How Do You Manage Your Pain?

[houswoea]

I know that I've said this before, but my chest hurts so much that I'm on the brink of insanity. I used to take large amounts of ibuprofen which helped (by large, I mean it wasn't unusual for me to take like 25+ in one day)but obviously that ripped my stomach apart- my bad. So now I can't take NSAIDs for a while. Tylenol type drugs don't work... Any suggestions?? Other than lay on the floor and cry?

Elizabeth

PS, I like the new forum set up!

[issie]

OH, HONEY!!!!! You keep up the Advil and Tylenol in that quanitiy and you won't have to worry about your heart. You will be on the top of the list for a liver transplant. If a few didn't work, a whole bunch won't either.

You need to find out if you're having muscle spasams of your heart or chest wall. Find out what is causing the pain. Then you can treat it. I think a doctor visit is in order!!!!!

[toddm1960]

So sorry you're having somuch trouble with this houswoea, issie brings up a good point about spasms. I also have terrible chest pain that was found out to be esophageal spasms, I would swear I hve a knife in my chest, and so many ER vists. This may not be what is behind yours but it sure it worth looking into. I hope you can find something tha helps.

[houswoea]

Thanks for the help! I can laugh about the ibuprofen now... it was just out of desperation that I did that. Oh well... I will see a doctor at mayo on the 8th. My doctors here both just tell me to ask someone else because they don't know what to do. Isn't excruciating chest pain normal for people with pots?

This may be a silly question, but I've seen that people take ginger a lot. How do I do that though? Is it in supplement form or is it just straight up ginger from a spice jar?

Thanks again

Elizabeth

[Guest tearose]

Well, crying does help release endorphins...

I am so sorry you are having such a spell of it.

I found by doing the breathing like they teach for childbirth pain. I could kinda breathe and pant my way through it at times.

Don't think me silly, but meditation is medication to me! Have you ever done any serious time on a zen cushion?

If that doesn't work I reach for half a tylenol. Advil makes me wired!

with hugs and soothing feelings,

tearose

[issie]

Thanks for the help! I can laugh about the ibuprofen now... it was just out of desperation that I did that. Oh well... I will see a doctor at mayo on the 8th. My doctors here both just tell me to ask someone else because they don't know what to do. Isn't excruciating chest pain normal for people with pots?

This may be a silly question, but I've seen that people take ginger a lot. How do I do that though? Is it in supplement form or is it just straight up ginger from a spice jar?

Thanks again

Elizabeth

You can take it either way. You can make your own caps with the spice jar ginger, make a tea out of it. Eat the root, in a stir fry. Or buy it at the health store in caps. It will thin your blood, so you must stop using it before surgery. But it and the Tumeric do help pain. It's also good for the digestive system. Tumeric has been shown to help with cancer and ginger helps with naseau. Both help with inflamation and are used alot for arthritis.

[flop]

Elizabeth,

I like to take Ginger by making a hot drink. Buy some fresh root ginger (light brown nobbly stuff in the vegetable section of most supermarkets). Make thin slices of it (leave the peel on) (about 1-2cm total depending how fat the ginger is). Put the slices in a cup, squeeze in some fresh lemon (and chuck in the lemon chunks too), add hot water (not quite boiling) let it cool slightly then enjoy. You can add sugar or honey to sweeten.

Also good for treating colds.

Flop

[potsgirl]

Elizabeth,

I'm sorry you're in such chest pain. I have chronic pain in several parts of my body, and sometimes nothing else works but a prescription pain killer for me. I take one or one and a half Percocet in the morning to get moving and not just crawl back into bed not wanting to move. A cup of coffee, a good breakfast of protein and carbs, and in a couple of hours I can deal with things. I also take Paxil, which helps me with any anxiety that may crop up, which of course exacerbates our pain.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

[Rachel]

Hi Elizabeth,

Chest pain isn't necessarily normal for POTS. Mild or ocassional bad chest pain can be, but excruciating chest pain that doesn't go away isn't normal. Sustained, excruciating chest pain is not something I've heard many people with POTS say they have. If the pain is severe, then it is something you want to get checked out to make sure you don't have another problem going on too. This severe of chest pain may be normal for you, but just in case I would want to get it checked out. I'd mention it to the doctors at Mayo and describe the pain in detail. I hope they will be able to help you.

I take ginger for nausea. I can't stand the taste of ginger (in tea or food), so I take ginger root capsules. I buy them at drugstore.com, but you can probably get them at Wal-Mart or any place that has a large enough selection of natural herbs, vitamins, etc.

Rachel

[janiedelite]

I agree with Rachel. I've had mild chest pain with my POTS, and when that symptom started I made sure to have an EKG and chest xray done at urgent care. They were normal. But last year experienced an episode of much worse chest pain. I went to the ER (and trust me, I HATE going to the ER). I ended up having one of my cardiac blood enzymes elevated, I was admitted, and ended up with a really helpful cardiologist and good meds as a result. We're still not sure what caused the worse chest pain, but I think it could have been an adverse medication reaction in my case.

It's so hard when we experience symptoms on a regular basis that can be serious and they are usually attributed to "just POTS." But I think it's really important that if a symptom is new, or worsens, and could be serious, it's always good to check it out.

[comfortzone]

Hi - and I'm so sorry about your severe pain! I just now read this. I am glad you will be seeing specialists about this. I have chronic pain and probably should look into supplements as mentioned here - like the ginger and tumeric ... yet I sometimes worry about how it messes with my other meds for blood pressure etc... I use prescription short acting pain medications - ever since my bilat knee replacements the end of 2008. I despise taking them for the side effects, my own thoughts on the stigma of it, the cost to your liver etc, the cost period -- and quite frankly they don't even work that well anymore.

The doctor was pushing for long acting medications such as Methadone - yet I don't feel like I'm willing to be tied to a pain management doctor for the rest of my life on something as potent as that with even more stigma attached to it. Yet he says it's less damaging to the body and helpful at low doses once a day at bedtime. I'm so vary wary about this - so I just keep taking the other medication.

I'm sincerely hoping, and I'll say a prayer for you too, that what you have is very very temporary -- and that the right mix of good doctor, good advice through answers achieved by the docs and your support here will have that pain in your chest area gone, gone gone!