The doctor gave me Tramadol for my endometriosis pain. I have a full week of almost intolerable pain every monthl. Tramadol is one of the few drugs I can tolerate with regards to nausea (Vicodin et al seem to just make me puke immediately) and it does actually manage to relieve my pain fully or at least 80-90% (when I mix it with Aleve). The problem is this. I have to admit that I enjoy the Tramadol. It makes me feel good. Of course it does -- it makes everyone feel good. I'm getting to where I almost look forward to getting my period b/c it means I can take the Tramadol. And to be honest when the week is over I keep feeling like "Oh I still have some lingering pain" and I have to use my willpower to put the Tramadol back in the medicine cabinet. Everything hurts. I don't know what to do. I would ask my doctor but I'm afraid he'll take the Tramadol away and won't give me anything as effective. If that happens I'd die. My pain is so bad that it can wake me up already sobbing in the middle of the night -- just awful. I used to call it "the monster" and live in fear of it like every 4 weeks this awful thing is going to come back and almost kill me. So when I got the Tramadol I was like wow this is a godsend I can be a normal person now and I don't have to live in fear. But now I'm a little afraid that I'm addicted to the Tramadol. So I don't know what to be more afraid of the Tramadol or the pain. Is there some other medicine that I could take that would be as effective as Tramadol that wouldn't be even MORE addictive? Would it be a good idea to alternate medications -- take Tramadol one month and something else the next month? I'm 34 and I have another 10-15 years of pain management ahead. BTW surgery really isn't an option for me to manage the endo b/c I don't have health insurance and I can't tolerate The Pill. I think I'd rather be in pain than take the Pill again.
2014-12-04 03:14:16
Please be very careful with the Tramadol. We receive quite a large number of patients in our center for Tramadol dependency and addiction. It does put a blanket between you and reality where life just seems to be smoother but the more you take the more you need . You start creating a tolerance and after a large daily intake seizures are usually a side effect. As you see as good as it feels it will eventually turn on you. I believe your idea for skipping a month is brilliant. Even emotionally is important for you to curb the cravings when you feel it might become one more issue in your life. Congratulations on your awareness and action.
2014-12-04 03:15:05
