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I was just prescribed the 12.5 mcg fentanyl patch for fibromyalgia, what can I expect?
I am 28 and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I have been keeping my constant upper-mid back pain and other aches under control with around 30 mg of hydrocodone a day, but sometimes my back and muscles still ache a lot. This has been going on for over a year now. I was just precribed the fentanyl patch at 12.5 mcg every 72 hours. I am reading a lot of scary stuff on the internet about it. What can I expect in regards to pain relief and feelings of well being? I have been dealing with some depression since all of this happened, it is worse when the medicine wears off, until my next dose. Will it make me feel a little more upbeat and stable? I must admit the hydrocodone does increase my mood a bit each dose I take. I am contemplating not even taking the patch after reading about some deaths related to "overdose" from faulty patches. I can hardly handle taking the 40mg of hydrocodone/day that was prescibed, so I only take 30mg. It really gives me trouble sleeping and makes me anxious if I take more than 30. Please let me know what to expect. Thank you for your help!
Please only reply if you have actually used the patch yourself!
Please only reply if you have actually used the patch yourself!
Nicci109
You sound like to have your hands full, I have to ask a couple of questions,
and i will follow up with the answer you need to hear to feel better, I promise. ?1. Are your over 3 all of them? If yes, take the to a local place with an age appropriate swimming area, wadding pool, lake. swimming pool, beach (if you live near on) just wactch those under tides.
?2. Are married or have a partner, if yes, that have your spouse or partner come along also; he/she can assist with the kiddos while you do light water, stretching, even slow water aerobics, belly dancing, and just leisurely slowing swimming just enjoying taking your weight off your (even if are only 100lbs saoking wet as the saying goes) precious trigger points.
IF NO to both of those, get a sitter somehow if they still need on and then you proceed wth 1 and 2 OR
Get a sitter for the barter systems, someone watches your kids, you sit their's at a differnet time, or pay them if you can afford a couple hours for you. If you can walk, even just a couple take them with you and have them each carry a garbage sack, picking up garbage, or pick up leaves for tracing and painting or coloring after tracing, or go on nature walk, how kinds of flowers, trees, and name them the wrong name, use silly names for the like weeping wimpy willows, candy cane flowers for and bunched together that different colors and types... or sasparilla, you get the idea...
Last but not the LEAST' physical therapists are as a rule not allowed to prescribe medication, just curious if what were taking is Tylenor and or and OTC antiinflammatory? I strongly recommend going to either a primary care like an actual Dr or an ARNP; or even a PA; Most of the time if you can find a women (above) they are much more appreciative and know about CFS and accept it as a sometimes debilitating syndrome
God bless you, I know where you at with pain, being unable to walk, i can't even sit or stand for 3-5 or 6 minutes... I have recently applied for SSD; due to further add to my CFS; I have Spinal Stenosis moderate to severe in Neck to my Lumbar. Osteoarthritis in both my hips and knees and had two shots in my knee, the first ones last about 5 months. The second, lasted may 2 days... so i will not ever get more of those i am told it won't help now. Had a lamenectomy 1 1/2 ago, only residual pain from hips kicks back to my lumbar region, and also i labral tears in both hips, i am told that could be most of the problem for me, well they have never had fibromyalgia then
Well Best wished and i truly hope you get to pain free or very tolerably place in your life.
You sound like to have your hands full, I have to ask a couple of questions,
and i will follow up with the answer you need to hear to feel better, I promise. ?1. Are your over 3 all of them? If yes, take the to a local place with an age appropriate swimming area, wadding pool, lake. swimming pool, beach (if you live near on) just wactch those under tides.
?2. Are married or have a partner, if yes, that have your spouse or partner come along also; he/she can assist with the kiddos while you do light water, stretching, even slow water aerobics, belly dancing, and just leisurely slowing swimming just enjoying taking your weight off your (even if are only 100lbs saoking wet as the saying goes) precious trigger points.
