tapering and time between doses

[Hope___Fully]

ok so i was thinking....ive talked to several and got great responses..but 1 thing I've got a question i just thought of is.....if I'm not suppose to go long periods between doses then how am i suppose to get any lower on my tapering???   am i missing something???

[Hope___Fully]

thanks for your response...i tried to see my urologist today but it was his last day he retired today and i couldn't get in but i talked to his nurse....she told me to go to my GP so that they could give me a referral to a pain management doc....im so confused its crazy....i told her of my issues and she seems to think that once i get to a pain management doc i will be ok not sure but have to go with that...i do have an appt with the GP in the am so i will discuss all these issues then and i will see the assistant that did my surgery on Dec 31 and at that time i guess i will see if he wants me to see a nephrologist??? I'm not sure if they will help me taper or not since that is not their speciality ....you think they will.....praying that the GP will help me with this issue too....continue prayers for me please

[msdelight]

Girl, one more time. Your priority should be to see a nephrologist who is a doctor specialized in the care of the kidneys. You need baseline blood tests and education concerning your condition, diet and medication issues. Having one kidney changes everything.  Once you understand your condition you can make more informed decisions regarding your care. Pain management is not what you need. Please call the surgeon (urologist ) and get a referral to a kidney specialist.  Make the appt and go. He/she will help you taper your opiates.

[Hope___Fully]

i still have some pain in my side it's not really the "scar" site but in my side and some in my lower abdomen i guess thats where you would say kinda of down in my bladder...it's monday morning and my urologist that did my surgery is retiring today is his last day..i know that if i call to try and get in they will say he's booked up so I'm just thinking about just showing up and willing to wait just so i can talk to him about the pain and to see if he has any suggestions to who i can see about the "pain management" and "tapering down" on the meds......gosh idk what to do now this is such a crappy situation I'm in......

[dominosarah]

Yes you need to talk to them.  Is the surgery site still painful?

[Hope___Fully]

no it was my urologist who did my surgery.....but he did tell me i needed to be seen at least every year to make sure everything is ok....do i need to talk to him about this???    he is retiring Monday and then at the end of the month i see the guy that assisted my urologist he's a urologist too.....ugh

[dominosarah]

I dont understand why you arent under the care of a kidney specialist.  Did a general surgeon do the surgery?

[Hope___Fully]

girl...you and i have a lot of issues don't we....kinda feel related in some way to you...guess its just from the issues we have but...one thing i liked not being in pain from my other problems i never felt high or anything like that when i took them i took the way i was suppose to and it was just part of my everyday life.....i pray that i can find someone to help me and i send prayers your way too for your surgery and recovery...you are strong you have to get that in your head and say that you're strong and you will beat this thing even with all your pain...which is what I'm gonna have to deal with when I'm off meds...i'll worry about my pain issues at that point....when i get off theses meds i will deal with it somehow....someway and that is what you gotta do too....will talk soon...ps can you send messages to each other on this board???   i saw where someone said to check your messages,,,,that's good i may do that too....talk soon

[Sonrissa]

Hey Krissy, check your messages please. On your My Medhelp page.  Thanks.

[Krissy_123]

Yes that's what I'm going through as well. I'm 34, I have two kids and was working full time up until my last surgery. I don't drink, smoke, do any drugs (but my meds) or party. I had ovarian cancer and it just kept spreading after the hysterectomy. Over the 11 years I had brought myself down from 120mg of oxycodone per day to 50-60mg per day. Then I just quit. I tried to taper I just couldn't after I got down that low. My brain always said "just one more" I didn't do it with my doctors help. He's a big trigger for me now,I knew if I walked in there I'd have never said anything to him. I'd just have filled my script and kept taking them. So last Friday when I was suppose to see him and pick up my monthly script I just decided no it's time.and I called before the office opend and said I couldn't make it in.  I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to his office. I'll probably get a new doctor.  I know I'm weak. But I'm not strong enough.  I'm just not. I loved my pills. I loved not being in pain and I loved the escape from reality. I know one day I'll need new pain meds that aren't addicting. Because I hurt like a mother effer.  I know when I go in for my next surgery jan 7th I'll have to tell my surgeon I can't have opiates when they wake me up. But I'll deal with that when it comes. Maybe by then I'll be strong enough.

