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Fentanyl patch withdrawal
It has been a month today that I have quit the fentanyl patch (50mcg) and I have been prescribed diazipam to help with the anxiety 1/2 tab 3times a day but I only take this as needed when the anxiety gets rough. The sleeping is the worst part. The legs kicking is getting better but sporadic sleeping but at least I am getting a couple of hours now and then. I take vitamins, force myself to eat, take walks when ever possible, baths, and even take Melatonin (over the counter). What more can I do to help get through this rough time. I know things will get better but it is still rough. I had been on the patch since Jan 2012 and stopped June 12,2012. I could use some advise on how to help my body heal through this. It is still rough but little by little I see LITTLE improvement. Sleeping I think is the worse and I refuse to take another pill if I can help it. My doctor was only trying to accommodate my pain issues and I usually don't have the typical symptoms everyone else has so I am the exception to the rule for the most part. I could use some advise on what I can take to heal through this process. The drugs they put me on cause pancreatic problems and now that seems to have calmed down but the anxiety is still a bit rough. How about some helpful advise. One month and still counting so I am hoping to at least see something positive but curious as to when. Await any helpful advise and look forward to some positive replies or at least truthful ones. Thanks for listening...!
Wow, last night was a rough one again. I wound up taking two Valium and another Melatonin, but nothing helped but walking around until I could walk off the anxiety. Then I remembered I used to take Gabapentin and it used to help. I also take baclofen and I think the combination helped me sleep so I took the gabapentin and eventually knocked out and slept for the first time till 3:30 this afternoon. A full nights sleep! It is rough getting through the nights with sleeping problems and I was going to call my doctor for a stronger sleeping medication but I know what results that will bring so I delayed until I saw what the gabapentin would do. It used to help in the past but not for pain.
My pain levels are a constant 5 or more depending. When it gets bad I usually ask my care giver for a rub down of Voltaren gel which helps bring down the pain level at least one notch. I also use lidocane patches but they rarely help. I tale melatonin but I am not really sure it helps just yet. I know my body is cleaning itself out and I can really feel it. I am proud to say if is over a month cold turkey off the Fentanyl patch and I know my doctor was only trying to help me with my pain levels in any way he could. He has tried anything he knows but he is not a specialist but understands my pain history. Unfortunately, what he has prescribed has not helped enough.
I have an orthopedic surgeon who has done work on my back and I will see him next couple of weeks. I also have a new pain management doctor finally. Apparently, the staff at the pain management center had to reorganize their staff and I had to wait to get a new doctor but I will see the head of the pain management center doctor next week and ask for cortisone shots which sometimes help. I am sure he will know what to do. I have some bone spurs that are kicking up again and that may require some surgery but I trust my orthopedic surgeon because he has done work in the pas and it has helped. I had metal in my back for 5 years and then had problems so in November 2011, the metal was removed and I was doing ok, but the pain kicked up again and I went to my local doctor instead of the surgeon. My family doctor knows my pain history and was doing what ever he could to accommodate my pain although I had no idea of the side effects. I usually don't have any side effects but the fentanyl patch only masked symptoms I was not aware of like loss of appetite, lack of energy etc. I had no idea of what this was doing to me until my caregiver put his foot down and got me to another doctor. My pancreas was reacting to the pain medication and I was having problems with my pancreas and that is why I stopped all the pain medication. He gave me an enzyme to help and it has.
It feels so good to get a good nights sleep and today I have energy. Just waiting for the coffee to kick in but at least I feel like I had a great night sleep.
I have a wonderful caregiver who is also a law student and finished law school recently. With all his classes, time he has spent working and supporting himself, and taking care of me I am very thankful for the best caregiver I have ever had. He is the one keeping me alive, not the doctors!
I have finally started putting on weight. I am seeing positive results and I know my system is cleaning itself out and I can feel it. The sweating out of all the crap in my system is really taking a toll but I can handle that because I know I still have a lot to go through but I feel good that something positive is happening.
\Now let me tell the truth here. I do not recommend going cold turkey from medications UNLESS you have the strength to do it. I saw how sick I was and how much weight I lost. I know I had no choice and I knew I could kick the stuff because you have to have the mind set to do it. With all the pain issues I have been through and no relief from the pain ( which I understand with this disease), getting off the pain medications cold turkey is a rough road. Do not do this alone, number one! I am a strong person with a very good caregiver and that is what gave me the strength to do this.
I feel proud that I kicked this fentanyl and wish there was more support out there. This is a horrible thing to go through with no support when you want to get off the stuff.
I got a good night sleep last night and thankful with energy to spare this morning.
