>Thank you Linda for responding to my note re: Tegretol. I have since
>started taking 1/2 a pill for 3 consecutive nights (one pill is 200mg.) I
>noticed the pain eased. It was like the pain was still there, but on a
>different level (does that make sense)? This morning the pain was strong,
>so I took another 1/2 a pill, as my doctor told me to slowly work up to 3
>pills a day. Yes, the pain eased again. I am worried about becoming
>dependent on Tegretol. You say you have been on it ten years and tried to
>come off once but couldn't hardly put weight on your feet and could hardly
>walk. Could you walk before you started Tegretol? Extended use of Tegretol
>could cause problems with liver, also it minimizes the effect of the birth
>control pill. Yes, it is helping with the pain now, but I am wondering if
>it is wise of me to continiue taking it. Question: The more you take
>Tegretol for the pain, do you find your body needs it to deal with the pain?
>
>I have had TM since Jan. 13, 1997. Almost 3 months. I have always been
>able to walk, Thank God, just having pain, skin hyper-sensitivity, my right
>unaffected leg gives out alot. I am getting headaches again now, something
>I have dealt with for about 15 years. I have Fiornal for them, but after my
>mixing meds, like I spoke about in my last entry, I am very scared to cross
>my meds again. I take my anti depressant (Serzone) first thing in the
>morning and wait a couple hours before I will take the Tegretol. Same thing
>at night. I haven't tried to fit a Fiornal into my day yet. Too much
>medication!
>
>I am thinking I should just go back to grinning and bearing it and get off
>whatever medications I can...
>
>Thanks.
>
>Sandy K.
Hi again Sandy!
Yes, it makes sense to me that the pain is still there.....altho' at a
different level! That is what it seems to do for me also.....makes it
somewhat *bearable.*
I have not become dependent upon Tegretol.....nor are my symptoms worse when
I stop it.......I mean, not worse than they were before I originally took it!
I know that extended use *can* cause liver damage, and I have blood work done
regularly every 3 months. It has never showed that the Tegretol level was
too high, and like I said before, I am taking 800mg. a day. But as we all
know, each of our bodies reacts differently, so please make sure you check
this out thoroughly with your doctor!
As I am resigned to the fact that the TM will not just "up and go away" one
day, I searched for the best way to live my life as *normally* as possible.
So far, this is the best way I've found. I'll never stop searching or give
up hope....but I also do not want to suffer with pain or become more disabled
than I am.
Good luck to you and keep in touch!
Linda