I have been tapering down off oxy/percs for severe hip pain for the past month. I am having surgery in 1.5 weeks and it was suggested awhile ago by my doc that I taper down so that I will get better pain control after my surgery (although on my last visit he said I don't really have to taper..???confused???).
I have been on percocet for a year. it creeped up to ~ 8 tabs (5/325)/day by around november 2007. my PCP tried ms contin at that point but it did nothing for me apart from intractable constipation (who wants to attempt childbirth every morning just to move their bowels???), so she sent me to a pain specialist who first put me on the fentanyl patch (which scared me to death, told him I wanted off) and then oxycontin. at my highest dose I was taking 3-30mgs oxy/day (90mgs total) plus 2-4-6 percocets (5/325)/day, so I think my highest daily intake for a month or so was 120mgs combined oxycodone/day.
I have tapered down over the past month or so to 3-10mg oxys/day and 4-6 percs/day, for a total combined daily intake of between 50-60mgs oxycodone/day. I am proud of this and very glad to have reduced my intake by half, but I really seem to be stuck at the 60mg mark. there have been a few days when I was able to get down to 50mgs and once even 45mgs -- but I keep bouncing back up to ~60mgs/day b/c of wd symptoms and/or pain. just can't seem to get below that. the other night I popped back up to 80 b/c my pain was very bad and I couldn't sleep (did come back down, though, and have stayed down).
this is complicated by the fact that my doc says I don't really have to taper before my surgery (although I do think it is a good idea to taper b/c I work in the field, and I know that I will have better pain control if I do not go into my surgery with a high tolerance)....any ideas? I just can't seem to get the resolve and motivation and the strength to push through the next stage to get it down to like 20-30 mgs/day before my surgery. ARGH!!
I am going to a hotel next week where I will have a few days off from work/family, and have booked some massages, facials, etc, and I will have a big tub in my room for soaks. I will take walks and eat good food and rest, read, watch tv, relax....but does anyone have any really good ideas on how I can get motivated to take on more discomfort to bring my dose down more? I just don't want to!!! wah, wah....
enormous thanks in advance to all you good people....I admire tremendously everyone here who is walking that tough road of abstinence :)
kittykat58