Pseudotumor Cerebri Support Group
Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by increased intracranial pressure, in the absence of a tumor or other diseases affecting the brain or its lining. Diagnosis requires brain scans and lumbar puncture. Characteristic symptoms are headache, transient visual obscurations or transient visual loss in one or both eyes usually lasting...
As I mentioned in my last post, recently my PCP has prescribed the Fentanyl Patch as a method of treating my chronic daily pain. It's been a little over a week since I started the patch. These patches are 50 mcg/hr and are currently prescribed to be replaced every third day. When I first started using the patch I slept for almost three days straight...but, just before using the patch I had an acute IH attack and had been given Morphine drops to use under my tongue in an effort to control pain and stay out of the hospital. It worked. But, as the morphine was still in my system when I used the patch...I think the combo left me very fatigued.
Past that third day, in my official first week of using the patch, I was able to run errands with my children, cook dinner, clean, paint, shop, go out with my family, hang Christmas lights outside...all of the things I haven't been able to do for months. But, now the brief respite from illness has come to a harsh end. Now...early on the third day I'm feeling a great deal of pain and needing to change the patch about 7 hours too early. I'm back in bed again and I can barely move again.
The patch directions state that your body cannot get overheated and or the patch should not be exposed to heat...but, it doesn't say why. I am concerned about this because I take hot showers daily and I'm wondering if this could be the reason why the patch doesn't seem to help as much.
I know there are a few other patch users on this site...could you please provide some insight into how the patch has helped you, what is your dosage, how often you change your patch...and can hot showers interfere with the therapeutic effect?
Additionally...the "whooshing" in my ear is back and has been for a few months now. As many of us know, this of course means my pressures are high. What should I be doing about this? Anyone?
Much love,
MM3
Past that third day, in my official first week of using the patch, I was able to run errands with my children, cook dinner, clean, paint, shop, go out with my family, hang Christmas lights outside...all of the things I haven't been able to do for months. But, now the brief respite from illness has come to a harsh end. Now...early on the third day I'm feeling a great deal of pain and needing to change the patch about 7 hours too early. I'm back in bed again and I can barely move again.
The patch directions state that your body cannot get overheated and or the patch should not be exposed to heat...but, it doesn't say why. I am concerned about this because I take hot showers daily and I'm wondering if this could be the reason why the patch doesn't seem to help as much.
I know there are a few other patch users on this site...could you please provide some insight into how the patch has helped you, what is your dosage, how often you change your patch...and can hot showers interfere with the therapeutic effect?
Additionally...the "whooshing" in my ear is back and has been for a few months now. As many of us know, this of course means my pressures are high. What should I be doing about this? Anyone?
Much love,
MM3
deleted_user
It shouldn't get over-heated because it could cause the medication to absorb into your body faster. I don't think hot showers should be a problem but I would avoid soaking in hot baths or hot tubs with the patch submerged. Also, this is very important, they have those covers that come with the patches, but do not ever use anything else to tape the patch on. People have ODed by taping a patch on because the patches need to be able to breathe.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...