How do I wash Butrans off?

I just started the 10 Butrans patch I'm on day 4. How do I wash it off? I've asked my dr, my crisis nurse, my pharmacist and went on so many sites and forums I'm getting frustrated.
I had emergency back surgery feb 2016 and it didn't "fix" my pain. I've had chronic back pain for 17 yrs so I'm ok with the patch but it just says do not wash it off, use only water.
A woman needs a proper shower! Lol I've been washing around it etc but I'd like to get this itchy stuff off please! Thank you (oh I'm new to the site)

Hi Susie, Thank you for replying. I am sorry your not feeling well. I can completely understand, I've been ill for years this year being the worst. What ive been able to find out about this butrans patch is it is very tricky to use properly. I ended up ripping the thing off tonight for a couple reasons. 1 I put it on my upper chest. This was a bad idea because I have Chihuahuas that like to lay on my chest. The patch is heat sensitive, it can cause od and just a really crappy well being when it gets over heated and its summer. 2 it shifted on my chest because well im a woman and I have a chest that moves. The instructions show a man and the 8 places that are suggested strongly. 3 it got a air bubble and wrinkled up like crazy when I laid down which made it not work at all.
They give a warning to clean the area with only water. Its soluble in just about anything which makes washing it off very interesting in a bad way. When I attempted to wash it off with water ofcourse it didnt come off and the medication stays on the skin. Luckily ive been on opiates for 16yrs and the 10 patch isnt as high as I was on previously ( 6 10 Percocet s a day) a bunch of valium and 4 10 norcos a day. Even with that said I got extremely high from just the water but not a good high. Its been about 5 hours now since then and im still here so im ok. I wore it for 4 days but because of the shifting, lifting, sweating from 107 degree weather ( we have ac but just going outside for a few mins was enough) it had dried out and had weird black spots on the outer bandage. I had not taken a shower but more of sponge baths and washed my hair in the sink. This patch is not convenient atleast not in the summer and not without the special water proof cover you can get for it.
So now I have to call my dr in a few hours and let her know I had to take it off. Im going to try again but on my arm since I have no other pain meds but the allowance of 4 norco a day.
Im finally going to be able to see the nerve specialist my surgeon requested in march. My back surgery was a nightmare and its continued ever since.. I had 7 herniated discs and a fractured hip and the giant nerve pinched not the siactia. The worst part is the lower part of my back has started deep poping like my T9-12 did. They have already removed and replaced two and fused 4 with a couple or bars in there. Which to me has caused more discomfort. I believe ill end up paralyzed. My feet never completely came back from numbness and my tail bone is on fire non stop with the addition of my entire right leg being in a cramping burning pain.
Thank you for responding and listening to my short but long story.

Best regards

Susie, yes that's exactly what I need apparently. It was a huge surgery they called it a level 8 out of 10. I was in the hospital for nearly 2 1/2 weeks. I've been in the worst pain in my life for nearly 7 constant months . at first I cried and screamed, begged it to stop. The norco is a joke more just to keep withdrawals away. I've gotten used to the pain and I'm stubborn as a mule, it's in my bloodline.

I put a new one on my left outer arm and so far it's behaving. My surgeon said if he did more surgery I could be paralyzed with or without pain.. I'm thinking I'll keep my walking and the pain.

Is there anything else besides fentanyl and Butrans patches for pain? My dr excepts I'll probably never be out of pain but she doesn't want me to be stuck on pills. She's worried the da is going to cut off the pain pills and I'll be in a world of pain. We have the D.A. Breathing down Drs necks atm. Tho I don't see how they could say I didn't need pain medication but I'm not putting it past them. My surgeons nurse cut me off perceot on a Friday with no warning with a giggle. My crisis nurse, dr and other nurse had to jump hoops to get me some norco, and other detox crap for the weekend. My crisis nurse works for my insurance she was displeased to say the least.
But in the end I have a ton of support but I'm still in pain just really gave up complaining unless asked.
Lovespink

LP, yes there is something that can possibly help you that is not a patch or a pill. Its called an intrathecal pain pump. This has been my source of pain mgt since 2005 for low back pain. We ran out of medications that helped & this was the last resort. I did a trial in the hospital & it was a considered a success because it relieved 50% of the pain. My pump is implanted in my stomach on the side, the catheter runs from the pump around to the spinal column. Considering all of the surgeries you have already had done I think you should at least be given the opportunity to do a trial. The medication bypasses your liver goes to the pain receptors.

Now if you have multiple areas giving you problems for instance having neck & back pain, the pump will only cover one area. So far no one has developed a pump that will cover multiple areas. The patient has to decide which gives the most pain of the two.

