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Help!!! Why do I go through Percocet so fast???
I know I'm obviously dependent on the Percocet...I'm just trying to figure out where the real me went after 4 years, 10 surgeries and lots of pain medicine. I just want to be me again. I see a Pain a Specialist who I adore and we've talked about weaning me down off the Fentanyl Patch...I'm currently on 75mcg of Fentanyl that I change every 2 days and I take 10/325mg of Percocet 4x a day...I don't abuse the Fentanyl but I go through the Percocet way too fast and then have nothing. I don't know what to do. I'm not me anymore. I want my old self and personality back...what the heck does the Percocet do to my mind that makes me abuse it? Any thoughts? Last month I got so frustrated I flushed 2 and a half weeks of Percocet and survived...I should have NEVER got my next script filled but of course I kept saying you can control it...NOT! I have legitimate pain and I've always received my meds legally, I just wonder if I wasn't on all these meds how much pain would I actually be in? I feel like such a loser...I can't have a pity party though...I must accept what I've done and get better...I can do this...I just feel so alone. The roller coaster is killing me and I'm exhausted from the worrying, counting pills, etc. Someone please help. Thank you.
Hi..The bad thing about the opiates is that we do build a tolerance to them and need more for pain..The opiate receptors get plugged up and it all just bounces back off. In the long run you do not feel that euphoria anymore and your natural way of helping with pain is all out of whack. The way it was explained to me (because I like to study this in a more scientific way) it is like a baseball glove and the ball that gets thrown for the glove to catch is the transmitters. The Glove gets so full that nothing else will go in and help.(sort of speaking). There is SO much that goes on up stairs with those brain chem/hormones and transmitters let alone the Dopamines. The Midbrain is the survival part of the Brain and that is the part that will always remember the pleasure and want more & more if you feed it or go around any triggers..NOW since you are in pain I would think the patch would work because of the time release. I do not understand why you need those perks to, unless it is for breakthrough pain. IF you have to have those pills then I would hand them to someone who you can trust to hand them to you on a schedule..YOU can also do this as you taper off these pills. I have also read on here many times that the Dr can take you off the patch and have you do a taper with other pills. Not sure if I read this right..However, if you are really wanting to get clean then this will take a lot of work and I mean a Lot of work..You will have to have SUPPORT all the way..Meanwhile you can start to build your system up with Healthy ways of eating and some good vit/min to start out with..This will help in the detox stage..ALWAYS drink LOTS of water..You can add some electrolyte,C, Bs or any vit/min that comes in a packet..This will help you out too.
I too was in so much pain until I c/t 3 meds back in 2012. I thought I had Mr Art, Inflammation, Back issues and so much more..When I came clean ALL my pain went away..I just am having another type of issue right now, but I sure can deal with it with out going on PILLS..Heck, I think it is because of my x drug use that this is happening. SO I do wish you the best and try to go to some of those AA/NA and pick up all you can about addiction and also look up each med you are taking and see what areas of the brain are being affected. There are many different areas that get knocked done during substance abuse.
PS..YES tell your Doctor how you feel about all of this and he may be able to come up with another plan. Good Luck!
Bless
I too was in so much pain until I c/t 3 meds back in 2012. I thought I had Mr Art, Inflammation, Back issues and so much more..When I came clean ALL my pain went away..I just am having another type of issue right now, but I sure can deal with it with out going on PILLS..Heck, I think it is because of my x drug use that this is happening. SO I do wish you the best and try to go to some of those AA/NA and pick up all you can about addiction and also look up each med you are taking and see what areas of the brain are being affected. There are many different areas that get knocked done during substance abuse.
PS..YES tell your Doctor how you feel about all of this and he may be able to come up with another plan. Good Luck!
