Just got back from the GP for a medication review.
Discussed my lack of response to Gabapentin - which I quit after a month, for that reason.
I knew that my neuro had placed me on a very small, “beginner’s” dose - just 100mg 3 x a day. However, he had not explained to me the procedure, should I fail to get a response at that dose. I only got a copy of his letter to my GP, saying that he would be grateful if she would raise the dose as necessary, AFTER I’d already quit.
So when I spoke to her this morning, she wasn’t at all surprised it did nothing, as she says that was a very tiny dose, and she would normally start people at three times that (after a bit of weaning on) - i.e. 300mg 3 x daily. So on that basis, she thinks it wasn’t a fair trial, as it was too small to do anything, and that I should begin again, but this time weaning UP to 3x300.
OK, I suppose no harm done, in the grand scheme of things, but I’m a bit peeved that I’ve done - in effect - a pointless trial for a month, and that if I’d been told how soon and by how much to go up if it didn’t work, I could have experimented with that myself!
In fact, the doctor has not written a new prescription at all, but just described to me verbally how to titrate the dose, with the tablets I still have, and left it to my commonsense to come home and do it! She says that IF that works out OK, arrange a telephone consultation when I’m almost out of them, and she will do a repeat 'scrip for a higher dose, so I don’t have to take as many pills. All sensible, but if my GP is trusting to verbal advice, and that I won’t screw up, the neuro could have done the same, instead of leaving me to give up in disappointment, when such a titchy dose didn’t work. So it’s really quite odd that the GP is saying without hesitation: “Oh, it wasn’t enough: Go up!”, when the neuro could have left me that option himself.
Anyway, in better news, to my unending surprise, my blood-pressure is absolutely fine - so I can continue taking the mini-pill, which I am not using for contraception, but to limit symptom flare-ups linked to my monthly cycle. Also got the go-ahead to run two packs back-to-pack (which I’ve secretly been doing anyway sometimes), for half the number of periods! Yippee!
And I finally got my flu’ jab done. I do find it varies, depending on who’s doing it, but this nurse was so super-slick I barely felt it, and afterwards couldn’t find the puncture wound! I’m just slightly aware I’ve had it, as the muscle is starting to feel a little stiff two hours later, but what a neat job - there wasn’t a spot of blood. I’m sure I’ve come out holding cotton wool over it in the past. So hopefully one less worry this winter.
Feel absolutely knackered now - one visit to the doctor does me in (but have walked 30 minutes total as well). But quite a positive morning, I thought.
Tina
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