Day 1 off Fentanyl Patch

[TurningANewLeaf]

Hello All!!  I have been reading some very old posts the past couple of days.  I really appreciated being able to read that you are not the ONLY person going through this crap.  I too foolishly allowing myself to begin taking a new drug w/o first doing the research.  So, here is my story....

I got into a car accident 10 yrs ago now and another that is 8 years ago now.  I started out on vicodin.  Took as many as 9 ES tabs a day and was not doing it for the high just to get by.  Then, the Dr. cut me off and I subsequently got pregnant.  Even more reason to get clean.  Which I painfully did and went and saw the chiropractor for help quite often.  I was fine, then when the baby was 4 mos old.  I woke up one morning sick and felt like I was going to DIE and had the WORST chest pain.  So, my neighbor took me to the ER.  Turned out to have some sort of sickness.  But, was prescribed tylenol 3.  All of a sudden the back pain came back out of nowhere.  Soon enough I needed more than the tylenol 3 or dilaudid or percocets.  It was the same crap.  Taking too many just to get by.  Then one Dr. threw me to the curb and I immediately found another that was willing to p/u the slack.  Then, I decided to kick the habit.  Went down to vicodin the off on my own.  Guess what, just in time to get pregnant again.  Went through this pregnancy taking tramadol, neurontin and flexeril.  Had the baby, was in pain.  But, then it progressively got worse and turned into HORRIBLE RLS.  Was calling this Dr. who I had been seeing for a year and he never prescribed me any pain meds.  So, he put me on Lyrica.  He kept increasing the doses and I began to "balloon".  Gaining weight, and I still had the horrible RLS.  Finally, the Dr. relented and called in the vicodin.  It did help.  The next day, I received a letter stating that my Dr. was no longer going to be treating me after a period of 30 days.  So, I made an appt to see a rheumotologist.  He was so kind and nice.  He said not to worry about that Dr. that ditched me and gave me a tissue for my tears.  And... a prescription for the DEVIL ITSELF!!! FENTANYL PATCH!!!!  He said here is a 25 mcg to start, you will probably need more.  This will work great for you.  I was just so happy and excited to have someone help me that I didn't even look to read about it.  Never heard of it and assumed it was all new.  This was 11/07.  It is now 1/10 and I have decided to get my life back.  Like everyone else, I have been an angry, grouchy, slouchy, lazy, bloated ***** for too long now.  I have a family and I don't want to affect them anymore.  All I do is make excuses and lay around.  Like I'm a damn cat or something...lol.  Anyhow, this wd thing sure is the pits!!   I decided a few months ago that I was done with being so damn tired.  So, I was up to the 75 mcg changing every 72 hours.  My dr. NEVER let me change a patch every 48 hours.  That's why I was up from the 50 mcg.  LONG story short. I went from the 75 mcg to the 50 mcg and actually feeling better... Then, after the 2 months, I saw the Dr and told him I was ready to go down to 25 mcg, he said no, wait another 2 months.  I reluctantly put my tail between my legs and said ok.  2 months later, I came back and said ok, you said I can go down to 25's now.  But, he was nice enough to prescribe 12's along with it.  So, I was taking the 25 mcg along with a 12 mcg every 3 days.  I started feeling so uncomfortable...  Feeling so hot, turning down the heat to then being closely followed by cold sweats.  And, the eyes were watering.  Along with loose bowels.  I called the Dr's office and the Dr. said not to worry that was NOT a sign of withdrawals.  I just got sick of it and called again and again the same response 4 days later.  I then was told to make an appt to see him.  This is 3 wks after tapering from 50 mcg to 25 mcg plus 12 mcg.  I ripped the 12 off and took all my patches and the rx for the 25th yesterday and told the Dr. that I want OFF!!!  He seemed a bit surprised.  Not sure if many people do it.  So, I said I will NOT buy another patch.  Please direct me on how to safely get off this ****!!!  So, I laid out the patches, had 4 of each.  He said start with taking the 25 mcg alone until all 4 were gone after wearing them for 3 days... then to do the same with the 12's.  This was going to take another 24 days!!  I couldn't take it.  He saw that in my face and said, so, do u just want to start taking something else?  I said no, I want off this!  So, he said ok, I cant' take these patches and wrote an rx for me to drop them off at my pharmacy.  I felt stupid but he said it was normal and ok.  I am now on 2 Vicodin ES tabs a day.  That's it....  And, it has not even been 24 hrs.  I want to pull my f'in hair out!!!  I have puked, not slept, in pain, of course I just started menstruating last night on top of it... I'm sick to my stomach, loose bowels, achy.  Ugh!!!  I am so sorry I ever touched that crap!!!  I have read it can take a LONG time to get it all out because it stays in your fatty tissue.  Isn't that wonderful... wonder how long I'm going to be in absolute misery!!!!  HHHHHEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP!!!!

