I've been a member who has been monitoring for some time but i rarely write. here's my little story: I'm 70 y.o. with severe spinal/disc degeneration plus spinal and severe foraminal stenosis. i believe i remember a series of discussions on this board about an annoying side effect of OC: local itching. it is maddening! both sides of my waistline especially when removing my clothing for showering and after the shower. i've tried benedryl spray and it helps. other suggestions?  also, my wife wants me to get off zoloft so as to reduce the number of drugs i take which incluce OC, oxycodone for breakthru pain, celebrex, flurazipam for sleep and zoloft with occasional gaba for neuropathic pain. she knows i was suicidal before i started the drug and does not believe i would become that way again if i stop. any feelings on this matter? i love my wife of 46 years, most of the time!

 

i feel so for other folks who also suffer 24/7. i have desperately tried, i guess fairly successfully, to deal with what i cannot (and no one elce can, either) help except with personality-numbing meds. i would give anything to find an alternative except for dying...