Drugs are for crazy people!

Okay, so now I'm 3 months into my drug investigation for my back pain - and this is what I've figured out:

1. every drug in the world that isn't habit forming has God-awful side effects
- well, at least to me
2. these side effects always seem to involve nausea, being sedated like a zombie
and messing up my monthly cycle so bad I can't figure out if I'm pregnant or in
menopause half the time
3. as soon as I go off of any of these, the terrible, searing nerve pain down my left leg joins me again like a long-lost, irritating relative

Geez, why can't they just give me opiates every day (yummy and wonderful for
pain) and leave it at that? lol

I just KNOW that God wants me to go to the natural foods and yoga route - and I'll do that just as soon as Benjamin stops waking up at 5:45am and running into our room shouting "it's UP TIME, guys!!!"

Metal mouth

Well, here we are on day 4 of our new med regimen. So far, so good. Cymbalta once a day, Flexeril (and as needed, Sonata) each night and the pain is awesomely better. Where last week my days were usually 5/6 on a pain scale with occasional 10's, this week I'm at a 3 on the pain scale with occasional 6's when my sciatica acts up. Much better! I don't want to overdue it, so I'm taking it easy. The first couple of days on Cymbalta I was SO sleepy, but it's getting much better. I even made it through the day yesterday without crashing for a nap.
So - so far, so good. But today, a weird side effect. My coffee doesn't taste right and I have a metallic taste in my mouth. The only other time I've had that happen was when I was pregnant - and OMG that better not be the case!!! If it is, don't expect to see anymore entries in here because I'll have driven over a cliff...lol

But you don't look sick...

..is also the name of my favorite website, www.butyoudontlooksick.com. If you have an "invisible illness", check it out. It's a great support site for all of us who look fine, who WERE fine until God decided we needed this lesson, and now feel everyday like we used to feel when we finally acquiesced and took a sick day from work. It's amazing that I've actually gotten used to this feeling - again. I went into serious denial last year when I got a "remission" diagnosis after two years on Plaquenil for my connective tissue disease - then went off of my medication because it caused severe weakness in my knee muscles. Seriously. Couldn't cross my legs, bend them sideways or sit cross-legged or they would "dislocate" to a major degree of pain. So, a year later, the knees are MUCH better - I might actually sit cross-legged soon one day - but all the fatigue, joint and muscle pain are back and I'm in bed most days when I don't have to be up. It sucks to have this illness, but even worse to know that I NEED my medication or it comes back. Reality check! So, back to the rheumatalogist today to find a new med that keeps my knees intact. Wish me luck!

Sciatica is a pain in my....

...rear, butt, legs, you name it. Yikes! Funny thing about pain - you never understand what it is until you experience it. Like childbirth and kidney stones, which I have also had the dubious honor to experience, sciatica pain is indescribable and excrutiating. Oh, joy! I'm going through my second month of constant agony and fear of stabbing agony and hoping that is is over soon.

Isn't this an old person's ailment? Does this mean I'm old? It sure makes me feel old. I am now very familiar with the "while I'm down on my knees picking this up, what else can I do while I'm down here" syndrome that I remember my grandmother using. I guess that is fair, since I do have a granddaughter and another on the way, but PLEASE...I'm only 46!!!

Listening to preschool TV and Nintendo while I'm nursing arthritis and spinal pain...what kind of old folks home is this?? lol I am SO looking forward to a nice quiet life at Leisure World retirement home after this....sigh.....