Migraines - starting Gabapentin for now, seeking neuro asap

[waves]

Dear Mari

Originally Posted by Mari

I would expect that the codeine works. What do you mean "for the most part?"

I mean that it does not completely resolve the pain. At times yesterday I had moderate pain even with the med. Due to the addictive risk of codeine as well as the hepatotoxicity of the stupid useless acetaminophen in the tablets, I am quite limited insofar as taking extra. However should I have another wicked migraine like yesterday, I will take two tablets as an initial dose, and then perhaps take aspirin with every other dose, or take 1.5 tablets every now and then. I hate that I have to track the stupid acetaminophen. I wish they had codeine by itself so I could do this thing "a la carte."

Today it helped but the migraine is mild - moderate. I almost didn't take anything but as soon as I sat up, it started gaining quota so I did. That was at 6.30. More than 4 hours have passed and I have not taken another yet because the pain is staying mild. I slept for a while during that time which helped. I also think the migraine is on it's way out.

Dumb question: Does it matter that the gabapentin might do a better job for you in a few weeks? Is seems to me that the med will need four weeks to let you know if it works for you.

Mari, please remember: the only dumb question is the one not asked. Yes, it can take 4 weeks or even more to see the full benefit of the gabapentin as a prophylactic. If it works better, any breakthrough migraines might not be so bad - so yes it matters in regard to needing extra medication and how well that has to work.

Thank you for caring. These days have been difficult... Between migraines and gabapentin titration I've spent a lot of time half-out-of it, disoriented, and feeling powerless (waiting game). I have appreciated being able to dialog with you about all this stuff. Thank you for your patience wading through my lengthy posts, also.

~ waves ~

[mymorgy]

i wish you weren't going through this. it must be so awful.
love
bobby

[waves]

Thank you dear Bobby!

Hopefully the worst is over and I shan't have so many migraines going forward...

Thank goodness for the forum because it isn't as though I can go out and about like this - not safe, I've been unsteady on my feet. I'm glad I've still been able to come here between resting periods, albeit with heavy eye protection lol.

This morning I was more out of it than I have been in a while. I haven't even tried to be awake - in between posting here, I've just slept. My mother is watching tv but I put earplugs in and seated them really well. I also insisted she leave all but one of the blinds down. so there.

love

~ waves ~

[Mari]

Hi,


. . . . complaining. . . .
My boss is having an entirely useless meeting. She has ridiculous things on the agenda --- all this while other people in the room have to take care of actual stuff. And the meeting is going to be longer than usual. Oh and I sort of called her out on her b.s. the last time I saw her a couple of weeks a go. She did not back down so I later started a mini revolution with two others to make our point about something important. Maybe I should have left her a lone.
I wish I did not have to go in for the meeting. I took about 0.33 Klonopin so it will be in my system by time the meeting started UGH. .. .. hope to stay awake and say only appropriate things while Klonopinned . . so that is where I am right now. I remember it is important to fight a battle only
1) if it is hugely important, and
2) if you have right on your side, and
3) if you know you can win. The battle only met #2 and I hugely mis calculated #3 Did I already say UGH? I did learn some things about her in the process.... these are not good things.
Oh and yeah, I am operating in a sleep deficit since Sunday. Complain.

O.K. So you can realistically expect the Gabapentin to help you in a few weeks. The Acetaminophen in codeine should be criminal. Someone told me that the two (acetaminophen and codeine) can work together synergistically). BUt that person was not med designer. A person should have the option of taking them separately. I think we should have sit down real meetings with med designers. Probably they would get earfuls and we would feel better about things.

Originally Posted by waves

Dear Mari
These days have been difficult... Between migraines and gabapentin titration I've spent a lot of time half-out-of it, disoriented, and feeling powerless (waiting game). I have appreciated being able to dialog with you about all this stuff. Thank you for your patience wading through my lengthy posts, also.

Sleep through the disorientation if you can.
How long on the codeine before you start worrying about addiction?

Take care. 'Sending good thoughts.

