Posted lots,still in hell,off gabapentin 6 weeks now,in agony,all sorts of weird stuff that nobody would believe,docs dont help me at all...

[lewis08]

Cant take anymore of this after affects,been off GABAPENTIN 6 weeks now and get worse every day,anyone know why i could be suffering so much?any info would be appreciated...i'm a lady by the way...

[Janepepper]

I wish I could help you. It sounds like you are going through hell. It can't still be withdrawal. These must be symptoms of something else that the Gabapentin was masking. Is there anybody who can go with you to the doctor? Or someone who can phone, preferably in a terrible panic over the state you are in? Maybe phone your GP for a home visit. That's usually the only thing that galvanises mine into action. Can you email your pain consultant? This is obviously not ok and you sound like you don't have the strength to fight the dragon reception staff who prevent access to the doctors. My husband has phoned in the past and once he was so distraught that they moved themselves. If all else fails and you cannot stand it anymore, call an ambulance. Tell them you think you're dying. This is the problem, my GP has given me his personal mobile number because you just can't get through the receptionists. Let me know if I can help. I don't mind phoning your doctor and pretending I'm a friend who has dropped in and am frightened by the terrible state you are in. Be strong, remember that this too, shall pass

[lewis08 in reply to Janepepper]

Hi,thank you for responding,another terrible day and night for me,i have done all the things you have just said there,even when i was choking could hardly move my mouth because facial bones were totally rigid and burning mouth mouth etc docs wouldnt do a house visit,doc on call refused,i even phoned NH24,they did a visit but because they did not have my notes their hands were tied and went down to hospital A&E department and they did not help either,seems to me when you tell any health care proffesionals your on or have been on gabapentin they dismiss my cries for help and believe me ive tried and tried but all to no avail,they still leave me to struggle,one woman doc even said i need to see a physcologist,you can imagine my reaction,my husband got to the point with the docs he actually was very angry at them for leaving me like this and spoke his mind,he was told he would be not allowed back in the practice with me again,its not his docs thank god?i know gabapentin is good at masking stuff and of course they doctors know too,they put me on it and i was sceptical as i had never taken anything stronger than a paracetamol before but they said it was widely used for neuro pain etc,my mind is mixed up and im no way near the woman i was all thanks to that drug,its did alot of damage,i can go on but i wont,just phoned for an appointment today,i will struggle to get there as going out makes everything so much worse,just hoping today i get some definite help,have pain clinic appt but they will not be able to help with the many other problems that are going on at the moment?just want my life back even with the terrible pain,i think you have been so kind trying to help me and thank you so much,i really appreciate this,just hope i get help today,finger's crossed and once again many thanks.

[Hidden in reply to lewis08]

Ditch the NHS and got to a Chinese dr. They will help you, with very little info. They will give you treatment very specific to your illnesses and conditions. They check your whole body and treatment may be teas, accupuncture or massage. It may be more expensive than NHS, but you will only need one or 2 visits with no stress, a dr that listens to you and wants to help you. Then when you are with less symptoms you can go back to the gp, with a stronger body and mind to get what you need from them.

[lewis08 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you zanna,this sounds interesting,have appointment with gp today,have to go as things are even worse now..(did not think it ever could)i will hear what gp says and i am now going to look up a chinese doctor as i have nothing to lose?would be great if the chinese doc could help so long as i can find one?thanks for your advice...kind regards...

Jan..

[Hidden in reply to lewis08]

Jan, most city centres have at least one - usually in shopping centres.

[lewis08 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks zanna,found some,away to docs and if i dont get any help i will be making an appointment with one for definite..jan.

[Poppy_Ann]

Hi Lewis,

i was put on Gabapentin in Jan 2012 and after taking it for a couple of day it put me in bed for close to three months i know i normally suffer with my back due to an accident many years ago but normally when it went into spasm it would ease off after 2 to 7 days but when i started on Gabapentin I thought i was dieing or i should say i wanted to die as the pain just never went away even for a few minutes i decided to stop taking it and started myself back on the Dihydrocodeine which i had been on for many years and then less than a week i was back to my normal self, since then my doctor has put me on pregabalin which is a similar drug but without the side effects ask your doctor to change you over he/she should be happy to do it as it costs about half the cost of gabapentin.

I think all doctors are now to rushed to do the job effectively now unless you are paying to go private then they are happy to chat and discuss what your problems are and try to help you manage them.

regards Poppy Ann.

