Like everyone else, I turned 55 in excellent physical shape. I wore size 6 leather mini skirts, drove a white Mustang convertible, had long, still auburn, heavenly hair, and played a fair game of tennis. I maintained a three acre lawn that I had landscaped myself and ran a quaint gift and floral shop. We were members of a local Country Club and I was the first woman in its history to be elected to serve on the Board of Govenors and was re-elected to a second term.
I came to the shop one morning in Autumn after walking 2 miles in our neighborhood which was hilly and excellent for walking. For some reason, my ankles were stinging and burning, I thought perhaps I had stepped into a fire ant bed, but there wasn't a sign of anything. A few days later, it happened again. Within a few weeks the aggravating itch and burn was in my legs and both arms. For some reason, my feet weren't involved.
I went to a dermatologist and got no answer from him except that it could be an allergy or a hormone imbalance. He gave me a mild tranquilizer and some lotion. I went to my ENT and there were no allergies. I went to my OB-GYN who gave me Atarax and sent me to a Neurologist. The neurologist gave me Prozac, continued the Atarax, and gave me Lorzapam. He took some test and mentioned PN, but said that it was indicated but not written in stone, but that I had Paresthesias of some sort. He also noted that I had silicone implants and mentioned that he had over a dozen patients, all about the same age, all with the same symptoms and all had silicone implants. I continued going back to the same Neuro and I do to this day.
All my problems started 10 years ago. I went on month after month in burning pain, changing from this med to that. I loved wine and I quickly learned that it jump-started the pain pills nicely. Everyday when I got home I would have my glass (eventually glasses) of wine and the intense, burning pain would go away. I went from 128 lbs to 230lbs the first 3 years and finally was so miserable I sold the shop. I also have carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis in the upper spine, OA in my hands.
While I was concentrating on the welcome euphoria and painlessness of my beloved wine my husband started an affair, because he said he got no attention at home. And he was right. The Prozac and zoloft had destroyed my libido. When I finally realized that I may lose him to this young, really undesirable, drug addict, I asked my husband to give me another chance and I promised him that I would stop the drinking which I did 2 years ago. I had a glass on my anniversary and another one on my birthday and thats all. He picked the girl up when she was released from an 8 month stint in prison because of drug activity and he was going to break it off.
Please let me interject here that we were normal, responsible, upstanding citizens when all this was happening.
I was in more pain than ever and the doc put me on Wellbutrin and that instantly restored my libido and worked much better along with a low dose of Celexa. It took 6 months to get this girl off our backs and only when I threatened her with harrassment and stalking charges did she go back to NY. We live in the deep South.
I was and am still taking 2800 mgs of Neurontin, Mexitil, Ritalin, Wellbutrin and Celexa, Tranxene, and Restirol for sleep when I need it. I take B12 and a vitamin supplement. Last visit I was still had so much breakthrough pain that he added Guaifensin and at one point gave me Valtrex which really helped.
I continue to go to the neuro and to a rheumy that is also proficient in pain management and ocassionally we will change from one med to another trying to find a better combination. Last week I got a lotion ofketamine, ketroprofen, phenytoin, mexitiline, guaifensin and I put it on my spinal cord where the nerve roots are. I think it is helping, but when I do have that teeth chattering, intense, burning pain, I can't rave too much about anything.
I think my meds have shortened the duration of my flareups and keep them from happening so often, but I still feel that pain sometimes. My social life is nonexistent. I go to Mass whenever I can.
My husband has had hip joint replacement and rotator cuff surgery within the last 9 months and soon I intend to start doing my hands one at a time. I try to do gentle stretches and to do a little walking to help with the arthritis pain. I am no longer able to work and have suffered depression, memory lapses and inability to concentrate because of PN.
I filed for and received SS disability benefits really quick, so I am basically staying at home and taking care of my house and my pets. I have a couple of good friends that come by, but all the tennis playing, wine drinking, party people I never see anymore. I miss it.......I miss it all (except for the drinking).
My husband is very proud that I have stopped the drinking and I am proud of him for some things that he did, so we are going together forward, right in step with God.
Cile --
P.S. -- I finally did start to have some soreness in my feet just a few months ago. I would like to hear from anyone that would like to write me. My e-mail is:cile@eaglepc.net