Worse Than The Disease
Sep. 21st, 2012 11:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyspriteSo, since Friday I've been dealing with a diagnosis of spinal injury and nerve compression to my right arm. I've been put on meds, and I've got an appointment to see a neurologist today.
Unfortunately, my body doesn't deal well with drugs. I tend to live pretty cleanly, all things told. I don't smoke, I don't drink, and the most aggressive indulgence I have is occasional low-dose ibuprofen. So when I do get slammed with meds, they tend to hit me pretty hard.
I started out on vicodin and flexeril, which left me semiconscious all weekend. When the pain didn't get better, they added prednisone, which then made me drink like a fish, while still leaving me thirsty and dry-mouthed enough that I lost most of my voice.
When I had to go back to work Wednesday, I had to stop everything but the pred. So at my pre-referral appointment with my doctor yesterday, she prescribed me tramadol and a different muscle relaxant, that I started last night.
I haven't taken anything yet today, but I am a shambling wreck. Shaking, cold, uncoordinated, dizzy, stumbling, emotionally volatile like nothing I've ever experienced before, nauseated, weak.... I tried to go to work for the morning, at least, but was sent home after just two hours, when the staff realized I could barely hold a pen to write my notes, and was on the brink of tears
If it's a choice between this and a non-functional right arm.... I'm really not sure which is worse. But at the moment I'm strongly leaning towards the drugs being the greater evil.
Unfortunately, my body doesn't deal well with drugs. I tend to live pretty cleanly, all things told. I don't smoke, I don't drink, and the most aggressive indulgence I have is occasional low-dose ibuprofen. So when I do get slammed with meds, they tend to hit me pretty hard.
I started out on vicodin and flexeril, which left me semiconscious all weekend. When the pain didn't get better, they added prednisone, which then made me drink like a fish, while still leaving me thirsty and dry-mouthed enough that I lost most of my voice.
When I had to go back to work Wednesday, I had to stop everything but the pred. So at my pre-referral appointment with my doctor yesterday, she prescribed me tramadol and a different muscle relaxant, that I started last night.
I haven't taken anything yet today, but I am a shambling wreck. Shaking, cold, uncoordinated, dizzy, stumbling, emotionally volatile like nothing I've ever experienced before, nauseated, weak.... I tried to go to work for the morning, at least, but was sent home after just two hours, when the staff realized I could barely hold a pen to write my notes, and was on the brink of tears
If it's a choice between this and a non-functional right arm.... I'm really not sure which is worse. But at the moment I'm strongly leaning towards the drugs being the greater evil.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-21 11:19 pm (UTC)If they did, and if you started taking prednisone on Monday ... today is right about where what I call prednisone psychosis hits -- even for those of us who have a higher tolerance for meds. I wish I'd read this earlier -- I'd have called you right away to reasurre you about this (I may call you in a few, just because). I can almost guarantee that this reaction was about the prednisone.
I don't get why your doc is giving you tramadol when the Vicodin was too much for you, but ... I guess she had a reason.
I predict that the prednisone's effects will be better by Monday. Until then, just hold on. {{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}