Aa
Day 1 off Fentanyl Pain Patch
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!!!!
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!!!!
Hi!
Sometimes I think dr's are just MENTAL!!! I had a dr put me on tramadol er tabs while i was on 200 mg's of cymbablta. I'm really lucky I didn't have a stroke. Those patches are nasty and dangerous. I've known a couple people that have bought them through on-line pharmacies and put on several at once and nearly died. One time a nurse where I used to work sucked all the liquid out of one and went into cardiac arrest. true story!
Anyway, I want to congratulate you on making the decision to rip them off on your own. It's a very brave thing to do for yourself and your family. I know how hard it is too! I have three young boys that I homeschool and I have been d@#$%&d around by dr's for years now! Any time it seemed like something was making me normal and functional they would decide to switch me and my whole family would have to go through sickness of withdrawl all over again. Vicodin and cymbalta were the worst for me. I had never had vertigo before that but when i was taken off of the cymbalta I couldn't have told you the difference between the floor and ceiling!
phew! good luck lady. once those drugs are out of your system congratulate yourself with some champaigna or something.
Sometimes I think dr's are just MENTAL!!! I had a dr put me on tramadol er tabs while i was on 200 mg's of cymbablta. I'm really lucky I didn't have a stroke. Those patches are nasty and dangerous. I've known a couple people that have bought them through on-line pharmacies and put on several at once and nearly died. One time a nurse where I used to work sucked all the liquid out of one and went into cardiac arrest. true story!
Anyway, I want to congratulate you on making the decision to rip them off on your own. It's a very brave thing to do for yourself and your family. I know how hard it is too! I have three young boys that I homeschool and I have been d@#$%&d around by dr's for years now! Any time it seemed like something was making me normal and functional they would decide to switch me and my whole family would have to go through sickness of withdrawl all over again. Vicodin and cymbalta were the worst for me. I had never had vertigo before that but when i was taken off of the cymbalta I couldn't have told you the difference between the floor and ceiling!
phew! good luck lady. once those drugs are out of your system congratulate yourself with some champaigna or something.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my LONG story! Also for the comment. Yes, I agree with you 100%, I am VERY sick of myself. I don't want to do anything. I don't want to go anywhere. I too have gym membership. Haven't been there in MONTHS!! I don't do as much around the house or do as much with the kids/husband. Actually, I do nothing. Unless they come in the bed, I don't spend time with them. It's gotten so pathetic. This is NOT me!
If I may ask you a question? What level patch were u on? Did you get your energy back? What are you doing for your fibro? I also have it. I have herniated discs but I think the fibro is what is making life so hard for me.
Can you give me any more info about what I am going to expect going forward. I have not slept in days. I can't lay, sleep, sit or stand. I'm happiest in the hot shower. This stinks big time. I'm used to getting my rest for sure. Ugh!!
If I may ask you a question? What level patch were u on? Did you get your energy back? What are you doing for your fibro? I also have it. I have herniated discs but I think the fibro is what is making life so hard for me.
Can you give me any more info about what I am going to expect going forward. I have not slept in days. I can't lay, sleep, sit or stand. I'm happiest in the hot shower. This stinks big time. I'm used to getting my rest for sure. Ugh!!
This patch is awful. I took it off one night about 5 years ago after feeling like you. I went through 3 days of hallucinations, vomiting, you name it. All I could do was put the patch back on and ween myself off it slowly. I have chronic pain, 7 back surgeries and fibromyalgia. I have never abused medications so that wasn't my issue. I just didn't want to be in a vegetative state the rest of my life.
One thing I noticed about myself during that time was all the excuses. I couldn't exercise, I couldn't leave the house, I couldn't eat right, "I couldn't" wasn't all I ever heard myself saying. That wasn't who I was as a person. Now there are some cases were the patch is so needed such as in cancer patients and I am sure in some chronic pain patients but I personally will NEVER use it again.
You should be very proud of yourself that you are at this place of having enough. That is a good first step. Then the work begins. If you think you have addiction issues get to NA or AA. If you like to read a great book is "Co-Dependent NoMore" it really helped me in my recovery from alcohol. I was self medicating when I was in denial that I had fibromyalgia. I didn't want to accept that I had pain and I didn't want to slow down one bit. This was about 15 years ago. This book helped me see my relationships to people, alcohol. The author is an ex-addict. It might be helpful to you.
Nothing you are going through is stupid, it is where you are right now. ANd the amazing thing is you are aware that it is no longer working for you. Now put the steps in place to change things for yourself.
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
One thing I noticed about myself during that time was all the excuses. I couldn't exercise, I couldn't leave the house, I couldn't eat right, "I couldn't" wasn't all I ever heard myself saying. That wasn't who I was as a person. Now there are some cases were the patch is so needed such as in cancer patients and I am sure in some chronic pain patients but I personally will NEVER use it again.
You should be very proud of yourself that you are at this place of having enough. That is a good first step. Then the work begins. If you think you have addiction issues get to NA or AA. If you like to read a great book is "Co-Dependent NoMore" it really helped me in my recovery from alcohol. I was self medicating when I was in denial that I had fibromyalgia. I didn't want to accept that I had pain and I didn't want to slow down one bit. This was about 15 years ago. This book helped me see my relationships to people, alcohol. The author is an ex-addict. It might be helpful to you.
Nothing you are going through is stupid, it is where you are right now. ANd the amazing thing is you are aware that it is no longer working for you. Now put the steps in place to change things for yourself.
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
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