Hi, I just woke up. I am a zombie from phenobarbital.
Last evening I was filling out a form for my son's school when suddenly a headache started forming at the base of my neck.
This headache overtook me and my eyes started shaking back and forth, rolling around, and my neck started to move back and forth. My left hand and forearm were also shaking.
The headache was by far the worst one I've ever had. I felt like I was being attacked by axes, knives, and it felt like someone was trying to saw my head off.
I screamed for a half-hour with it - it was unrelenting.
My husband gave me 150 mg phenobarbital, 1 oxycodone, 1 valium, and 3 advils trying to help me.
Thankfully, the medications masked the terrible symptoms.
When I woke up this morning I felt groggy but thought I could function. Nope, I fell over to the left side. I got righted again and promptly fell to the left again.
I then went back to bed and just got up but I feel AWFUL. The symptoms are subdued for now but I can feel them waiting to make a comeback.
Anyway, my doctor here wants me to go in for a full neurological workup. I told her that I don't think they'll find anything. (My husband called the office last night for medication advice and described my symptoms).
I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place - if I say "no" to testing I'll be labeled crazy and if I say "yes" and nothing is found on EEG, etc. then I'll be labeled crazy.
I've decided to not go for neurological testing and I HOPE my doctor up here will not think I'm nuts because I really need her.
My LLMD just called to say she's putting me on plaquenil/biaxin. My husband asked her to consider it because I have such severe brain involvement.
I will update this post later if anyone's interested. Bye now.
Posted by jamescase20 (Member # 14124) on :
Have you ever treated for bart? I apparently have that...and had severe migrainish issues...itchy eyes...terrible fatigue.
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
I used to get terrible headaches. They turned out to be due to high levels of vitamin 1,25D. Reducing vitamin D intake and light exposure got the headaches under control.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I think you should go through the neuro testing. So many here have brain involvement and sometimes neuros can help.
I sure hope you find some answers soon. You've really got a tough row to hoe!
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
I took my first dose of plaquenil/biaxin and I already feel a little better.
My symptoms have "changed" again and my stabbing head pains are diminished.
Now I feel really toxic when lately I hadn't been feeling that way. I also can't walk - which is typical for me when I start new antibiotics.
I feel hopeful about this antibiotic combo.
Yes, I've been treated for barts and I'm sure it was probably just subdued rather than eliminated.
The battle continues....
Posted by Paula 007 (Member # 8002) on :
Plaquenil is not really an antibiotic. It is for malaria or rheumatoid arthritis or some other things I can't pronounce or spell.
I took it for awhile, but had SO many side effects. The doc (not an LLMD) asked me if I was taking the generic. Since I was, she asked me if I would try the name-brand (there are some differences). I still had awful side effects.
Since you usually react badly to new antibiotics, it's pretty important to keep track of what may be a plaquenil side effect. Also track what may be a biaxin side effect.
I had trouble with biaxin also, but it is helping my husband a lot.
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