Medication for nerve pain in my neck.

I'm trying another medication that my doctor says will relieve the neck pain and headaches I've been getting over the last three months. They've been getting progressively worse every week to the point it was constant.

The medication is Nortriptyline - belongs to the group of medications known as tricylic antidepressants. It is used for the treatment of depression and a host of other things including nerve pain.

Side effects are as follows:


More common:

* dizziness
* drowsiness
* dryness of mouth
* headache
* increased appetite (may include a craving for sweets)
* nausea
* tiredness or weakness (mild)
* unpleasant taste
* weight gain

Less common:
* diarrhea
* heartburn
* increased sweating
* trouble sleeping
* vomiting

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common:

* blurred vision
* confusion or delirium
* constipation (especially for seniors)
* decreased sexual ability
* difficulty speaking or swallowing
* eye pain
* fainting
* fast or irregular heartbeat (pounding, racing, skipping)
* hallucinations
* loss of balance control
* mask-like face
* nervousness or restlessness
* problems with urination
* shakiness or trembling
* shuffling walk
* slowed movements
* stiffness of arms and legs

Rare:
* anxiety
* breast enlargement in both males and females
* hair loss
* inappropriate secretion of milk (females)
* increased sensitivity to sunlight
* irritability
* muscle twitching
* red or brownish spots on skin
* ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained sounds in the ears
* seizures
* skin rash and itching
* sore throat and fever
* swelling of face and tongue
* swelling of testicles
* trouble with teeth or gums
* weakness
* yellow eyes or skin

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed.

Ha ha ha... I have at least 10 of these and I'm not telling which ones, but I will say that the rutting beast is on a vacation.

I'm not thrilled with the results so far, but I'll give it a week or two and then tell the doctor I'm not taking this shit. It makes me irritable... Did I mention that?

Samhain - The Witches Gathering

Samhain is soon upon us. The New Year for us pagans. A time to reflect and remember our ancestors for good or for bad. Some of us, or is it most of us, have some not so good memories of our family members that have crossed over. How do you work through this and enjoy your time with your departed family members at Samhain? Is it just me? Or do others have difficulty with this issue too?

I have made peace with my grandfather a couple of Samhains ago. But I don't know, it's not like I like him any better now that I've made my peace. So what is it? There is only one of my family that has crossed over that I have any love for. My aunt Vera who died of breast cancer when she was only 40. I guess I could just spend my Samhain with her and enjoy the memories. I guess I'm lucky not to have lost any other loved ones at my age.

The place to go on this night is Barrymores in Ottawa's downtown. Check out the link to "The Witches Gathering".

I won't be there this year, with my neck giving me grief, but please go in my place and have fun!

Dad's Home ... And so am I

My father is now home from the Heart Institute. He seems to be doing well after the triple by-pass surgery he had two weeks ago.

I also am home... due to increased neck pain and killer headaches. I think, if I had to compare my pre-surgery condition and post-surgery condition I would have to say it's better, but not much.

In December I was on drugs for pain that left me a little foggy but more comfortable. In October I was in pain without the nice drugs I got in December that helped with the pain but put on 25 lbs of blubber.

Now, post-surgery without the blubber adding pain pills, and less ten of the 25 pounds I gained, I'm having almost constant neck ache followed by killer headaches that can take up to 24 hours to get rid of.

I've been working over the last four months but the pain is getting worse every day. I don't know what to think. WSIB isn't too happy that I'm back on their payroll and even said they don't know if I'll get paid. Right.

Time to find some representation I think. Anyone have any suggestions?

Another Update on my father

Well he seems to be doing much better now. He's had all of his medications to help his heart and blood pressure stopped and he's had the chest tubes removed as well as the ventilator (breathing machine). He still has an arterial line in his leg but he's doing well now.

They may have the arterial line out today and have him up in the chair to help clear the congestion in his chest as well as some medications that they are giving him to help drain excess fluids from his body.

By-Pass Surgery Update

My father isn't doing as well as could be expected. The second go at the surgery is proving to have an adverse effect on his recovery. He hasn't made much progress, if anything it is looking like he'll take at least a couple more days before they revive him. He's very sedated at this time and has not woken up since the surgery. This is due to the fact that he's not able to be weaned off the medication for his heart and blood pressure nor the ventilator that is breathing for him.

Normal conditions would have him awake and breathing on his own by now. We are still keeping optimistic on a recovery from this surgery but it's not looking it's best at the present time.

Kemi's Father Has By-pass Surgery

Today is Saturday October 1st, 2005. Late last night when I arrived home there was a phone message from my sister in Toronto. The message said that our father was in the Ottawa Heart Institute having by-pass surgery. The surgery was going well but later in recovery things turned for the worse. There was one artery to the heart that was blocked more than was first anticipated. They had to go back in a second time to repair the job. The graft was then extended up past the last blockage in the artery and repaired. Father is doing better now and no other complications are anticipated at this time. He is still unconscious and intubated so I will wait until he wakes up to go in and see him.

I used to work in this unit as an orderly so I know what he's been through. He'll need to be encouraged to work to get better and I know what they told him wasn't all that he'll be going through. They sort of sugar coat it so people don't change their mind about having the surgery. I think if they had some idea of the work involved and pain many may not go through with it... Who knows.

Don't ask me why I find out these things after the fact from over 300 miles away when the surgery is taking place in city I live in.