Today has been Day #5 with The Migraine. Now, fortunately the pain has not been horrible as long as I rest, so I haven't had to resort to using Stadol. But even at my very worst, I've never had a migraine for 5 days. 3 days maximum. Big red flag.
After a call to one of my beloved pharmacists, we are pretty sure it's my latest PRICEY medication, Aciphex. To the tune of $82 out of pocket. One of the common side effects is headaches--the pharmacist, who knows my history, said that since I'm prone to migraines, that more than likely that's the type of headache I'll get from it. And it's not a side effect that will go away over time. Her recommendation--take a break for a few days and see how I feel off of it. I was thinking along those lines to begin with.
Oh but it gets better....when I gave the pharmacist my name, she said "OH! I'm glad you called, I needed to speak with you anyway." See, yesterday I saw the Gastro doc as a followup to my endoscopy. He told me my stomach is not emptying fully, and that in addition to taking the Aciphex, I needed to take a medication to get my stomach to empty. Reglan is out since it gave me twitches (dyskenesia). So he wanted me on low-dose Erythromycin. I was a bit leery, since in the past, regular Eryth. gives me horrible stomach pain and diarrhea. But he assured me it was very low dose. But I would be on it a long time. After doing my research, I worried about drug resistance. I didn't get the name of my condition, I hate it when I get home and think of all the questions I should have asked. But I think that he thinks I have Gastroparesis. And there is no cure for it.
SO when hubby dropped off my prescription for the Eryth, they said they'd have to order it, since I needed a 30 day supply, and all they carry is the typical kids' 10 day supply (and it goes bad after 10 days). But when the pharmacist went to look at my records, she realized something I didn't--Eryth. is related to Biaxin--*which I'm allergic to*. She got on the phone with the gastro....according to the nurse "All I told her is that I'm allergic to penicillin". Which is BULLSHIT. I mean, I was just there and always, ALWAYS, give them every single med I'm allergic to. The pharmacist tried to get a hold of the doctor, but naturally she got nowhere. Thus her happiness that I called the pharmacy. She told me the gastro was supposed to call me regarding the allergy, but of course they didn't :P
She talked to me for a good 15-20 minutes to make sure I understood the situation and gave me her professional opinion--DON'T take the medication (which it turns out they can't get anymore anyway, so I'd have to pick up my meds every 10 days). I'm dealing with the aciphex/migraine issue and she was concerned that should I have a reaction to the eryth. that it would be too much for me, and possibly hard to know what to attribute symptoms to. In addition, after her frustration in dealing with the gastro, she encouraged me to call Dr. Awesome and get her take on the situation before I do anything else. And she agreed that getting more aggressive allergy testing for the antibiotics may help, because I'm running out of medications.
I can't begin to say how much I appreciate my pharmacy. I told her how I valued them as a part of my health care, because of situations like this. They really look out for me, and I know she went above and beyond what is required of her. She even made sure to let me know she was working all day tomorrow should I need to speak with her again. *Pink puffy heart*
This is a silver lining to the black cloud that seems to be stuck over my head, er, stomach. I feel so overwhelmed, like everything is spinning out of control and I can't find my balance. Hubby's been talking me down all day. I don't know whether to laugh, cry or scream. I'm fighting off depression with both hands. I feel like I'm cursed, that the health I had last May is gone. You know I'm sick if I consider "just" having CFS, FMS, and chronic headaches/migraines means I'm "healthy".
Amanda, I am SO going to take you up on that lunch date!! When the world stops spinning and my head stops pounding, you'll be hearing from me--and soon, I hope ;)
After a call to one of my beloved pharmacists, we are pretty sure it's my latest PRICEY medication, Aciphex. To the tune of $82 out of pocket. One of the common side effects is headaches--the pharmacist, who knows my history, said that since I'm prone to migraines, that more than likely that's the type of headache I'll get from it. And it's not a side effect that will go away over time. Her recommendation--take a break for a few days and see how I feel off of it. I was thinking along those lines to begin with.
Oh but it gets better....when I gave the pharmacist my name, she said "OH! I'm glad you called, I needed to speak with you anyway." See, yesterday I saw the Gastro doc as a followup to my endoscopy. He told me my stomach is not emptying fully, and that in addition to taking the Aciphex, I needed to take a medication to get my stomach to empty. Reglan is out since it gave me twitches (dyskenesia). So he wanted me on low-dose Erythromycin. I was a bit leery, since in the past, regular Eryth. gives me horrible stomach pain and diarrhea. But he assured me it was very low dose. But I would be on it a long time. After doing my research, I worried about drug resistance. I didn't get the name of my condition, I hate it when I get home and think of all the questions I should have asked. But I think that he thinks I have Gastroparesis. And there is no cure for it.
SO when hubby dropped off my prescription for the Eryth, they said they'd have to order it, since I needed a 30 day supply, and all they carry is the typical kids' 10 day supply (and it goes bad after 10 days). But when the pharmacist went to look at my records, she realized something I didn't--Eryth. is related to Biaxin--*which I'm allergic to*. She got on the phone with the gastro....according to the nurse "All I told her is that I'm allergic to penicillin". Which is BULLSHIT. I mean, I was just there and always, ALWAYS, give them every single med I'm allergic to. The pharmacist tried to get a hold of the doctor, but naturally she got nowhere. Thus her happiness that I called the pharmacy. She told me the gastro was supposed to call me regarding the allergy, but of course they didn't :P
She talked to me for a good 15-20 minutes to make sure I understood the situation and gave me her professional opinion--DON'T take the medication (which it turns out they can't get anymore anyway, so I'd have to pick up my meds every 10 days). I'm dealing with the aciphex/migraine issue and she was concerned that should I have a reaction to the eryth. that it would be too much for me, and possibly hard to know what to attribute symptoms to. In addition, after her frustration in dealing with the gastro, she encouraged me to call Dr. Awesome and get her take on the situation before I do anything else. And she agreed that getting more aggressive allergy testing for the antibiotics may help, because I'm running out of medications.
I can't begin to say how much I appreciate my pharmacy. I told her how I valued them as a part of my health care, because of situations like this. They really look out for me, and I know she went above and beyond what is required of her. She even made sure to let me know she was working all day tomorrow should I need to speak with her again. *Pink puffy heart*
This is a silver lining to the black cloud that seems to be stuck over my head, er, stomach. I feel so overwhelmed, like everything is spinning out of control and I can't find my balance. Hubby's been talking me down all day. I don't know whether to laugh, cry or scream. I'm fighting off depression with both hands. I feel like I'm cursed, that the health I had last May is gone. You know I'm sick if I consider "just" having CFS, FMS, and chronic headaches/migraines means I'm "healthy".
Amanda, I am SO going to take you up on that lunch date!! When the world stops spinning and my head stops pounding, you'll be hearing from me--and soon, I hope ;)