Continuing Improvement
I've been noticing slight improvements in the past week or so. I made some sancocho (Panamanian soup--recipe posted Nov. 9), and was able to put a tiny bit of habanero pepper sauce in it. Today I ate strawberries for the first time. Also I've drunk some coffee a couple of times and have been able to handle it a little better. I still have to let it cool off a lot first, but it's starting to taste better and not leave my mouth feeling so dry and rough as it had. The other day I ate a little bit of pico de gallo, after taking out the jalapenos.
I had my annual physical exam the other day and my doctor recommended continuing to take Nortriptylene. I expressed a little reluctance because it's an anti-depressant, but he said that at the low dosage I'm taking it's just for treating neuropathy.
I had my annual physical exam the other day and my doctor recommended continuing to take Nortriptylene. I expressed a little reluctance because it's an anti-depressant, but he said that at the low dosage I'm taking it's just for treating neuropathy.
posted by Angela Winston | 10:08 AM
2 Comments:
Hello Angela, in response to your post of the 1 April 07, I have at last been prescribed a low dose anti depressant together with an anti-convulsant in order to relieve the chronic symptoms of BMS. Fortunately, I am able to obtain these drugs on the NHS, so the cost is not great. I have a friend in Canada and she pays exorbitant amounts for drugs which are vital for life !!! The funny part is that since I spoke at length to the pain specialist who prescribed the drugs, my mouth hasn't been too bad. I have suffered BMS for fourteen years following an operation on my mouth. The reason for the referral to the pain specialist is that I need an operation on my foot but the consultant told me that I have a 5% chance of permanent post operative pain in the foot. I could not stand the thought of permanent pain in the foot as well as permanent pain in the mouth, so the consultant referred me to the pain specialist. I have not started the therapy yet as I am reluctant to go down the path of anti depressants and drugs for epilepsy!! I note the reports on folic acid. Anything is worth a try. I will get some and report back to you. You know, as insidious as this complaint is, you do learn to live with it. Unfortunately, it is a complaint that cannot be seen with the naked eye and it is hard to explain the pain and sensation to anyone who is not a sufferer. It was interesting that when I spoke to the pain consultant, he asked me what my occupation. When I told him that I am a legal executive, he said that 60% of his patients are lawyers. That doesn't surprise me as the law is a very stressful occupation. I am glad that I got out of it some years ago. I will continue to monitor your progress and wish you luck in your search for a cure. By the way, although the foot is painful, it is only intermittent pain, so I am in a quandary whether to have the operation or not.
Regards, elena@brooklyn11.fsnet.co.uk
Elena, good luck to you. I understand your reluctance to take anti-depressants--my first reaction was, "I'm not depressed!" My doctor, who is very understanding, told me that at low level dosages Nortriptylene is used to treat pain, not depression.
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