Fentanyl Withdrawal Symptoms (Page 45)

I'm trying to wean myself off the Fentanyl patch. I went from 75 micro-gms to 50 now I'm on 25. Having a problem and not sure it is related to the decrease in the med. It's been 20 days on the 25 micro-gm and I'm going crazy. I need to keep rocking, moving in any way b/c my body is very restless. Is this a symptom of withdrawal and what do I do? I cannot take it any more.

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Im here I was able to drive for the first time since Aug 2nd yesterday. I had no idea how horribly wrong a simple lumbar injection can make one so sick. 100mcgs and 30 mg of oxycodone barely touched the pain. My doctor said side effects are so minimal and rare he felt no need to even mention. The positive side is I weigh now what I did as a teen. Where did et go? We all need to get together here in Cali. I'm walking distance to the beach and we can all just eat brownies and pass out for days to escape the pain. Sounds Like we are all in the same boat. I need a good med mal practice lawyer. This is serious bs. Take care and talk soon
xoxo
Shannon

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Shannon,
WTF, girl! A lumbar injection?? With steroids?

It put you out for 7 weeks?

PAIN is now the worst four letter word in my world.

Go out and listen to the ocean, Shannon. It sooths.

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Shannon, was this a pain management dr? Did you do it under fluoroscope if not don't use him again. I have had many over the years. Only get a headache the next day, nothing else, never really helps much for pain but I keep trying..

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I just had total right hip replacement. Total Trocanter gone due to advanced RA. Had best surgeon and that went perfect.
BUT
Before they tried an MRI guided injection of steroid and stronger meds into hip joint. Since there is only less than an inch window of error before they hit a major, major leg artery they need to see (by imagery) if the needle is going in perfect. They hit a wall of calcium deposit on the way in. ( major pain ) Also they gave me no meds to relax me or for the pain of lying twisted on iron gurnee.
What a farce. I had not one minute of relief.

Then surgeon puts me in bed for 6 mo prior to surgery with no meds. I lost my mind.

5 days ago they took me off Pristiq (ugly antidepressant ) and said so I wouldn't have withdrawal go on Prozac.

This drug is worse. I was MYSELF when off of both. Now sluggish and back in bed.

I am going to try being myself. For once.
What do you think?
The pain is bad enough but when they tell you that long term use of opiates makes you depressed: here take a pill for that.

This is bs.
I am angry tonight for all of us.

Have a better day tomorrow everyone !

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I'm scared to death, esp after reading some of these posts. I have been on Fentanyl 75mcg q 3 days for 6 yrs now. I was told that I had permanent nerve damage L5-S1 after my Microdiscectomy. I have been fairly stable on the Fentanyl, unless I'm late changing a patch or I over do it....then I'm in severe pain again otherwise the pain is tolerable. Well with the new pain med laws that were passed in KY this July, my Doctor ordered a MRI on top of my usual drug tests and frequent appointments. Apparently my MRI did not show as much damage as before,so he is weaning me off the Fentanyl. He is giving me 2-50mcg, and 2-25mcg patches, then nothing. I think this is way to fast to come off. I even asked him about withdrawl, and he just acted like it was no big deal. I'm also Bi-polar. I'm so afraid that I'm not going to be able to deal with the pain and the withdrawl and that it's going to cause me to have an episode with my Bi-polar disorder. I don't have insurance right now. My pain management Doc is covered under Worker's Comp. I don't understand how I can still be in so much pain if my scan looks okay. I have days when I'm not sure I can even drive home after I've worked all night then stopped at the grocery. He tells me there is no reason for me to be in pain. I wasn't really given a choice 6 yrs ago....it was either take the Fentanyl or be in so much pain I couldn't function. Worker's Comp denied the surgery that would have relieved the pressure on the nerve.

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I'm still here and doing alright. I check in almost everyday, I just don't always have much to say. I just went through 48 hrs. of withdrawal but its over now. To the person dealing with workers comp., good luck, that program is a joke and some law firm ought to sue them instead of all these other frivolous law suits. Well stay strong everyone, if I ever come out to california I'll look you guys up. The brownies sound delicious.

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This is Angel, Chelle

I have to think and review Ky law first.

Plus have appt in one hour.

Hang in there.

BRB

HUGS

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Weeler, you are 1000% correct. W/C screwed me over soooo bad. Some culo Atty calked me outa the blue one day saying if I didn't take $10k for my future med that I didn't settle for the $28k the judge offered I wouldn't get a dime or get anything covered in the future. I was so crazy in pain and scared I took it as he wouldn't back down. I am so screwed now. I harbor really impure thoughts about whoever this guy was all the time. I too ck in but like that other gentleman I don't know what to post even if I can pull it together to log in. Brownie coma induced nights is a great way to make it through withdrawl. I too am literely hanging in there. I hope you ALL are doing ok.
Xoxo
Shannon

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Lired, I think he hit something or injected somewhere that shouldn't have. He is so precise and has such a great reputation and I trusted him. I will most definitly never see him again. My blood flow is restricted and who knows what else. I'm a bit? Better now. I just don't want to jinx any recovery. Angel, we are in a horrible place and getting through the day is hard enough much less making it to the beach. Simedays I can hear the otters and waves crashing from my balcony. Good idea though. I will try to find a private beach and just chill but I'm to depressed to even go out.

