Travelling!

[wmcconnell]

Been a while since I posted on here. Do read all your posts and appreciate the honesty and support found on this site.

Last summer my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She is still living independently with my father but is in constant pain. They live about 3 hours drive away. (152imiles) I have been trying to go up to see her whenever I can. My husband takes me or I travel up by train (this means going via London :-() On the whole I woukd say my pain is improving very very slowly however I have massive flare up of pain after each journey leaving me in agony for days afterwards. So a young suggestions as to how I can manage this better? Anyone else in the same situation?

Wendy

[Juney6]

Are you taking amitryptaline? It helps me a little bit x

[Wendymcconnell in reply to Juney6]

Yes, currently on 45 mg a day x

[StIvesmaid in reply to Wendymcconnell]

Sorry to hear you and your family are going through such a difficult time. Please make sure you don’t stay on amitryptilene for very long. I was originally prescribed it (30mg) after a whiplash accident left me with shoulder pain. It is a very effective means of pain control and I stayed on it for several years as I believed it helped me with arthritic pain as well. When I moved and changed GP they suggested I should stop taking it and it was a real struggle as I suffered quite unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

[Hidden]

Hi

just wanted to add my experience of amitriptyline. I'm on 50mg (down from 70mg a while ago). Been on it for 5 years and it helps, especially to help with sleep. My GP thinks it will be fine to take for as long as needed at this dose, as it's a lot safer than the stronger meds e.g. opiates. I too think I may be on it for ever and this doesn't worry me...in my view, better than insomnia on top of unrelenting pain. Obviously I would prefer not to have to take meds but that is not realistic for me. I would add that decreasing the dose needs to be done very slowly and gradually. Just a personal view of course. Each person has to decide what's best for them.