Bless
Hello...thought I would stop by and post. Hope I can answer everyone's questions. I know I'm an addict...I keep thinking after each appointment that I can control my meds and start a taper with my Pain Doc and I screw up. I'm so done. I'm ashamed and tired of being tired. I get so mad that I have this pain to deal with yet being negative isn't going to help. Ive been on Fentanyl for about 9 months? I've had 7 major surgeries in 4 years and a few minor...off and on pain meds for that long and do have reasons to be on them medically but it's out of control. I can't take any NSAIDs due to my Gastric Bypass surgery. That was the first surgery and what I thought was going to change my life caused SO MANY problems! I keep thinking if I go to my Pain Doc and fess up will he not help cuz I signed a contract? I'm confused. Going to read up on the wonderful suggestions given to me with different sites out there. Thank you for taking the time to help me...I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I know laying around isn't helping and I need to get off my bootie right? I don't even enjoy the things I used to anymore. These meds are awful...will I ever get to the point where I can take then just for the pain and that's it?
i too am on fentanyl and percocets.
i don't know if you have noticed or not, but you get no 'euphoria' from percs or any other opiate while on fentanyl. you could take 10 (do NOT DO THAT, i am just theorizing) and you will just puke before you feel any effects from them.
that is the first thing you have to understand. heck, they could be placebos (again theorizing) because you won't feel any kind of high from them.
now that you realize that, start taking them as prescribed. honestly, i have got to the point where i don't even do that because some days i have more pain than others. so, if i am not rolling around, crying in pain, i don't take them or only take 1.
that gives me a little wiggle room for when i do NEED them.
i said above that you will not feel any kind of high from them, but if you are in pain they do help. i usually take them with naproxen or motrin to get some relief.
i hope i didn't violate any rules in what i said, i am just telling you what works for ME.
when i first started this regimen, i too took them too many and ran out. i finally figured out what works so that i never run out early.
it is harder to keep track by not taking 4 a day. take 1 on some days and 6 (rarely do i take 6) on another, so every few days i count them out, in little piles, to check how many i have for each day
that is what i have to do to keep my pain somewhat down. when you try this or figure it out on your own, you will feel so much better. i beat myself up if i run out early. have not in a very long time. i am sure you know what i am talking about when i say 'some days i have more pain than others'. there are some nights i have to take one in the middle of the night because the pain is unbearable.
i am not suggesting that anyone take their meds any other way than they are prescribed, but this works for me. i think everyone who has to be on them for legit pain has 'bad pain days' and ' not as bad of pain days'.
i don't know if you have noticed or not, but you get no 'euphoria' from percs or any other opiate while on fentanyl. you could take 10 (do NOT DO THAT, i am just theorizing) and you will just puke before you feel any effects from them.
that is the first thing you have to understand. heck, they could be placebos (again theorizing) because you won't feel any kind of high from them.
now that you realize that, start taking them as prescribed. honestly, i have got to the point where i don't even do that because some days i have more pain than others. so, if i am not rolling around, crying in pain, i don't take them or only take 1.
that gives me a little wiggle room for when i do NEED them.
i said above that you will not feel any kind of high from them, but if you are in pain they do help. i usually take them with naproxen or motrin to get some relief.
i hope i didn't violate any rules in what i said, i am just telling you what works for ME.
when i first started this regimen, i too took them too many and ran out. i finally figured out what works so that i never run out early.
it is harder to keep track by not taking 4 a day. take 1 on some days and 6 (rarely do i take 6) on another, so every few days i count them out, in little piles, to check how many i have for each day
that is what i have to do to keep my pain somewhat down. when you try this or figure it out on your own, you will feel so much better. i beat myself up if i run out early. have not in a very long time. i am sure you know what i am talking about when i say 'some days i have more pain than others'. there are some nights i have to take one in the middle of the night because the pain is unbearable.
i am not suggesting that anyone take their meds any other way than they are prescribed, but this works for me. i think everyone who has to be on them for legit pain has 'bad pain days' and ' not as bad of pain days'.
I agree with KS, you've got to know your enemy!!