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Hey my name is James and I think you might need to go to a doctor or methadone clinic to be put on liquid methadone. It helps my pain better then every pain killer out there. Please try it I promise you should do better k! Jimmy

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Chelle,
You are right that they are tightening the handout of narcotics in Ky. Some people are crossing out of state to get their meds. Any chance you are near a state border?
Also MRIs do not always capture the problem. Here is a quote from the Mayo Clinic
"Re: will an MRI show nerve damage or anything else aside from disc herniation ?
It shows "soft tissues" it will show the discs and if they are pressing on nerves or appear to be narrowing the spaces where the nerves exit. Unfortunately the MRI does not tell where the source of pain is being generated unless you have a very clear one level problem. Some MRI results may look bad on film and be asymptomatic for now. But if you are having pain it is an excellent tool to see if there is spinal cord compression. However it is just one of many imaging tools. And there are times when things do not show up on an mri but are still there. There are additional tests of course to determin nerve damage."

Here is what one Mayo Clinic patient said:

"A MRI doesn't always show everything,it depends on how its done.I've had one done standard,one done with contrast and now having one done with radiation.

I've had 3 EMG's and the first 2 MRI's are not adding up to the EMG's.With the radiation it gives a more in depth picture to exactly what is causing the nerve compressions,it'll show more of the scar tissue's ,lesions(which is scar tissue on the spinal cord or nerve endings)cysts, tumors.I don't know why they don't use this type of MRI more often.It's a very safe and effective source of seeing a clearer picture.
But I know it's fairly new.It's guicker too."

So your doctor is just blowing you off. Tell his secretary when you call for an appointment that you have spoken to a lawyer. Practice before you call so you seem sure of yourself.

Fight! You have the right.

Angel

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Angel, I will get in touch with you for sure because I need to know what to do. I can explain just so much on this site and so much more in person. I am having a problem with making my mind up as to what course I need to take. I am being pulled from 6 different ways from 6 different people. I am the one that is in pain, they are not and don't know what I'm going through. It feels like a wedge pushing up through my butt crack. You remember how it felt when you had your babies?? When your hips spread open to deliver the baby???? Well, that is just part of the pain. When I sat down, it feels like a knife sticking in me above my anal opening. Talking about pain. I jumped about 6 feet of the ground when I sat down yesterday. Then the pain that runs down my legs is something else. The bottom of my feet feel like I have been rubbing them with sandpaper. They burn all the time. My legs don't hurt so much during the day as much as during the night when I am turning this way and turning that way, trying to get comfortable. There is just no relief. The Suboxone helps some, but not when I am in full fledge pain. I go hide when I am in so much pain because I cry continously. But, everyone don't want me taking all them pills. Except my Suboxone doctor. He told me to, by all means, take a pain pill if you need it. He just don't want me to take them at the same time. He keeps telling me he is not "anti-pain medicine" and that he feels with all that is wrong with me, I need something. He can't believe that I am walking around. Gosh, I am so confused as to what I am to do. But I know one thing I can't live with this pain any longer. My oldest daughter that works at the hospital is the only one that tells me to get to a pain doctor and get something. She is the one that takes care of me when I am down and can't get up. Everyone else is so self-rightous and will be "so" embarressed if anyone knew. God, If I didn't think I would miss and it would hurt, I would take a gun and blow my brains out, that is how bad I am in pain. Of course, I would never do that because I want to live, but that is what the pain is doing to my brain. It keeps telling me to just give up and I keep telling it to go to hell, that I can find something to make it stop hurting. Well, it's time to quit feeling sorry for myself and get up and do some ironing, cook for the grands, sweep and mop this big ole house and clean the kitchen and bathroom. I got all the clothes washed last night. I wash for 6 people. It's a never ending circle....and the circle closes up on me at times....I don't know how much more I can take.....

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STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!

This is an ANGEL telling you I have been exactly exactly where YOU ARE!

ONLY YOU CAN HELP YOURSELF !

When you are in that much pain you MUST GET RELIEF!

WHY?

I believe very seriously that when I went for 6 months with NO PAIN RELIEF before my total right hip replacement that I lost some part of my mind.

I lay 24/7 in agony....agony so bad I too contemplated suicide. 189 days of crying and moaning.

I can not come back from the trauma.

GO
GO NOW AND TAKE THE MEDS.
GET AN APPT FOR SOMETHING STRONGER.

We are not addicts here. We are not junkies. We NEED these meds to live a decent life.
Don't listen to anyone. Don't TELL anyone what you take. It's your business.

I will talk to you anytime. This weekend if it is critical, you call.

I care.

