Fentalyn Withdrawl(withdrawal)

Hello everyone.  I have been reading a lot of emails on here and I thought I would post a question.  I am currently weaning off of a 25mg fentalyn patch that I took every two days.  I have been on the patch for two years.  I also take Vicodin 10mg for breakthrough.  I have been praying to god to help me have the courage to get off the medications.  I feel like it has taken over my life.  I recently took a urine test for the doctor and she said that a drug came up that I have never even heard of.  I think it starts with an O.  But, when she checked the pharmacies to see if I got a prescription for it it never showed up. BECAUSE I NEVER TOOK IT!  But, she did notice that I accepted a prescription of Darveset that I received.  Yes, I was wrong for accepting it.  I was passing a kidney stone and the pain was too much to handle.  It ended up being a 6 mm stone.  I had used up all my Vicodin and I did not go see her for two days.  She is very hard to talk with and has no compassion for her patients.  I am sure she has been burned a lot.  So I can’t say I don’t blame her.  I should have called her and asked for more but I was afraid.   I was still on my patch but it was not helping.  I could have gone to the ER but my husband was out of town and I have children.  Plus I can’t stand the IV drugs at in the hospital because it makes me throw up.  SO, anyway since I accepted it she and I had some words.  I really don’t blame her.  She is a good doc and she is only looking out for my best interest.  She said she wanted me to find a new doctor because I broke the contract.  She said she would give me one more month of prescriptions but then I was on my own.  When I walked out (my kids were with me) I looked at the prescriptions and then my children and realized that I could take these prescriptions and find a new doctor or I could follow God’s lead and wean myself off of them.  I truly believe God wanted her to find some drug I never took so she would check my prescriptions.  It has to be.  So, I turned around and gave her back the Fentalyn patch prescription and the Focalin prescription. (I used to get 10 every other month for the really bad pain.  I have a kidney disease that cause me to pass stones every week.)  The nurse looked shocked but I felt liberated.  I thought I was addicted to the meds mentally but I realized that yes my body is addicted to it but my mind is not.  Because anyone that is addicted to it mentally would have taken the prescriptions and run.  My mother has been addicted to pain meds for 20 years.  It caused our family a lot of grief.  I did not want that for my children and that is why I have been praying to God to give me the courage to stop the meds and try other natural pain help remedies like acupuncture and meditation.     I felt liberated when I handed her back the prescription.  That was my first step to being drug free.  I was proud of myself. I got in the car and started crying and laughing at the same time.  But I knew it was going to be a long road to get me off .   I did fill the Vicodin prescription and I handed it over to my husband.  He is giving me 6 a day to wean me down.  I am on day 4. I start with 4 a day for 4 days tomorrow, and so on until I am off.   I do have the muscle aches, and the sleepless nights.  Probably four hours a night.  But the worst is the Restless legs.  I can’t stand lying awake and all I feel are my legs aching.      My question to all of you is will this work?  Has anyone did this before?  I don’t have the cravings for the drug.  My husband gives me my dose at the right times that we layed out.   He is supporting me all the way.  I am taking motrin for the kidney pain and drinking lots of water and lying on a heating pad to help.   I know that I will have to take drugs again especially if I get blocked with big stones but I will try everything else before I go to them.  I wish I never went to a Pain doctor.  I had no idea what this stuff can do to your body.  I wish I knew before I signed up.  I always thought my Mom was addicted to the high.  But I think she did not have the courage to go through WD.   WD are the worst.  I know that I am doing it slow and It prolongs being uncomfortable but I don’t want my kids to see me sick for five or six days.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Am I doing this right?    Sorry so long.  But if you have ever weaned yourself off can you let me know if I am doing it right.  

Thank You
Someone who feels liberated

[ochooked]

Hi Been72;   Wow!!!  I can appreciate the feeling of liberation you felt at refusing bondage and the condemnation that can come from a doctor.  What she found in the test is a very common mistake of Opiates---- probably showed a positive for Oxycodone or a form of Opium --- All of this class of drugs are derivatives of Opium so it is common for the tests to mix them up ---  Shows just how ignorant the doctor was to assume the tests were right and her patient was lying.  However, this was probably one of those "God moments" where He was trying to speak to you -- and apparently He got through.  You are on your way to being clean of Opiates.  Many of us live with Chronic pain and do so without Opiates --- We too have found the liberation of not being dependent or addicted to these drugs.  Most of the drugs like the Opiates are really best for short term pain anyway.  Given a lot of time, the drugs are less and less effective and it soon takes more and more of the drug to dull the pain.  In reality all the drug does is alter our perception of the pain - they do nothing to actually relieve the pain itself.   Yes, there are alternative ways to control the pain without narcotics.  There are many non-opiate drugs that may help and you will want to get a GOOD doctor who will prescribe them.  It helps a lot if you open up with your 'new' doctor and tell him/her that you want to go the non-opiate route.  One of the newer ones works on about half of the patients - it is called Lyrica.  Now, I know there are some who say it did not work for them but I have talked to quite a few who found good relief from it.  It does take awhile to get the blood plasma level established so that it is at the effective level and that does take some patience and willing to work with your doctor to establish what that dose is.  Now, I can't go into all the alternatives here - but some may want to give you some ideas.  The important thing is that you know what to expect when you come off of the Fentanyl.   As you may be aware, Fentanyl is one of the most powerful narcotics on the Class 2 list, way more potent than Morphine.  Bottom line is you will probably go through some pretty nasty Withdrawal symptoms.  As long as you are expecting them then you will be prepared.  Please see your NEW doctor ASAP and get him/her to work with you.  If you have any patches left then start going as long as you can between changes.  When they run out you can go cold turkey off them, but it may be rough.  You will not die, but will likely feel like you have the flu times 10 for a week or so.  Just know that it will pass and you WILL get better.  Do not lose hope or become discouraged.  It is also common to experience depression but again, as long as you are expecting it, then you can cry when you need to and know that this too shall pass.   Believe me, after the withdrawals, even with dealing with chronic pain, you are going to like the person who looks back at you in the mirror.  Your whole life will change in ways you never could imagine -- - The Opiates have been robbing you and your family of the real you for too long.  Congratulations for your decision to quit.  All the best.  Please keep posting and when you are through this nightmare - please come here often and offer hope to others who are struggling.   Merry Christmas

[fengirl09]

I sent you an im so check your inbox.   Vickie

[Florida_Guy737]

Hi...been where you are and came off by tapering.  I was on 50mg patches and percs for breakthrough.  I totally recommend weaning from the patch first and then start a taper with your meds; cut them in half if you have to.  My taper lasted 3.5 weeks and I'm almost a year clean....

My doctor had me on these meds due to a broken knee; broke while exercising.

PM me if you need too...you can do this.

Guy