Aa
BIG time pain...
Hi.
Long story short: I was career law enforcement until my two weeks working the remains of the North Tower at the World Trade Center. 15 months later I was diagnosed with A.L.L., a leukemia normally found in either children or African American females (neither of which I am).
Since then, I have completed Chemo/Radiation treatments 3 times and outlived my prognosis twice.
In all honesty folks, I'm tired. I'm 48 years old and can't do anything anymore without SOMETHING hurting. I've been like this for almost 9 years and, as I'm sure some people here can relate to, it really isn't "living", in a very broad, generalized interpretation of the very word, "living".
So, my question is this: while I realize and truly understand med's, I am prescribed several med's and I'm wondering what would happen by taking amitriptyline (100 mg), fentanyl (100/mcl/hr), OxyContin (80 mg. x 2) and benadryl together?
Thanks for the input.
Long story short: I was career law enforcement until my two weeks working the remains of the North Tower at the World Trade Center. 15 months later I was diagnosed with A.L.L., a leukemia normally found in either children or African American females (neither of which I am).
Since then, I have completed Chemo/Radiation treatments 3 times and outlived my prognosis twice.
In all honesty folks, I'm tired. I'm 48 years old and can't do anything anymore without SOMETHING hurting. I've been like this for almost 9 years and, as I'm sure some people here can relate to, it really isn't "living", in a very broad, generalized interpretation of the very word, "living".
So, my question is this: while I realize and truly understand med's, I am prescribed several med's and I'm wondering what would happen by taking amitriptyline (100 mg), fentanyl (100/mcl/hr), OxyContin (80 mg. x 2) and benadryl together?
Thanks for the input.
And let me apologize for all the spelling typo's; I'm not quite awake yet. It take a few cup's of coffee to "shake off" the Amitriptyline in the morning.
B
B
Hi and Thank You for writing.
My original PCP, who has since retired, had me on (deep breath):
1.) OxyContin, 80 mg. 4x day
2.) Fentanyl Patch, 100 mcg/Hour
3.) Dilaudid, 8 mg. 3x day
4.) OxyCodone, 10 mg. As Needed For Breakthrough Pain
His explainantion to me was that he wanted me to "build up" a certain level of pain meds in my system to ward off the terrible pain, instead of having to wait 15-20 minutes for the med's to get in my system and begin working.
In September 2006, I ended up in the ER with Rhabdomyolysis, which came closer to killing me than the A.L.L.! The ER doc's actually REFUSED to believe that I had all of those med's prescribed by one doctor; i.e. they thought I was pulling an "Elvis" and doctor shopping. they also told me that there was NO WAY one person could ingest all of those narcotics without ending up in the morgue. They actually "interrogated" me, saying that I, "...must be selling them on the street."
Only after having my PCP fax to the ER doc's the list of med's I was on did they roll their eyes and say I needed a new doctor, ASAP.
So, on top of the other medical issues, I ended up in a nursing home, confined to a wheelchair because of the muscle/tissue damage brought on by the Rhabdomyolysis, I lost the use of my legs. After almost two years, I tought myself to walk again and was released.
After taking the above-mentioned "cocktail" for 3 years, I thought it was a BIT (!!) excessive, so I did something I THOUGHT would be the correct thing to do: After talking with my new doctor who, incidentley, faught my decision, I put myself in detox and rehab for 2 months in order to take what I've heard people call a "Medication Vacation", just to "clean out" ALL of the narcotics in my system. Good idea, right?
Dumbest thing I've ever done!
See, what happens when you tell a doctor, in the State of Maine anyway, who doesn't really "know" you, as well as a rehab, that you think you "...may have too many narcotic medications all at once and think a break is in order" (provided the pain doesn't kill you), you are actually put on a list and you are "Red-Flagged" as a drug addict. So, to get a doctor to prescribe the pain med's you need, just in order to get out of bed in the morning, is a horrendous task I would not wish on anyone. No, not even my ex-wife.
So, end of (an incredibly long) story; I now have a doctor who is terrofied to prescribe pain meds to me. While I don't blame him completely (the DEA really needs to get the hell out of the doctor's office and let them do their job's without fear of being thrown into prison), I have had some... "heated" discussions with him.
I just don't want to "rock the boat" and have this doctor tell me he's refering me to someone new based on the fact that I checked myself into detox 5 years ago. That little "red flag" WILL follow me around the rest of my life.
Again, thank's for replying.
Bob
My original PCP, who has since retired, had me on (deep breath):
1.) OxyContin, 80 mg. 4x day
2.) Fentanyl Patch, 100 mcg/Hour
3.) Dilaudid, 8 mg. 3x day
4.) OxyCodone, 10 mg. As Needed For Breakthrough Pain
His explainantion to me was that he wanted me to "build up" a certain level of pain meds in my system to ward off the terrible pain, instead of having to wait 15-20 minutes for the med's to get in my system and begin working.
