[F][/font]What I'm wondering is if Percocet can be "stair-stepped" with 1)Ibuprofen 2)tylenol 2's or 3) vicodin... I have prescriptions for all 3...the percocet is the main one I have to take for chronic migraine and a degenerative neck problem...but sometimes the meds. don't work the way they should...by "stair-stepped" I simply mean taking one of the other 2 meds listed above approximately 2 hours after initial dose of Percocet. I hate having to take meds! But when I have to, I want the pain to stop so I can get through work/kids/church etc.
Thanx!
XoXo
Mychele

MycheleXoXo

Oh! Ok...I get it now Thank you!!!

That cleared up my questions perfectly!
And God, please find us more neurologists/doctors who understand that you can't just get rid of the stress!! If I have to hear that one more time I might scream!! Yes, I know stress isn't good, in any way, on your body-not just from the headache/pain standpoint...it's not like they've invented a "pill" to magically erase stress from our lives and yet they act as though it just that simple! I do everything the "experts" tell you to do...and yet, oddly, the stress is still there! Go figure! (even if that pill existed, I don't think it'd be the best thing...no one ever said that life was going to be stress-free...life is life...good/bad/ugly...we just gotta live it to the best of our ability-God-willing we can learn to find peace, even through the bad and ugly parts)

And I do believe I shall be purchasing that book you mentioned! Too late to get it for my next appt. (1/9/08) but I can have it before my February appt. with the new neurologist!
Thanx again!!
Keep me posted (if you want) on how things are going for you!! I'll do the same (again, if you want) on this end.
XoXo
Mychele

KeepItSimpleStupid

My suggestion for you:

Try to develop a good relationship with the new neurologist.

Ask about high doses of either Neurontin 300 mg or Lyrica 50 mg. Try to gradually get to 3 tablets 4x/day or higher. You need to do it gradually over time.

My Lyrica prescription was filled as: 1 tab 3x/day for 1 week, then 2 tabs 3x/day if needed, after 2 weeks may increase to 3 tabs 3x/day.

Lyrica is a bit more effective and is sort of a cousin to Neurontin. Lyrica, though is a contolled substance. Neurontin isn't. It did reduce the intensity. Neurontin was prescribed my a specialist at a Hospital Headache Center.

See if you can get a trial of Oxycontin 10 mg. Enough to let you determine the best dose for you. Possibly prescribed as 4 tablets every 12 hours with enough to last 1-2 months at that dose based on your diary. That way you can determine the most effective dose.

You seem to have a much higher level of pain than I do. We might want to stay in touch either on or off the board.

KISS

KeepItSimpleStupid

Also remember to do a dearch for '<drug name> "Physician Prescribing Information"' every time you get a new med. This will tell you a lot more about the drug.

Case in point:

I was prescribed a blood pressure med without a time to take it. I looked at the med and when it's concentration peaked and decided that either dinner or bedtime were appropriate. Later, I read a study that said bedtime might be a better time to take blood pressure medications.

Doc and I didn't agree on how to best take a diabetes drug. I said at the time: 1 breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 dinner and 1 at bedtime. He said 6 taken at the same time was the same. I again got that info by looking at the concentration vs. time graphs of the drug. But he also said, whatever works for you.

They don't know it all. Take a proactive approach.

MycheleXoXo

LYRICA! Did I fail to mention the reaction I had to that med? Sorry...my bad! I took Lyrica once...spent the night having terrible nightmares/night terrors-hubby couldn't wake me up...when I finally did wake up the next morning I felt very surreal...that's the only way I can describe it...I sorta floated through getting the kids off to school and getting ready for work...then 2 minutes into my drive to work (driving the same roads I've driven for over 15 years) I came to a stop sign and suddenly couldn't remember how I got there which intensified to "where the hell am I?" Doc said, "uh...don't take that one ever again." Now that I think about it, could that be why I was taken off the neurontin after only 3 1/2 weeks??
Anyhow...unfortunately, that one is right out...not sure about the neurontin...if it's sort of a "cousin" ?? I'll have to ask the new neurologist...I will do my best to develop the best relationship I can with this new guy...I've got a decent relationship with my pain management specialist (the doc I currently get scrips from)...but I think once I see the neurologist I'll be slowly removed from this guys care...which will suck...I really do like him and I love the fact that when I see him it's only a 4 minute drive from work (10 from home) cuz he comes to my local hospital once per week...granted it does take longer to hear back from him (hence my question here) but you gotta take the good with the bad, I guess
I am gonna ask him about the trial of 10mgs Oxy-crossing my fingers and prayin' on this one though...he is very, very rigid about meds. and I'm not sure if he'll go for it or not. It was his associate who suggested the Oxy for me, not him...so we'll see how it goes!

And absolutely! We need to stay in touch! On or off the board...I will definitely let you know what happens at my appt. Wed. You keep in touch and let me know how you are doing, headache/pain/and in general health-wise!!
Thanx again!
XoXo
Mychele

MycheleXoXo

Sheeshy-as paranoid as I am about taking meds. you'd think I'd have been doing this already!! I will absolutely be doing this from now on!! I've always sorta just followed what the doctor said-thinking to myself they must know...but you are right! Must be proactive! The extent of my being proactive was to leave my old neurologist once I found out (via internet and library research) the reason I was feeling so "funky" was I was in the beginning stages of a possible Serotonin OD due to the mix of meds. he had me taking...

Thanx! Talk at you soon, I'm sure, since I'm always full of questions!
XoXo
Mychele