"heroin on steroids" LA Times headline

Re: description of Fentanyl the painkiller ( or one of them) found in Prince's body. Certainly this headline makes it sound like it is a horrible 'street drug', instead of a prescription med used in treatment of chronic pain. Due to personal interaction w/ many chronic pain patients in physical therapy I know at least a dozen people who use this & have for years.

If/when family or friends of chronic pain patients read this or similar articles, & freak out because they know you use it, please be ready to reassure them (if you choose to).

(I have already had 2 of mine call me.)

For instance, I have read that it is impotant to keep a list to note day & time The patch is replaced, or use the lollipop, which ever form is used, to prevent using more than the prescribed amount.

Also that your pharmacy keeps a record of all meds & supplements to ensure no negative interactions.

Personally, some of my support system isn't (supportive) & have made it clear that NO prescription pain meds are acceptable to them. Others accept that I have faith in my medical team & I follow their instructions.

Post Edited (DianeB) : 6/3/2016 9:26:34 AM (GMT-6)

That poor man was brutal on his body. I can't even what healthy knees and hips would look like after spending decades jumping of pianos and stages with high heeled boots. When on stage, he was constantly in motion. Most of us can't even jump off our front porches!

He was in need of several joint replacement surgeries, and other medical procedures, but he refused to have them done. I've read in many articles that hips, knees, feet, and numerous spine issues, topped the list. Heck-if that's the top of the list, I'd hate to read the others.

He does have some pretty raunchy lyrics, but if you read thru many of his songs, God and religion are a constant theme throughout many songs.

Due to his conservative beliefs, he became a Jehovah’s Witness. Receiving blood transfusions is highly discouraged, which is why he turned to pain meds.

He must have been living in a fog of pain.

While I've read many many articles that focus on the OD, I've also read quite a few that discuss how carefully prescribed and monitored use can improve quality of life. He was forced into a corner where his life and love of performing was literally killing him. If he had had the needed surgeries, and I totally understand why it was not a personal option, low dose meds would have allowed him to possibly continue his career.

Fentanyl is crazy strong. I'm on a low dose now, 25mcg, but I've been on higher in the past. After major surgeries such as jaw/tmj replacements, or severe illnesses like fungal sepsis, I'm bumped up to 100mcg. This was not a dose I was comfortable with, and since my tolerance compares to that of an obese water buffalo, I encouraged lowering the dose. I have multiple surgeries yearly, and I need to be on the lowest livable dose so I can get relief in the future.

It is a very strong med, but if prescribed and monitored carefully, it can make a world of difference.

Thank you'll so much for your input ..

Rocky, your observations re: Prince's health & choices he made SHOULD be part of every article instead of focusing on 'a drug'. Previously I had read only 1 article that mentioned his joint problems, now I will search w/info you provided to include info in replies to well intentioned friends

few in my circle know this drug is part of my pain treatment, ALL who do have been sending me links to articles about how BAD it is, especially since the announcement re:Prince. Yahoo- the last sentence was "long term Fentanyl use leads to death." THAT flipped out my BFF (again! this morning.

Denial, mental issues, increased pain, priorities, other illnesses or injuries can impact judgement. Aidng people to make best choices would be better than vilifying medicine that could help them.

oh, when it becomes something a celebrity has taken...............the media is a circus of contempt around the world, and the idiots who are sucked into the hype of buying junk magazines that are full of pics taken by paparazzi. so many blinded individuals who believe in their idiot boxes and magazines.

Sadly, the tabloids are making a mockery of the situation surrounding Prince's unfortunate death.

The exact circumstances that culminated in Prince's death will not be known to the general public. Although Prince was a public entertainment figure, he deserves the courtesy of privacy in death.

It is known that Prince was seriously ill at the time of his death. It was likely a culmination of many systemic factors that caused his body to shut down.

It has been speculated that he was paying an outlandish amount of money each month for scheduled medications - not through a pharmacy.

What can you believe in tabloid publications? Not much.

