys so getting weekly tests for 3wks---took Valtrex for years when had HSV breakout (ONLY AFFECTED AREA WAS AND IS L HAND MIDDLE FINGER). took until recently ins didn't cover anymore, changed to Famvir

Prednisone Too Soon to Tell

on this for 10days to see if it will clear up if not doc is hesitant but will have to use a picline---------made me so sick, was on a really high dose and was not titrated down and got really sick, asthma got bad and then was put back on for another 2wks and asthma and chest pains were bad, made me sick and my primary said to say I am allergic so will not be prescribed it again....took for years and for short low doeses was fine...will not be put back on again, already sick enough

Zovirax Too Soon to Tell

changed from famvir to acyclovir for above treatments

Open Lyme Disease

Diagnosed Feb 19, 2009 --- 4 year anniversary - to the day - of me being very sick --- I have Late Stage (aka Chronic) Lyme Disease.

Treatments

Avelox Not Working

Bactrim DS Not Working

for lymph nodes

Doxycycline Too Soon to Tell

made me feel worse then I already was (in conj with bactrim)...will not put me on long term or again, wants me to take avelox for 10 days

Minocycline Working / Worked

is helping some and now that Im double on the dose I am herxing. About to have surgery next week to get a portacath placed for long term treatment with rocephin amongst other things. Have huge hopes for that but am very nervous about it as well.

Open Hypothyroidism

Diagnosed June 09

Treatments

Armour Thyroid Too Soon to Tell

Synthroid Working / Worked

Open Rape

Treatments

Psychotherapy Not Working

never worked

Rape Counseling Not Working

never worked

Talking Not Working

no one wants to hear about it so I don't talk about it and almost used to it. never goes away.

Open Financial Challenges

Just being so sick and trying to get help has led us to bankruptcy....

Treatments

Budgeting Working / Worked

Filing for Bankruptcy Working / Worked

filed earlier this year