I get lots of email like the one below. But this particular message comes from longtime reader and fellow blogger Bronwyn Ramey.

I’m currently taking Topamax daily, an anti-seizure medication that is supposed to prevent migraines. It doesn’t. To help with the migraines I still get 5 days of every 7, I have Axert (a triptan) of which I am only allowed 6 per month and the non-narcotic Toradol and phenergan, of which I am given 15 and 30 per month, respectively. I still spend several days a month in bed sleeping to escape the pain, and most of my days at work wishing I could be unconscious.

I have to refill all of these medications every month, and I often run out before the month runs out, and then I just suffer. Or, I suffer through the month because I ‘budget’ my pills. I have been popping the toradol and phenergan as often as ‘allowed’ for the past four days and have had no pain relief at all.

Only once has a physician prescribed an opiate – vicodin – for me, and that was a one-time Rx for 10 pills. I guarded them like a treasure and ran out way too soon.

No one else has ever offered more. I know I am suffering far less than many other people, but I also know that I suffer far more than anyone should ever have to. My partner suffers too, and yes we even fight over it sometimes, especially when I’m budgeting my medications and am in too much pain to do anything. My pain ruins not only ability to live a full and happy life, it ruins his, too.

Next time I see my neurologist, I’m going to ask about oxycontin and extended-release morphine. Test the waters. If she’s uncomfortable, I’ll ask for a referral to a pain specialist. Let’s see how far I can get in the UIowa hospitals system.

She’ll keep us posted on how she does.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005 at 10:59 am by Radley Balko and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.