Like many individuals with intractable pain, I use the Fentanyl patch. Having suffered an extensive intestinal perforation (basically, the length of my large intestine unzipped), my digestive tract has been forever altered. Subcutaneous and transdermal medications, as is the Fentanyl patch, are my best options.

In living with chronic illness, I keep discussion of the particulars of my medical care limited to immediate family only. I want my privacy respected. My loss of health is not for gossip and wider conversation.

The sensationalism in the current press writings regarding Prince will quiet down in time, leaving him in peace - as it should be.

I did not listen to the music of Prince but respect that as an musician and artist he was followed and adored by many.

Remember Prince for his many musical talents and contributions and not for the manner in which he died.
- Karen -

Post Edited ((Seashell)) : 6/4/2016 7:50:49 AM (GMT-6)

Richard, i have read the same thing " 50x heroin ". Illogical statement. Never have used H, so not sure exactly how comparisons are being made.

Karen, agree. Media headlines are to 'sell'. NOT to convey truth. prince's personal business should have been protected & kept private after his death. IMHO

Lynwood, I have not been on fibro forum recently but I will look.

My health care / treatment is between my doctor(s) & myself. Period.

So very grateful for info & advice, a lot was found here:
nothing compares to the real life experience, IMHO. Prior to my accident I was clueless what living w/chronic pain every day entails.

And how some believe it should be treated.. (One relative's religious beliefs teaches that I should grit my teeth & endure because 'it is meant to be'. So I no longer discuss anything medical w/that family) Did not know that until after I had shared my info
(both meds & dx) w/the few family/friends who I thought should know in case of a medical emergency.

There are credible links about meds online.. I sent those to people when I started each new pain med &/or treatment. Course there are some that aren't reliable too.

One relative decided from beginning she would Dismiss all my Health problems because fibro is part of my dx & fibro 'is a mental illness', despite MRI, X-ray, etc showing injuries. Convenient, huh? I Spent time & energy trying to educate her for while but realized it was only causing me stress so stopped. Made her mad when I asked her when & where she got her medical degree.

My Dr & I tried many meds, took years before ever trying the Fentanyl patch. Think most dr start us on the lowest/lightest meds/dosages, & require us to stay on it at least a month or 2, to see how it works, correct?

Most meds did not lower my pain significantly, some not at all.
Some caused adverse reactions.
Also had surgeries, injections, & physical therapy.

Current meds are a combination of several meds, therapy, which took time to get right. Did not look at records but estimate 7 years of trial & error before I used first patch. Which Made a wonderful difference overnight.

DianeB:
It is a sad reality that with the vast expansive of medical imagery techniques, more and more any condition/dysfunction that is not visible as a structural problem on a CT scan, MRI, ultrasound or other is dismissed.

The human body is more than its structural/anatomical components. The functioning of the body - the physiological processes, how the body's organs and systems work - are at the root of many conditions.

Fibromyalgia is real. It is a syndrome, a collection of symptoms and ill effects. It involves a hypersensitivity of the sensory nervous system, sensory inputs are experienced at a higher volume than the expected/norm.

I do not have fibromyalgia myself, but I have little doubt but that in the years forthcoming the "realism" of fibromyalgia will become known to medical researchers and the condition validated.

For all that medical science knows, there is a significant amount that it does not know.

For all of your friends and family members who may discount you, you may want to remind them that there is a vast prairie of the functioning of the body that is not yet known or identified by science.

Lack of a finding on a CT scan or MRI or other imaging does not preclude that a serious condition exists. It only means that an anatomical or structural problem cannot be identified.

A CT scan or MRI scan does not identify functional/physiological maladies of the body. For example, I have complete pituitary failure and resultant widespread endocrine dysfunction. Endocrine disorders are an example of functional/physiological disorders. Endocrine disorders are not seen on a CT scan nor an MRI. The role of hormones, the body's chemical messengers, are pivotal in relaying information to keep the body's organs and systems functioning.

Sadly, many MDs now value CT scans and MRI scans as the holy grail. It can leave those with functional disorders (like endocrine disorders and the syndrome which is fibromyalgia) lacking in receiving compassionate and appropriate care.