How long have you been on the merygoround?? I'm sorry to hear you went back for the refil. However we've all been there. Have you ever considered going to rehab? The reason I ask is because of what your taking. And rehab they can help you go thru withdrawls in a medical setting. At the high dosage your on. And, you can get help psychologically. I had to go because I was on a high dose of OxyContin and after many many relapses I knew I couldn't do it alone.
My son convinced me to go, he explained it to me like this, mom, if bandit (our dog) was on OxyContin he would chew the bark off a tree if he thought it would help him... It's something you can't get off of by yourself. And you need medical help. There's no shame on this. It is what it is.
If your on fen. I bet you've been taking meds for years now. And how long has it been ?
You can't expect your mind and body to go cold turkey at a snap of your fingers now that you've gave it narcotic fuel. Sorry, doesn't work that way.
Besides, rehab has many bonuses attached to it....you don't have to cook, don't have to clean, you get to be sick without being judged. You can't run out and get something when your in the thick of it...they keep you busy so it's easier than laying around the house obsessing....and they give medicine to make you comfortable.
Mentally your surrounded by people going thru exactly the same thing..and you get to the root of why your abusing using your meds.
Plus, you'll be off your meds way way faster with them than on your own. Can you really taper in 30 days?
I'm just saying.....
Until you get some professional help your going to do what you've been doing. Feel what you've been feeling. It will continue. I know, I've done it.
And not only are you a slave to your meds, but also to your doctor. Whats gonna happen if something happens to your doctor? What's going to happen if you have an accident and nothing manages your pain now??
Just things to think of.
The reason we can't handle our medicine is because we're addicts. As weaver said in another post our brains and bodies use the medicine to survive. And that's all your doing. Surviving. Don't you want to enjoy life.
You deserve more.
Have you went to aa or na meetings?
You don't have to be clean to go...just a desire to be clean. Plus, I think if you started going now you'd get tools and resources to use right now.
Baby this is a war on drugs. It's a personal war. I've never ever known a war to be over in a day, week or even a month.
If I can do it, I know you can do it.
Much support.
How long have you been on the merygoround?? I'm sorry to hear you went back for the refil. However we've all been there. Have you ever considered going to rehab? The reason I ask is because of what your taking. And rehab they can help you go thru withdrawls in a medical setting. At the high dosage your on. And, you can get help psychologically. I had to go because I was on a high dose of OxyContin and after many many relapses I knew I couldn't do it alone.
My son convinced me to go, he explained it to me like this, mom, if bandit (our dog) was on OxyContin he would chew the bark off a tree if he thought it would help him... It's something you can't get off of by yourself. And you need medical help. There's no shame on this. It is what it is.
If your on fen. I bet you've been taking meds for years now. And how long has it been ?
You can't expect your mind and body to go cold turkey at a snap of your fingers now that you've gave it narcotic fuel. Sorry, doesn't work that way.
Besides, rehab has many bonuses attached to it....you don't have to cook, don't have to clean, you get to be sick without being judged. You can't run out and get something when your in the thick of it...they keep you busy so it's easier than laying around the house obsessing....and they give medicine to make you comfortable.
Mentally your surrounded by people going thru exactly the same thing..and you get to the root of why your abusing using your meds.
Plus, you'll be off your meds way way faster with them than on your own. Can you really taper in 30 days?
I'm just saying.....
Until you get some professional help your going to do what you've been doing. Feel what you've been feeling. It will continue. I know, I've done it.
And not only are you a slave to your meds, but also to your doctor. Whats gonna happen if something happens to your doctor? What's going to happen if you have an accident and nothing manages your pain now??
Just things to think of.
The reason we can't handle our medicine is because we're addicts. As weaver said in another post our brains and bodies use the medicine to survive. And that's all your doing. Surviving. Don't you want to enjoy life.
You deserve more.
Have you went to aa or na meetings?
