withdrawal help,urgent

[punkrogers]

I am a 45 yr old single dad with scholeroderma and yes ankylosing spondylitis too.I ran out of meds early for the first time . i have 4 more days until refill is good .I hav sole custody of my li princess and no family help, disabled with pain and illnesses and also raynauds syndrome.I was taking 5 (as prescribed ) 30 mg oxycodone a day ,and 3 -40mg oxycontin extended release daily for 2.5 years .I havent run out ever and i am sick , i have so much pain and fatigue and vomting and leg spasms ,etc.. not to mention what it feels like to have a spine that fused on its own due to AS (like Mick Mars from Motley Crue) ,i dont know what to do,local er is useless , i am scared to tell my doc i ran out , its partly due to my pill bottle left inmy car at kmart being stolen but i had put up extra for emergencies , but pain has been so bad they were gone . is there otc meds i can get? i called aa methadone clinic and thay wouldnt see me because i only need 4 days of help.I have high BP and take ace inhibitor and i have to be up and around for my daughter,anyone with any ideas of how to ease withdrawals and pain (at least a lil )with otc meds ?

mark o or punk rogers my hs nick name

[alsoinpain]

I know this is an old post, but it might help someone else. Definitely get Imodium AD, it will help with the stomach and bowel problems that WILL happen. You can take 2-3 at a time every few hours as long as you only do this to get you through a short time. The active ingredient in Imodium is actually an opiate that doesn't cross the blood/brain barrier, which is why it helps so tremendously.

[abbyme]

I've been through what you're going through many times.
Take 2 aleve every 12 hours, 1 good 24 hour antihistimine, try to get some valiums from your doctor for the restless leg at night, if you can't get valiums try melatonin. Basically, you have to calm down your immune system and thyroid.
I found a great product called Medication Tracking, at www.****.com, which is cheap and awsome at making sure this kind of thing never happens to me. Now that I have Medication Tracking, I could never live without it again. It does so much, it's a whole system which has a lot of help.

Good Luck,
I feel your pain and have been there.

[Tuckamore]

Sorry I am late to this discussion. I was out yesterday due to  my father's failing health. Our members came your aid. As always they are wonderfully supportive. Great job members!

How are you today punkrogers? I do hope you reported the theft of your meds. A police report will allow the PMP to legitimately prescribe you additional meds. Even if you didn't with your "good history" your physician may still prescribe early for you.

Your load is heavily with all the painful autoimmune issues that certainly limits your activities and abilities and a you still care for a child.. I applaud your courage. You are a great Dad. Your daughter won't forget your selfless love.

I'll be anxious to hear how you are doing.

Peace,
Tuck

[SHELLBELL79]

I understand what your going through. I have severe chronic pain illnesses too. Ive had to go into w/ds many times b/c of running out early. I doubt any doc will give a new script. The pharmacy has filled my script a few days early before. I have left my pills in my car but, I know to hid them in the glove box. I would never had them out to see! Did you call the cops when your car was broken into? Did you file a report? Do you have damage to your car like a broken window or your keyhole popped out by a screwdriver? If you don't have any of these things, I find it very hard to believe that you had pills stolen! I am in psychology and a intern social worker/counselor for drug addicts and the mentally ill. No offense but someone who has said they had their car broken into and they took your pills is usually a red flag. I know when I have to take some pills with me, I never leave them in sight in the car. I taken the pills and the bottle they are in, big or small b/c if you dont have that bottle and a cop stops you, you will be considered someone will  be charged with drug possession and no bottle! It almost happened to me but, thank god I was able to show the bottle. I found it strange that you would want to go on methadone! If you are a chronic pain patient you do not want methadone! methadone helps a lil with pain but not severe, plus its a drug mainly for people to get off herion. Methadone has a very long half-life and is hell to get off of. You will be very sick with wd's for month if you take that! I suggest you just try to re-fill it at the pharm. I you can't and your in bad pain, go to the er but if you tell them your in w/ds they will probably treat you bad and not give you any controlled substances! I know this for a fact. rehabs and detox places have to call ER's all the time to tell them to respect and see the patient and treat them right. I was told that by 3 addiction specialist/psychiatrsts!!!
Good luck!
right now take 800 mg of advil/motrin...take hot baths, take immodium for diareah, emotrol/ phenergan if you have it, valium or something like it...if you have it, drink gatorade...stay hydrated!

[justme555]

Call your doctor, if this is the first time this happened, then the dr might help you. If not maybe go to the E.R.? They will probably give you pain relief and something to take home wiht you I think. Can someone, a friend or neighbor, watch your child while you go?

Also I know it's too late in your case (you either did it already or not) but I agree with the suggestion of filing a police report if your meds are ever stolen. Running out early regularly is one thing but one-time theft can happen to anyone. I'd hate to think we pain patients are so suspect that one incident of something outside of our control is considered justification for not giving a few days worth of substitute meds. Stand up for your rights and tell your dr the truth about what happened and that you need only a few days worth of medication to stave off painful withdrawals. Good luck. I feel for you, I am in withdrawal myself, although I went off my pills by choice.

