Oxicontin: Pain Relief or Pariah?

[Yo_Tony]

My brother recently had arm surgery requiring a bone graft taken from his hip. He was told it would result in accute pain, which it has. With some prodding from me, he requested Oxicontin, which his doctor immediately and enthusiastically refused, preferring instead to prescribe Percoset.

Percoset is certainly an effective post-operative pain medication; however, it has a distinct four-hour cycle. When I had the misfortune years ago to be beaten badly by thugs in Hawaii, Percodan really helped pull me through. But I was up every few hours waiting until I could take my next dose.

Now my brother is waking up at night in pain, having to take another Percoset dose, then waiting the requisite 45 minutes for it to kick in so he can fall asleep again.

I'm angry because Oxicontin is available and approved by the FDA for exactly this kind of pain. All it is is time released Vicodin. But because the weak links in our society chew them up or snap them to get a rush (potentially to the Pearly Gates), doctors openly place their fear of federal auditors ahead of the interest of their patients.

What can we, as patients, do to get the right medicine when it's legitmately needed and deal with this horrible bureaucracy we've created? How miserable can federal regulators make the lives of our doctors to warrant this kind of response?

Thanks!

Tony

[Francoise]

Here's a link to a place where you can find the recipe for Thomas' detox stuff:

http://pub37.ezboard.com/bthenewaddictionmedicineforum

Let us know how it works?
francois

[trying]

I am from the North Shore, just like you.  We exchanged a few e mails a few weeks back.  Remember now?  I didn't buy it and I'm not going to.  I just can't believe how happy I feel without the pills.  I know we can make it.  Did you get your new car?  How is you girlfried?

[trying]

you know i didn't tell him to **** off because he has no idea i even have a problem.  nobody knows.  the only peoson that knows is my mother.  not even my best friend knows.  Are you clean now?

[hellbent]

Nice. I've gone back to pills because of a phone call, and been gone a looong time.

Did you tell them you are clean and to **** off?

[trying]

Hello Everyone:  Today is a much better day than yesterday.  Last night was so hard.  Another person I know called and asked if I wanted and OC80 for 50 dollars.  I live in the North East so 50 dollars for an OC80 is really cheap.  I said no thanks.  I felt so ******* good after that.  I had the biggest smile on my face and felt really good about myself.  Today is a good day.  I feel happy and somewhat content.  I am still thinking about pills, but that's going to happen.  It hasn't been that long.  This weekend will be hard though.  The weekends always are.  How is everyone doing today?

[tex3]

Ultra, sorry I couldn't get to this yesterday. You can get the supplements at some grocery stores, but to get all of them I'd head to a health store like GNC. The 5HTP is a precursor to serotonin so helps with mood. Mine has valerian in it too, which I guess is supposed to calm you down. Keep taking these even after the WD. You can get through this! Many of us have, as you see, so keep in mind that it's doable even if you feel like ****. Ultram is a nasty drug. I had a seizure while on it, and more even long after so I think it screwed my head up. And I wasn't even abusing it!
By the way, I was a media consultant too (in-house) until I quit my job.
Good luck! Hang in there and I will send good wishes your way.

Lexie, you are not alone. Many of us have been through exactly what you're going through, hence the support to be found here. My husband knew I was taking the pills but never exactly how many. I never hid it that much, but did put a ton of energy into the whole life. I would actually wake up in the morning, at around 6:00, and already be going into WD even though I'd taken my last dose at around 11 p.m. Scary. I had to take clonidine before bed to try to stretch the dose, and this still happened. So you could say it consumed my life.
One thing I would urge you to do, and you won't like this, is to come clean with your husband. You have to get past the deceit. You will want to get past that, to be honest in your life again after living these secrets. I don't know your situation, so maybe it's not possible to tell him. But for me, it was very liberating to be able to speak honestly about all this. I did not go around blabbing about it to everyone in my life, but I needed one person I could be honest with. Of course, you can get that here too, but it would be good if you can talk to him about it. Just a thought.
Best of luck, hang tough, you'll be stronger when it's over.
tracy