In so much pain all over I could cry

[waterflow]

I couldn't take the vicodin this morning since I had errands to run and appointment at Uro's. Couldn't take it until I got back at noon. I am in so much pain all over my body I could cry. Have a huge headache too. Now I know I have to wait for the Vicoden to kick in but how do the rest of you deal with it until then? Not sure if I should talk to my Uro about it or wait and talk to my family doctor in January. That is when I will be going back but when this does happen I am more miserable then ever. I've learned to deal with the extra bladder pain but all over body is just too much. Tempted to take more of the cystoprotek but can't afford more then 2 pills a day. I've been wondering how those of who have children or have to work feeling this way manage? Just taking care of the cats is hard enough and I thought with cold weather I could catch up on the house work. Get things in order but I seem to be falling behind more and more. Almost ready to just give up and put a sign at the front door. "Welcome to the city dump" :rolleyes:

[Bessie]

I am sorry you are hurting today. It is so nice to see you back on the board. I have been thinking about you and wondering how you were doing. Just get some rest and take one day at a time. I take the attitude now that oh well, it will be here tomorrow so if I don't get something done today I just try the next day when I am feeling better. Hope tomorrow is a better day :hi:

[leelee88]

Mary, Have you talked to your Dr about the fact that you could possibly have fibromyalgia?
I am really sorry you are hurting, since the weather has been changing to cold my whole body has been achy to. I am going to go get checked for fibromyalgia as soon as Doms insurance kicks in..
But anyhow take care them kittys need you..Hope you feel better soon..

[ICNDonna]

:grouphug:

Donna

[dancemomof2]

:pray:

[SandyRN]

If you can take a long, hot, HOT bath that might help. That's what I do every day just about...it helps the aches and pains for a while. I'm sorry you're hurting so much....I can definately understand how you feel. :(

[Claredale]

I am a huge fan of the hot baths. When my pain was so bad, I was known to take as many as 5 or 6 baths a day and the rest of the time, my heating pad and my heated throw were my best friends. I hope you feel better. In regard to my pain, I take Lortab and as my doctor told me and still tells me. I need to take my pain med when my pain first starts because if you wait until you are in a full blown pain mode, it's so hard for the pain meds to work. I can't take long acting meds so I only took Vicodin for a short time, but I am sure that the same goes with the long acting meds. They work better when taken at the beginning of your pain.

I hope you feel better soon!

Tracey

[waterflow]

Hi Octoberfarm :hi: I have been back a few times but with the stupid dizziness thing I haven't been able to be here for long. I know in the morning for the first 5 mintues when I get up my eyes will be moving around in all different directions while my head goes another. :dizzy: It is nice to be back when I can. Sure do miss all of you.

leelee, I haven't mentioned the fibro to my doc but maybe I will when I go in January. I will do more research on it first. Finding out what kind of tests are done and if there is anything for it or if it is like the IC. If it is like the IC then I won't bother. Just can't go through more testing to be told nothing wrong or nothing for it. Strange how I panic thinking of that.

Sandy, I never thought about taking a very very hot bath. It sure does sound nice. Will have to remember that. Thanks. :smile tee Sorry to hear you are having a bad day too. I read your post. If it isn't one thing it's another or more then one problem. It's like we never get a break from anything.

Tracey, you are right. Taking hte pain meds before the pain gets worse is the right way to go but I can't drive when I take it so have to wait until I get home. Thankfully I only have to do that 1-2 times a week. I tried the Lortab but it didn't help anymore then the vicodin. I thought Lortab was stronger then the vicodin? How often do you take it? I was only allowed one every 8 hours.

[BrittanysDance]

waterflow,

I do hope you feel better soon - sounds like you're having a rough time of it.

the ladies are correct though, pain meds work best if taken prior to the pain becoming unbearable. Also - your lortab or vicodin have a shelf life of about 4 - 6 hours, meaning they'll peak at around hours 2-4 for pain relief and wane after that so to get better relief, its best to call your doctor and ask when is the best time to take them. Medications take about 45 minutes to enter into the blood stream unless directly injected into your body.



Hugs,
Brittany

[waterflow]

Brittany you are right. About 45 minutes after I take it the pain does start to go down and I don't feel quit so bad and it does start to wear off 4 hours after. If I can remember I will ask my Uro if I could take it sooner. Maybe I could take another half 4 hours after the first one. I can cut them in half. Strange how it take so long before they start to help. Does it go to the brain to stop the pain or does it go to the place where the pain is? I should do some studying on the body. They should teach this stuff in health class in school.

[sandymarie]

Waterflow, I know how you feel. I ache like I have the flu. My legs and feet hurt soo badly I can hardly walk. Since the weather changed I have been hurting so badly at night I can hardly sleep. The worst in is in theighs and it feels like it is to the bone. I wonder when we are all going to start getting better. I am so tired of everything going crazy. Just about the time you sigh from one thiing it seems another rares it 's nasty head. My gp put me on an antiflammatory medicine and it causes me to burn. Now what. Body gets better, something else starts. Hope you find something to help you soon. I am sorry you are going thru so much pain. I have been diaz.ed with fibro and I know it hurts all over, maybe you should be checked.

JJ:smile tee

[waterflow]

The bath was wonderful Think I might have made it a little too hot because it took some doing to get in but once I was in and laying on my left side it was instant relief. Got 1 hour of relief from and it was more relief then when I take the vicodin. Will have to remember that one.

