When I was teaching Lamaze classes, I would print this out on some cardstock for families to take with them to doctor/midwife appointments. I realized tonight it might be of use for us as well!
B.R.A.I.N.
Whenever your doctor suggests a new medication or procedure, you ask these five questions to help you gain an understanding of what it is that needs to be done and why your doctor is recommending it.
B - benefits. What are the pros of doing this procedure or taking this medication?
R - risks. Are there any risks I should be aware of?
A - alternatives. Are there any less risky/more natural alternatives we could try first?
I - intuition. You don't have to say this out loud but make a note of what your intuition is telling you - what does your gut say?
N - nothing. What if we wait on it for now? Can we wait a day? A week? A month? What would happen if we take a wait and see approach?
I still have these printed on 3x3 cardstock with a hole punched through the top so it can be tied to a purse or bag. It's a reminder that we're in charge of our health care, and to never leave a doctor's appointment without knowing WHY a doctor is prescribing this medication or procedure!
I have always believed that you should know WHY you are being prescribed a medication and WHAT that medication is actually going to do for you. Because I am so against medications and how harmful they can be to your body overall, I have only taken flexeril, a muscle relaxer in which I would only take at night occasionally. Don't get me wrong, I live in extreme pain 24/7 and have begun to look at other options. I just recently began going to an acupuncturist who also specializes in Chinese medicine as an alternative. I have had 2 full treatments and today will be my third. I will let you know that I usually only sleep approximately 3 hours a night and last night I slept through the whole night for the first time in 9 years. I have a bit of less pain this morning and my head is not hurting as severe. Just thought I would through that out there to you all in case any of you are looking for an alternative if you have not already tried it. I know everyone is different and what works for me may not for you.
Awesome advice Katrina! The only thing I can add and it's not even mine is there is a reason why it's called a Doctor Practice. I love the B.R.A.I.N. and am happy to say that for the most part that is what I do, which shows I have come a long way! Thanks again for sharing that, it's the best advice I've ever received. ;)
Saw your question in the box for member online. I use Tizanidine quite often. I don''t notice a huge difference with it relaxing me but it will knock me out when I can't sleep because of the pain/tension. It's great for me on trips too since it only knocks me out for a few hours I can get a nap in and still drive later on. The Lyrica my insurance turned down and since nothing ever lasts for me I didn't bother to fight it. I do have a friend with Kron's who is on it and it got rid of her migraine, she had one for over 100 days. I've heard good things about Lyrica so far. I'm trying Anitriptyline right now to try and block the pain and will probably have to switch pain blockers about every 3 to 4 months since my migraines always break through. I also had luck with Venlafaxine for blocking my migraines but it stopped working for those after 3 months. I still take it to block my pelvic pain. Hope that answers any question you had? Let me know if there's anything else I can do? Have a good one!
Sarah
Hadassah Michelle Esther said:
i love this, wish i would have had it back a month ago. My Neuro is wanting me to get a spinal tap and botox shots on my neck
Sarah, thanks for the reply. Tizanidine doesn't seem to work for me, i do sleep but have crazy dreams. lyrica, well i honestly dont feel a difference at all. i am also taking vicodine but it makes me sick. i dont really have migraines my issues are the pressure in the back of my head and neck and also body spams. I had my decompression surgery April 2012 thought everything was fine until december, pressure is back more frequent and stronger. had another MRI -brain and spinal last week and will see what my neuro tells me. I also had to find a new Neuro but he seem not to know much about chiari. I just moved to the DFW area so still searching for new dr';s. again thanks for your input!
Sarah Pugmire Baron said:
Hey,
Saw your question in the box for member online. I use Tizanidine quite often. I don''t notice a huge difference with it relaxing me but it will knock me out when I can't sleep because of the pain/tension. It's great for me on trips too since it only knocks me out for a few hours I can get a nap in and still drive later on. The Lyrica my insurance turned down and since nothing ever lasts for me I didn't bother to fight it. I do have a friend with Kron's who is on it and it got rid of her migraine, she had one for over 100 days. I've heard good things about Lyrica so far. I'm trying Anitriptyline right now to try and block the pain and will probably have to switch pain blockers about every 3 to 4 months since my migraines always break through. I also had luck with Venlafaxine for blocking my migraines but it stopped working for those after 3 months. I still take it to block my pelvic pain. Hope that answers any question you had? Let me know if there's anything else I can do? Have a good one!
Sarah
Hadassah Michelle Esther said:
i love this, wish i would have had it back a month ago. My Neuro is wanting me to get a spinal tap and botox shots on my neck
The only other thing I can think is maybe try another muscle relaxant. I have tried several and the Tizanidine is the only one that works for me so far. So maybe a different one for you will help and not cause crazy dreams? On the Lyrica I think it takes time for it to build up in your body. Also the dosage may be an issue. I'm slowing building up Amitriptyline and I haven't noticed a difference yet, but we might add other down the road. My frustration right now is since we are building the dosage I ran out before I should have and the Doctor hasn't refilled it yet so for the last two days, I haven't had any. It does seem to make me extra tired but I'm hoping my body will adjust to that as well. I take it in the morning so it's not so hard for me to get up. When I take it at night, I could stay in bed all day! :) Good luck to you and remember everyone reacts differently to medication so if you need to definitely try something else. I know it's hard to add meds, I hate it, but I would rather take medication then to feel miserable all the time.
Sarah
Hadassah Michelle Esther said:
Sarah, thanks for the reply. Tizanidine doesn't seem to work for me, i do sleep but have crazy dreams. lyrica, well i honestly dont feel a difference at all. i am also taking vicodine but it makes me sick. i dont really have migraines my issues are the pressure in the back of my head and neck and also body spams. I had my decompression surgery April 2012 thought everything was fine until december, pressure is back more frequent and stronger. had another MRI -brain and spinal last week and will see what my neuro tells me. I also had to find a new Neuro but he seem not to know much about chiari. I just moved to the DFW area so still searching for new dr';s. again thanks for your input!
Sarah Pugmire Baron said:
Hey,
Saw your question in the box for member online. I use Tizanidine quite often. I don''t notice a huge difference with it relaxing me but it will knock me out when I can't sleep because of the pain/tension. It's great for me on trips too since it only knocks me out for a few hours I can get a nap in and still drive later on. The Lyrica my insurance turned down and since nothing ever lasts for me I didn't bother to fight it. I do have a friend with Kron's who is on it and it got rid of her migraine, she had one for over 100 days. I've heard good things about Lyrica so far. I'm trying Anitriptyline right now to try and block the pain and will probably have to switch pain blockers about every 3 to 4 months since my migraines always break through. I also had luck with Venlafaxine for blocking my migraines but it stopped working for those after 3 months. I still take it to block my pelvic pain. Hope that answers any question you had? Let me know if there's anything else I can do? Have a good one!
Sarah
Hadassah Michelle Esther said:
i love this, wish i would have had it back a month ago. My Neuro is wanting me to get a spinal tap and botox shots on my neck