IF NO to both of those, get a sitter somehow if they still need on and then you proceed wth 1 and 2 OR
Get a sitter for the barter systems, someone watches your kids, you sit their's at a differnet time, or pay them if you can afford a couple hours for you. If you can walk, even just a couple take them with you and have them each carry a garbage sack, picking up garbage, or pick up leaves for tracing and painting or coloring after tracing, or go on nature walk, how kinds of flowers, trees, and name them the wrong name, use silly names for the like weeping wimpy willows, candy cane flowers for and bunched together that different colors and types... or sasparilla, you get the idea...
Last but not the LEAST' physical therapists are as a rule not allowed to prescribe medication, just curious if what were taking is Tylenor and or and OTC antiinflammatory? I strongly recommend going to either a primary care like an actual Dr or an ARNP; or even a PA; Most of the time if you can find a women (above) they are much more appreciative and know about CFS and accept it as a sometimes debilitating syndrome
God bless you, I know where you at with pain, being unable to walk, i can't even sit or stand for 3-5 or 6 minutes... I have recently applied for SSD; due to further add to my CFS; I have Spinal Stenosis moderate to severe in Neck to my Lumbar. Osteoarthritis in both my hips and knees and had two shots in my knee, the first ones last about 5 months. The second, lasted may 2 days... so i will not ever get more of those i am told it won't help now. Had a lamenectomy 1 1/2 ago, only residual pain from hips kicks back to my lumbar region, and also i labral tears in both hips, i am told that could be most of the problem for me, well they have never had fibromyalgia then
Well Best wished and i truly hope you get to pain free or very tolerably place in your life.
I have suffered many years (most of my life) in terrible pain from fibromyalgia and IBS and accompanying symptoms. For 10 years we exhausted all anti depressants as they make my heart speed too fast. Lyrica caused a manic breakdown I don' t even remember. My pain and other symptoms (sensitivity to light, sounds, smells, taste, itchy patches that drove me crazy, depression, awful fatigue, brilliant nightmares, terrible sweats, constant eye irritation, dizziness, weakness, falls, and fibromyalgia fog, and finally the grief of losing an active, helping life ( 5 years of grief and I still suffer occasional mild PTST moments)) have been like being in a concentration camp under severe torture!. I was diagnosed in 1994 and have lived through 20 years of guinea pig like testing of different medications. I responded best to the Opioids, but the docs are loathe to prescribe an addictive treatment plan for fibromyalgia. I was taking hydrocodone 4 Times a day and I hated the initial high and the bottoming out when I needed another dose. The highs were my most annoying side affect since I only wanted relief from symptoms and not a crack den feeling! Finally, in 2007, I heard about the MYLAN Patch. I think it might have been fairly new at the time, but what was different is that the medication is embedded in the adhesive and not riding on the back of the patch as a floating medication. There is no opening them and licking them to overdose. The down side is you cannot be sensitive to the adhesive and while that has not been an issue for me, I understand it is for many people. I now use between 50 & 75 mcg over a three or four day period depending on the depth of my pain. There is no high. The medication is released on an even basis during the time I use it. Because the medication is in the adhesive, I have not experienced the medication drain others have on the patches were the fentanyl sits in a pouch ON the adhesive and supposedly leaks through at a steady pace. My pharmacist switched away from the MYLAN for a lower priced patch 3 years ago and it was a nightmare for me. I honestly don' t know how people can stand them! We customers rebelled and he went back to the MYLAN. I have so many symptoms including a very sensitive thyroid and tremors and humming sensations (which I have had since well before taking any Opioids!), so for me, calming all those symptoms down along with the pain, sleeping better at night, all make my fentanyl patches my must use pain management. I am very aware of the constipation problems, but have finally just decided to use a saline enema on my bad weeks. I sometimes use 2 instead of one and it works for several days. I have tried pills and liquids and suppositories, but they don' t have the longer lasting effect and there is far less cramping and pain with the enemas. Simple and they work! If you are careful and choose your medicine carefully (and are lucky enough to have a doctor approve this treatment) you can get back a significant amount of life, but if your fibromyalgia is at the patch management stage, you will probably never have a "normal" life again. My most soft hugs and best wishes to you all. What we endure is perhaps the worst of the lot - all of the terrible symptoms, but no definitive disease to blame it on. My thoughts and prayers go with you all!