Yeah, I’ve heard that many times from my sisters and strangers. Since I have no kids (or a job) I can sleep until noon and do what ever I want. I just sit and watch tv all day eating bon bons. I’m sorry but that is one thing I just do not like having thrown in my face, especially since having kids is all I wanted in my life and it never happened. I told my sisters many times they didn’t have to their kids (which they should be thankful they did have them). They could have had either an abortion or put them up for adoption or just don‘t have sex. I’m tired of being judge by people because I have no kids and if no one ever came to visit having the house dirty would still bother me. My life before the IC was a “housewife” and I helped my family when ever they needed it and since I can’t do that anymore my life seems like I don’t have a purpose now except taking care of the cats. They were sent here for a reason and I know what the reason is. I’m tired of crying over the fact I have no kids and being told I’m nothing because of that fact.

[GriffsMommy]

Mary,
I know that Cindy did not mean that you are less of a person because you do not have children. What she meant was that you do not have that worry and can take the hot bath and the pain meds whenever you need them without thinking about watching kids. I don't think she was saying anything about you, just a fact, no kids = bath whenever you want it. I know you're in pain and very sensitive but I know Cindy is a good person and was not being mean in anyway.

[Babs RN]

Mary,
I know Cindy did not mean anything rude by her comment. I think Chrisitine is right on the money. Perspective is always different from the other side, really. It is definitely not an attack on anyone's life or what they have or don't have. I have special needs child and work with the IC and would love to take my pain meds smack in the middle of the day rather than as Lindsey falls asleep but that is they way things are and the way I should behave as a responsible mom. I know you have wanted kids forever, have you thought about volunteering with an afterschool program or something?

Hugs,
Barb:hi:

[Eccles]

(((Mary))

As leelee says, have you asked about the possibility that you might have fibromyalgia? It often seems to go hand in hand with IC.

Have you tried Elavil yet? A low dose at night might help with the pain & help you sleep better. Those soaks in a hot bath are good, as you have found. A memory foam mattress topper is a useful investment if you can afford one; I bought mine from a shopping channel so I could return it if it didn't suit. Arnica gel, smoothed on in a thick layer & allowed to sink in, can be helpful too.

If you do find you have fibro then gentle stretching exercises are very good for the pain.

[ihurttoo]

Dear Mary,

Go back and read the post I wrote to you on Halloween on your thread "Got My Results Back today". In it, you were complaining there of profound exhaustion. I suggested then that fibro could be one possibility, and told you about other symptoms, (some of which were the achyness and body pain, and forgetfulness, clumsyness, etc.) You said you have ALL OF THEM! I am no Dr. or medical expert, (as you know), but I definately think it is worth getting this checked out, (as the others here have suggested too!)

I have Fibro, along with IC, Lupus, VV, Vulvadynia, Endo, and a whole string of other things. (I used to have them on my signature, but I got so many pms from newbies wanting personal attention, that I couldnt keep up with the mail load, and had to take my sig off). But, I truly think you need to get this possibility checked out. If I am wrong, then I will just have to be wrong. (But at least I'll have some company this time! :))

But, there ARE things they can do for you if you are d/xed with Fibro! In my case, they put me on Muscle relaxers that help alot, also they gave me Lidocaine patches that I could cut in strips and put where I needed them. Also, the Thermacare heat patches are helpful too.

I am glad they told you to go get in a hot bath, b/c that's what I do too. (The cold bothers me alot, and so do weather changes such as rain.) That's what I usually try to do while I wait for the meds to kick in. And, if I cant do that, (like if I have to leave for a Drs appt or go get my son or something, that's when I put on the Lidocaine patches or the Thermacare heat patches.) If you dont have the Lidocaine patches, definately ask your Dr. for them. They are invaluable! (Even if you dont end up getting D/xed with Fibro, lots of ICers have r/xes for Lidocaine patches, and use them for the low back pain, where the pain radiates to the low back.) But, until you get them (or in case for some odd reason your Dr. wont r/x them) , the Thermacare are over the counter and they are wonderful too!

As I said in my previous post, they can also r/x you something for the profound exhaustion you have been experiancing. In my case, my Dr. r/xes a med called Provigil, which helps offset the exhaustion caused by my fibro, and other conditions, as well as the drowsy side effects of 7 of my meds. (If it were not for Provigil, I would NEVER get out of bed!)

Oh, I almost forgot, dont forget about the good old fashioned heating pad to help with the achyness. (I know it is more than "achyness", I know it is PAIN, but, the heating pad does help some! (I have 2, and want 1 more!) And I am asking Santa for an electric blanket for Christmas, (but Santa is kind of a schmuck, so let's hope he come's thru! LOL!) But that's a separate issue! :)

It would be best to go to a Rhematologist, (if possible) to get the Fibromyalgia diagnosed (or ruled out). But, I dont know if you need a referral for that or not, so you need to call your GP, and might have to see them first or even instead.

Again, I am not saying that you have Fibro for sure nor is anyone else here. You know none of us are Drs or medical authorities in any way shape or form. You understand that we are just other patients (some that happen to have Fibro ourselves) and all of us just want to help, but none of us are here offering expert advice or anything. We are just here wanting to support you as friends and are trying to encourage you to get to your Dr. so he/she can figure this out and can get you the help you need. We are just hoping to offer some words of comfort in the meantime, just like we would to a member of our own family. Does that make sense? Whew! I hope so!

Anyway, I hope you will call Monday and make an appt. If you wont do it for your peace of mind (and body), at least do it for MY peace of mind. 'Kay? :)
Afterall, we only have one Waterflow! We dont need to have our Waterflow all torn up in pain and crying, 'cause then that makes us cry too! (Or at least it does me! Dang it, ya'll know how sensitive I am these days! And I know I'm not the only one out there probobly crying knowing she's hurting either!) So get yourself to the Dr. for us, even if you wont do if for you! :kissing: We love you!

Love and hugs,
Amy