weening off duragesic pain patches

[dancernomore]

I have been on duragesic pain patches 25 mcg for almost two years.  I switched back to my regular doctor since they were gone for over 18 months.  I have been taking Norco 10s 8 per day, and ativan and lithium and flexeril and trazodone.  My new doctor doesn't think I should be on the patch since I am only 39.  However, I was in a tragic automobile accident three years ago and almost died. I suffered fractures of T3 4 5, Fratuctres C 7, could have been paralyzed, but lucky. My right ankle was compression break in othere words my foot was hanging by a thread, and most my ribs were broke, liver lasseration, and on and on.  My pain is so bad in the thorasic spine and my neck cervical spine.  My old dr thought the patch would be perfect for the around the clock pain relief. with the norco for breakthrough pain.  The patch did work well for me, however i noticed when I was in the hot weather i would get sick..but i dealt.  so my question is>>>i dropped from the 25s i was on for two years down to 12.5.  she had me on the 12.5s for three weeks i had withdrawl so i put another on to equal 25 i was on before.  doc got mad said she would do two more weeks worth of 12.5 then I should be able to come completely off.  so here I sit tonight when actually a new patch is due on, but I do not have any she was very persistant that I get off of them.  I am having major anxiety i have ativan for that but that was cut as well so has the norco.  I think I could do the off the patch thing if i have the ativan and norco to help.  I don't think with the pain I am in I will do well with just norco and ativan.  I think my doc is wrong  and i am stressing over the withdrawls  i did it one time cold turkey and I was a mess, uncontrollable crying, weakness, stomach pain, chills, can;t sleep, throw up,   will i have this same sysmptoms coming off cold turkey of the 12?  please someone help me.. i know i will end up taking more ativan and norco in place of the patches. then I will be out and she will not refill them early.  I am scared!!!!!  

[justsaynotodrugs]

       Sounds like you are very addicted to these pain meds.  Thats how they do you take them to feel better when they wear off you feel miserable.  Yep how I do remember it was painful the wd from pain killers.  So I made my mind up that I had had enough of wd pain I put the drugs out of my life and cleaned up started going to aa and na self help group and listening to them tell there stories how they got clean and it helped me to stay clean.  So hang in there dont go cold turkey taper down that way you want suffer so bad.  In God we TRUST.

[Icntkickit]

Sorry for your pain. Sounds to me like you need a new dr. Why did you switch back? I would of asked the old dr IF I come to you what will be your plan. Sounds to me like you are gonna have to go back to the other dr, or just get off all the meds.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

How much norco does she give you and did she take those away to? Good luck and keep posting. The people here are great!