[tellit2her]

Hi there Leaf, welcome to the site and I can relate to your story. You are going to feel much better sooner than what you think. I had a hip replacement 6 years ago and a pain doctor had me on the 125mg patch for well over a year before it was replaced. The pain after the surgery was undescribeable. The doctor did not even wean me off after the surgery and basically was left in a nursing home at the age of 48 for 7 weeks to learn how to walk again and to really go cold turkey off of fentanyl 120mg. Luckily my family doc was compassionate enough to put me on oxycontin 40mg for 1 week to wean off the nasty fentanyl. Just glad its over, and I feel for you. After all the crap I went through detoxing, I started taking vitamins, drinking a load of water, minerals and amino acids and I felt better both physically and emotionally in about 3 weeks, and that time went pretty fast. I dont know if you ever tried suboxone for short term use, that too does very well. Its all up to you and if you really really want to kick this or not. Our bodies are amazing and we all heal rather fast, its just that the time seems so slowwwww getting there, but we do get there, Stay focused and will pray for you, wishing you a great recovery,,,,, mike in nc

[Dadof5kids1973]

I was on 200mch (2 100 patches) that I changed every 48hrs. I used hydrocodone to help for almost a week. I suprisingly felt 10 times better within 10 days. Dont get me wrong i was not 100% but I could get 5 hours of sleep most nights. the energy thing still has not come back. I have spurts of energy but they are far between. every1 is differebt but most can go back to a "normal" life around the 3 week mark or so. The main thing is that you want to do this, thats is the biggest part of it. I wish you luck and post here 100 times a day if you have to it helps alot to get it out and know that others who are/have been through this.

[TurningANewLeaf]

Thank you both so very much for taking the time to read my LONG story...lol.  I am soo very glad that I did drop those patches off at my pharmacy.  It is kind of embarassing when I think about it...but oh well.  I know that if I had brought those back to my house that I would have given in and put one on by now.  The discomfort that I am going through right now makes me want to literally crawl out of my skin.  I don't sleep.  I am WAY too uncomfortable to sleep.  I can't get comfortable.  My mind is racing.  The hours drag on.  Not to mention that my husband has to work all day and I'm left to fend for myself and take care of a three year old boy and later my 7 year old daughter comes home from school.  Needless to say we don't go anywhere.  I have to say that no, I don't want to use any Suboxone.  I feel it's just going to mask things and possibly getting my body to want that then...  I have to say, Dadof5kids that I am very glad you shared that you don't quit have your energy back.  I am so worried about that for me too.  I literally WANT to do things but feel so incapable almost.  Like I just CAN'T do simple things like cleaning the house.  I feel like a burden and a damper almost.  Gosh, this stinks.  Sometimes you can't win for losing...  Thank you again.  And, I'm sorry for the LONG drawn out story.  But, I really wanted to let everyone know exactly where I'm coming from here....  I am not going back and it is my first time.  But, there is no going back now.  Please keep me in your prayers!  I hope the best for you all as well!

[sweatinit]

Hi and welcome! Congrats!! I dont know much about patches, but i do know about not being able to do house work. Today was the first day i had the energy to do all my chores. (One day early on I think day 8 or 9, i painted my kitchen. I just couldn't lay around another day). I would just do very little here and tehre. My point is, leave it. Try to take care of yourself as much as you can. The house work will be there. Make yourself #1 this week. Big hugs coming your way.