Friday, May 16, 2014

only for the truly compulsive reader




Over the past few months I've learned something about 

Prescription medications

The pain medication Tramadol Hydrochloride reacts negatively with SSRI anti-depressants, and causes nausea. Although I don’t take SSRIs, I did feel incredibly seedy when I used Tramadol for the heel pain, but suspect the cause of the seediness was just the combination of Tramadol and radiation therapy. If I ever use Tramadol again I will take it in conjunction with an anti-nausea agent.

From day one after the foot surgery I tried to use less and then much less oxycontin or endone than were prescribed, a) because I live in terror of addiction to anything over and above chocolate and b) pain levels were gradually diminishing.

Every time I visit a new practitioner, I am required to dutifully complete a form listing all my current medications. Beyond surgeons checking that people are not taking blood thinners, it seems there is a limited benefit from the exercise.

I guess the reality is that a specialist is a specialist is a specialist. Bone surgeons know bone surgery, breast surgeons know breast surgery etc. This does not make them pharmacists.
A few years ago I had some major bowel surgery, and TO says that when she came to visit one day, I was talking to the wardrobe in my room. Fortunately, she took a peep at my hospital charts and was able to identify the problem and alert staff. Heaven help those without a TO to advocate for them.

I now know not to touch opioid painkillers again. The shoulder surgeon I have lined up discussed the medication problem with me and will be talking to the anaesthetist before surgery. Bone man also discussed the effects of cortisone, so I took myself off to see the “head” honcho, and I think I have things covered now.


Nutty as a Fruitcake

The few of these opioid tablets I did take were still enough to make me hypo-manic with mixed moods. A few more doses after that and my Jekyll-ine persona gave way to Ms Hyde – every person chez fruitcake deserves a purple heart.



It’s taken weeks for me to “come down” [at least partway]. Every time Ms Hyde appears, Dr Jacqueline is full of remorse and shame and takes to curling into a foetal ball and sobbing – only marginally less pleasant for others than when I am simply uncontrollably obnoxious and feral.

After a few years of being quite stable, and being the person I’ve conned our dogs into thinking I am, the crash has added to the more “acceptable” medical issues. Years ago I accepted that each subsequent crash is worse than the crash before, and it’s very draining [for everyone].


I could go on, but this is not the proper forum. Just wanted to make a comment on issues arising from surgical prescriptions.

4 comments:

  1. Ah drugs, can't live without them, can't live with them. Whenever I start a new script for a narcotic I love them but that only lasts for maybe 10 days and then I too become something else and it comes out as hysterical anger. I've learned Tramadol makes me feel like I'm on a bad trip btw. I just tried out Lyrica for my neuropathy and that turned me into a binge eater and for now am not game for any of the drugs. And I also could go on. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, the pain of weight gain! Seroquel can cause someone to gain as much as 25kgs. If only I'd known then... maybe being ratty would be better [for me, anyway].

      Delete
  2. Oh dear this is a sad state of affairs. The side affect of drugs sounds awful. I am so so lucky not to have to take any drugs at the moment. TOH makes up for me. he takes a handful morning and night. Most of them are keeping him alive luckily he doesn't seem to have side affects although he can get grumpy but I think that is a male thing. Good luck with further medical issues, I hope something can be sorted for you to be able to live a 'normal' life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane. Things are getting back to normal... just another thing I've learned about keeping them normal.
      Lucky TOH - organising all the pills is great occupational therapy :)

      Delete