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Angel and Nanny, we are so in the same boat. Now i have crps? Pre mature arthritus in my backa and Is from the injections. I cant take those anti depeessants but i really need to get a grip on this crying. I hate mean ppl. Heaven is so not ready for us and hells affraid we will take over. I just ordered from a late nite informational this really good Omega 3 its supposed to be a great and beast quality. It will help with inflamation and my embarassing bouts with crying. It supposed to help with emotions, clarity and severe pain including nerve. Its so bad i cry infront of strangers doctors and ppl that really do not like me its embarassing I get 90 day money back a free bottle and a friend gets the same deal plus a $40 ck uf a friend tries it too. Even my 18 yr old cat can take it. Google rds? And crps? Thats what i think we all have some form of. Feel ok today so no brownie coma needed tonight :) take care everyone don't just "hang" in there feel better have a drink and i hope eveeyones mood feels better. Im sorry i havent emailed you but im either sleeping or laying down I GARDENED a bit yesterday :) lifes simple pleasures as rare as they are. We are stronger than the hypocrites that really dont understand or give a crap because belittling abd putting others down makes far to many ppl feel superior lol superior to a bed ridden pill popping lady with no life and very few friends. Friendship takes nurturing, time, and some lucidity. I have time just no substance in the time i have Im lonely......random strangers are the best. A recent poll said over 85% would rather have 100 aquaintances than one genuine friend. Seriously? How vain are we really?

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Shannon,
Bella, Bella!!!
They would shout that at us models in Italy.

Now I call you two beautiful also. You are a magnificent soul. All throughout history, we know people have suffered. The great minds, artists, writers, queens, and slaves.
You are not alone. I cry with you and for you. We are together. We can share what we can not tell others.

Yell, scream, cry. I will listen.

Take the pills you need to survive. I will never judge you.

Because people who have never suffered in agony do not know that there are worse things to fear than death. I do not want to die yet. I believe that I will get off these damn antidepressants and stop sweating, shaking, feeling sluggish, and having brain fog.

I believe.

We need to hope for a remission in the craziness. Whether it is caused by too much or too little of a neuro chemical we need.

Hang on to this Angel.

Shannon and NN do just one happy thing for yourself a day. Sit in Gods sun. Write or call me.

Rise up like the Phoenix from the ashes.

Tell me how I can help?

Love You!

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For all to read just saw a news report about pain drugs, ambien , it links to dementia. Go to Worstpills.org - makes me never want to take any more drugs. My mother has dementia and I will tell you first hand it's a horrible disease.. She is in a facility not a nursing home, but a dementia unit. She's in a wheel chair now and does not talk.. Was always healthy no diseases, no meds but has dementia and lost her over 4 years ago.. The longest goodbye. I feel like throwing all my sleeping pills, and pain meds in the garbage..

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Well wish me luck. I started my weaning process today. Put on my first 50mcg patch this morning. I did go pick up a copy of my MRI and I ordered a copy of my old MRI. I have made an appointment with my primary MD...not my Worker's Comp Doc, but he can't get me in until the 9th. I trust him though he will be honest with me and tell me if the scan does actually look that much better or if I need to fight like a tiger and get a second opinion with the WC docs...he can also reccomend a doc. I'm still worried about withdrawl between now and then, I guess if I get too bad I will go to the ER. I have already warned my teenage boys that I may be more irriatable for awhile. I'm a Home Health care nurse and the family I work for is being great, I told the mom I would try to work but if I was to bad I would have to call off. I wouldn't want to try to take care of her baby if I was in full fledge withdrawl. Maybe I'll be lucky and everything will be fine. The Pharmasist was concerned with how fast he is weaning me...she called to see if she could give me 5 patches of both the 50mcg and 25mcg instead of just 2 of each, he said 'No'. I don't think this is what House Bill 1 is supposed to do. I read over the Bill. I have already jumped through all of the hoops in this crazy Bill. Right up to the drug test to test for the drug in your system, more frequent visits, already tried all the lesser drugs and physical therapy, and a TENS unit....just not understanding how government can decide who is in pain and who isn't.

Those of you that believe in a higher power please say a prayer for me.

Thanks everyone for listening.

Keep on keeping on!

Hugs,
'chelle

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Been trying to inform you about what I learned about us being on fentanyl, sleeping pills , anti depress. Please do some reading on the web under memory loss ..

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Chelle, prayer has been done abd I will continue for all of you. You really shouldn't be made to come off this stuff so quickly your pharm is correct. Even if you need to add a 12mcg, that would definitely help a bit. It worked for me. My pain with 100 was unmanageable and my skin looked like I had a mild sun burn on my belly and legs and light blue on some days from being bed ridden i felt like I was dying. Good luck and Weeler, yes on memory loss not to mention I was definitely dumber. Not that I've had much to work with recently anyways.
Take care everyone.
Shannon

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Chelle,
I have been reading all about the "pill mill" bill. It is outrageous!! Some of the legislature on the committee that formed Bill 1 did not even know what a Class III drug was. I understand that your state and Florida had many pill mills which accounted for increased deaths.

But this Bill makes it a felony for a doctor, if he doesn't follow each nitpick step, to give any pain meds unless you have cancer, had surgery or are at end of life.

Chelle, it is an illegal Bill!!

Doesn't the Bill of Rights guarantee us life?

What quality of life do you have in pain?

Can you move out of that stupid state??

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