Fentanyl patch ... thoughts, ideas??

[mellie4]

I had thought this patch was going to do the trick for me.  I started it last Thursday morning, which means I changed the patch on Sunday morning.  Well, Saturday it stopped covering the pain pretty much totally.  I had pain Thursday and Friday but took my breakthrough medications (1 to 2 10 mg. oxycodone up to 4 times a day.)  I felt like that wasn't quite enough but thought I'd adjust after a bit.  Then when the patch stopped working Saturday afternoon, the oxycodone wasn't even touching it.  Still, I thought new med, I just need to adjust to it.

Changed it Sunday, and was okay Sunday night and yesterday.  Today, the pain is back again and BT meds not cutting it.  

I'm on a 100 mcg patch and, like I said 1 to 2 10 mg. oxycodone up to 4 times a day.

I was feeling really positive about this but now I'm feeling really down again.  I've been crying on and off all day.  I just feel like I'm never going to get to where I'm supposed to.

And I feel like a big baby since I know there are people on here with much worse pain than me.  (I read a few posts on adhesions, and that sounds like a total nightmare.  I didn't know much about them before.  Actually I still don't know anything about them.)  I'm going to do another post on that in a minute.

Thanks for any suggestions.  

[mellie4]

Thanks, everyone.  I did call her but she's not in today.  She'll call me tomorrow.  Sometimes I feel like I'm kidding myself.  I get sooo optimistic and then let down.  That's when I end up depressed.  Even after my surgeries, I'd always be hopeful.  You know, I'd have my post-op appointment, and I'd still be having the acute surgical pain.  I'd always say, "Well, once this post-op pain goes away, I think it'll be great."  And it never is.

If I'm metabolizing it faster than 72 hours, does that mean my body is absorbing the med on the patch and then there's nothing left in the way of meds?  If there were no meds left on the patch, wouldn't I go into withdrawals?

It's just one of those days!!  Hopefully she'll call me early tomorrow and we can get a change.  Though tomorrow is the day I change it; so I should have an okay day.

I know everyone's pain is relative.  And really, I'm not a big baby.  I figure if I had 4 kids (one with NO pain meds) I'm not that much of a baby.  (Of course, as painful as labor can be (and it really wasn't for me) you're working towards something.  Every contraction brings you closer to something wonderful.  With our pain, there's no prize at the end, is there?

As much as the pain is bad and my hand is pretty disabled (and doesn't look great either), I think of how much worse other people have it ... one of my best friends died last year after an awful battle with cancer.  She NEVER complained.  Not even at the end.

I don't complain much IRL; I figure no one wants to hear it.  I just do it here where I know people get it :)

One other question about Fentanyl, if anyone has experienced it, do you eat a lot?  I've gone from hardly eating anything on the oxycodone to feeling like I'm eating all the time!!

Off to make the burgers for the kids and my dad.  I've done takeout 4 nights in a row; so I don't dare do it again tonight!!!

[Sarajmt]

Hi Mary:  When I was on the patch, I changed every 48 hours as the 72 hours didn't work for me.    So please call your and do as Sherry said.  You probably need 15 per month, not 10.

I hope that is the answer for you.  You were so optimistic about it and this roller coaster is not good for you.  Call your doctor.

((((((MEGAHUGS))))))))
Sara

[jamlws]

I agree with Sherry you might need it every 48 hours not every 72 and I think it might work better for you that way. Call your dr and see if that would be something he is willing to do. It sounds like it does work for you when you first put it on but it don't lasts as long. So give your dr a call. You are fine, we all have pain some is worse then others and dont' feel bad for talking about your pain. I know Sherrys pain is alot more then mine but I still ask questions and cry when Im off my meds or they just aren't working. You have every right too, we all have different pain in different places some worse then others some treated better then others. No matter what we are here for you.
Hang in there
Jamie

[namnam46]

Hi Sweetie,

I just have a minute. You are like me. You are metabolizing the med faster than the 72 hrs. You need to have the Dr. make your script for every 48 hrs. I have learned that MOST people have to have it every 48 hrs.

I'll get back with yo later. Have to give y Granddaughter her lunch.:)

Sherry