Postponing Morphine Trial

Dear Betty,

Thank you for your support on this.  You are one of the dear souls that I thought of when I typed my second share post.  Since then,  I now have an appointment with my pain specialist the day before my pump trial to pose this question.  I have found out that one of the doctors in his group does the trials for my back surgeon so why didn't he refer me to him!!!  I just don't get it!  I see him at 9:00am this morning.  I had such a horrible migraine over this yesterday that I went to bed with it at 6:30pm and didn't wake up until 4:30am as I write this message this morning. I still have my headache and took another Zomig.  I will probably go back to bed since we have a 2hour delay because of SNOW! I know that you love that 4 letter word!  We will probably close today (I work in the schools  ).  Anyway, I will post what I find out later. 

Thank you for your kind words.  I am ever leaning on His strength.

Your sister in Christ,

SoBlest

Hi Pauline,

Sorry for the delay in replying to you.  I thought that I had but then realized but it was in combo with another reply!  Yes, this website has been an amazing resource for me as well.  It was paramount in me making my decision to CANCEL my morpine pump trial.  The risks were to great for the possible benefit in helping my severe constipation problems.  I found out last night my researching one of my other medications (clonidine for hotflashes), that it also causes constipation.  I posted comments about that under the section "Medication" and created a subtitle "Medications that cause constipation: found a new one!" so check that out.  I won't restate everything here except to say I almost went through with the morphine pump trial when this drug could be the culprit!!  I stopped taking it last night so it's too soon to tell.

Thank you for comments as well.  We all have much to gain here!  I haven't been able to find the cherry pills yet.  I have done a little research on them and have found that they are supposed to help with pain somewhat.  The verdict is still out though.  I can't imagine that they help so much that they could replace the Kadian that I am on.  That would be a dream. 

Oh well, I will post what happens with the absence of the clonidine.  I can't believe that my family physician didn't catch that one.  He knows how constipated I am and he prescribed that one.  I will definitely consult with him when I see him again.  I have some BP issues so I may have to take something else for that since clonidine also helps BP. 

Take care,

SoBlest

Hi Pauline,

Go to Chronic Pain Connection's home page.  Under the tabe "Manage", Click "Chronic Pain Forums".  You will then see a list of forums to select.  "Medication" is the 7th one down I think.  Click that forum and it will take you to the one I created, which is "Medications that cause constipations: found a new one".  Click that...it's the first one I think.  You should then be able to read it.

SoBlest

Hi Pauline,

Not sure what happened but at least you were able to read what I wrote.

I already use the Senna tablets.  I also take 3 psyllium tablets 3 times per day, which I buy at GNC.  I also take 2 magnesium tablets before bed every night.  In addition to all of that, I have been trying a product made by "Fruit-eze".  You can go to their website to purchase it.  It is a mixture of prunes, raisins, prune juice, and figs.  I consume a couple of tablespoons two times per day.  My husband calls it "poop goop"!!!! There is actually another recipie for such a mixture out there if you want to "Google" it.  Believe it or not, with all of this, I STILL have trouble "going".  If I haven't gone within a 3 days, I resort to a laxative.  I drink lots of water.  I only drink one cup of coffee in the morning, and maybe one can of soda, and only one, per day.  The rest is all water.  I know that I could always eat more fruits and vegetables but I think that I do well.  That is pretty much my regimen. 

I will continue to go without the Clonidine for a while and see if the is my constipation culprit (taking it at night for hot flashes).  I am also trying to go without Topamax today as well but I can really feel it tonight.  I won't be able to sleep.  I also read that it might cause constipation but I am more bothered by the confusion it causes me at times.  I also repeat myself a lot which bothers me and my family tremendously!!  I am aware of this and I need to quit doing it.  It's as if I am not sure that others heard me or I have to say it over again to confirm in my mind what I said.  I am a speech/language pathologist so this REALLY bugs me.  I am determined to go off the Topamax for a while to see if that is really what it is.  If not, then I am just loosing it!! Hee-Hee!! Oh well, thank you for the suggestions.  I have tried just about everything, except the cherry pills...haven't found them yet.

Take care

SoBlest

 I have the same exact problem with repeating myself and for the same reason too.

I'm never sure if I'm being heard or if they heard me, do they understand the meaning of what I said.

  A lot of times, the person I'm talking to doesn't acknowledge that they heard  me, and that makes it all the more frustrating.

  The cramps and 'charley horses' in my thighs and calves are getting so much worse. These are painful occurences. Now they have extended down to my toes.  My toes will get the cramp and then separate and stay in that fixed, cramped position. I do the usual things to get rid of the cramping & muscle spasms in my legs, but I can't seem to do too much for the toes.

 After a while the cramp(spasm) will ease and the toes will relax and go back to normal.

 This is something new. Called my Dr. and he told me to drink Tonic water with quinine. I have been drinking tonic water with quinine for years. I didn't get any help with this new added problem from my Dr. Any suggestions. anyone?