Thanks for the support and I will keep you informed but please pass the word on that this fentanyl is bad stuff when you find it does not work for you and there is no support out there for kicking the stuff. All I have read is to give you a medication to kick the stuff but I don't need any more pills! I have had enough with the pills already and I can understand why people loose faith with medication. Just keep aware of what you are taking and do research with the medication you are taking.
Thank you again for your support.
My pain levels are a constant 5 or more depending. When it gets bad I usually ask my care giver for a rub down of Voltaren gel which helps bring down the pain level at least one notch. I also use lidocane patches but they rarely help. I tale melatonin but I am not really sure it helps just yet. I know my body is cleaning itself out and I can really feel it. I am proud to say if is over a month cold turkey off the Fentanyl patch and I know my doctor was only trying to help me with my pain levels in any way he could. He has tried anything he knows but he is not a specialist but understands my pain history. Unfortunately, what he has prescribed has not helped enough.
I have an orthopedic surgeon who has done work on my back and I will see him next couple of weeks. I also have a new pain management doctor finally. Apparently, the staff at the pain management center had to reorganize their staff and I had to wait to get a new doctor but I will see the head of the pain management center doctor next week and ask for cortisone shots which sometimes help. I am sure he will know what to do. I have some bone spurs that are kicking up again and that may require some surgery but I trust my orthopedic surgeon because he has done work in the pas and it has helped. I had metal in my back for 5 years and then had problems so in November 2011, the metal was removed and I was doing ok, but the pain kicked up again and I went to my local doctor instead of the surgeon. My family doctor knows my pain history and was doing what ever he could to accommodate my pain although I had no idea of the side effects. I usually don't have any side effects but the fentanyl patch only masked symptoms I was not aware of like loss of appetite, lack of energy etc. I had no idea of what this was doing to me until my caregiver put his foot down and got me to another doctor. My pancreas was reacting to the pain medication and I was having problems with my pancreas and that is why I stopped all the pain medication. He gave me an enzyme to help and it has.
It feels so good to get a good nights sleep and today I have energy. Just waiting for the coffee to kick in but at least I feel like I had a great night sleep.
I have a wonderful caregiver who is also a law student and finished law school recently. With all his classes, time he has spent working and supporting himself, and taking care of me I am very thankful for the best caregiver I have ever had. He is the one keeping me alive, not the doctors!
I have finally started putting on weight. I am seeing positive results and I know my system is cleaning itself out and I can feel it. The sweating out of all the crap in my system is really taking a toll but I can handle that because I know I still have a lot to go through but I feel good that something positive is happening.
\Now let me tell the truth here. I do not recommend going cold turkey from medications UNLESS you have the strength to do it. I saw how sick I was and how much weight I lost. I know I had no choice and I knew I could kick the stuff because you have to have the mind set to do it. With all the pain issues I have been through and no relief from the pain ( which I understand with this disease), getting off the pain medications cold turkey is a rough road. Do not do this alone, number one! I am a strong person with a very good caregiver and that is what gave me the strength to do this.
I feel proud that I kicked this fentanyl and wish there was more support out there. This is a horrible thing to go through with no support when you want to get off the stuff.
I got a good night sleep last night and thankful with energy to spare this morning.
Thanks for the support and I will keep you informed but please pass the word on that this fentanyl is bad stuff when you find it does not work for you and there is no support out there for kicking the stuff. All I have read is to give you a medication to kick the stuff but I don't need any more pills! I have had enough with the pills already and I can understand why people loose faith with medication. Just keep aware of what you are taking and do research with the medication you are taking.
Thank you again for your support.
congrats on getting off the patch. you are healing every day, it is going to take time for all your natural brain chemistry to functional again normally on its own. you are doing as many things as you can to help the process. exercising is one of the most important. eating lots of protein,veggies and fruit. be careful with the valium. your sleep will return, continue to be patient. it will take time for you to heal emotionally,mentally,physically,
spiritually. how are you managing your pain now? alternate pain management?
have you tried any herbal teas for helping to calm you down and help with sleep. sleepy time, chamomile ,valerian tea. there are also natural over the counter sleep aids, sleep by nature made, i take it, and also there is alteril.
you are doing awesome.
keep the faith.
sending support,encouragment,prayers,peace
debbie
spiritually. how are you managing your pain now? alternate pain management?
have you tried any herbal teas for helping to calm you down and help with sleep. sleepy time, chamomile ,valerian tea. there are also natural over the counter sleep aids, sleep by nature made, i take it, and also there is alteril.
you are doing awesome.
keep the faith.
sending support,encouragment,prayers,peace
debbie
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