I like the drugs, but they don’t like me…
May 12th, 2007 by 
Caroline Spector
I’ve been trying come up with a decent post for this week and sucking pretty bad at it. I blame the medication.
Seriously, all of Rory’s posts about the joys of codeine hold no charm for me. I take any kind of opioids – real or fake – and I can guarantee almost immediate yarking.
So naturally, I would end up with a non-fatal, chronic problem involving pain: fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is what doctors have taken to calling a collection of particular symptoms that seem to be linked together. It’s not exactly a disease. It’s a “syndrome.” I love having the villain from THE INCREDIBLES as my “condition.”
The two big problems with FM are fatigue and pain. And I could have dealt with the pain part of the FM had I not developed a frozen shoulder in the last nine months.
Frozen shoulder (a.k.a., adhesive capsulitis) is a super fun, super fabulous problem with no known cause and no known cure. You just start having excruciating pain in your shoulder joint and then scar tissue forms, restricting your shoulder movement. It takes about two years to clear up. The pain feels like someone trying to do surgery on your joint using a butcher’s knife with baby aspirin for the pain.
Combine this with the FM and it’s been a perfect storm of what doctors often refer to as “discomfort.”
I adore the term “discomfort.” “Oooo, you had abdominal surgery and we’ve left a drain in. You may have some discomfort.” Or, “I’m going to slide this needle into your spine and take some fluid out. You may feel some discomfort.” To which I always think I shall say, “I’ll discomfort your ass. Come here…”
So, my really quite wonderful neurologist has been trying me out on a couple of meds that are supposed to work for the pain. (All those wonderful meds for hardcore pain are pretty much useless for FM. Yay! I’m allergic to them anyway!)
And, much to my amazement, these drugs have really made a difference in the pain. It’s not gone, but there are moments when it’s not The Most Important Thing in My Life.
And that, sadly, is the problem. The drug side effects have been pretty much ass.
My memory, no great shakes to begin with, is fried. I’m like Ray Milland in LOST WEEKEND. Without the fun drinking part.
I have all the concentration of a wire-haired terrier on speed. My mouth feels like I used it to walk through the Mojave Desert. And when I’m not feeling overwhelmed and weepy, I’m irritable as hell. (Okay, so maybe that last one isn’t the drugs.)
Theoretically, some of these side effects are supposed to diminish. And I just got switched from one drug to its chemically-close relative, which is supposed to have fewer side effects. Color me dubious.
I keep hoping for one of those new miracle drugs we keep hearing about. You know, the ones we’re supposed to find in the Amazon rain forest. (I’ve been hearing about this frog venom that’s massively lethal, but in small amounts could be a fabulous pain reliever. It’s a pity that the rain forest will be clear-cut for more cattle ranches. Yee haw! Bring me mah Arby’s!)
For right now, I’m going to give this new drug a chance. But I have no great optimism about it. Pain management has been a problem for mankind since we started walking upright. The poppy was revered for its ability to release man from pain. Then we started getting cute with it and ended up with heroin. Not sure where I’m going with that, but I blame the drugs…
Posted in Caroline, Daily Life, People, Rory, Science | 
May 12th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Meds are a crapshoot. I think all pharmaceutical packaging should have a picture of Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry saying “You have to ask yourself a question, do I feel lucky?”
For some reason the word “opioids” makes me think of pod people infesting Mayberry.
May 12th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
So, does the new stuff at least give you some kind of a buzz?
As you know, you have my best and most recent empathy on this subject. Chronic pain sucks. It’s not just that it hurts, but that it wears your ass out, and subtracts your ability to enjoy the other parts of your life.
Recently, I’ll admit, I’ve gotten into usually referring to it as ‘discomfort’ at work, myself. I hate to sound like such a wuss and call it ‘pain’ and ‘hurting’ when I’m lying back grey-faced and semi-immobilized in my chair.
I hope this next drug trial gives you some good relief, Caroline.
May 12th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
I have a co-worker whose spouse had frozen shoulder. He was put under general anesthesia and the surgeon performed “forcible manipulation” (which sounds… well, it’s just an unfortunate name). But he woke up pain-free and with range of motion restored.
May 12th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
rb, that sounds scary. Maybe very good, as well. But scary.
May 13th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Have they checked to make sure you don’t have CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome) with FM as your secondary? The reason I ask is the two go hand in hand.
I have CFIDS with the OTHER secondary - neurological disorders. I lose cognitive abilities, memeory, etc.
But a hallmark of CFIDS is fatigue, sensitivity to medications - those fantastic complications you talk about! - and just a lot of little things you mention that seem familiar…
May 14th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Rory– yeah, chronic pain is just exhausting. And there’s nothing wussy about saying so. I think our country has a ridiculously Puritanical attitude about it.
RB — I went to an orthopedic surgeon and he said surgery often makes frozen shoulder worse. I envy your friend who had the surgery that worked. I have heard that if that surgey is performed wrong, the can break your arm.
Ophelea– You got me about the CFIDS. I didn’t even go into the doctor’s office for the FM. I went in intially for the frozen shoulder and my neurologist diagnosed the FM.
I’ve always had drug sensitvities — even as a child.
May 14th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Ah, yes. Adhesive capsulitis: been there, done that. I couldn’t even manage to get my left hand into my back pocket or brush my hair. I was particularly happy when they told me that having it in one shoulder predisposed one to having it in the other too. (I haven’t, yet.) Physical therapy, strength exercises, and shots of cortisone in the joint eventually worked. I was worried about the cortisone, but it helped. My insurance paid for the PT, for which I’m very grateful. Good luck, and hang in there. Oh, and my shoulder if fine now, though not exactly as previous to the AC, and pain-free.
May 16th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
i have always found the caveat “side effects may be mild and may include dry mouth…” no one who has ever had dry mouth would consider it mild… it is absolutely one of the most frustrating side effects ever. the only one worse was the one i got from taking an antibiotic — it made me have anxiety attacks and paranoia! (well, made the usual anxiety attacks and paranoia much much more heightened anyway!) i can’t even take Advil(TM) or Tylenol(TM) P.M. — i get weird effects, like a feeling of paralysis and mild hallucenations. they’re not nearly as much fun as advertised.