Hi,
I live in a family plagued by fibromyalgia. My mother, sister, daughter, and myself. I've learned several things over the years, I hope maybe to help. I am on a fentanyl patch, although it is not prescribed for my fibro. I have other spinal issues that warrant the pain medication. 12.5 mcg I believe is the lowest dose, and I would maybe try skipping a day inbetween patches, to have a break for your system from narcotics. This is what I do. I don't want addiction in my life, but I want a life worth living. Pain medication exists for a reason, and that's not for creating a nation of addicts, it's for controlling pain. For my daughter, it seems that controlling her environment works well. She noticed early on that her triggers were closely related to stress, so when the pain lurks and slowly becomes unbearable, she first takes time for herself. She just slows her mind, relaxes her body and tries to relieve the stress. She has a small prescription for anti-anxiety medication which she uses in emergency situations. My moyther has a mild case and has chosen to grit it out, no meds at all (her personality) but she is the least affected of us all, and it works for her.
Be open with your doctors, about your fears, expectations, and needs. It took a long time for me not to be afraid of them (dr.'s) I always thought thheir world was law until I found out they were just human, subeject to error, and pride, like the rest of us.
Try tracking your pain, keep a diary, and bring it with you whenever you see your doctor. It wil help them understand, and you to communicate. You may find it dispells fear for you as well. I found it empowering.
Be your own best advocate, you're not alone
:)
I live in a family plagued by fibromyalgia. My mother, sister, daughter, and myself. I've learned several things over the years, I hope maybe to help. I am on a fentanyl patch, although it is not prescribed for my fibro. I have other spinal issues that warrant the pain medication. 12.5 mcg I believe is the lowest dose, and I would maybe try skipping a day inbetween patches, to have a break for your system from narcotics. This is what I do. I don't want addiction in my life, but I want a life worth living. Pain medication exists for a reason, and that's not for creating a nation of addicts, it's for controlling pain. For my daughter, it seems that controlling her environment works well. She noticed early on that her triggers were closely related to stress, so when the pain lurks and slowly becomes unbearable, she first takes time for herself. She just slows her mind, relaxes her body and tries to relieve the stress. She has a small prescription for anti-anxiety medication which she uses in emergency situations. My moyther has a mild case and has chosen to grit it out, no meds at all (her personality) but she is the least affected of us all, and it works for her.
Be open with your doctors, about your fears, expectations, and needs. It took a long time for me not to be afraid of them (dr.'s) I always thought thheir world was law until I found out they were just human, subeject to error, and pride, like the rest of us.
Try tracking your pain, keep a diary, and bring it with you whenever you see your doctor. It wil help them understand, and you to communicate. You may find it dispells fear for you as well. I found it empowering.
Be your own best advocate, you're not alone
:)
Hi my name is nicole i have been dignosed with fibomaysia and in terrible pain daily can't even walk some days, i am currently goung to a pain clinic and ask for fetanyl but hes giving me these pills which do ****, i live in toronto thornhill. I read you are on fetanyl and heard they work wonders as long as you dont abuse it. Can you reccomed a place i can go. I am miserable everyday, and have 3?kids so really need to function thanks
I was on the 100mcg every 72 hours for about a year. The upside of the patch is that it releases a steady stream of the medication into your system. This reduces the highs and lows experienced with oral medications. (the feeling of the meds "wearing off")
It was also nice not to have to remember to take a bunch of pills with me wherever i went.
The downside.
Eventually I had to go from every 3 days to every 2 days, because over time the body becomes accustomed to the dose, and more sensitive to the level of medication in your bloodstream. So eventually, instead of having the feeling of medication "wearing off" 4 times a day with the oral meds, I was having 2 days of decent relief, and then an entire DAY of feeling the med. level taper down in my system.
Major, MAJOR constipation problems. My doc went through 3 different prescription laxatives to finally find one that worked. And that was after trying every thing over the counter and every nutty home remedy I could find.
