HEALTH INTERESTS:
Fibromyalgia and Back Pain: Osteo Arthritis with bone spurs - neck/back/shoulders/hips; and damaged disc in back; Chronic fatigue, 20+ yrs hiv - LTS (long term survivor)DRUGS I AM TAKING:
Duragesic Patch - Fentanyl, muscle relaxers, naproxenABOUT ME:
I had a wonderful and active life, even with my long-running disease problem, but the arthritis, which is in my family, and was therefore expected, has become near-crippling. In fact, without the pain meds, I can sometimes barely leave my bed for no more than a few minutes. On my new medication I can do more, even leaving the house to buy groceries and see doctors, walking without my cane. It's an improvement. I had to stop working because Medicare stopped paying for my meds, which were a couple thousand dollars a month (about half of my income), and now, besides being in constant pain, sometimes horrible, sometimes somewhat controlled, I'm bored stiff, and lonely. Like most of us, all I have to look forward to is more pain as time goes by, and it's all I can do to hold on to my faith. I lost my Social Security for 2 years because they overpaid me, even though I informed them that they were, and in a few months my SDI ends and I have one entire year to get through with no income whatsoever. I want to go back to work, in some form, but who would hire me? I loved restaurant work, and always thought that in my later years, that would be my safety net, as far as employment, but now, I don't know where I could go that would work with my need to sit more than stand, and accept the times when pain attacks make it nearly impossible to do much. What a life! But, I read stories from poor souls who make me feel guilty, as I can still walk, and function (on my medications) and they can't. I'm in a temporary period of "not so bad", pain-wise. I'm grateful, and I wish I could somehow wave my hand and help everyone on this site feel better, too. That's it for now, subject to change, of course. (smile) Thanks for reading. -deanPHOTOS:
ROLES:
Living With It in Chronic Pain
RECENT ACTIVITY Notify me when there are new posts
deandallen commented on Access to Opioid Pain Medication May be Limited or Removed by FDA
06/11/09
deandallen commented on New Fibromyalgia Treatment Milnacipran to be Marketed as Savella
01/20/09
11/06/08
deandallen commented on change of weather and more pain
11/06/08
06/05/08
06/05/08
06/05/08
05/22/08
05/22/08
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