[lewis08 in reply to Poppy_Ann]

Hi poppy ann,i was on gabapentin for 8-9 months and because of terrible side affects i had enough and wanted off it,doc told me to taper off which i did,it all got worse and was down to half the dose and i was'nt coping so doc stopped the tapering and put me on pregablin at.a very low dose and i was worse than ever,that was me in withdrawal and it was bank holidays so no docs,NH24 were phoned and told me to stop pregablin which i did,nothing has been right and thats over 6 weeks now and im stuggling and just want to die,strong words i know but i cant see any light at the end of this horrendous tunnel,im strong and had to be or made to be,got appt again today so see what the doc says this time?i will struggle and be in so much discomfort as even going outside seems to be attaking my whole body,thank you for responding,it means alot,everyone is so kind here. wish you well...jan

[Poppy_Ann in reply to lewis08]

Hi Jan,

Sorry to hear you are so bad,for me the gabapentin was a little extra to go with morphine and it was to replace the dihydrocodeine when i stopped the gabapentin i was still taking morphine so i did not get the withdrawal symptoms in the past i suffered from them when i was away and my medication went missing in the post and i tried cutting down to half my normal does then down to 1/4 but at night i could not stop shaking and sweating in the end i went to a local doctor in St Martin where i was at the time and paid for a prescription $50 the $125 for 5 days worth of codeine i am so glad that i normally get them for free the one thing i do know is i will never take gabapentin again at the time i really believed i was going to die and as i was away in Puerto Rico i could not get a doctor to come out to me, no one does house calls out there.

what else are you taking for the pain at the moment? also what are you taking them for? for me i take almost everything for back pain which i damaged whilst in the army many years ago, a couple of years ago i started a pain diary which i kept up for two years just so i could show the doctor how bad it affects me when i added up the days for the two years it worked out i get less than 10% of my time at what i say is a pain level of 1 or 2 which is the odd days that i may be able to walk to the car and go to the local supermarket if i get a trolley and put most of my weight on it then i can get around to pick a couple of items up it is the only time i get to see anyone except for the post lady and i am at a pain level between 5 and 8 which means i can get out of bed but trying to get dressed is just about impossible and anything from 8 to 10 i just want to die which is 11% of the time, trying to explain to the doctor or the social security they just think you are exaggerating but when i turned up with my record they suddenly want to help and they always say we did not know you was so bad it may help if you try keeping a record of how you are and how it affects you, there is nothing they can do if you have not explained exactly how the pain is and how it affects you on your day to day life.

good luck with sorting it out.

regards Poppy Ann.

[lewis08 in reply to Poppy_Ann]

Hi poppy ann,i have neuropathic pain affecting my neck back and left arm and hand right to fingertips,also fybromyalgia,the pains awful,after being off gabapentin the pain has worsened by a millon,its the way i am now with terrible after affects and docs just not getting all this thats made everything a living hell,i'm just about to cry because not one doctor realises that i really am struggling big time,just been to docs and was hell getting there and back,all that and he gives me an antidepressent,told him that was not going to help,he just said give it a try which i wont simply because all the side affects and i know my own body and mind and hes way off the mark,dont know what to do about whats happening to me now?maybe chinese doc?so sorry for your pain,wish we just had a magic wand and get rid of all our misery,just sitting stunned yet again,thanks for response again poppy...regards jan....

[superannie]

Sorry to hear you are having such a terrible time. I tried Gabapentin but stopped after two weeks as horrible side effects made me feel worse. I am so glad I didn't carry on with them. I m now back to co codamol. I am trying to avoid taking very strong medicines. I hear so many stories about the side effects and the struggle to get off them. I am now in constant pain and having to rest as much as I can. Hardly more than four hours sleep a night. I am managing to cope. Not easy and I have aged at least ten years. Am now getting into make up! I am going to see if there are any Chinese Doctors near me. Good luck and let us know how you are getting on. Ann

[lewis08 in reply to superannie]

Thank you ann and sorry about your pain,well thats me back from the docs and has not helped except to give me something to help me sleep,MITIRIZINE i think?(hubbie away try to get them now)i will be trying a chinese doc too,it cant do any harm surely?ive aged bout 10 years,same as yourself,ruined my well looked after skin and hair etc,i dont know about you but i find this all disturbing and a total nightmare,just want me back if you know what i mean?let you know if and when i do feel even the tiniest bit better...all the best jan..

[Poppy_Ann]

Hi Again, have you asked for a referral to your local pain clinic? as that may help you for me it did not do a lot but i know several people who have told me that it worked well for them, that is the problem one thing may work great for 9 out of 10 and then the 10th person they just ignore as it worked for others in the same situation and then the doctor does not know what to try next, if your own doctor cannot do anything you could ask for a second opinion and try someone else they have to get you an appointment if you ask for it..

sorry to hear your doctors visit did not help lets hope it will ease soon for you, i have nothing else to advise as i have never had anything like that.

regards Poppy Ann.

[lewis08 in reply to Poppy_Ann]

Thanks poppy anyhow,yes on the list for pain clinic,and yes because no one seems to have what i have i'm at a loss..thanks for advice and trying to help.jan

[Helenmv]

Hi Lewis08, sorry to read we are so many to live a such bad situation. Only 2 things help me against pain: TENS + orthopedic products.

[lewis08 in reply to Helenmv]

Hi thanks.on waiting list for pain clinic..need help now though badly...been to docs tonight..again useless..regards jan