chronic pain and suicide

1964dodge

Has a frog in the family
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#1
does any one else have to fight suicide due to chronic pain/illness

I have severe chronic pain in my legs which was under control until my meds were reduced because of cdc guidelines my doctor is trying non opioid meds to make up the difference but not much luck yet I live in 5 or 6 range and I can spike up to 10 on the 10 scale for 1 to 3 hours until breakthrough meds kick in so 2 or 3 times a week I have to fight those thoughts while the pain spikes I have won so far. I also have bad copd 49% lung capacity i'm on oxygen and an avap at night (passive ventilator) plus lower back pain. my doctor is pushing me to see a therapist because i'm in crises according to him. I don't want sympathy I just wonder if other people suffer and how they cope and don't ctb
 

1964dodge

Has a frog in the family
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#3
Hey dodge, has he been trying anything new since he put you on your last set of meds? I know newer things have come out.
he put me on a low dose of duloxetine 2 months ago and he'll probably raise it on the 16th, it helps a little but not much i'm hoping the increased dosage will help. he tried something else first but the side effects were too bad. besides i'm giving him till spring for my pain to get better. I don't want much just 4 range with spikes to 7. sorry to complain
 

Were all together

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SF Supporter
#4
he put me on a low dose of duloxetine 2 months ago and he'll probably raise it on the 16th, it helps a little but not much i'm hoping the increased dosage will help. he tried something else first but the side effects were too bad. besides i'm giving him till spring for my pain to get better. I don't want much just 4 range with spikes to 7. sorry to complain
Hopefully, the increase will help. If it doesn't, they're may be others that help.
 

Human Ex Machinae

Void Where Prohibited
#5
he put me on a low dose of duloxetine 2 months ago and he'll probably raise it on the 16th, it helps a little but not much i'm hoping the increased dosage will help. he tried something else first but the side effects were too bad. besides i'm giving him till spring for my pain to get better. I don't want much just 4 range with spikes to 7. sorry to complain
Dodge, you aren't complaining, you're sharing with us, your friends. Every day you make people here smile and feel better able to cope with their problems, you deserve some of that back.
 

Organicmaplesyurp

Some Chargie
SF Supporter
#7
Well Dodge, you already know I do. This is something you and I both have I common. Flareups are shit. Pain is shit. Meds are shit. Illness is shit. I don't know if you're a facebook guy, but there's this one page for people like us that puts a smile on my face. It's called The Unchargeables.

Sometimes it's nice to just read posts from people who get it.
 

1964dodge

Has a frog in the family
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#8
thank you I know you suffer also do you have to fight thoughts to ctb also, I have a face book account but i's rare that I use it but I may check that out
 

Organicmaplesyurp

Some Chargie
SF Supporter
#9
thank you I know you suffer also do you have to fight thoughts to ctb also, I have a face book account but i's rare that I use it but I may check that out
You should. It might even make you get on FB more often. :)

And yes, I have to fight those thoughts. Some days are worse than others.

Hugs to you, sorry you're not feeling well.
 

Organicmaplesyurp

Some Chargie
SF Supporter
#11
it's ok 98% i'm safe for now i'm giving my doctor until spring to help me so i'm trying to fight those feelings and so far I won
You keep on staying safe, we all care about you. I know it can be super tough though to handle when it feels like life is weighing you down. I know you said no sympathy, but I'm having a hard time not feeling moved by this. I understand it too well.

Would it be helpful to you if you had a few medical aids for your worse days, such as a wheelchair? Some doctors will give them to people with chronic pain or illness, even if they aren't paralyzed, because for some people, they can make a big difference if how they function.

Remember to take care of yourself, outside of medical treatments, of course. Do that something that brings you joy! :)
 

1964dodge

Has a frog in the family
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#12
You keep on staying safe, we all care about you. I know it can be super tough though to handle when it feels like life is weighing you down. I know you said no sympathy, but I'm having a hard time not feeling moved by this. I understand it too well.

Would it be helpful to you if you had a few medical aids for your worse days, such as a wheelchair? Some doctors will give them to people with chronic pain or illness, even if they aren't paralyzed, because for some people, they can make a big difference if how they function.

Remember to take care of yourself, outside of medical treatments, of course. Do that something that brings you joy! :)
from you it's not sympathy it's understanding because we're both in the same boat different problems but both of us suffering from chronic pain/illness. since you also suffer you know what i'm going through I wish you didn't have to suffer so much. my doctor prescribed a hospital bed which helps and a wheelchair because the most I can walk is about 500 to 600 feet before it was 100 to 200 feet so i'm getting better. also i'm only on oxygen at night or walking more than 100 feet no more during the day at home or driving i'm actually getting better all the time except for pain level, sorry to ramble
 

Organicmaplesyurp

Some Chargie
SF Supporter
#13
from you it's not sympathy it's understanding because we're both in the same boat different problems but both of us suffering from chronic pain/illness. since you also suffer you know what i'm going through I wish you didn't have to suffer so much. my doctor prescribed a hospital bed which helps and a wheelchair because the most I can walk is about 500 to 600 feet before it was 100 to 200 feet so i'm getting better. also i'm only on oxygen at night or walking more than 100 feet no more during the day at home or driving i'm actually getting better all the time except for pain level, sorry to ramble
You're not rambling at all! Write away!

