Going From Fent Patch To Dilaudid In Pain Pump-withdrawal?
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My doctors don't seem to think there's much withdrawal if there is med in the pump. I know the change in med will cause withdrawal. Has anyone been in this situation?

I've read about handling withdrawal here. I just wonder how this may work and how much the med in the pump will help.

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Re: Jeidi (# 9)

Jeidi,talk to your doctor ask him for narcan spray or shot to prevent any reaction’s it’s a must

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Re: Lo (# 10)

Any taking any narcotic’s needs narcan spray or a shot always close to the patient and read how to give narcan spray or shot.

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Yes my mom almost died because her doctor accidentally turned her pain pump off. She was hallucinating throwing up with bad fever. Your doctor doesn’t know cause they haven’t been on a surgical pain pump..

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The withdrawal is bad. They told me I wouldn't have withdrawal because I had morphine in my pump. I was sick for a month. The only thing that helped me was gabapentin.

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That's if you stop taking the meds cold turkey. Switching pain meds does not cause withdrawal unless it is a substantial decrease

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WOW $8,800 bucks for a refill? or for implanting the pump? Ive had a medtronic pain pump since 2003 it costs less that $1,000 for 40cc of brand name Dilaudid. I have chronic back pain from failed back surgery's I have the doc turn the dose down in the winter when I'm not as active &, I never let it give me more than 4mi per day, because if you keep turning it up you, get use to it, that is why I have it turned down. I have pain pills to help when the pain gets worse Good louk

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Don't forget the E.D. And many other bad side effects that will follow, the constant follow up appointments where they have to refill the pump with new medicine, the lifespan of the pump is only 4-6 years and you have to have it replaced. The cost of the refill is astronomical (mine was $8,800) every two months. No surgeon wants to stay around and only do pumps so I'm betting by the time you need your second one your original surgeon will be long gone! Last, forget about asking to get your medical problem fixed once you get s pump, once they have you setup and your insurance is paying they will keep telling you stories like they did to me for years. I wasted 10 good years being milked on the pump when I should have had my back fixed instead, but the same people gave me some story where it would make my back to unstable. So I went with the pump. I mean what kind of doctors do that to patients?

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Has anyone had problems with Medtronic II pain pump with Dilaudid in it, or had one removed because it either wasn't helping or because side effects made things worse? Were withdrawal symptoms experienced?
I'm considering removal due tossvere stomach pain and worsening of chronic insomnia.

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Hello. I was using both the Fentanyl patch for 8 years, along with many daily Percocet. It got to a point where I was wearing the 100 mg/l patch plus 6 percocets daily, and the patch was only helping for 1/2 the time. It was obvious that my body was becoming immune to the products. I have had 13 brain surgeries, a spine surgery, and have a spinal disorder, all causing significant pain. But working a more than full time job, and travel. A spinal neurosurgeon recommended I check into the Pain Pump with a new specialist, so I finally was able to see him. I did the trial, where I was weened off both the patch and the percocets, which was not fun. When fully off the drugs, I had the evaluation, choosing Dilaudid, as it worked for me during my two brain aneurysms surgeries. It took about a month for insurance to approve the surgery, so I was on a 25mg fentanyl patch and several percocets per day, just trying to get by with quite a bit of pain until the pump surgery. It was worth it, because I didn't have any issue with withdrawal the second time. The pump was installed, and what followed was a terrible 7 day spinal headache. I was told I would be back to work in 2 days following the surgery, but in reality it was quite a bit longer. The spinal headache became so severe even laying flat that I went back to the ER. Had a CT scan, and fortunately things were ok. IV fluids did help the severe headache, but since my body was not clotting the spinal hole, the Dr did a blood patch surgery 7 days after the pump surgery. When I awoke, my headache was gone. But my back and legs were killing me with horrible constantly firing nerve pain On a 1 to 10 scale, it was 15. I got home, and with the extra 25mls of blood added to clot the spinal cavity holes, the pressure of the extra volume in my lower back caused unbelievable continually firing nerve pain. I could not sleep, lay down, sit, or stand/walk without constant pain. It was the worst, and was in tears as a grown man. We called the Dr., and was told that yes, this can happen. I was not happy, as this or the spinal headache was not explained, only two days and back at work. I want to share these experiences, as others need to know when having the pump installed, there are possible side effects. I was also given an IQ ball, which is a baseball sized medicine ball filled with a small amount of pain killer, and antibiotic to help with the new incision healing. There was a long clear tube that left the ball, and was inserted also in my lower back. I was told that if in several days if it falls out, just leave it out. I told my wife that I felt some all the way up my spine that was really hurting, like a hard plastic tube. Finally 4 days after the surgery, and not being able to shower, I asked her to pull the thing out. Luckily, my wife is a nurse. She laid me down on the bed, and slowly pulled it out. The thing was 14 inches long. WHAT? No wonder I felt pain, and could feel something hurting me. It quickly felt much better. Wow, that was also not explained. There was no way that could possibly fall out, as I was expecting a small needle under a Band-Aid. The shower felt amazing.

Now for the pump. I have had my Dilaudid volume turned up three times. At first, my chest, head and back hurt, so I knew it was too low. The second one helped up to about 50% pain reduction, and now the volume is good. This will be a life improvement for me, once I get over the bad back and leg pain. This could take up to 30 days I have been told. Now I am dealing with the pain 2.5 weeks after the pump surgery, and can walk and sit in a padded chair working a 10 hour day, but it still hurts a lot probably 30% less since the blood patch event. Just hard to walk still. Last thing I need to mention is that I feel Dilaudid even intrathecally causes severe constipation. Highly recommend asking the Dr for something strong to take daily. I believe I made the right decision for my situation, as I travel globally at times, and am very active and fairly young. I hope this helps others.

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Funny, my Dr says that every opiate causes withdrawl even the pump

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Is this what you've experienced? I don't mean to sound critical, but it's so hard for me to believe that if I have all of that Fentanyl in every cell of my body, that I won't have withdrawal if it's stopped and the Dilaudid is just put in the intrathecal space, even it's if an equal exchange. I may be totally misunderstanding how it works, and I know that's what the doctors say, but I'm SO sensitive to withdrawal, it's just a little scary.

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It really depends on what dosage they are giving you of the Dilaudid, if they make sure it is equivalent to, or a little higher than the amount in your Fentanyl patch, then you shouldn't experience any withdrawal issues.

Withdrawal only occurs if a medication like this is completely stopped, without being replaced with anything else.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Dilaudid/­

Your doctors should calculate an equivalent dosage and set the pump up to deliver that amount, which is why they probably aren't worried about withdrawals occurring.

Is there anything else I can help with?

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