Tramadol

After waiting over a year, I was finally able to see Dr. Tunks, a pain management specialist. He did typical skin tests with pins and cold-packs, and concurred - I have either small fibre neuropathy or some sort of peripheral neuropathy.

He suggested, and prescribed, a slow-release version of Tramacet. He said they were non-narcotic and therefore impossible for me to become addicted. So I tried 100 mg pills of Tramadol for a month.

The resutls? They took the edge off, if ever so slightly, but did not work as well as Tramacet. When they ran out, I suffered through 3 agonizing days of horrible withdrawal symptoms. It was the same as the withdrawal when I went off Lyrica, only not quite as terrible.

Conclusion? Tramadol IS narcotic and I had become totally addicted to them. I will inform Dr. Tunks of this on my next visit. The Tramacet is the best I've ever been on - I can take it as needed (not daily), no side effects and best of all NO withdrawal.

Amitripteline & B Vitamins

The new drug I'm taking is weird. Two hours after taking it, I could barely move. I went to bed, but had a rough night. I kept waking up in a mad panic. The entire next day I felt slow, my limbs were heavy and I was generally drowsy.

The good news was the pain in my feet was noticably diminished. They still hurt, and they were still freezing, but the pain was just... less.

I don't think I can function properly on amitripteline. Work is nearly impossible. That level of drowsiness is unreal. I'd rather deal with the pain by staying off my feet and using my heating pad.

Dr. Kronby also told me that I should be taking a strong multi B-vitamin, despite the fact that my blood test results were normal. All my symptoms seem to indicate that's the problem - my smallest capillaries can't supply blood to my nerve endings.

New Doctors, New Drug

I saw my old neurologist Feb. 20th. Dr. Kronby is great because he actually listens to me and spends time with me, rather than shooing me out the door like the neurologists at McMaster.

He showed me my MRI results - brain 100% normal; neck 99.9999% normal.

Based on my description of the pain + the unusual sweating + having freezing cold feet all the time, he seems convinced I have peripheral (small fibre) neuropathy. He is referring me to two neurologists in London.

He also put me on a different drug, amitripteline. I'm taking a very low dose of 10 mg. It supposedly has made a huge difference in the lives of some diabetics who have my condition. It is a very old drug which used to be used to treat depression, but apparently it has been replaced by more modern drugs.

MRI #2

I had an MRI last night at 9 p.m. This time, the machine was a GE. It was quieter than the MRI I had in New York, but there was a downside: It vibrated quite a lot whereas the Philips machine did not.

Last time the MRI scanned my entire spine. This time it was of my brain and neck. Results are supposedly going to my doctor (Yanover) next week.

Biopsy Results

Went to Mac for my biopsy results yesterday. Dr. Baker said they came back, "100% normal." Which is exactly what I expected - because they took the biopsy from the wrong part of my leg despite my protests in the first place. It was taken from my ankle and my thigh, two places that I do not have any problems.

Dr. Baker said he can't help me any more and he's referring me to a pain specialist. I said it was a waste of time.

Biopsy Approved

The last time I saw Dr. Baker, we had filled out paperwork applying to the Canadian Government for a biopsy to be done, in the U.S. It was a last ditch effort before he sent me on my way. The last thing he told me was that less than 1% of applicants get accepted.

Dr. Baker's office called last week to tell me that my application was accepted. The biopsy is scheduled for next Wednesday.

DNA test

I got the results of my DNA test. I'm normal. After an entire year of waiting and yelling at the useless lab in London, Ontario, my test results finally arrived, 10 months late.

Dr. Baker says he's done with me, as he has no more avenues to pursue.

Lactose Test

I had to take a Lactose intolerance test at the hospital today. I had to wait 8, that's right, eight months for the test. And all I did was drink a glass of pure lactose, then the nurse took breath samples every half hour from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

I had no symptoms - but I knew I wouldn't. It's something else in milk that does it, because I get the same horrible, bloody symptoms when I drink lactose-free milk. What a waste of 8 months.

Endoscopy

I had an endoscopy today. It was nothing like anyone described. Everyone (my sister, my friend, the doctor and the nurses) said it was not painful, and that I'd only feel and uncomfortable pressure in my stomach.

No pain my ass.

I did not feel pressure in my stomach, but what I did feel was an incredible pain in my throat. The anti-gag reflex spray did not work at all. I had serious convulsions the entire time. Perhaps my throat was too small? Maybe the spray didn't work? I suspect the latter.

The real infuriating part was at the end. The nurses told me no food or drink for 2.5 hours. I asked the nurses if the freezing was supposed to last that long. They said it should start to fade after 2 hours.

But when I told them that all the freezing had completely worn off after approximately 4 and a half minutes, they did not believe me and insisted I still had a frozen throat. I told them it was the same as when I visit the dentist - that freezing barely lasts 10 minutes.

Then they got upset.

They told me sternly not to eat anything until 5:30 p.m. because they didn't want the food going into my lungs on account of my throat still being numb. "Okay, whatever," I replied. I know when to give up.

I can't stand it when people don't listen to me. Not everybody is the same. Doctors and nurses of ALL people should know this. It's no wonder more and more people are dying in hospitals these days. Ignorant doctors.

Oh yeah - I'm Celiac-free. See? I believe the doctors when they tell ME something.

Genetic Joke

My genetic test results were postponed again. This time they SWORE they'd have the results by the end of October. I doubt it. The lab in London keeps lying to my doctors, and my doctors keep believing the lie.

Lyrica No More

Lyrica might have been working - a bit. I've now been completely weened off it as of this morning, and although the withdrawl was a nightmare beyond belief, I'm free, and I've noticed I have more pain in my feet. But I'm better off this way - I'll just take more Tramacet (Tramadol).

More Bloodwork

I went to Mac for the 3rd time for bloodwork this morning. All my other bloodwork was done by a lab in Dundas. Anyway, this bloodwork is for my Celiac biopsy. Don't know when that will be yet. They took 5 vials I think. Last time was 19 vials.

Tegratol

Saw Dr. Baker again. I'm being weened off the super-expensive Lyrica ($183 for a month supply) and I'm starting Tegratol. It has been 4 days and so far I've not experienced any withdrawal symptoms and am amazed.

Genetic test results have been postponed yet again - this time until August.

Negative

All of my tests came back negative. Except the Genetic test. It's still pending. I asked my doctor if I could have the biopsy for Celiac, as the blood test is not 100% accurate, and I'm displaying most of the symptoms of Celiac. Waiting for the date on that.

More Tests...

Saw my family doctor the other day. I told him a few things:
1. Lyrica isn't working very well, plus it makes me foggy & forgetful.
2. My fingertips are burning now.
3. My carpal tunnel has come back.
4. The pain has worsened. I cannot walk without a cane now.
5. I'm incredibly gassy all the time. They could kill someone.
6. There's blood in my stool.

He sent me for more tests:
1. Celiac disease
2. Lactose allergy
3. Creatinine levels
4. Thyroid function
5. EMG on my hands & fingers