fentanyl patches

[Kimchi]

I really need help here guys. My pain Dr have me the fentanyl patch 25 Tues. I started it Wedesday w/ high hopes of pain relief. After about an hour, I was really high off it and then it leveled out. All day long, I kept getting this high and then down and not really getting any pain relief. So, being the person that I am, I came in this a.m. and started to research the web on this and it SCARED ME TO DEATH! So, I called my Dr back with some serious concerns and that I really did not want to take this med. I only talked to his office dogs and they said he told me all he could do for me was call in more hydrocodone! :cussing: and to stop the patch. THIS IS NOT going to help me, I told her and she got really really pissy w/ me. So, what am I to do, continue w/ this patch and hope it does not kill me before my next appt or continue being in excruciating pain? Someone please help me here. Has anyone taken this med and had good results?

[IC SARAH-CPP]

First off, I wouldnt take heed of what I read on the web, unless it is on a reputable site written by medical professionals. The things I have read about oxycontin should have scared me away forever, if I listened to them. Secondly, I would try to get in and talk to the DOCTOR him/herself. Often these office people have no idea what they are talking about and relish using their "power". I would make an appt asap.
I couldnt take the patch. I felt WAY high and COULD NOT stay awake. I mean literally. i would sleep 12 hours and then sleep all morning long. I also turned in to the biggest witch, I was so irritable. So he took me off it. He wanted me to give it a longer try but I said no. He said it is your body, so he put me back on oxycontin. If you can, I would try to use it for a few days. If you cant stand it, then take it off. Some people get such good relief from the patch.
Dont take no for an answer. Go sit in the office if you have to. Let us know what happens.
Sarah

[Kimchi]

Thanks for replying. I am going to give it a few more days. At least over the weekend but I do want to talk to him. I guess since he gave me a month supply, I could not get anything else if I wanted too. Is that how that works? I am thinking about going to his office around 4:30 today and insist they let me see him.

[Kara Isabel]

Yea, I agree w/ Sarah, don't get TOO scared. Heck, there are tons of horror stories about the morphine pills I'm on (MS Contin and Kadian) People have died from those too....but I'm still alive and kickin! AND There is the same risks with all of the slow release/time release medications, but I would never crush up a pill! That's CRAZY! And usually when someone OD's it is because they were trying to get high and not manage pain!!

I'd tough it out! Unless you have some type of allergic reaction....and I hope you don't!

hugs,
Kara

[IC SARAH-CPP]

No, that isnt true with most doctors, about getting more medication when one doesnt work. I have done it numerous times. I was very worried about it, so what I did was to bring in all the meds to his office. He said he couldnt take them, but I wanted him to know I still had them all. He said to take them to the pharmacy so I did, but they wouldnt take them either. The woman said, if you are REALLY serious about getting rid of them, then flush them. HA, that made me mad. Like I wasnt serious about it!! So I threw them in the toilet and flushed them! I had methadone pills, patches, and morphine pills. IT made my hubby and I very nervous to have all that around our house. WE laughed about it because I know people would kill to get their hands on those kinds of meds.
I would try to give it till this weekend but if the office treats you like that I would be very firm and request to be seen. Also write down the names of the nurses and alert the doc to their behavior. My doc was furious when I told him what his medical assistant said to me. She was written up, he told me. She is nice as pie now.
HAng in there sweetie. PM me if you need anything else.
Love Sarah

[Kimchi]

well, it's my 48th hour on this patch and I think I am starting to get used to it. Last night, I actually had a good burst of energy. I don't know if it's b/c I am feeling better or if it's the med. Will see. Still feel pretty good this a.m. too. My concern though is the break thru pain. I am not having a large amount of it right now but I am going to run out of my hydrocodone before I go back to the office. It's my fault I am running out early b/c before I got the patch, I was miserable and desperate and was taking an extra pill a day here and there. So, I don't know if I should call and see what he says or just tough it out. I don't know if he will get mad at me or not. I am really hoping I won't need break thru meds but it is becoming obvious that I will. Will see though.

[ICNDonna]

I'm glad you are feeling a bit better on the patch --- I hope it will help even more when you've been on it a little longer.

Donna

[Kara Isabel]

YAY!

I'm glad you are feeling a bit better! I hope your doctor is helpful w/ the breakthrough meds.

:grouphug:

[Kimchi]

I am really really hoping I won't need them very much. That is my goal and as it stands now, I am feeling pretty good. Not good enough to dance a gig yet, but I really am not having much pain and I don't feel high..... so... woooohooo! I would like to thank you guys for being there for me yesterday. The support was incredible. I don't know how I would have gotten thru the day w/o you when I could not get answers from anyone else. I did spent the entire a.m. crying yesterday, my hubby got it, my Dr's office got it and my poor boss got it. It's all good now though and I even called my Drs office yesterday afternoon and apologized! I bet they don't get that very often. :grouphug:

[IC SARAH-CPP]

Yeah, I am so happy to hear this!! I was worried about you. I read on the website for the duragesic patch that the patch should always be given with breakthrough medication. Maybe you could print that out and bring it in there for him to see.
Glad to hear you are feeling better.
Sarah

[Kimchi]

I just wanted to update you guys on the patch. I seem to be having really good relief w/ it. I had some trouble over the weekend with a patch falling off but other then that, I like this. Gives me energy and I did more around my house over the weekend then I have done in 1 month. I no longer wake up every a.m. looking to take a pain pill 1st thing and that is really nice. I don't know what to do w/ that feeling. hehehe.

[Kara Isabel]

Awesome!!!!!!! I'm glad it is helping you! :woohoo:

I read somewhere on here a trick to keeping it on, maybe someone knows? Maybe it was just plain old medical tape!?

I hope it keeps working for you.

[Kimchi]

I used some cheap medical paper tape and it sort of shifted over onto the patch which was not good. I think I have the hang of it now.