I'm 20 years old and recently had a motorbike accident that put me into hospital for 7 months, requiring 11 operations. I burst my liver and it became complicated. I've been taking OxyContin (40mil x2 daily) for the 7 months.
The pain is gone. I don't suffer at all, but I can't get off OxyContin. I had no idea what the drug was like, so I just kept taking them even though I probably could have lived with the pain after 5 months. The doctors told me to continue taking them so I did.
I see a pain team regally, and they've been trying to get me off of the drug, but it's not working. I got down to 40mil daily, but anything lower than that and I'm literally crawling the wall. I've accidentally forgotten to take the drug before when I've gone out for the day and 3 hours after it's due, I'm ready to end it. It's that bad. I was driving home tonight from my girlfriends, 2 hour overdue and the temptation to accelerate into an on coming car was beyond stupid. I know this is the wrong attitude to have.
The pain team just doesn't seem to understand. "Just don't take them," she tells me, even when I'm sitting there rocking backwards and forwards whilst changing my sitting position every 20 seconds. I've told my GP and he acts like I'm taking paracetamol... "They're not addictive," he claims.
They're saying that they aren't going to prescribe them for much longer. I'm scared silly. I know full well that it'll get too much for me.
1.If I was just to stop taking them now, how long would I get severe urges for?
2.Does it get worst after the 3 hours? I've never tried. That is long enough for me to consider taking my own life.
3. Is there anything else I can take to help?
4. Is there anything else I can do to help?
No one seems to understand. Even my family seem to be doubting me now, after several surgeons are telling me it shouldn't be this bad.
Please help.