In September 2006, I ended up in the ER with Rhabdomyolysis, which came closer to killing me than the A.L.L.! The ER doc's actually REFUSED to believe that I had all of those med's prescribed by one doctor; i.e. they thought I was pulling an "Elvis" and doctor shopping. they also told me that there was NO WAY one person could ingest all of those narcotics without ending up in the morgue. They actually "interrogated" me, saying that I, "...must be selling them on the street."
Only after having my PCP fax to the ER doc's the list of med's I was on did they roll their eyes and say I needed a new doctor, ASAP.
So, on top of the other medical issues, I ended up in a nursing home, confined to a wheelchair because of the muscle/tissue damage brought on by the Rhabdomyolysis, I lost the use of my legs. After almost two years, I tought myself to walk again and was released.
After taking the above-mentioned "cocktail" for 3 years, I thought it was a BIT (!!) excessive, so I did something I THOUGHT would be the correct thing to do: After talking with my new doctor who, incidentley, faught my decision, I put myself in detox and rehab for 2 months in order to take what I've heard people call a "Medication Vacation", just to "clean out" ALL of the narcotics in my system. Good idea, right?
Dumbest thing I've ever done!
See, what happens when you tell a doctor, in the State of Maine anyway, who doesn't really "know" you, as well as a rehab, that you think you "...may have too many narcotic medications all at once and think a break is in order" (provided the pain doesn't kill you), you are actually put on a list and you are "Red-Flagged" as a drug addict. So, to get a doctor to prescribe the pain med's you need, just in order to get out of bed in the morning, is a horrendous task I would not wish on anyone. No, not even my ex-wife.
So, end of (an incredibly long) story; I now have a doctor who is terrofied to prescribe pain meds to me. While I don't blame him completely (the DEA really needs to get the hell out of the doctor's office and let them do their job's without fear of being thrown into prison), I have had some... "heated" discussions with him.
I just don't want to "rock the boat" and have this doctor tell me he's refering me to someone new based on the fact that I checked myself into detox 5 years ago. That little "red flag" WILL follow me around the rest of my life.
Again, thank's for replying.
Bob
I thought that in general, doctors were more sympathetic to taking palliative measures when a person has cancer. I know they seemed very concerned about giving me medication for migraines in the ER. I figured a person had to have cancer or something terminal for them to be more willing to prescribe pain relief.
I had a legitimate reason for wanting the demerol- migraine pain (diagnosed with chronic intractible common migraines) and had either bad side effect or other things not work on the pain, but my body got addicted then tolerant to Demerol- which was scary, because it wasn't working well anymore and what could I do then for the pain of the worst of my migraines?
I went off of a number of medications for a time, including that one (but did not go to a drug rehab place, did it at home) in preparing to get a different kind of acupuncture (than traditional Chinese) treatment up in Canada at the Ontario Migraine Clinic. The guy running the clinic was supposed to have a really high success rate, was recommended and I talked to more than one person who talked of the help they got before deciding to try it. Spent thousands of dollars... didn't lose the migraines, but did get a lot of different medicines I had been getting out of my system, one positive from that very expensive pain desperation trip.
When I got back, my pain was so bad, I started going to someone who did traditional Chinese acupuncture & herbs. I noticed two extra strength tylenols, which wouldn't haved touched my migraine in the past actually did something! Years later now, I typically take two of those along with a phenergan for my migraines. I have demerol pills (which have been prescribed for me in small numbers) as an emergency medicine but take them extremely rarely. God's grace and surgery led to frequency of migraines diminishing though, as well as I usually don't get them as severely anymore.
All the medicines you asked about in your initial post- is your doctor prescribing them, though with fear and trepidation? Is your doctor an oncologist?
With the rhabdomyolysis, did you also develop kidney issues? One of my loved ones started to have the dark urine they talk about with that disorder with pills for cholesterol, as well as muscle cramps and had to discontinue the medication.
Have you ever tried or considered alternative medicine for the pain? It isn't perfect, and it's an ongoing thing, but you might find a measure of help like I did for my migraines with Chinese acupuncture and herbs.
I had a legitimate reason for wanting the demerol- migraine pain (diagnosed with chronic intractible common migraines) and had either bad side effect or other things not work on the pain, but my body got addicted then tolerant to Demerol- which was scary, because it wasn't working well anymore and what could I do then for the pain of the worst of my migraines?
I went off of a number of medications for a time, including that one (but did not go to a drug rehab place, did it at home) in preparing to get a different kind of acupuncture (than traditional Chinese) treatment up in Canada at the Ontario Migraine Clinic. The guy running the clinic was supposed to have a really high success rate, was recommended and I talked to more than one person who talked of the help they got before deciding to try it. Spent thousands of dollars... didn't lose the migraines, but did get a lot of different medicines I had been getting out of my system, one positive from that very expensive pain desperation trip.
