New Drug Regime

[ailbhe]

I've just had the most awful period I can remember since my first baby. Migraines, collapsing, labour-like cramps, exhaustion, suicidal thoughts etc. So I've dug out yet more drugz. Now I have hedmeds, evening primrose oil, and some ancient and dusty pregnancy-and-breastfeeding multivitamins.

My mother says EPO is also good for joints, so it might help my hips, but I know from experience it helps my PMS moods, so that will do nicely for a start.

If you see me, check I've remembered my drugs, please. I don't want to spend this winter the way I spent last one.

Comments

[sfred]

It hadn't occurred to me that EPO could help hips - but I've recently started taking it regularly for PMS again, and better hips would be a nice side-effect.

[nakedfaery.livejournal.com]

EPO is very good for hormones. Magnesium and vitamin B6 are also very good for the problems that you have.

Do you have an alarm facility on your phone? I find that helps me a lot with remembering to take my meds.

[cabbagemedley.livejournal.com]

I was about to suggest phone reminders. It's the only thing that ever got me to remember my Efexor, even though forgetting it led to Bad Stuff.

[mrs-redboots.livejournal.com]

EPO is brilliant - I took it for my skin, when that was bad (and joints, although I find cod-liver oil and glucosamine better for them), and it regulated my periods, which had gone wildly irregular, while it was at it!

[cherade9.livejournal.com]

Starflower oil is very good alongside EPO. I take them with Cod Liver Oil, a multi-vitamin with iron, zinc, vit c, extra B vits and a particular amnioacid. It's a regime devised between my gyne, epilepsy doc and gp to help similar symptoms as you describe, along with seizures around my periods and SAD in the Winter. It makes a big difference when I can afford to take them.

[rachel cotton (from livejournal.com)]

From me - take pain killers regularly and before the pain starts to build up. Take LOTS too. I've checked it out with Wendy Jones (BfN pharmacist), she also suggested buscopan (usually used for IBS, but good at helping with smooth muscle problems) which I've found useful.

I also use a tens machine and it's the only way I can move some days. My supplements are iron, Calcium with d (shortage of calcium can cause muscle cramps and severe PMS), and a magnesium and zinc (helps muscles too). I checked Kellymom for the relevant doses: http://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/calcium.html#supplements No idea how accurate it is though. I mainly take calcium as I was pulling my muscles once monthly, just before my period so realised I was low on calcium (my vegan dad used to collapse recently with muscle weakness as his was much worse) and figured it may help with the PMS as well.

The pain is still bad enough to wake me up at night, but taking paracetamol and ibuprofen together at the first instance really does help. If you can tolerate it, there are stronger pain killers from the gp that are compatible with bf, mefenamic acid is wonderful but I found it not good after a while with my asthma. If not asthmatic, I really recommend it.

Tens machine has been a complete life saver - it takes some getting used to, and during the heat I sweated the electrodes off, despite having stuck them down with miocropore, but it's awesome. Obviously it blocks pain signals and produces happy ones, which I find REALLY useful when I'm in my regular 2 week PMS hole. Means I can chuck painkillers down my throat, Kalms, suppelments and start zapping myself whilst I wait for all the other stuff to kick in.

[rachel cotton (from livejournal.com)]

ps Wendy Jones is really useful re period stuff, and quite prompt at returning emails. Do email her to query anything, she is wonderful (that's if you haven't already). Found her more useful than my gp. Had to fight for, but have a gynae appt on Tuesday - only 20 years of PMS....

[nicnacpaddywac.livejournal.com]

EPO is very very good for PMDD. I too have trouble remembering my antidepressants and EPO despite knowing what happens if don't take them.... thing that's helped me most is someone else setting an alarm and texting me each day at a set time, to take them.

Have also found that EPO helps a lot with joint issues, and helped my co-ordination heaps too!