New to fentanyl patch....some questions

Hello everyone and thanks for reading my post.

I was switched to 50ug fentanyl patches yesterday and although I have a lot of experience with them in the veterinary field, this is my first personal foray.

Quick background.....Sjögren's at 24.....fibromyalgia next at 26(suspected but undiagnosed).....at29 or 30 I added lupus.... Lastly RA added at 31.
I am 34 now on methotrexate and humira, oh, toperimate for seizures have been on percocet for the past year for breakthrough and my pain med journey is as follows.

Hydrocodone
Cymbalta
Lyrica
Gabapentin
Percocet
Oxycontin
Exalgo
Morphine
Fentanyl patch

So, finally, here are my questions:
I know with dogs and cats onset can take 12-24 hours, but what about people?
Also does it need to build up in your serum levels? Will I feel better next week then this week? With the exalgo it took 5ish days
Do the the graders covers help? I found some on Amazon for $30 for 100
Is there a better place to apply them? I was looking at their recommended sites and, besides my back(heating pad), I could go for any of the others, but don't know if one is better than the others.

Last question, and this one I think is for the pharmacist/doctor.....
Can I still take a bath if the patch is out of the hot water, like my upper arm? Or is the heat from being in the vicinity too much?

Thanks again for reading....and hopefully responding.

Lolokonoki

There are a couple of past threads re: the patches - you can find these by using the search feature..
Lots more information available on those.. I cannot address several of your questions but others will chime in on here..

Have read on this forum that a least one manufacturer provides free covers upon request..

I know several people who wear the patches in 90° therapy pool for 2 hr or more.. but maybe not from day 1.. including myself. Some wear on upper arms, as you mentioned, that are usually above the water.. recommend wearing covers ..
I sip ice water herbal teas while in the pool & when I use heating pads.

locations - advise NOT where you apply heating pads - I would ask pharmacists first but maybe consider using ice pack - while using heating pad - to keep area around patch cool. Think I have read that it is not advisable to wear while running a fever.either.

Brands are different - for me at least.. could not tolerate the adhesive on one ..
Skin prep prior to applying makes it possible for me to use these but not that brand. If you find this is case for you come back & ask or search on internet.. I searched on internet & asked my doctor - he agreed & wrote scrip.

As body adjusts to the med, strength of patch has adjusted up or length of time between changes has been shortened.. for me that has been about hmm once a year??

A breakthru med - in pill form - helps with pain spikes as does lidocaine patches but my conditions / injuries are different than yours so do not know if this would apply to your situation.

My prior scrip list is at least as long as yours but Fentynal has been the one that that has allowed me to function again .. has allowed me to feel joy.

Best of luck !

I'm using the 50mcg patches right now, and I've also been on the 75mcg patches in the past.

You should start to feel a bit of relief within the first 4-8 hours.

But steady constant pain control does rely on serum levels, so it might take 3 or 4 patch changes (so about 9-12 days) before you hit peak performance in terms of relief.

I've always found (and been told by my doc and pharmacist) that most people get the most benefit from placing the patch on the center mass (back, chest, sides, stomach, etc) because it aides in absorption and circulation of the medication.

I've found putting them vertically on my side, horizontally between my navel and hip bone, or on my back (think kidney area) works best.

The patches do okay in water as long as a good initial seal is made when you first put the patch on. It's more the temp of the water you need to worry about. So no hot baths OR showers. If you use a heating pad make sure its not near or on the patch, and that you keep the settings as low as possible.

When your body temp increases, it can stimulate the patch to dump medication, especially because your skin becomes more porous.