When I got back, my pain was so bad, I started going to someone who did traditional Chinese acupuncture & herbs. I noticed two extra strength tylenols, which wouldn't haved touched my migraine in the past actually did something! Years later now, I typically take two of those along with a phenergan for my migraines. I have demerol pills (which have been prescribed for me in small numbers) as an emergency medicine but take them extremely rarely. God's grace and surgery led to frequency of migraines diminishing though, as well as I usually don't get them as severely anymore.
All the medicines you asked about in your initial post- is your doctor prescribing them, though with fear and trepidation? Is your doctor an oncologist?
With the rhabdomyolysis, did you also develop kidney issues? One of my loved ones started to have the dark urine they talk about with that disorder with pills for cholesterol, as well as muscle cramps and had to discontinue the medication.
Have you ever tried or considered alternative medicine for the pain? It isn't perfect, and it's an ongoing thing, but you might find a measure of help like I did for my migraines with Chinese acupuncture and herbs.
Dear Mecop186,
You my good man? woman? couldn't suss out which gender. Anyway, you are a hero!!!! And a hero to this country. The fact that you risked you life to help, and at the time everyone was happy for you to do it, and knew you were a hero too, and now that time has passed and you have obviously gotten a disease from being a hero and helping with the going got worse than tough, dosen't seem to enter into anybody's game plan anymore.
All you were trying to do with the rehab is exactly what I've thought of doing a thousand times, but you were brave enough to go ahead and do it. And, what do you get.....? Well, red-flagged of course.
The DEA has got their noses out of joint because they have known for years that this so-called "war on drugs" doesn't work at all. God forbid they should take all that money and use it for people without funds to go to rehab. The only war on drugs that they have even a modicum of control over is now poking their noses into physicians who deal with chronic pain patients. Now, that they can control, and therefore, it will only get worse for those of us, you and myself, and thousands of others who do the best they can to live with chronic pain.
I know you've most likely tried to explain to this doctor that you just wanted to find out what, if any of these medicines you were taking actually worked. If you've already done that and it's obviously fallen on deaf ears, the only thing you can do would be to ask "very politely of course", if your doctor knows of any other doctor who will help you with your chronic pain. There has got to be someone out there with way more knowledge than the doctor you seeing at this time.
I apologize that I don't have any real help to give you. But, for whatever it is worth, and I know it doesn't help your pain at all. Never forget that you are a true hero!!!! I know I won't.
Big Hug & Best Wishes,
Suda
You my good man? woman? couldn't suss out which gender. Anyway, you are a hero!!!! And a hero to this country. The fact that you risked you life to help, and at the time everyone was happy for you to do it, and knew you were a hero too, and now that time has passed and you have obviously gotten a disease from being a hero and helping with the going got worse than tough, dosen't seem to enter into anybody's game plan anymore.
All you were trying to do with the rehab is exactly what I've thought of doing a thousand times, but you were brave enough to go ahead and do it. And, what do you get.....? Well, red-flagged of course.
The DEA has got their noses out of joint because they have known for years that this so-called "war on drugs" doesn't work at all. God forbid they should take all that money and use it for people without funds to go to rehab. The only war on drugs that they have even a modicum of control over is now poking their noses into physicians who deal with chronic pain patients. Now, that they can control, and therefore, it will only get worse for those of us, you and myself, and thousands of others who do the best they can to live with chronic pain.
I know you've most likely tried to explain to this doctor that you just wanted to find out what, if any of these medicines you were taking actually worked. If you've already done that and it's obviously fallen on deaf ears, the only thing you can do would be to ask "very politely of course", if your doctor knows of any other doctor who will help you with your chronic pain. There has got to be someone out there with way more knowledge than the doctor you seeing at this time.
I apologize that I don't have any real help to give you. But, for whatever it is worth, and I know it doesn't help your pain at all. Never forget that you are a true hero!!!! I know I won't.
Big Hug & Best Wishes,
Suda
God has kept you alive for a purpose- that is sure, outliving the doctor's guesses twice. My folks have a friend that had a very aggressive form of leukemia- he had a been a Christian missionary in the Phillipines. It was a miracle it went in remission.
It looks like you should check with your doctor before taking amitriptyline and benadryl together, because benadryl can increase the drowsiness side effect of amitriptyline. I see fentanyl is for when you have become opioid resistant. Have you talked to your doctor about how you are not getting effective pain management so they can try to come up with a better treatment plan?
It looks like you should check with your doctor before taking amitriptyline and benadryl together, because benadryl can increase the drowsiness side effect of amitriptyline. I see fentanyl is for when you have become opioid resistant. Have you talked to your doctor about how you are not getting effective pain management so they can try to come up with a better treatment plan?
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pain Management Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
