Hydrocodone

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

I have a hate/hate relationship with hydrocodone. I hate taking it. I hate the fact that I have to take it. I hate needing a painkiller, a drug.

At the same time, I hate what happens if I menstruate without it. It's horrible. Right before I moved here, I had one period during which I could not find my hydrocodone. It was hell. My periods have gotten worse since then. I shudder to think of what one would be like today, with no meds. I fear that.

I was so happy, last fall, when I found herbs that helped with the pain. I actually had several periods where I didn't need to take pills at all. I was in heaven. I had found a way to treat myself without the pills.

Then, the herbs stopped working. I switched to different herbs, in different combinations, but they still didn't conquer the pain. The pain, I found, was getting bigger. Getting worse.

I always have, and still do, put off taking the pills as long as possible. I start with half a pill. If that doesn't work, I take another half. Only once have I been driven to taking two whole pills. The pain just would not go away. I was very stoned that morning. The world was very fuzzy, everything had a soft glow. I smiled and smiled. But that wasn't the important thing- the important thing was that I was not hurting.

The pain these days is much more intense than it has ever been before. I started with the prescription pills about four or five years ago; then it was naproxen sodium. After about a year, those pills stopped working. I remember calling my doctor one night, from work, in so much pain I could barely stand. She said "Have you taken a naproxen sodium?" I answered, "Yes, I've taken four and-" "Four!" she cut me off. "Okay, I'm giving you hydrocodone."

Now, I usually end up taking an entire hydrocodone, sometimes one and a half. It hurts so bad. The idea of a period without the meds terrifies me. The last three months, the pain has been more intense than any pain I've ever felt in my life. (Yes, worse than my tattoo, which was previously the worst physical pain I had ever felt.) And the pills are not working as well as they had.

I don't like taking pills, but until some doctor actually bites the bullet and tries to fix what is wrong with me, they are the best bet I have. I'd rather die than go through menstruation without them.

I started my period today. If tomorrow, I wake up in the kind of pain I have been feeling, I'm going to the ER. It will cost me $75, but I can't just sit and suffer anymore. I want some actual answers and solutions. Indigo knows I may call him at work to take me in. I just can't handle being in pain anymore, and I can't handle being afraid of the pain anymore.

Comments

I've Been There

[freyjasgydhia.livejournal.com]

Have you been diagnosed with any kind of disorder or are they just giving you painkillers? Have they bothered to run any tests on you ? Laproscopy? Ultrasound? Pelviscopy? How old are you? How long has this been going on? Have you always gone to the same dr.? If so don't you think a second opinion is in order? You deserve to be out of pain. Don't let it go so long you end up with a hysterectomy. I did. The main part the reason for that was that for 13years I had a twit for a dr. who told me it was all in my head and nothing was wrong.... You deserve better!!!!

Re: I've Been There

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

I've been to doctors and doctors. My doctor in Houston DX endometriosis, but then I had to move to Dallas. Up here, I've been geting the runaround from doctors. They all want to start at the beginning, instead of just doing the freaking laparoscopy.

This has been going on since I was 17, increasing in intensity each year.

Re: I've Been There

[freyjasgydhia.livejournal.com]

All they have to do is order the results from the previous tests..... If they want to confirm the diagnosis. Now if they want to see progression that's another story!!! My problem was endometriosis as well. I'm so glad I'll never suffer again!!! Try valerian in the meantime. If that doesn't knock you out then you're really in trouble. Not that I'm being pessimistic or anything. Oh, use the root if you can get ahold of it. It's the strongest part. Valerian Root ought to knock you out and put you to sleep..... Let me know what happens. Good Luck my thoughts will be with you.....

Re: I've Been There

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

Hi. I'm new, but had to jump in.

The endometriosis was the first thing I thought when I read your post.

Do you have insurance? I know mine has an 800 number for RNs who sometimes help cut thru red tape. Or call your old doctor and ask for a recommendation, tell your old Dr that you want to CONTINUE his plan of action but no one down there is willing to do it, does your old Dr. have any suggestions?

If your old MD intervenes on your behalf that may help. No one should have to go through that pain.

[batshua]

Okay, I know this post is crazy old, and what I have to offer won't necessarily be useful, but here's what I learned.

Women tend to do better on a class of opiates called kappa opioids, which aren't generally prescribed to anyone.

There's one called nalbuphine, whose brand name is Nubain, and another one called butorphanol, also known as Stadol.

From what I gather, [I am no scientist], most opiates prescribed are mu opioids. I'm fairly sure that both hydrocodone and morphine are in this category. Mu opioids are affected by estrogen. Women who take these tend to have more side effects than men.

So! If you still need to be on opiates to survive your period, you might want to ask your doctor about looking into a kappa opioid. Also, you'll probably want a lower dosage of whatever new opioid you try than hydrocodone, as it will probably be more effective and you don't want to be all stoned out on your meds.

I hope this helps.

P.S. I'm totally not a doctor or anything. Opiates are dangerous, be responsible, etc.

[00goddess.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this comment! I really appreciate it. I actually became allergic to hydrocodone a few years ago and now I take Darvocet along with an NSAID called Pontsel, for period pain relief. Sometimes they just aren't enough. So I really do appreciate this information. I plan to see a pain management doctor soon and I will bring this up.

[batshua]

Sure! Not enough people know about this little tidbit because it was like 3 published studies and the research is probably still ongoing, but it's not like the drugs aren't already out there, so I figured, hey, maybe a different drug will do you a world of good.