Mari

[bizi]

rest when you are able waves
(((((HUGS))))
I hope you get thru the meet Mari,
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[waves]

Dear Mari

Originally Posted by Mari

My boss is having an entirely useless meeting. ... other people in the room have to take care of actual stuff.

UGH. I'm sorry.

I sort of called her out on her b.s. ... She did not back down so I later started a mini revolution with two others

Arggh.

I wish I did not have to go in for the meeting. ... hope to stay awake and say only appropriate things while Klonopinned . .
it is important to fight a battle only
1) if it is hugely important, and
2) if you have right on your side, and
3) if you know you can win.
The battle only met #2 and I hugely mis calculated #3

Ooooooooh Krrrrrunchy Krapola!!! Good list though. I hope you were Klonopinned just enough to be ok during the meeting and that no further hair-ruffling took place. Is this the boss who replaced witchwoman? Sounds like she is witchy too...

Would I be terribly out of line to suggest that you try to keep a low profile for a while - at least until things settle down wrt your recent altercation with her? Knowing you can win a battle is tied to place and time among other things.

I am operating in a sleep deficit since Sunday.

I hope you can get a breather somewhere this week and get some more rest in.

You know, earlier I realized I wished you a good "rest-of-Sunday" ... in a Monday post. Sorry! And, considering rest was the last thing you were getting then, talk about a mis-spun pun! Time and I are apparently on separate planes of existence. That wasn't my only screwup...
............................

This morning, I knew today was a public holiday, but I also thought it was Wednesday. This, despite the fact that yesterday I thought it was Sunday (as above). When I found out today was only Tuesday, the public holiday aspect somehow went out the window! So thinking nothing of it, I called my pdoc on his cell. He picked up right away and interacted in his usual manner. I only got clued in when mom asked with surprise if I'd really just called my pdoc on a public holiday! I will apologize when I see him Thursday.

~ waves ~

[waves]

Originally Posted by Mari

The Acetaminophen in codeine should be criminal

A person should have the option of taking them separately.

Hear hear!!!

Someone told me that the two (acetaminophen and codeine) can work together synergistically.

Possible, but that seems unlikely in my case, since I don't respond to acetaminophen on its own at all, even if I take a full gram.

I think we should have sit down real meetings with med designers. Probably they would get earfuls and we would feel better about things.

Yeah!!!

Sleep through the disorientation if you can.

I mostly did... unfortunately sleeping on and off like that tends to augment time/day disorientation.

How long on the codeine before you start worrying about addiction?

I don't know and the package insert only said not to exceed the recommended dose nor use for an "extended period." The time-to-addiction might vary with the individual. My mother said probably 3 days on it and I'd have to space the last doses apart. I will try to research it more, but in any case I don't intend to use it but for exceptional cases.

This time I only took it for half of yesterday, plus 1 dose today. The rest of today I had only low pain so no need to medicate, now down to occasional twinges - I think I'm done for the month. I feel better overall. Even the photosensitivity has improved although the phonosensitivity is still high.

Take care. 'Sending good thoughts.

thanks. Right back atcha. I really hope you get to have a relaxing evening tonight after the hard and annoying day at work.

~ waves ~

[waves]

Originally Posted by bizi

rest when you are able waves
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thank you, I have been. I am feeling much better. Not fully put together yet, but getting there.

~ waves ~

[Dmom3005]

I find it interesting that of all things I've been prescribed

Tylenol/codeine as my pain medication.

As needed.


I don't take that much anymore. Because it makes me sleepy.

But I know its here if I need it.

Donna

[waves]

Thanks for the feedback. How are you feeling?

Originally Posted by Dmom3005

I find it interesting that of all things I've been prescribed

Tylenol/codeine as my pain medication.

As needed.

It doesn't surprise me... thing is that Tylenol by itself *actually works* for most people... for regular purposes. Add codeine to something that works, and you have something that works much better.

But Donna, if you have the medication handy, may I ask, exactly:

how much tylenol (mg) and how much codeine (mg) are in your pills?

I found out they have codeine here by itself but the amount is 2ce what is in my pills, and looks like there are complicated prescription rules... probably not accessible to me, besides being unmanageable (i'd want to cut them in 4).

~ waves ~