Currently I’m going with two Ibuprofens an hour before, LMX5 about 45 minutes before (if a sensitive area), then Lanacaine before and maybe thirty minutes into an hour session. Needless to say, I don’t really feel comfortable using all these things combined, I don’t even like taking ibuprofens on a regular basis.
I’m thinking of replacing my regimen with just one application of Tridocaine (20% Benzocaine, 6% Lidocaine, 4%Tetracaine) available here: Canada Drug Superstore. It would be cheaper and safer.
…So, has anybody have a good experience with these people? Afterall, giving my Credit Card Number to a foreign country is somewhat unnerving. I could pay with an international postal money order. Thoughts?
You’d be better off using your credit card, as if the product doesn’t turn up then you can get your money back via the card company. If you send a money order then that’s as good as handing over cash.
Keep in mind that when it comes to sensation of pain, there are many other factors, like dehydration, caffeine, stress, smoking, use of artificial sweeteners, not enough sleep, and deficiencies in vitamin b and tryptophan that cause more pain to be felt than one would otherwise.
One would do well to take in extra B’s and tryptophan the day before, and the day of an electrolysis appointment. That could be in the form of carrots, and turkey, or bio-available b vitamin complex, and 5-HTP or actual Tryptophan for those outside the US. (those in the US who want actual tryptophan will have to get it in the form of baby formula, as that is the only OTC product that the US government allows us to purchase straight tryptophan… its a long story)
I have been having a lot of work done on my upper lip over the last couple of months and I would like to stress that there are some things that you can do to really minimize the discomfort.
One of the things that you have mentioned is that you use ibuprofin prior to treatment. This is in the class of drugs known as “Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs” or NSAIDs. This works fine if you are dealing with something like sore muscles or post dental pain, but not the best choice for the types of pain perceived during electrolysis. I have started taking 2 acetaminophen extra-strength pills about an hour prior to my treatment. Secondly, I apply LMX 5% cream to my upper lip and cover it with a piece of Saran Wrap, taped in place for at least 1/2-hour prior to treatment. That’s all that I do and I get good results from it. However, there are some other things that I do 24/7/365.
Drink at least 8 8-oz glasses of water per day.
Eat a lot of leafy green vegetables and fruit. Most people do not get enough vitamins A & C. Eating these foods will make certain that you get these things.
James mentioned tryptophan and that does really help. I do not get it from suppliments, but from eating things like home-made hummus (sesame and chick peas are both good sources of this amino acid), oatmeal, turkey, cheese and fish. I do not eat a lot of red meat, but that is another good source as well.
I make certain that I get a good night’s sleep for at least 3 days prior to my weekly treatment.
I am a coffee lover, but I hold off on drinking it the morning of my treatments. I drink a minimum of 6 glasses of water before I go to my appointment. Also, if you are taking any type of diuretic (HCT, spironolactone, etc.) if you have an early appointment hold off on it until after your appointment - or drink a lot of extra water (at least 3 additional glasses). I celebrate with a Grande Mocha at Starbucks after the treatment.
Make certain that you eat a good meal at least an hour prior to your treatment. I schedule my appointments early AM and eat oatmeal, poached eggs and fruit for breakfast. If you have an afternoon appointment, a turkey breast sandwich on whole-grain bread and an oatmeal cookie, or fruit and cheese for dessert would be a good choice.
Basically, the things that will make me have a comfortable treatment, less the anesthetics and Tylenol, are the things that will keep me healthy as well. Try working yourself into doing these things and you will have a healthier body much longer - plus a lot more comfortable electrology.
Thanks Pam, James, and Joanie,
This is some good advice. Best maximize the things we can control that aren’t drug-related before boosting the anesthetics. Caffiene is a huge one of mine and it’s hard to stop drinking it so often. The rest are changes I’ll need to put into effect. The B vitamin thing may explain why my treatments seemed to get more painful after I stopped taking my megapak vitamins. I need to work with that.
Truth is, I think the ibuprofen really isn’t much good. I can barely notice a difference when it is skipped. Extra Strength Tylenol works great for me, but I understand it can be more harmful to the liver? So I may start with that, but reserve it for my once a week pro treatments.
All these other things sound like a good direction to go in, and I’ve been craving more fruit as well. Thanks again ya’ll.
Mantaray
For my case let’s not talk about post-tx celebrations. When I pull out of the parking lot I pass by a row of just about every burger joint and asian fastfood chain in existance. I consider getting through the four stoplights a huge victory <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Worse than that, the coffee/caffeine you drink burns up your vitamin B supply. When people say that they have gotten down to their last nerve, they are technically right. As the vitamin b dissolves the nerves insulation material gets thinner and the person gets crankier and more sensitive to pain.
Just 2 things about Tylenol. It is the metabolites of the drug that are toxic to the liver. Drinking a lot of water will keep their concentration at the lowest possible level.
Also, as Tylenol doesn’t upset the stomach, it gets used in a host of other preparations. Just be certain that when you take Tylenol that you are not using any other OTC or prescription medications that use this as well. If you take Tylenol avoid any other product containing acetaminophen (generic Tylenol) for a minimum of 4 hours. Occaisional doses will not have a significant effect on your liver no more than an occaisional cocktail will cause liver problems.
Uuuugh! You electrologists are always telling us to drink more water! What is it with you people? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Uuuugh! You electrologists are always telling us to drink more water! What is it with you people?
I just don’t know, James! I just don’t know! I guess it’s because my Vet keeps yelling at me when I drink the suff I like! <img src=“/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif” alt=“” />
Joanie, just FYI to throw this out there since you too use LMX-5, This other client tells me the Tridocaine is the more effective. She says of Lanacaine, LMX-5, and Xylocaine, the Tridocaine has a better delivery system that allows more efficient crossing the skin barrier and uptake. That’s why I want to give it a shot, and that it’s almost half the price of what I pay for LMX-5 ($25/15 gram tube of LMX-5 from TES).
