LymeNet Flash: HELP-could it be the vicodin

This is topic HELP-could it be the vicodin in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by first free (Member # 7140) on :

I was going to write the exact same post when I looked and someone else is saying help. I'm shaking. My kids are home. They want to know why i won't quit crying. I've been taking vicodin for a little over a month to help with extreme pain in legs. When I don't take it it feels like someone is stabbingme in the left side of my head. It also gives me enegy not like a high. Just so I can get out of bed and actually go to the store. I'm so irritable. I don't know if it's the lyme or the vicodin. My marriage is falling apart. I don't know who to call or what to do. ~jackie My nine year old just saw this as I ran to answer the phone. It was my counsler. He's crying now because he thnks I don't want him home. Thats not true. i don't know what to do. Why doesw it have to be like this?

Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :

I never had any vicodi problems other than sleepieness.???

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time of it. Vicodin can make you feel a bit better. I don't know much about addiction, but I know I've taken it for a month or two at a time and didn't get addicted.

I've heard that as long as you are taking it for actual pain, you won't get addicted. Once you begin to take it to "feel better" you're in trouble.

So, no one can say for sure where you are in this...???? But I would be careful. Addiction is the last thing you need.

Are you taking abx? Perhaps you could try MSM also. It may take away some of the inflammation so you won't have to take as much vicodin.

Then there's mangosteen juice. It's awesome for pain and helps my depression too. I don't feel depressed at all anymore.

Call your LLMD and let him know you are in alot of pain. Maybe he has some other ideas.

Take care and do something special for your kids today!

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oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :

I sorry you're having such an awful time.

Can you talk to your 9 year old? (If he's crying and so are you; you'll probably end up laughing.) Maybe you could tell him that it's not that you don't want him home but you feel bad that you aren't much fun right now.

Then put him in charge of a project: fort building, something craftsy with the other kids or maybe vacuuming.

[This message has been edited by trueblue (edited 09 June 2005).]

Posted by Cher44 (Member # 7243) on :

First Free

I too just started vicodin about one week ago for extreme pain in my shoulder. MRI showed tendonitis....I assume from the lyme. I tried to take it sparingly but my doc said I was waiting too long....need to attack the pain before it gets too bad. So I am and it seems to be helping.....some days it just isn't strong enough.
It makes me a bit sleepy but I'm dealing with it....I have to, teaching 7th and 8th graders .
Hope the tears dry up and hugs bewteen you and your little one are plentiful.
Cher

Posted by no2lyme (Member # 6978) on :

I have been on vicodin for almost a year. Really the only thing that seems to help with the pain.

Tried Dura-gesic patches, soma, mobic, etc. I am very careful about addiction concerns because I worry about that a lot.

Perhaps you are herxing, I don't doubt that vicodin can make you a little loopey when you first start but I have not heard of it causing any emotional outbursts. That sounds more like lyme and/or co-infection.

Hang in there - we all have really dark painful moments with this disease but you have support. I always journal things, reactions to meds etc. Maybe this will help you pinpoint triggers and tell your LLMD.

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

After I was on Vicodin for some time, I started having trouble maintaining a steady state on it. Doc said it was not strong enough, and because it moves in and out of the system so quickly, I was constantly getting jerked up and down. It can make you unstable emotionally.

I am now taking a longer acting opiod with a much calmer state of mind. The action is smoother, and I don't notice it as it kicks in or out.

It might be something to talk to your doctor about if it looks like you will be on pain meds for a long time. Everyone responds differently to each pain med, and you have to find the one that works best for you, with the least side affects.

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Sonoma County Lyme Support
[email protected]

Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :

Emotional lability is a symptom of lyme...not any fun, but there it is...

Plus you have little kids, your marriage is difficult, and you have lyme...

Holy cow...No wonder you're having a crying jag. It's all so overwhelming...

I don't think it's the vicodin as a cause...chronic pain can lead to your situation as well. I'm glad to hear that you hvae a counsellor...See if he/she has experience with chronic illness...

You aren't alone..and you aren't nuts...just lymie...

Posted by first free (Member # 7140) on :

Thanks for the replies everyone-and remember lifewithlyme in your prayers today. ~jackie

Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :

If you have headaches without vicodin, that it is likely that the vicodin is actually helping you by keeping away the pain. I got energy from vicodin too. I still don't know if it was really new energy, or just from not having the pain.

What type of pain do you have in your legs? Maybe there is another way to control it better and keep the vicodin for breakthrough pain.

Posted by first free (Member # 7140) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Aniek:
If you have headaches without vicodin, that it is likely that the vicodin is actually helping you by keeping away the pain. I got energy from vicodin too. I still don't know if it was really new energy, or just from not having the pain.
What type of pain do you have in your legs? Maybe there is another way to control it better and keep the vicodin for breakthrough pain.

Aniek~ It's for energy and pain. The pain in my legs runs up and down. It feels both like shooting pain and as if my muscles are deeply bruised. For sleep my doctor and I decided to try ambien. I've always been on flurazepam. It had the oppsite effect. Four nights in a row doubled the amount and never went to sleep. Medications have been having opposite effects on me since the lyme. I broke my arm last year and was on percocet-that helped the pain and gave me a little energy-but made me feel a little too good so I didn't want to take that. I don't want to be addicted to anything. But I do want to get out of bed and be able to function for my 9 and 6 year old who are getting totally ripped off because of my health. Vivodin seemed to be really helping pain and getting up- but I'm really grouchy (understatement). I don't know if it's the vicodin or when the vicodin is wearing(?) off or just the stupid lyme/m.s./hypothyroidisms kicking me in the behind and everywhere else. ~jacklie

Posted by first free (Member # 7140) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lymetoo:
I'm sorry you're having such a rough time of it. Vicodin can make you feel a bit better. I don't know much about addiction, but I know I've taken it for a month or two at a time and didn't get addicted.
I've heard that as long as you are taking it for actual pain, you won't get addicted. Once you begin to take it to "feel better" you're in trouble.
So, no one can say for sure where you are in this...???? But I would be careful. Addiction is the last thing you need.
Are you taking abx? Perhaps you could try MSM also. It may take away some of the inflammation so you won't have to take as much vicodin.
Then there's mangosteen juice. It's awesome for pain and helps my depression too. I don't feel depressed at all anymore.
Call your LLMD and let him know you are in alot of pain. Maybe he has some other ideas.
Take care and do something special for your kids today!

Lymetoo~ What's mangosteen juice? I've seen that on the board before. ~jackie

Posted by no2lyme (Member # 6978) on :

My hypothyroidism made me an emotional rollercoaster/wreck. I actually have talked with my LLMD about how every medication seems to have the counter effect with me.

That does seem to be a problem for some lymies.

You are very much not alone, hang in there...you have a lot of stress factors. I don't have children and I admire you lyme sufferers that do. Things will get better.