I'm chronic and have had pain every day for over 3 years. My pain is mostly from 8am to 11 pm almost every 2 or three hours. The pain lasts for several hours unless I abort it with something. So far it's been Tylenol, aspirin, and hydrocodone for the worst attacks. I know that's not good for long term and I'm trying to set up alternatives that I've discovered here. I have cycles of increased intensity mainly in the Fall-Spring with a little less intensity in the summer. Now I'm struggling with an earlier-than-normal pain increase, with my work's busy season beginning this month and lasting 3 more.
Although wine, beer, and colored liquors will trigger, 2 shots of rum will abort in about 5-10 minutes. (too much will have a negative effect, though) I obviously can't do that during the day. It is a relief sometimes at night, though. I realize some of you will flame me over that one, but right now I'm in pain and it's every day without any breaks, and I'm just doing what I know works. I'm working on alternatives but until then, so be it. I would love it if I could look at a rum and coke as a once-in-a-while pleasure instead of as a medical treatment.
I don't want constipation, ED, kidney stones, or memory loss, so the drug preventives that seem to work are scaring me. I'm going to talk to the doc in a few weeks about them though.
Red Bull seems to help abort faster, but it also wires me up and makes me feel bad in general. I'm also thinking I'm getting a worse rebound after the abort. I've started drinking half a can, but I can't tell it's doing any better and still getting what I think may be a rebound about 1 1/2 hours later. I may give up on that one or try one of the different brands.
I've been taking D3 and fish oil for over a week now at the levels recommended here, but can't tell if it's helping or not at this point.
I'm still trying to get my oxygen set up. I have an appointment with the GP in a couple of weeks to discuss prescriptions, and I don't expect a problem there. Until then I'm picking up a welding tank today from a supplier that I found close to my house, and my 25lpm regulator and mask should be here by tomorrow.
Will oxygen be enough to get me through the day? Once aborted, will the beast stay gone for a few hours so that I can complete a sales presentation and be able to talk to people with my wits about me? All this is going through my mind and I'm getting scared as my pain seems to be increasing early in the season. I don't think I can get through my job if it gets worse than it did last fall.
Sorry this post is all over the place and probably confusing, but that's where my mind is right now.