Posted by Andre (204.244.158.171) on April 16, 2000 at 14:02:42:
I beleive that verapamil is losing it's ability to control the beast. I presently take 8 x 120mg tablets a day and am past the limit that most doctors would consider prescribing. I have had attacks every four hours the last couple of days. I am now, in addition, taking lithium carbonate and prednisone to try to break the cycle of pain. I have gone through five Imitrex injections in the last 30 hours in an attempt to buy a little sleep. I know that I am taking way more than I should, but I just can't deal with the "factor 10" pain level. Spending two hours in pain and throwing up constantly when I have the Imitrex in my hands...what can I say? I find that the Imitrex is also having a harder time taming the beast. I notice it takes longer to act and sometimes leaves a shadow, which did not use to happen. I am a chronic sufferer. I would have these all the time if not for verapamil. But sometimes I am subject to some particularily bad bouts (such as now) that seem to tear through whatever treatment I am on. I will have attacks like clockwork, no matter what I am on, every four hours. My only salvation in these times is Imitrex. I have taken up to seven doses in a 24 hour period. I HATE IT!!!! I hate drug therapy in general. My doctor knows about my occasional massive overdoses and feels that I have no choice other than the obvious alternative of being almost constantly in pain, with pauses only long enough to catch my breath. Uhg. No thanks. The 10-20 minutes or so that it takes for th Imitrex to kick in seem like eternities in themselves. I am so tired of this. Seven years is a long time to be engaged in a losing battle.
Sorry. I think I just needed to vent. I don't post here often but I do read every so often...just in case a miracle cure comes up.
...Thanks for listening.