You don't have to be clean to go...just a desire to be clean. Plus, I think if you started going now you'd get tools and resources to use right now.
Baby this is a war on drugs. It's a personal war. I've never ever known a war to be over in a day, week or even a month.
If I can do it, I know you can do it.
Much support.
I'm glad you continue to come back to MH and have begun posting once again, Sara. I went back and read some of your old posts. I totally relate to chronic pain....to shots in the back....to back surgery...to disc replacements....to taking the meds and STILL being in pain.
I'm gonna share a crazy analogy with you, ok? Before we go "into battle" we are taught (at least in the military) to get to know our opponent...our enemy. So learning all you can about opiates/addiction would equip you to take on this battle and WIN, imo.
I had NEVER heard of opiate induced hyperalgesia...though, now that I have, I'm QUITE SURE I had it. Here's an article to read about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid-induced_hyperalgesia
Plus, addiction changes our brain chemistry. I'm not sure if you consider yourself an addict or not....I can't really tell from your posts if you have come to that conclusion. Here's a fabulous site I found that has 6 tabs across the top you can click on....and each tab has MANY articles you can read and short videos on the right hand side you can listen to. Just have a listen and see if you can relate or learn anything from them. Here's the link:
http://www.hbo.com/addiction/
Fentanyl is one of the STRONGEST opiates out there.....and at first I heard you say you were going to attempt stopping the break through meds (oxycodone) first....and then deal with weaning off the Fent.patches. But I also read that when suggested by other MedHelpers, you agreed that getting off the Fent patches first would be the way to go.
In DeeDee's thread, it was suggested that you change the oxycodone to hyrdocodone (or morphine).....and get off the patch first....then the breakthru med after you get off the patch. There is some "logic" to this since the Fent. Patch is SO STRONG.
It's all up to you, of course.....but the addiction mind games are getting you now, even while on the Fent patch.
I can almost guarantee you that INITIALLY...your pain will INCREASE substantially.....but after your natural opiate receptors have a chance to heal for the first time in 10 yrs.....you will truly know your REAL pain levels.
Opiates are truly not the answer to LONG TERM pain.....they just mask the pain and eventually quit working as they originally did. There are many, many other options for pain....we just have to be willing to try them...keep an open mind and experiment with what might work for us as individuals.
My prayer is that you will desire above all else to FREE yourself of both the Fentanyl and the Oxy's......and put a recovery plan in place that will bring you the joy of the NEW YOU! Happy 4th.....FREEDOM awaits~
I'm gonna share a crazy analogy with you, ok? Before we go "into battle" we are taught (at least in the military) to get to know our opponent...our enemy. So learning all you can about opiates/addiction would equip you to take on this battle and WIN, imo.
I had NEVER heard of opiate induced hyperalgesia...though, now that I have, I'm QUITE SURE I had it. Here's an article to read about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid-induced_hyperalgesia
Plus, addiction changes our brain chemistry. I'm not sure if you consider yourself an addict or not....I can't really tell from your posts if you have come to that conclusion. Here's a fabulous site I found that has 6 tabs across the top you can click on....and each tab has MANY articles you can read and short videos on the right hand side you can listen to. Just have a listen and see if you can relate or learn anything from them. Here's the link:
http://www.hbo.com/addiction/
Fentanyl is one of the STRONGEST opiates out there.....and at first I heard you say you were going to attempt stopping the break through meds (oxycodone) first....and then deal with weaning off the Fent.patches. But I also read that when suggested by other MedHelpers, you agreed that getting off the Fent patches first would be the way to go.
In DeeDee's thread, it was suggested that you change the oxycodone to hyrdocodone (or morphine).....and get off the patch first....then the breakthru med after you get off the patch. There is some "logic" to this since the Fent. Patch is SO STRONG.
It's all up to you, of course.....but the addiction mind games are getting you now, even while on the Fent patch.
