Need help NOW-Please!

[Jacqui805]

I have been on fentanyl patches (200mcg) for about 3 yrs.  I started to wean off beginning last fall, dropping 25mcg each month.  I was having withdrawl symptoms when I dropped from 75mcg to 50mcg and severely when I went from 50mcg to 25mcg.  Now I'm done.  Been done now for 10 days, and I'm still wigging out badly.  I haven't slept since last Tuesday, find it extremely hard to sit still, and am super anxious.  All of the other withdrawl symptoms went away (ie, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), although I still sneeze and have mod-sev muscular pain in the back.  I thought surely by day 10 I'd be feeling better and that I would see a progessive improvement with each day.  Unfortunately, I feel that in the past two days, the whole "wiggin' out" thing is worse.  Is this gonna go away?  If so, when?  When can I feel like I'm not having a heart attack?  I need some info. or help or something from anyone who has been through this and who hopefully will tell me that within the 14 day period I will be better.  I heard that it should take between 7-14 days.  Is that right?  Anyone still wiggin out after that?

[Jacqui805]

Thanks so much for your help.  Just hearing that it WILL get better lets my mind go forward instead of panicking about panicking right now.  I am so scared, this is the hardest things I've ever done, but I know it won't kill me and if other people could get through it, then so will I.  It's just hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel 'cause I don't know where the end of the tunnel is.  Thanks.

[IBKleen]

Don't lose hope hun....i will get better. Don't forget that you were on a high dose for quite some time and it takes time to heal. Try and stay calm if you can.

[Jacqui805]

Thanks so much for your help and patience.  I'm a mess right now and really started to lose hope today.

[Christina207]

if you have been weaning like you say, and are not on any other meds, than you SHOULD feel BETTER by 14 days. I'm not saying ALL the symptoms wiill be gone, but you should feel better than u do now.

[Jacqui805]

What I mean by "wiggin' out" is, feeling terribly restless and anxious, and completely sleep deprived.  I wasn't able to eat until about Sunday, so I'm now rehydrated.  I've been taking the Ibuprofen and using heat constantly.  I don't have any Ambien (which doesn't work for me) or Klonopin.  I'm sick, which is why I was on the patch, and that isn't better so I can't exercise.  I've been immobile for 3 years.  I've switched insurance and have to find a new doc so that the specialist that saw me can get me into the Mayo Clinic for a diagnosis.  I should mention that I'm drug dependant and without addiction.  So, I'm only worried about these physical symptoms.  I know I'm really not having a heart attack, it's just the s/s of withdrawl.  It has happened before when I started weaning.  I felt like I was gonna die and they said I've got the heart of a kid.  It's just SO exhausting because I'm spending every minute going, "God, is that all it is?", as I stare at the clock just trying to get from minute to minute.  I'm a jittery, heart-pounding, anxious, restless mess.  I'm trying to reason that at least some symptoms went away so that must mean I'm getting better right?  I'm SCARED that I'm gonna feel like this forever.  Just getting through today is a huge battle.  Do you guys really think it'll be over in 14 days total?

[Christina207]

your not having a heart attack.  That's just your blood pressure.  You've past the critical stage and should be getting better from here on out. try to get some klonopin to help with that. But IBKleen is right.  If you have insurance and can't get into a doc, I"m sure once you tell the ER what's going on they will prescribe what is necessary for the finishing steps.  But honestly, you are ALMOST there...

[IBKleen]

I don't know what wiggin out is, but if you feel like you are having a heart attack, get to the ER.

[Christina207]

YOu SHLOULD feel better after 14 days.  Thats not to say that its a guarantee.  Drink plenty of fluids, take motrin, Klonopin if you have it, ambien for no more than five days for sleep, vitamins, no sugar, soda, junk etc, hot baths, TRY to FORCE yourself to excersise. Heating pads, i know it's hard, but you are right about at the finish line.  Once the physical part is over you should be ok.  Just remember to excersise the strength of your mentality for that too can be just as challenging as the physical part for certain people.  all the best
  C

[Jacqui805]

I tried Benadryl.  I have been taking it since yesterday every 4-6 hours with no effect.  Just like the o-t-c sleep meds I tried last week.  The NSAIDs and aspirin have no effect on the pain.  I also took 9 mgs. of Melatonin last night.  It did not do a thing.  Any other suggestions?