[Shanna707]

I don't know if you have a PM contract or not.  If you do read it and see what your options are.  If you don't have a contract and your only a few days eary, you should be able to get some pain meds perhaps you had an exacerbation of you  condition and ended takin a litle extra, but didn't realize you would run out too soon.  I pray for you.  I was in a similar situation I ran out and my doc was on miliatary learve and then his partner wouldn't help me out. It was a dosaster/ Pepcid over the counter and cal your stomach. Also meclizine is OTC, ask pharmacist and it will help dizziness and lightheadedness as well as vomiting.    If you start to have diarrhea, take lomotil to help.  Also, natural remedies such as mellatonin and valerian will help you sleep.  There is also a homeopathic remedy for restless leg symdrome.  If worse gets to worse and you puke or have enough diarrhea to become dehydrated, gp to the hospital.  They will atleast give you e intravenous fluids and check your  electrolyes and make corrections that could cause cardiac problems and will probably altleast give you a little pain med while your there since they don;t want you to go into withdrawal seizures!!!!!!!!!!!!   keep us posted plz

[TrayCee]

I dont mean to be Debbie Downer but...

just an FYI-  my PM Contract states- "running out of meds early will result in immidate discharge."

[AmazonGirl]

Did you call the police when your medications where stolen??....I know the cops usually wont do anything, or can't do anything for stolen medications (cause once they're gone, they're gone...especially if you have no clue who took it) but atleast they can make a report so you can take to your doctor's office....most doctors will prescribe the meds if you show the police report....but also some doctors wont do that...but I know my doctor has to have a police report and he'll only do it once....so if you have a good history with your doctor then I don't see why they wouldn't represcribe your medications....but why did you leave your pain medication in your car???....you should always leave them locked up cause leaving them around is just asking for someone to take them...

But either way, I would defiently call up your doctor and ask him/her what you should do...if anything they can atleast give you meds to help with the withdrawals and non-narcotic meds for the pain til you can get a refill....and make sure you talk to the doctor themselves and not the nursing staff as sometimes what the nurses and what the doctors say is completly diffrent....I knew someone that was told by her nurse that she couldn't get a refill when her meds where stolen til her refill date and when she saw the doctor after several weeks of no medications, he was upset cause he said if he had known, he would of prescribed her the meds....so she suffered for several weeks just because the nurse decided to play doctor....so either demand for the doctor to call back themselves or see if you can get an appointment for asap....

[Mollyrae]

I have a story for you...I will send it through your personal messages..
Molly

[Mollyrae]

Call your Doctor...they are more compassionate than you think...If this is the forst time then you should be alright......Do you see a PCP or a PMP?

[punkrogers]

thx for all of you.

[geminigirl1963]

gentle ((Hugs)) to you - I'm sorry you're having such a rough time  right now and I hope you find some relief real soon.  I totally agree with the other posts that have been made here - definitely call your doctor and explain what happened.  If, by any chance, you have a police report from when your meds were stolen at Kmart, that will help, but at any rate, your doctor should be able to help you get a refill early.  You've been on these meds for 2 1/2 years and this is the first time you've had to request a refill early, so the doc should most definitely take that into consideration.

Keep in mind, though, that even if your doctor does approve an early refill for your medication, your insurance company can still refuse to pay for the early refill, in which case you would have to pay out of pocket.  I recently ran into this situation with my pain medication - my doctor had increased my dosage during the month, so I was needing a refill about 5 days before it would have been due at the original dose.  My doctor approved the refill (at the new dosage amount) and called the pharmacy directly so that there wasn't any problems with them filling it early, however, the insurance company still would not cover it, so I ended up paying out of pocket.  Yes, it was very expensive, but I know it would have taken a lot more out of me physically if I had tried to "wait it out" until the original refill date.

Please do not hesitate or feel bad about calling your doctor - you definitely need your medication to be able to make it through.  Please keep us all posted as to how you're doing - you're in my thoughts and prayers.

Robyn

[GA Guy]

Please let us know how things go. You're in my prayers.

[punkrogers]

thk u so much ,just for taking the time and caring about someone you dont even know .God bless

[punkrogers]

i hopethis goes through ,if pharma9 didnt get a message i am sorry and thanks so much,
Thk u gaguy,i think i am just biting the bullet and calling him, he was wanting to ad methadone a few weeks ago, he sees the fusion of spine and my hands morphed , knows i am in pain so maybe he'll help early ,if not ill make it some how, have to for my daughter.'
thk all of you.

[GA Guy]

I agree with pharma9. Usually physicians cut off patients when they are chronically early or have ridiculous excuses for refilling 2 weeks early. It sounds like you have a very long history of taking your meds as prescribed. I would call and ask the physician for an earlier appointment or for a early refill. You could also ask for some recommendations in the pain forum. They may be of better help than us.

[pharma9]

You are a sick person and need your meds.Can you call your doctor and explain your situation and get your pills released early.You have at least 2 genuine conditions that require pain meds and you have never been early before.Perhaps ibuprofen 400mg 2 every 4 hours max 3200mg/24 hrs for a few days only will help somewhat.I really feel for you having all those autoimmune diseases at once.Just take the ibuprofen at that high dose for a very short time because of blood pressure.There is a pain reliever called percogesic that is otc and contains tylenol with phenyltoloxamine an antihistamine that enhances the pain relief of tylenol.