I'm glad your doctor has given you a hospital bed and wheelchair. Also, I'm glad your condition is improving in some ways, and that your doctor is pushing for therapy. It sounds like you have a good doctor!

It sounds like you're doing everything you can to improve you health, both physical and mental, good for you. The hardest thing when you have an illness is actually having the energy to do much, let alone trying so hard to make it better. That's a lot of work. Be proud of yourself.
 

Walker

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#14
I feel you here. I don't necessarily get that tick of the box that makes me feel suicidal right now but I do get "hopeless" about the future in regards to pain management. I've got chronic pain but I'm managing it alright. I know that what I have is progressive so my issue is "what will it be like in xx years?" and that freaks me out some days. When pain is already at a level where you can't sit, stand, lie down or walk that day for more than a couple minutes at a time before changing positions then what does the future hold? But .... new things do keep coming and there is always something I haven't tried yet. There is another procedure, another medication, another alternative therapy, another process that I haven't been through and that's what I try to hold on to. I just grit my teeth, load up on meds for the day and really really hope that the next day will be better.
 

Organicmaplesyurp

Some Chargie
SF Supporter
#15
I feel you here. I don't necessarily get that tick of the box that makes me feel suicidal right now but I do get "hopeless" about the future in regards to pain management. I've got chronic pain but I'm managing it alright. I know that what I have is progressive so my issue is "what will it be like in xx years?" and that freaks me out some days. When pain is already at a level where you can't sit, stand, lie down or walk that day for more than a couple minutes at a time before changing positions then what does the future hold? But .... new things do keep coming and there is always something I haven't tried yet. There is another procedure, another medication, another alternative therapy, another process that I haven't been through and that's what I try to hold on to. I just grit my teeth, load up on meds for the day and really really hope that the next day will be better.
That sounds tough Walker, but it's a strong thing that you think about treatments that you haven't tried yet.
 

Sunspots

To Wish Impossible Things
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#16
Dodge, you're the least complainy person I know!

I've no idea what it's like to live with chronic pain constantly. I had a couple of years when I was on hormone treatment for cancer that reacted badly with my thyroid medication - it gave me bad joint pain that made walking for long distances hard due to my knees. And that was bad enough so what you guys have to deal with must be unbearable.

In the UK we have specialist pain management clinics that you can be referred to - do you have something like that in the States? I'm assuming if you do, you've already been down that route.

I have a friend with severe fibromyalgia. She's just been put onto Amitriptyline which is so far working well for her pain and insomnia (but no so good for her weight).

Sending hugs.
 

1964dodge

Has a frog in the family
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#17
Dodge, you're the least complainy person I know!

I've no idea what it's like to live with chronic pain constantly. I had a couple of years when I was on hormone treatment for cancer that reacted badly with my thyroid medication - it gave me bad joint pain that made walking for long distances hard due to my knees. And that was bad enough so what you guys have to deal with must be unbearable.

In the UK we have specialist pain management clinics that you can be referred to - do you have something like that in the States? I'm assuming if you do, you've already been down that route.

I have a friend with severe fibromyalgia. She's just been put onto Amitriptyline which is so far working well for her pain and insomnia (but no so good for her weight).

Sending hugs.
we have pain clinics but most of them don't prescribe or way under prescribe opioid pain meds because of cdc guidelines and the dea doctors are afraid of prescribing
 

Angie

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#18
@1996dodge you aren't a complainer - and I so appreciate you

I'm sorry for your pain. It sucks that because people have abused opiods now people that really need pain relief can't get it.

Just keep on talking and we'll be here.

Hugs
 

1964dodge

Has a frog in the family
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#19
@1996dodge you aren't a complainer - and I so appreciate you

I'm sorry for your pain. It sucks that because people have abused opiods now people that really need pain relief can't get it.

Just keep on talking and we'll be here.

Hugs
thank you but at least i'm one of the lucky one there are a lot of people that were cut off completely because the doctors are scared and I get some a lot less but at least some
 

Organicmaplesyurp

Some Chargie
SF Supporter
#20
thank you but at least i'm one of the lucky one there are a lot of people that were cut off completely because the doctors are scared and I get some a lot less but at least some
You know, I think that doctors and officials are treating the issue the wrong way. Instead of harming those who actually need opioids, they should have stopped prescribing them to new patients and let the former ones keep their meds.
 

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