I can almost guarantee you that INITIALLY...your pain will INCREASE substantially.....but after your natural opiate receptors have a chance to heal for the first time in 10 yrs.....you will truly know your REAL pain levels.
Opiates are truly not the answer to LONG TERM pain.....they just mask the pain and eventually quit working as they originally did. There are many, many other options for pain....we just have to be willing to try them...keep an open mind and experiment with what might work for us as individuals.
My prayer is that you will desire above all else to FREE yourself of both the Fentanyl and the Oxy's......and put a recovery plan in place that will bring you the joy of the NEW YOU! Happy 4th.....FREEDOM awaits~
Thank you both for your replies, encouragement and being there for a complete stranger. I'm a mess today. It's the 4th of July and I want to have a normal holiday with my family and here I am thinking about Percocet. The pain in my back and leg is awful today but I keep telling myself it isn't as bad as you think Sara...DO NOT take a pill! I made it though making 10lbs of pasta salad and let myself sit and write to you. I'm proud of myself for such a little accomplishment. I have 20 Percs left until 7/28. I'm leaving for a trip 7/18-7/21 and need to have some for that just in case...of course I'm hoping I won't even use them. I'm still on the Fentanyl patch. My Doc and I agreed to go down by 12mcg this month. I usually change every 2 days but I'm stretching it out to 3 days at 75mcg since I don't have the Percocet. I won't go into w/d's but the pain will be worse and the mental struggle *****...seems like that is the hardest! I'm done...not sure how to go about this though. I want me back again. Thank you for your kindness...any thoughts would be so appreciated...feel free to give me a good kick in the bootie k? :). I did go through many other posts and commented on one...thank you for suggesting that. I sure am not alone. I feel for so many others in the same positions if not worse you know? Thanks again my friends and Happy 4th!
Trust me on this: go read ALL the posts about folks freaking out about their opiate addiction. That means 99.9% of the posts. Read the questions and the answers and I promise you won't feel alone, everyone has the same story in one sense or another. Do that please.
If you are really ready to quit. We can all walk you thru every step. Lots of folks on here who have legitimate pain manage very well AFTER that stop opiates. I'm sure they'll be chiming in.
Good for you for posting, you sound so sick of the horrid cycle that is opiate life: that's a great place to start!
If you are really ready to quit. We can all walk you thru every step. Lots of folks on here who have legitimate pain manage very well AFTER that stop opiates. I'm sure they'll be chiming in.
Good for you for posting, you sound so sick of the horrid cycle that is opiate life: that's a great place to start!
Hello, and I think this is a great first step. I've been there too, after being injured in the Army, I was perscribed SOOOO many Percs from my military doc, it was insane! And, I took them, legally, but ran out sooner and sooner. I got pregnant and quit it all, for the most part, but after the c-section, I had pain, on top of the previous pain and became even worse. It took me missing the first year and a half of my sons life to get caught by by husband (since I now had two different doc prescribing pills) and got into methadone treatment with therapy. I did this proudly, really, for a year. And you know what? All that pain I thought I really truly was suffering with-disappeared! I moved, continued treatment without the same therapy, unfortunately, and have been tapering down now to 3mgs which is almost nothing. Withdrawals made me seriously consider just letting myself lay in bed and die. My marriage was failing, I didn't know my kids and I couldn't stop. My support in my husband, although painful to live through admitting my addiction, is what helped me get through. I'm no where near perfect though, just had teeth pulled and screwed up with Vicodin, but I will get through it and so will you. You already want to stop, you just need a way. I have heard some not so good things about methadone on here, but it honestly saved my life. I would never be here now without it. All I can suggest is support support support. Methadone has helped me, but may not be right for you. Some people can cold turkey it, but I never had that control. You may though because I could have never flushed two weeks worth of Percs like you did. Either way, this forum is a great start and I think you have the ability to break this! If there's any questions I can answer for you, don't hesitate to ask! Good luck! You are not alone in this! Xoxo
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