At one point I went to the emergency room from stomach pain and throwing up very painfully (I could barely walk) After 4 hrs of writhing in the ER, x-rays, cat-scans, and appendicitus worries, the Doc finally walks in and says I am so constipated that the food I ate had no where to go. I know that is gross.....and I spared the most gory details.....but this is a side effect of ALL opiates, and Fentanyl is no Joke.
Eventually I had to be on such a high dosage for adequate pain control, that i became a sort of zombie. I ultimately spoke with my husband and family about it, and we decided that even with the pain control the fentanyl offered, it wasn't helping me live the life I wanted to. So I stepped down to the 50 mcg patch, and eventually went from there.
If you do go on the patch, be careful with hot showers/baths or anything that raises your core body temp. It greatly increases the risk of OD, and cause the patch to release medication unevenly, which will cause the peaks and valleys you are trying to avoid in the first place)
It is also one of the most stolen medications in America. Don't broadcast the fact that you are on it if you are. (I think here is okay, but never with any identifying info)
At my pain clinic there was a Nun who was selling her fentanyl patches on the street. (insane right? a NUN! o.O)
I wish you the best of luck either way. keep your head up through the pain, and your chin above water......the rest is gravy. :D
It was also nice not to have to remember to take a bunch of pills with me wherever i went.
The downside.
Eventually I had to go from every 3 days to every 2 days, because over time the body becomes accustomed to the dose, and more sensitive to the level of medication in your bloodstream. So eventually, instead of having the feeling of medication "wearing off" 4 times a day with the oral meds, I was having 2 days of decent relief, and then an entire DAY of feeling the med. level taper down in my system.
Major, MAJOR constipation problems. My doc went through 3 different prescription laxatives to finally find one that worked. And that was after trying every thing over the counter and every nutty home remedy I could find.
At one point I went to the emergency room from stomach pain and throwing up very painfully (I could barely walk) After 4 hrs of writhing in the ER, x-rays, cat-scans, and appendicitus worries, the Doc finally walks in and says I am so constipated that the food I ate had no where to go. I know that is gross.....and I spared the most gory details.....but this is a side effect of ALL opiates, and Fentanyl is no Joke.
Eventually I had to be on such a high dosage for adequate pain control, that i became a sort of zombie. I ultimately spoke with my husband and family about it, and we decided that even with the pain control the fentanyl offered, it wasn't helping me live the life I wanted to. So I stepped down to the 50 mcg patch, and eventually went from there.
If you do go on the patch, be careful with hot showers/baths or anything that raises your core body temp. It greatly increases the risk of OD, and cause the patch to release medication unevenly, which will cause the peaks and valleys you are trying to avoid in the first place)
It is also one of the most stolen medications in America. Don't broadcast the fact that you are on it if you are. (I think here is okay, but never with any identifying info)
At my pain clinic there was a Nun who was selling her fentanyl patches on the street. (insane right? a NUN! o.O)
I wish you the best of luck either way. keep your head up through the pain, and your chin above water......the rest is gravy. :D
My Dad died over a year ago from a faulty fentanyl patch. It released all of the drug at once and stopped his heart. Please look into something else. Suboxone works really good for my back.
Hi i have been on the 100 fentanal patches and i would not be without them as up untill trying them i was bedridden, i still get breakthrough pain and am looking to take something oral for that i will discuss this with my pain clinic when i next see them but i have been on them for 3 yrs now, at first i had laboured breathing and dizzyness and was out of it but that was also the mix of drugs i was on with it i find it is such a strong med you have to be careful what you mix it with, but now i dont feel any side effects at all only slight drowseyness.The reports of overdose tend to be in the elderly when a too high dose has been given or if the patch has been heated up like a hotwater bottle or electric blanket if the patch warms up too much the it releashes more then it should do, but theses are rare it is like all meds it suits some and some it does not i could not take requip or lyrica but tohers have done well with it but where i have done well with fentanal others have not. I would take it and see how you get on. give it some time though as the side effects do pass and see how it effects you.
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