Hold your head high. Continue to believe in yourself. As we all must do, those of us with chronic illness that may not be visible on the outside to others.
- karen -

Post Edited ((Seashell)) : 6/5/2016 7:32:53 AM (GMT-6)

Diane and Susie, I want to thank you for coming to the fibro forum and backing me up. That meant a lot to me! Your input is invaluable because I don't take opioids and you could go into details for the members. I do want to make it clear that I will take opioids if it ever becomes necessary. I'm not against pain medications at all. I've taken Tramadol and also Vicodin but they didn't touch my pain so I stopped them. I've had periods where I wish I could take morphine. I've had that in the hospital many times and, boy, does that ever shut down the pain.

Diane, my heart breaks when I hear all you have gone through. I was fortunate to have a doctor that knew about fibro when it hit me. He ruled out other things first and diagnosed me with fibrositis, since back then they thought the pain was caused by inflammation. They have since found out otherwise and renamed the illness fibromyalgia.

When it comes to your relative who is ignorant when it comes to fibro, I would highly suggest you not discuss health issues with them...even their health issues. Just nicely let them know health discussions are off limits now and change the subject. If they persist, get up and go talk with someone else. This person has had power over you for years and has caused you much stress and that causes more physical and emotional pain! Don't go there! YOU take the authority away from them. You don't have to put up with such nonsense so don't do it. They might get bent out of shape for a while but they will get the message and, I guarantee you, you would feel better because you now would have control.

Many years ago women were told fibro was all in their heads, it was called a wastebasket illness, and some patients were sent to a psychiatrist! Unbelievable! But we have come a long way. Just so you know...fibro is recognized by the American Medical Association, the American College of Rheumatology, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization...just to name a few. Great teaching hospitals like the Mayo Clinic, John's Hopkins, and the Cleveland Clinic know all about this miserable illness too. So hold your head up high! You are smart enough to know what you are dealing with and smart enough to find good doctors to help you. That's what is most important. I personally never discuss my health problems with anyone except my doctors and these forums. I feel better by focusing on other things in my life. If you need to talk, head on over to the fibro forum. We DO understand.

I hope this helps you.

Sherrine

Don't know what happened to my post. If you need to take a "controlled" substance you should be able to with the guidance of a doctor. Hopefully, they will start you off with a low dosage.

Prince and the L.A. Times hysteria...if it bleeds it leads and sex sells the mantra of the popular media.

Libraries are free and have medical books, talk to a pharmacist.

TOO MUCH HYPE and NO SUBSTANCE

Thanks for not deleting my post.

It is important to remember that the public will never have the whole picture of what exactly caused his death. It may appear that nothing is held back from the public, but that is not reality. The headlines are designed and written to capture the attention of readers/viewers. It doesn't matter if it is a story in your hometown media about a local everyday Joe or if it is in the national news about someone famous. The complete and total truth is never told. Parts of it are told. But, the parts that are left out almost always change what was told.

The fact is that this man is dead and that according to reports, he died from a drug overdose. What is not part of the stories that I have read is a complete and accurate list of all of the prescription drugs he was taking and the blood levels that were in his system. Was he taking other opiates and/or drugs like Soma, Valium, ect ? Health problems he had before the overdose that may have had an impact on his death.

It really irritates me when famous people are compared to everyday people. The reports that I have heard said that Prince was prescribed Fentanyl because he had the flu ? What dr in their right mind prescribes fentanyl for someone with the flu, let alone a patient that they have never seen and have not read their medical records ? Even if Prince didn't have the flu, what ddr prescribes fentanyl for a patient they have never treateda before ? I have read several things recently regarding the prescribing of Fentanyl and Methadone due to the high number of deaths of pateints taking these meds. Both drugs are to be used after all other drugs have failed. They are never to be prescribed as a PRN drug or as a first pain med.

To clarify-the articles I read were Not about prescribing Fentanyl and Methadone together.

If he did indeed have flu, that indicates he might have a fever - raised body temp is a huge no-no while wearing the Fentanyl patch!

I too feel compassion for anyone in the 'spotlight'.. Few of us would want our flaws not only exposed but magnified & embellished.