I am a nurse and my brother has been dx with SLE. He is on a large amount of Fentanyl, Oxycontin, Klonopin and Toradol for pain. Is SLE the cuprite of the pain he is having. He was not diagnosed until last year but has been ill several years with cardiovascular problems, hemipilegic migraines, kidney problems and joint pain. All I am seeing at this point is a brother who weighs 88 pounds lying in bed all the time and out of it. Nauseated/vomitting and wanting more pain med. I can see the dehydration and failure to thrive. Any suggestions. Does this disease kill and cause extreme pain?
I am not an nurse,just an optician before I was diagnosed with SLE. Now my family sees a mom who WAS on oxycontin and fentyl for pain and was totally out of it. I found a pain doc. who got me off the fentynyl and oxycontin(and wanting more pain meds...oxys are deadly) he put me on -believe it or not-methadone for the pain. I know the bad rap methadone has,but the combo. of methadone and klonopin has given me my life back. The tolerance for oxycontin shoots up very high very fast. I would the methadone. I stopped wanting more and more pain killers too. Because this combo,and compazine for the nausea was the cocktail that got me thru the other treatments. I wish you and your brother much luck,health and happiness. Check out a drug being worked on called Benlysta. Apparently it is the most exciting thing they have found since the cure for polio. It makes lupus-most forms, into a disease that is chronic and not deadly withthe wrong infection or cold. Look it up!:) And my prayers go to you ,your brother, and family.
It is not common nor productive to be on all the narcotics for the treatment of symptoms for your brother. I would get a second opinion because the doctor clearly is ignoring a dependency that surely developed from the consumption of these drugs. A narcotic treats pain. Lupus is not reactive to narcotics and responds only to NSAID's, Corticosteroids, Anti-Malarials, Immunosuppresives and in worse cases, Chemo such as Methotrexate. The only way the Lupus will be calmed out of a flare is to take the mendication that has proven to work on the immune system.
The sooner you intervene the better. I am a medical assistant and have been a sufferer of SLE for over a decade. I was prescribed a narcotic for my extreme activity days, but a prescription never went over Vicoden or Percocet and a 30 day bottle has lasted me over 7 months. It frightens me to see your brother sick, losing weigh and dependent on narcotics.
Lupus is a chronic disease with no cure. Although once very fatal, it is manageable when placed on the right regiment of medication and carefully observed by a responsible rhuematologist. Flares, or the active state of SLE, can be controlled by eating correctly (avoid gluten), stay out of the sun or protect with a UVB, UVA sunscreen, manage stress and get adequate sleep every night. Water therapy and exercise is an excellent way to stay in shape while limiting the stress on joints.
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The sooner you intervene the better. I am a medical assistant and have been a sufferer of SLE for over a decade. I was prescribed a narcotic for my extreme activity days, but a prescription never went over Vicoden or Percocet and a 30 day bottle has lasted me over 7 months. It frightens me to see your brother sick, losing weigh and dependent on narcotics.
Lupus is a chronic disease with no cure. Although once very fatal, it is manageable when placed on the right regiment of medication and carefully observed by a responsible rhuematologist. Flares, or the active state of SLE, can be controlled by eating correctly (avoid gluten), stay out of the sun or protect with a UVB, UVA sunscreen, manage stress and get adequate sleep every night. Water therapy and exercise is an excellent way to stay in shape while limiting the stress on joints.
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