Tramadol...FDA, call,email, do something...

I had been taking Tramadol since 2000 for chronic pain. Usually never more than 4 tablets a day in total.  This year they told me (ALL my doctors) No more tramadol for you. Because 1) I have a bad liver 2) I have a seizure disorder.  Yes, Tramadol HAD been adding to my seizures and didn't know it until I came off....

The doctors CAN five you things like Oxycodone (No tylenol in that) or fentanyl patches or (Yes I know you've heard before) try some other forms of therapy. Massage therapy, etc.  I have had two broken shoulders, broken knee (Tibial plateau fracture) annular tear in my lower spine and bulging disk (from being thrown from a horse years ago. Believe me, I DO understand and know pain.

Sadly (and I am going to really bluntly honest here...) some days a GOOD day is a 5 on the pain meter. Sadly modern medicine cannot heal everything, cannot totally get rid of all the pain  (Did all the shots and such too...Total waste of time and caused more damage).  We LIVE, we LOVE, we sometimes look foreward to the days we have no more pain.  If you are on to talk, sometimes talking to a therapist (Who specialized in people with terminal illness or painful chronic disease) can help. or a support group can.

I am NOT normally a big "group talk" type person...But I got tired of being negative to my loved ones and friends and even though THEY never said anything, I didn't want to be "Debbie/Dan Downer" and just talk about pain all the time.

I will NEVER do the things that bought me true joy before (Horseback riding, motorcycle riding, driving, hiking etc) BUT...I am still grateful (if not more so) that I am gifted with family and friends who love me. One thing I have always learned.... No matter WHAT your pain there is always someone who has it worse than you.

((((hugs))))

Warmly,

Jackie

A "black box" warning simply means that there's a potential for danger with a medication. It has ZERO impact on a physician's ability to prescribe it; it's simply an additional warning placed in the package insert.

For example: Some antidepressants receive a black box because there has been an observed greater risk of suicide among patients taking that medication. Depo-povera birth control injections receive a black box because it is associated with long-term loss of bone density.

You are not being discriminated against. You are not being targeted. Nobody is going to take away your medication, and it has nothing to do with your medical status.

So I never got a response from my last post (latest data was 2011).  I think it's time we call or email the FDA concerning Tramadol...If it is being black boxed.  Below are the phone numbers and emails.  If it is true, we are being discriminated by the government.  Also RNY patients with liver problems, this is the ONLY real choice for pain relief...Without much side effects.  Write and call...Your voice counts.  Brian

Media

  Sarah Peddicord
  301-796-2805

Consumers

  888-INFO-FDA

Are you an addict and afraid you won't be able to get your fix? 

Why haven't you called your doctor directly and asked him/her if it has been black boxed? 

Don't expect other people to pick up a phone and find out the information for you, do it yourself.

The government isn't discriminating against anyone and having WLS does not mean one is disabled. 

edited because I left out "not"

No!!  I am not an addict!!  I have had a bad back for 30 years.  They want to do surgery...But many of you know how back surgery can turn out...Very high chance the surgery makes it worse than better.  I also have heart disease.  So I hope (Lord willing) I die from other issues before needing surgery that could make the pain much worse in my back.  Yes, sometimes the doctor can and will put me on Hydrocodone, when something major happens and I'm in a bad situation...Not often.  But, being 9 years out, things happen.

Concerning ADA...I'm thinking back a few years ago when I worked as a security guard at a minor league baseball game.  There was "NO" outside food allowed in the facility...None!!  We let people put their food back in their cars, but technically food wasn't even allowed in the parking lot.  I'm checking bags for food and guns...things like that as people are entering the stadium.  A woman walks up to me and said "a few weeks ago I had gastric bypass...This is a protein shake".  I told her it was not allowed inside.  She put up a fuss...I had to stand by the rules...Even the stadium management would not budge.  She could have gone inside and bought some chicken wings, hot dog, and Pepsi...Maybe that would help if she became light headed!!  So yeah, there are times when the ADA can come into play with RNY...Because I saw it first hand.  Brian 

No. Not being able to bring food into a ballpark is in no way an access issue.

Not being able to get in a store today because of steep stairs only is an access issue.

So how would you feel if the management said "no insulin syringes allow in the stadium"  Foul ball/flying bat...You could accidently poke somebody.  SORRY!!

How is a protein shake the same as insulin? Food is not medicine. There is just no reason we can't go without eating for the duration of a baseball game.

I'm playing devil's advocate.  I'm just saying the woman who had a special need (protein bottle) should have been allowed to bring it in.  In CA it can be hot and humid...dehydration could be an issue....Electrolytes.  Also the woman could have had some extra muscle mass loss.  The question is, was it a want or a need?  She felt it was a need.  Many RNYers would feel it's a need.  Yeah, I know, why is she even going to the game if she is only a few weeks out.  Just saying this is what happened. 

There is nothing special a WLSer needs for the time they are at a ballgame. There just isn't. We aren't any more prone to dehydration than anyone else. We don't run out of electrolytes in a 3 hour window. And there is plenty to drink at a game. And just how much muscle mass can you lose in an afternoon?

People that think their every want is a need drive me crazy. True needs make up a pretty short list.

All you really need are respect, good regular bowel movements, and a navy blue blazer.

Navy blue blazer?  The 1970's called... they want their tube socks back... :D

Audrey