Update :)

[jena1225]

Hi everyone. Thank you all for yoru awesome advice and feedback. I carry it with me everyday :)

As you know, I have been pretty "down" for a while, but did not realize exactly how much until these last few days.

I feel happier and more energenic than I have in a long time! I am not sure which med did it, because all 3 were increased at the same time (hate when I do that!) but I suppose it doesn't matter :D

They increased my:
Bacolfen from 40mg a day to 80mg (my T-Spine Spasms have decreased, at least for now.
Cymbalta to my PCO's final goal dose of 120
Oxycontin from 80mg a day to 120

My T-Spine pain is not nearly like it used to be. And my mood has done a complete 360 :) It actually started the day after the Cymbalta increase. I know that seems wierd, but I cannot think of any other reason why.

I have been on so many AD's, and so far this one has won the prize! I do think it's b/c it's the only one that hits the Serntonin AND Norepinephrine, and I think the most important one is the norepinephrine for ME. Myabe that is the chemical I am really lacking alot of :confused:

I have just been so much more patient and fun with my kids, and that is the best part :p. I can think so much more clearly too.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know how I was doing. I waited a couple days to be sure it was not some kind of fluke, lol. Hopefully it still isn't :)

[suede]

Jena,
What good news!!
Thanks for sharing, I know the cymbalta really helped my mood and nerve pain.
However I have been in a major slump myself and I believe it is just due to poor PM..
Anyway enjoy yourself and your kids you deserve it..
Linda

[Jo6]

Jena, did you ask the Dr. about the injection? You didn't mention it and I was just wondering. I'm glad the meds. are working for you. Julia

[Mark N]

Jena, it is good news that your meds are helping so much. Like you, cymbalta has really been a good med for me. My wife couldn't tolerate it but for me it has done a great job with my pain and mood. It is good to hear you are feeling so good that your kids are getting the benefit from your improvement.

[jena1225]

Hi everyone, and thank you! I want to respond to each of yourt potss, but I really canot keep my eyes open, so tomorrow, promise! Have great nite all! :) :)

[BrokenBladder]

Jena I'm glad that the med increase has helped!! That's great news!! I noticed that you are now taking Cymbalta, have you noticed any side affects from it? My doctor mentioned it to me yesterday, but I'm afraid of anything new at this point.

[jena1225]

Hi Lisa, it's funny that you ask that this morning! I just said yesterday how I have not noticed any sx's at all. However, I did just realize last night that I may have ONE. And that could be insomnia, but I am not positive, b/c I am not sure if waking up just a couple of hours after falling asleep counts :confused: It has happened 3 nights in a row now, BUT I am able to fall right back asleep with no problem after getting up and going outside for a few minutes. To me, it's not a problem b/c I still wake up at 5 or 5:30. For some reason, I have never been scared to start a new drug for depression. I have always looked forward to maybe finding that drug that really works!


Thank you Linda :) So sorry you are in a slump :( Are you still taking the Cymbalta? Who is managing your pain? I hope you get out of this slump soon, and if you want to talk, please PM me anytime! And yes, my kids do deserve a mother who shows them that even though we are limited, we can still make the best out of things, and that is NOT what they have been seeing lately :( I am just praying that this keeps working!

Hi Julia! Great to "see" you! Actually, I had my PM appt yesterday, and he did order the injection, but I have to wait til Wednesday :eek: I will live :rolleyes:
The wierd thing is, and I am sure you all will know, but after the first injection which was just steroids in the sacrum, with numbing med (is this considered an ESI?-I forgot to ask! (just easier to post when you know the terms :o ), I had more Lumbar mobility soon after. That lasted for a couple days. Then the pain came back for a few days (was thinking this was normal from what I heard :confused: ) The pain went away again!, and when it came back, it did so with a vengeance, but mostly all on my right side. I give up trying to figure it out. I just know I'm in pain.

Mark, I am glad you are also doing well on it :) I wonder, how do you know if it's working for the pain, when we are on the other meds?

Thanks again :)

[Violet]

...Like you, cymbalta has really been a good med for me. My wife couldn't tolerate it but for me it has done a great job with my pain and mood...

Cymbalta also helps with pain?

[Mark N]

Violet, I take Cymbalta for the pain relief as I had no depression issues.

Jena, I know it worked for me because the MSContin and Soma took care of my acute pain and muscle spasms but I was having bad neuropathic pain that was driving me crazy. Cymbalta took care of that 'background' pain and I have good control over my pain. I have tried to cut back the amount of Cymbalta I take and each time my pain shot way back up, so I know it works for me.

[jena1225]

aaah, thanks Mark :D

[curiousforever]

Glad you're feeling so much better!!

And with the cymbalta (Hope BB sees this also) my former doc (the good one) and I played around with cymbalta, lyrica, and a few other meds to see which actually made a difference. Found out the only one in the group that helped was the cymbalta. That was after getting off of everything and adding one thing - stopping it , adding something else, stopping it, adding something else, stopping it.

Well, not really ADDING anything - but went from taking nothing to take lyrica etc, etc.

[jena1225]

Glad you're feeling so much better!!

And with the cymbalta (Hope BB sees this also) my former doc (the good one) and I played around with cymbalta, lyrica, and a few other meds to see which actually made a difference. Found out the only one in the group that helped was the cymbalta. That was after getting off of everything and adding one thing - stopping it , adding something else, stopping it, adding something else, stopping it.

Well, not really ADDING anything - but went from taking nothing to take lyrica etc, etc.

Thanks CF :) Yes, that is the best way to do it, but for some reason it did not happen that way, and I was not really paying attention. When you have 3 meds and 3 different doc's rx'ing them, I just lost track of what i was doing. But, I do feel better, so I guess that is the most important :p