[Hope___Fully]

krissy.....im not sure the diff between sustained release and extended release maybe it doesn't last as long or something.....idk....maybe someone else can help us with this one.....and no i never abused the meds...just took what the doctor i trusted gave me for pain...and now i want off and its hard and i don't know what to do....it stinks.....i guess i don't sound like an addict but i guess i am in away....but i can live without them just gotta figure out what to do....thanks a xoxo to you

[Krissy_123]

And thank you hope__fully for you're kind words. I'll deff still talk to you and  try to help you with stuff I know and understand. :D xox

[Krissy_123]

No sonrissa you didn't offend me. :) I won't know if ppl don't tell me,so it's totally fine. And thank you. I'm at end of day 9 and feeling not to bad. Very tired, but dread going to bed cuz I know I won't sleep. :-/

[Krissy_123]

Oh ok. I always thought ER stood for Extended release. Lol. See I'm not good at advice. You don't sound like an addict at all,just that you take meds for surgery pain. So if you went to ER I'd think they'd help you if you explained what's up. Methadone program is for heavy users who can't detox or live without the opiates.

[Hope___Fully]

krissy you have been very helpful and i appreciate everything you have said to me....you are doing a great job with your own problems....keep up the good work.....and again thanks...i hope you feel you can still talk to me.....

[Hope___Fully]

i was on SR morphine and the "pain doctor" put me on morphine ER...isnt that different than slow release??

[Hope___Fully]

i will try and find another doctor but hate that i wasted so much time on this other doctor that i thought was suppose to help me and turns out he's not any better at giving help and I'm not sure about going to the ER because I'm afraid they may put me in the hospital for detox or put me on the methadone stuff and i really feel like I've cut back so good....just on the 2 kinds of meds and i take them far apart at least 12-15 hrs ......ooooooohhhhhh i don't know what to do.....this is a horrible situation i just wish the kidney issue had not came when it did or i wish i had time to get over this before i have to get off the meds.......gosh in in a fix here that's why i will take any and all advice...thanks to everyone.....

[Hope___Fully]

hahahaha....i have to laugh at that one but it's true i guess i do...just makes me mad that the time i spent waiting for this other doc and he truns out to not be helpful at all......

[Hope___Fully]

hey .... no its Morphine 15 ER....

[Sonrissa]

Please don't worry Krissy. I'm not trying to criticize you at all.  Everyone has been trying to help. You are doing great! Keep it up. I hope I didn't offend you, I certainly didn't mean to.

Take care!

[Krissy_123]

Ok,I'm sorry sonrissa. I wasn't trying to give medical advice. I just didn't want her to cut her pills in half because someone mentioned lower mg's. But I understand what you're saying. I've only been here a week so I don't know what advice is allowed or what isn't. I guess I shouldn't give anyone advice anyway. I'm addict that's only been clean 9 days. So I really don't know much. Take care.

[Sonrissa]

Exactly, Krissy.  That is why she does need to talk to a doctor about all of this. These are questions that we can not answer for her, although many have tried. She has serious medical issues, and is on several different medications. Her taper and detox must be done safely and under a doctors care.  I would not recommend taking anything, even an aspirin or vitamin without talking to a doctor.

My best advice would be to find another doctor, or if she can't find one, to go to the ER and get their guidance.  We will give emotional support and advice. We can not give medical advice.  I'm not trying to sound mean, I truly care, and hope everything works out.

[Krissy_123]

You poor girl you must be getting sick of hearing "you have to find a doc". As if this isn't hard on you as it is with your long time doc retiring. :( I so hope things start working out for you love. Xox

[Krissy_123]

Which I don't know how you'd be able to do that? You are on 15mg slow release morph right? You can't cuz any kind of slow release in half. You should find anew doc explain what your doing and ask for smaller mg pills.

[meegWpaw]

you're supposed to gradually take less and less milligrams, with the same time (ostensibly) between doses ...