I’ll definately check out the Tridocaine although I really don’t have that much left to do on the upper lip. I got it from the Canadian Pahrmacy for $29 for 30 gm. That seems to be the only area that I have any real sensitivity to in regards to electrology. From here on out, I will be getting about 15 min. max on the upper lip and the rest of an hour on the cheeks and chin, etc.
Why is it that you so consistantly hit the tiny little nails on their tiny little heads? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I have to agree with you on this one. However, after looking at the ingredients in the new stuff I am willing to give this product a try. After all, I will be shortly finding out if there are certain other areas where sensitivity may be an issue. I have about another 18 months to get certain areas totally cleared. Additionally, I have pretty well used-up the 15 gm tube of the LMX that I have been using for the last 3 months.
I just got my little 30gm tube of Tridocaine in the mail today. I had to rush it out of my office and stash it in my car. If I was to be inspected by the BBC, it would have been something illegal to have in my office!
Anyway, I have my treatment tomorrow and I’ll let you know how this works out with the upper lip.
Hi Joanie, please do let us know. I’m still using the LMX5 and tube version of Lanacaine until that arrives in the mail. The upper lip has to be the gold standard test, although I’m going to use it for last passes over sparse hair on the feet. Feet are an ordeal, I just dread those sessions.
Before reading this post it had never occurred to me to take something for the pain! Wish I’d read this yesterday <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I stopped using prescription topicals, partly because of the hassle and mess (need to be applied 1 hour before treatment with an occlusive dressing) and partly because I felt it really didn’t do that much for me and wore off too soon. Basically, topicals help take the edge off the needle insertion but don’t really do anything for me to quell the dermal pain.
So, instead, I started popping 2 advils an hour before my treatment, and that really helps (funny thing, advil has caffeine in it, I think).
When I first started my treatments, I noticed that 5 or so minutes into the zapping, I started to get used to the pain.
Later, I found that breath control helped even more.
Basically, you inhale (gently) a half breath as the probe is inserted in the follicle, and then hold your breath as the current is applied. Don’t forget to exhale after you feel the zap subside. Repeat. I find this is easy to do if the electrologist develops a rhythm.
So, instead, I started popping 2 advils an hour before my treatment, and that really helps (funny thing, advil has caffeine in it, I think).
I think you are thinking of Excedrin as having caffiene in it. The caffiene, in Excedrin is great for all those that suffer with migraines, by the way. Over the counter Advil does not have caffiene as an ingredient. Advil is a great anti-inflammatory agent and does help with electrolysis sensation. Some of my clients take it and say it takes the edge off certain sensitive areas. One lady takes three at a time which bothers me a bit, but it seems to agree with her. Just don’t take it on an empty stomach as it can irritate the lining of the stomach. If you are taking blood pressure medications, it can interfer with these medicines. If you are taking oral blood thinning medications, like aspirin and coumadin, be careful with the Advil as it can thin the blood as well.
I have very few clients that use topicals. Actually, I only have one. She uses EMLA on her upper lip and it does help, but it does metabolize quickly. She has to drive to my office with a thick cream layer on her upper lip that is occluded with plastic, but she’s fine with that. It’s much easier for the client, if the electrologist can see well to make great insertions and utilizes good levels on her epilator, or better yet, invests in a quality computerized Apilus or Sil-tone VMC which have the reputation for making the treatment energy very tolerable.
Oh, James, please do answer real sore on the effect of artificial sweetners.
Since artificial sweeteners cause dehydration, that alone would increase pain sensation. An added chemical reaction effects the brain’s ATP and GTP, leading to either further dehydration as the body tries to manufacture its own sugar, or causes the subject to eat starches (potato chips, french fries, crackers, rice) to give the body something to make sugar with. Doesn’t matter as the disturbance of ATP and GTP would further effect brain function. When the body tastes sweet, the liver kicks into action to metabolize sugar, and since there is none in the “food” that stimulated the responce, the body ends up converting proteins to sugar, and may break down muscle in the process, leading to a fatter person as the metabolism slows due to less muscle mass. This process further contributes to the dehydration of the body, which further contributes to pain sensation.
I’m with mantaray in that I neither enjoy taking painkillers nor get much relief from ibuprofen or acetaminophen. I’ve been having thermolysis on my upper lip once a month for the past 6-7 months, and these are the things I’ve found most helpful:
EMLA cream (lidocaine/prilocaine cream, 2.5%/2.5%): For me, this takes the edge off. Not everyone finds benefit from it, though, and it is messy and awkward.
Deep, regular breathing and conscious relaxation: I think this helps more than anything. I use breathing and relaxation exercises that I learned in yoga, and this does wonders for calming me down and decreasing my perception of the discomfort of the electrolysis. Starting a yoga class or getting a video, or simply practicing deep breathing and relaxation at home, may be a good adjunct to electrolysis.
Distraction: My electrologist generally puts the TV or radio on while she’s working. This, coupled with deep breathing, takes my mind off the procedure.
If something is too painful, say so: I’m not from the “suck it up” school of thought about pain, so my philosophy may differ from other people’s. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I do ask to take brief breaks or not to work on really painful areas (e.g., right under the nose) if I need to. It helps me to feel that I can manage the situation and keeps me motivated to finish the course of treatment.
I hope this is helpful! It’s still uncomfortable and I don’t really look forward to it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />, but it’s manageable with these tools. Good luck to everyone with your electrolysis!