I take Lyrica 75mg plus a low dose of Tramadol, once when I get up and again at noon. At night I take Klonopin for spasm and pain and it helps me sleep better than I have for years. I can take more Lyrica and Tramadol but I'm trying to keep the dose down as much as I can. You can take up to 8 Tramadol a day and most people take 150mg of Lyrica at least once a day. It really does take the edge off of the pain. Without it it feels like I am literally on fire from the chest down. Add the pain from the 'band' and it s pretty rough!
How are you doing, dear one??? Slowly healing a bit at a time? Jeanne -------Original Message------- From: L T CHERPESKI Date: 6/18/2009 9:28:24 PM To: [email protected]; Janice; jrushton Subject: Re: [TMIC] I keep seeing posts about the banding around the chest area, and boy can I relate. My lesions are at C4,5&6 and sometimes I feel like I can't get enough air. Especially when I go to bed at night. And I'm with you guys, I only wear soft cotton. And I absolutely can't stand to have shoes or socks on my feet. I even wear flat, wide open sandals in the snow. (to my dr appts, no less !) Jeanne, what pain meds do you take that take the edge off? Linda ----- Original Message ----- From: jrushton To: [email protected] ; Janice Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:06 PM Subject: Re: [TMIC] Hi, again, Janice! On your number two, I think the banding seems to be where the damage is. Mine is right at the T4 and hurts 24/7. It feels like a steel band around my chest that is pulled so tight it cuts into my skin. The pain meds I take do seem to take the edge off which really helps. I had to find a bra that was the right fabric and didn't gouge or rub and I did that which also helped a lot. I do have a increased pain when I wear certain clothes and fabrics. If I put on a pair of pants or even a dress that is made of certain fabrics it's like acid on my skin. I've had to get rid of most of my clothes which was okay since they were my dress/work clothes and scrubs and mainly wear clothes that area soft cotton. Jeanne -------Original Message------- From: [email protected] Date: 6/11/2009 8:48:45 PM To: TMIC; Janice Subject: Re: [TMIC] 1) yes heat is worse in the summer.... right now sittng my two fans and AC is on and still feel like sweating more than I should be 2) in the 4 years I have had TM bandinmg pain has never gotten better. I am lucky that it's ohly on the right side at my waist. I have to wear pants and shorts with elastic and they are pulled up above the banding pain area. somedays pain is unbearable some days just don't notice it.... -------------- Original message from "Janice" <[email protected]>: -------------- This is Janice, I have 2 questions: 1. With hot weather coming, do any of you have a problem with all of a sudden being really hot? I know some of you had a problem with the cold last winter, but does your body change in summer and you get hit with being hot instead of cold? I really have a problem with heat - especially with humidity. I get hot, then weak. Not good. 2. Several of you have mentioned the tight "band" around your body. I am not sure this band is in the same place for everyone. Also, has there been any change in the band with those of you who have had TM for a long time?
