No More Hydrocodone

Allergy Confirmed

I was able to hold down some applesauce and a soda this afternoon, and then some noodles boiled in no-fat chicken broth. Best meal I've had in days.

Unfortunately, since The Belly is no longer my friend, my pain increased exponentially after eating. I did not take my pancreatic enzymes because I wanted to figure out what medication is causing the hives out of the two possiblities - Creon (enzymes) or hydrocodone (pain medication). I had not taken any pain medication for a couple of days, so I took a hydrocodone tablet this evening, and presto-chango out pop the hives in about 15 to 20 minutes. They have just been getting worse all evening and they are getting bigger. I don't have to guess anymore, I know the hydrocodone is the culprit. No more good pain meds, I'm not happy.

I always have itched when getting strong pain killers, and was hoping maybe this was the same type of problem - benign itching - but I definitely got hives not just the creepy crawlies. Besides the big lumps coming out on my stomach, and my arms, and my legs, my mom said my back was broken out under the skin. My hives do that - little red spots all over my back, but not raised. If you press on one I then get hives elsewhere, or the hives get worse. My immunologist says they are collections of mast cells under the skin, so poking them just breaks the mast cells out and they go looking for more to irritate.

I can't take morphine, because I get violently ill. Codeine is out, same reason, plus hives. Hydrocodone is now off the list. I itch terribly with dilaudid. What's left to take for pain? Not much. I'm afraid I am up the proverbial creek without a paddle. I can't take anti-inflammatories of the pancreas and The Belly reacting to them. I'm a little panicky tonight, but I'm telling myself to be calm.

Reeeeelax. Breathe sloooowly and deeeeply. Imagine I'm in a snowy woods, and the crisp snow is scrunching underfoot with every step I take. Branches creak under the heavy burden of ice, and my breath puffs white into the cold air. I put my hand out and catch a heavy snowflake in my palm. I look forward to the promise of spring and the transformation from hibernation to renewal and growth, the springing of crocus and grass through the icy covering, and the wet breath of the wild March winds.

Ah, I feel better now; I guess that biofeedback training works, eh? Now if it would either make the pain disappear or the hives it would be perfect!

More Meds

High Stepping and the One Man Weave

This morning my PCP and I discussed options for controlling The Belly pain. I told him that the Vicodin just wasn't controlling the pain. I said maybe I could take the pills closer together than one every eight or so hours. He said that increasing the frequency would not help. His explanation made sense - if the pain is not decreased by the dosage, then the dosage is wrong, not the number of times a day you take it. He said even if I took it more times a day, I still would have the same amount of pain because the narcotic amount was not correct.

He prescribed Norco at twice the strength of the Vicodin and increased the dosage to one every 4 hours if needed. I will take the minimum that will work to control my pain. My first dose was at nine this evening, and after the intial dizziness/floaty feeling subsided I am almost pain free. I was stepping high - you know, when your feet seem disconnected from the ground and you step really high because you're not sure where the foot belongs or when it will make contact for the next step, but I was also weaving, a trifle punch drunk. I may have to take it for a few days before I can drive because I would not be safe driving in my current condition. Since I only got 45 minutes of sleep last night, I hope that tonight will be sleepy time all night.

I was able to work today even though The Belly was burning. I am always very happy when The Headache and The Belly cooperate enough that I can actually work. I am thinking about making another short term disability claim, as I still have not been able to work full time. I closed my last claim in August, hoping that the stimulator had The Headache on the run, which it has...I just didn't factor in The Belly.

My older brother is going to technical school for aeronautic testing, so I have inherited his big yellow cat as there are no pets allowed on campus where he is staying. Puddytat has wiped out a couple of mice in the garage already! I do have to watch Puddytat because he seems to think the parakeets are there just for his dining pleasure, but he enjoys sleeping on my soft covers on my big bed.