Lupus Community

I recently visited with my Rheumy because of all the joint pain I am having now. She wasn't happy over my taking Naproxin after she had told me not to take any Nsaid's because my protein level was too high and it was affecting my kidneys. I did stop taking it for some time, but found the pain too much to take. Specially when it's keeping me awake. I started taking just one pill a day at bedtime to help me sleep better. It worked! My Rheumy checked my protein level again, she said "There is no way I'd allow you to take Nsaid's, your protein level is far too high!" I'm allergic to just about every narcotic medication there is. So what does one do to control pain and swelling if you can't take Nsaid's and pain medication?

I haven't been on here much lately due to my dad falling ill with pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and kidney's not functioning well. His doctor told me he needed to go into the hospital because he wasn't going to get well at home. My mom and I drove him there and had him admitted. He began improving after about a week there, then all of a sudden while just sitting in his room and visiting with him he began talking with slurred speech. I quickly ran for his nurse. She then did an assessment of dad, and thought it just some cough medication she had given him. However, she did have the good sense to call in a doctor. Dad was then thought to have had a stroke. The doctor ordered a CT scan and and MRI on dad. Then moved him to critical care. He was paralyzed on his whole left side! His throat muscles too were paralyzed. From Critical Care the moved him over to ICU.While in ICU though they had put a feeding tube down into dad. He was against it in the beginning, but I told him it would only be a temporary thing until his throat muscles were better. The following dad they thought he was doing better so back to Critical Care he went. He began eating pudding and sherbert, seemed to handle that fairly well. The next day I arrived to find out that dad had taken a turn for the worse. All he kept telling me and my mom is that he wanted to come home. I told him I would take him home and that I did! He passed away here at home surrounded by many of his loved ones, on Dec. 18th.

With all the stress I've had as of late, my Lupus is flared up quite a bit. My rash has spread down onto my neck and into my ear now. On top of that, I'm in a state of depression and I hurt like the dickens with nothing to help the pain. Tylenol doesn't do a thing for me. My Rheumy wants me to see a doctor that specializes in pain management. Can't recall the exact name of this specialist. Just what I didn't want was another doctor to treat me for my Lupus.

Anyone have any suggestions on what works well for you for your pain management? Does anyone else have allergic issues with pain killers?

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and may it be one that fills our Lupus world with new approved treatments for all of us Lupies!!!