Pain Med/Anti-Depression Med

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Kathy T
Kathy T Member Posts: 22
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Just wondering if anyone is taking pain medicine or anti-depression medicine after they are done with there chemo. I completed my chemo is December of 2009 and have hip and leg pain. And somedays feel very jumpy of depressed. My doctor has told me that he can give me anti-depression medicine as well as something to take the edge off the pain. I am very worried about taking such medicine. I have never been a person to take pills. Even after surgery I wouldn't take the pain pills. I guess I think once I start them I will get never get off them and wondering if they will really help or if this is just side effects of chemo that will hopefully someday just go away or is this something that is just in my head. Thanks for listening and I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Kathy

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  • Hissy_Fitz
    Hissy_Fitz Member Posts: 1,834
    #2
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    I think the first thing
    I think the first thing prescribed for me when I was in the hospital were anti-depressants. I refused them and never had the script filled, but that's just me. I wanted to deal with everything on my own.

    I had pain for what I thought was a long time after surgery, but I slowly tapered off the pain pills and did not take any after the first couple of chemo sessions. I still take an occasional Tramadol for my back (I have degenerative disk disease).

    The worst thing about the pain pills is that they cause terrible constipation, which I definitely did not need more of.

    Carlene
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
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    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #4
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    pain
    Kathy,
    Hi. Glad you finished your treatment and I wish you much success.

    I too have a high pain tolerance and do not like to take pain medicine. Narcotics make me feel nausea and I vomit. I'd rather be in pain then be sick. I was on IV pain medication after my surgery and never took oral medication. They filled my script upon discharge but I never took any oral pain medicine. During chemo I did not have any pain or aches that weren't controlled by tylenol. If I felt pain was affecting my quality of life I would have to ask for pain medicine and take it. I do have a fear of taking oral pain medicine though. They make me feel awful.

    I am not on antidepressants nor was I offered any antidepressants. I believe I am handling things ok. I do go through crying jags and get depressed. It usually doesn't last though. When I had my reoccurence I felt soooooo depressed. My whole body felt depressed, my walk, my posture, my actions. BUT, life has to go on. I am very busy with my two young boys ages 6 and 4 so I don't have a lot of time to sit around and feel sorry for myself. I do see a PhD, psychologist every other week to talk about my anxiety/fears. If I felt I needed an antidepressant I wouldn't hesitate to ask for them.

    Good luck and I hope your pain goes away!! Have you tried tylenol or motrin. I know you shouldn't take motrin during chemo but now that you are off chemo.... Maybe you can talk to your Dr. about non-narcotic pain relief. Talk to us about your depression. We'll listen, and understand!!!!

    Nancy
  • leesag
    leesag Member Posts: 621 Member
    #5
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    Sleep
    Kathy,

    I'm kind of with everyone else as far as pain meds go. Personally, I'd rather try the motrin and see how that goes before I reach for the percoset. Although I did take percoset the day after the Neulasta injection (I've had one chemo so far). As far as antidepressants, I'm thinking of asking my doctor for something other than xanax. My problem is that I can't sleep for longer than 2 hours. So my doctor told me to take one xanax every night before bedtime. This is working, but xanax tends to be addictive, so I'd rather be on something that is meant to be used daily, such as Lexapro. Several years ago, I was on Lexapro and had no problem stopping when I no longer needed it.

    I hope you're feeling better soon! congratulations on finishing your chemo!

    HUGS!

    Leesa
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #6
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    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    My experience
    I am with the worldtraveler... I did have hip pain for awhile, but didn't take pain meds for it. I have pain from diverticulitis when it acts up but Tylenol takes care of it. My sleep patterns were disrupted however and I have been on a small dose of anti depressant since diagnosis and plan to continue it. Can not tell that there have been any side effects and generic is cheap for a good nights sleep. Saundra
  • marleyboo2
    marleyboo2 Member Posts: 59
    #7
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    Meds
    Hi
    I am sorry to post on all of these but I have experienced all of this!!!!! I think you should do what you need now. You will know the right thing to do. There is not a thing wrong with getting you through the rough spots with an antidepressant. Pain meds are addictive and cause consipation and right now you need to get rid of stuff not keep it in!! I would at all costs avoid the pain meds. Part of the reason you feel jumpy is becasue of all the medicine you already have in your system. I went throught the worst tkind of withdrawls of all kinds and had no idea what was happeneing to me. I had so much hip and upper thigh pain I could not sit still and it lasted a very long time! My suggestion is to find something you love to do and when you feel jumpy or sad go do it. If you can't think of anything just put one foot in front of the other and just try to feel love for anyone or anything and include yourself. I am proud that you made it through your treatments that is an accomplishment in itself. But never ever feel ashamed to ask for help if you need it! Remeber those meds you just came off of are powerful and they do all kinds of things to your body and mind. No one ever told me that. Oh how I wish I had known then what I know now.
  • azgrandma
    azgrandma Member Posts: 609 Member
    #8
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    marleyboo2 said:

    Meds
    Hi
    I am sorry to post on all of these but I have experienced all of this!!!!! I think you should do what you need now. You will know the right thing to do. There is not a thing wrong with getting you through the rough spots with an antidepressant. Pain meds are addictive and cause consipation and right now you need to get rid of stuff not keep it in!! I would at all costs avoid the pain meds. Part of the reason you feel jumpy is becasue of all the medicine you already have in your system. I went throught the worst tkind of withdrawls of all kinds and had no idea what was happeneing to me. I had so much hip and upper thigh pain I could not sit still and it lasted a very long time! My suggestion is to find something you love to do and when you feel jumpy or sad go do it. If you can't think of anything just put one foot in front of the other and just try to feel love for anyone or anything and include yourself. I am proud that you made it through your treatments that is an accomplishment in itself. But never ever feel ashamed to ask for help if you need it! Remeber those meds you just came off of are powerful and they do all kinds of things to your body and mind. No one ever told me that. Oh how I wish I had known then what I know now.

    This helped me in past
    trazadone 50 mg helped me in the past as soon as i get done with chemo i am going to start it again.

    it does not make yu feel drugged up and is not habit forming

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