I think Elavil is a miracle drug for my pain

[VCNJ84]

I have only been on it a week (for Vulvodynia pain) and I feel like I have a large part of my life back. The doctor says it takes 2 weeks to a month to really start feeling 100% normal...but it has done so much for me already.

I am only up to 20 mg...and Sunday I had my first pain free day in almost 3 months!!! Yesterday I had pain but it was only a 2 on the pain scale. And knock on wood, today I am pain free so far.

B/c of this medicine I have been able to:

-Get off narcotic pain killers for 6 days now after almost 2 months of daily use. And take 0 to 4 advil a day instead.
-Start looking for a job (i got laid off recently right in the midst of my pain being a 9/10 everyday)
-SIT like a normal human (you take sitting for granted until you have pelvic pain so badly you can barely sit)

I am still unable to:

-Drive with out my IC cushion (i think it has something to do with the car vibrations)
-Wear jeans (i think this is a fear, b/c they have caused me so much pain in the past)
-Do anything sexual (i am still to nervous and tight both mentally and physically...afraid it will lead to a flare)

:pray: I feel like God has answered my prayers...I almost gave up hope.

I have yet to see if I am gonna gain weight from it, but with out the pain, I can go walking everyday. And honestly, at this point i would rather be chubbier and pain free if it came down to it. But I am really trying to keep my weight down by walking.

Has anyone successfully take Elavil long term with out weight gain?

[Preacher-Girl]

I feel the same way about Elavil. I can't take it all the time but I love it when I take it! i'm glad it's helping you!!

[VCNJ84]

I feel the same way about Elavil. I can't take it all the time but I love it when I take it! i'm glad it's helping you!!

May i ask why you can't take it all the time? Is it b/c of side effects?

[Venus26]

I was just prescribed this medication- but 50mg!! your words just meant so much to me. I take my first pill tonight and I am so excited. My main pain is just that- tremendous pelvic pain! So bad I cant SIT! I am putting so much hope and prayer into this little pill!!

Do you take it twice a day? or just once?

[Preacher-Girl]

Ooops! Missed this. I have some high BP and racing thoughts from Elavil. Also, I am now concerned about weight gain. I am gaining too much already! If I am flaring like crazy I will take 10mgs to dampen the flare. But not for more than 2 or 3 days.

[Briza]

VCN
I started and have remained on 10 mg Elavil a few years ago and have not experienced any weight gain. When I am flaring, my dr has approved for me to take up to 30 mg. The increase does help when I am flaring. Tho it has not seemed to help me for Vulvodynia or VV issues, I know it does for many. But it has been a miracle med for my IC frequency and nocturia issues and helping me sleep thru the night, even when the VV is at its worst. It works very quickly for me...like within a 2-3 days....so with approval from my dr I take it only as needed now, rather than daily as I did in the past. Well, I am glad you are finding good and fast relief:) and hope that you will be able to wear jeans again soon and be intimate;)...I was VERY bad off at one time in the Vulvodynia and VV dept, but with learning how to treat that area kindly, abstaining when already in pain or inflamed, and just plain ole TIME, my V symptoms have greatly improved over the years...so much so that I can now wear jeans most days and be intimate with little to no pain (with some precautions taken, of course)....but yeah, I hear ya on the being anxious about having sex...for me it still takes some talking to myself and relaxation techniques and some prep treatments and during treatments and post treatments to make it enjoyable! But with time and trial and error developing my sex "regimen," most times there are few to no problems and rarely ever a 2-4 week post sex flare like I would get in the past.
Hoping the best for you and that you continue to improve and feel better!

[c2miracle]

I have also had success with Elavil! I started taking it about a year ago. I take 20 mg at nightime and it helps me stay asleep, even when I get up during the night I go right back to sleep. Weight gain is not an issue, which is a relief! :bow: I'm glad to hear it is helping you, anything not to have abdominal pain. :)

[VCNJ84]

I was just prescribed this medication- but 50mg!! your words just meant so much to me. I take my first pill tonight and I am so excited. My main pain is just that- tremendous pelvic pain! So bad I cant SIT! I am putting so much hope and prayer into this little pill!!

Do you take it twice a day? or just once?

Once a day, in the evening is how most people take it, so unless a doctor told you to take it twice, I would strongly recommend not taking it twice. Some people literally take it at bed time. I take it whenever I am in the house for the night...so anytime between 6pm and midnight at latest.

The reason is b/c it will make you very sleepy, so it's not good to drive a car. On a typical week nite, I usually take mine around 7pm and am passed out by 10:30 pm and feel nice in the morning. I think technically it can make you feel drowsy for up to 12 hours or so...so if you wanted 8 hours of sleep the BEST time to take it would be 4 hrs before bed...but definitely not always possible depends on your schedule that day.

Be really careful with the 50 mg at first in terms of activity after u take it...cause every new dose I go on makes me extra tired the first 2 days...and i have only done 10 and 20 mg doses so far, so I can't imagine 50 to start.

[VCNJ84]

VCN
I started and have remained on 10 mg Elavil a few years ago and have not experienced any weight gain. When I am flaring, my dr has approved for me to take up to 30 mg. The increase does help when I am flaring. Tho it has not seemed to help me for Vulvodynia or VV issues, I know it does for many. But it has been a miracle med for my IC frequency and nocturia issues and helping me sleep thru the night, even when the VV is at its worst. It works very quickly for me...like within a 2-3 days....so with approval from my dr I take it only as needed now, rather than daily as I did in the past. Well, I am glad you are finding good and fast relief:) and hope that you will be able to wear jeans again soon and be intimate;)...I was VERY bad off at one time in the Vulvodynia and VV dept, but with learning how to treat that area kindly, abstaining when already in pain or inflamed, and just plain ole TIME, my V symptoms have greatly improved over the years...so much so that I can now wear jeans most days and be intimate with little to no pain (with some precautions taken, of course)....but yeah, I hear ya on the being anxious about having sex...for me it still takes some talking to myself and relaxation techniques and some prep treatments and during treatments and post treatments to make it enjoyable! But with time and trial and error developing my sex "regimen," most times there are few to no problems and rarely ever a 2-4 week post sex flare like I would get in the past.
Hoping the best for you and that you continue to improve and feel better!

Thanks! Your story inspires me that things will get better. It is good to hear that it's possible to have normal sex and have Vulvodynia. The funniest thing is that I was at a sex toy party yesterday at a friend's house...and there were sooo many lotions, and creams and other "goodies" that all these girls were gushing over. Mainly just getting excited over the color or flavor of something and giving it no further thought.

I on the other hand am kind of sitting there in my head making a check list: "Can't buy that cause it will give me a UTI", "Can't buy that cause it will hurt my Vulvodynia", "Can't buy that because I am allergic to spermicide". LOL.

It seems like the sex goal of a regular gal is just fun/pleasure...but for a V gal it's "how can i do it with out hurting my vagina!"