Please go to Medtronics.com & Tamethepain.com & read up on the pain pumps. If it is something you are interested in I would print the information off from both sites & take it to my PM dr & discuss it with him or her. If your PM dr says I do not handle pain pump patients, ask to be referred to a PM dr that does pumps. You deserve better care than what you are getting. You are going to be a long term patient requiring narcotics. As for the Butrans & Norco, you are right it does not address your pain it simply keep the withdrawals at bay.

The Medtronics pumps have a device which you will read about called a PTM. This is programmed by the dr to give yourself what is called a bolus, which is like getting a mild shot of pain meds for pain spikes or BT pain. The dr determines how many you can have per 24 hours. This little device eliminates oral meds for BT pain.

Not everyone is a candidate for pain pumps but considering your condition you deserve the chance to do a trial for one. You will not be pain free but can be at a level where the pain is more tolerable & restore some quality life which you deserve. Please understand I do not want to come across sounding like I am advocating pain pumps & if I have offended you by speaking about them, I do apologize as that is not my intent.

You are absolutely correct about the DEA & CDC being in control. Their war on drugs was not aimed at the street drugs, it was aimed at the drs because in their opinion they were over prescribing narcotics to patients. I agree the pill mills needed to be shut down but not every person that is on pain medication is a junkie. But, that is exactly what they are saying. As a result of their misinformation the legitimate patients are paying the price by not having proper care. The stats they give are so incorrect & convoluted. What they have managed to do is scare the drs & now they are afraid to rx pain meds. They don't want an audit of their records or to lose their license & I do understand that.

A couple of months ago I read an article where they are recommending & urging that all surgeons give their postop patients minimal pain meds for a very short term. I would give anything for the whole bunch to have to undergo a spine surgery & be sent home with Tylenol. Let them know what that pain feels like. Because of these guidelines we have lost a lot of PM drs because they say we did not go to medical school to practice medicine this way & be under the gun. I honestly do not blame the drs, its out of their hands. I think eventually PM will become a thing of the past & only people with certain conditions like cancer as an example will have access to medication & that will be limited.

If you have any questions about pumps feel free to ask & I will do my best to answer your questions. Take care.

Sorry, I'm not doing so great. The patch is not working very well. My dr wants me to keep it going for 2 weeks total so she can write I did try it correctly. I feel like poop. When I see my surgeon next month after yet another Mri and nerve conduction test and possibly a nerve block ( I am NOT) looking forward to that but I have to to get to the pump stage unless my surgeon says more surgery. I'm guessing I'll be put back on the percs. They did work and I didn't crave them. I'm fighting the norco crave cuz this patch just makes me feel yucky. I'll let you guys know if anything changes. I think the Butrans patch is not for narcotic experienced people or the very least not for people with a lot of pain. Cuz I am in a boat load ☹️ I'm sorry tidalmouse that's just crappy 😔 We are just names on a list to the dea.

Well, I'm back. I saw my dr the 3rd and she took me off the patch right then. After the 3rd week wearing it I had developed a nonstop hissing in my ears that still hasn't stopped going on day 3 without the patch, my heart started banging in my chest that Wednesday with heart flutters to the point I thought it wasn't going to start beating. She did a ekg and it came back not normal which has never happened even with my high blood pressure issues.
I do have hypothyroidism and a goider that has grown a lot the last yr. hersimonos I cant spell it sorry. So she wasn't sure which was doing it.
She put me on 15mg morphine 2 times a day and up to 6 10/325 norco a day. I must say I feel like I'm having withdrawals? But I can't tell as for I felt like poop before. My jaw keeps chattering, I jerk awake (I did this on the patch) feeling like I can't breathe and I'm panicking once and a while.
I was hoping and I believe she was too I wouldn't withdrawal. I have to have blood drawn Tuesday, a sonogram of my thyroid and a heart test at the hospital when they call.
Sigh! All this plus a nerve conduction test on the 21st and a nerve block the 26th. My husband is having hernia surgery tomorrow. Thank goodness for my best friend coming to stay with us for a week or I don't think I'd make it.
I'm so disappointed my dr and I wanted this to work so I could take less pills, now I'm taking more than before and could have even more problems. My memory is shot so I'm sorry if I repeat myself I've noticed I've been doing that talking to family and I can't remember if or when I take my meds or even eat so now I have alarms for everything. What a mess indeed.

Hey Lovespink.It's good to hear that your Doctor has prescribed you something that can control your pain.

I agree with straydog that you shouldn't be experiencing withdrawal.You're taking more than before.

I'm not sure what could be causing the weird feeling you're experiencing.

Do you take anything for anxiety.A Xanax would probably calm you right down.

In the meantime maybe some relaxation exercises.Try slowing your breathing down.

If palpitations persist let your Doctor know.They can call in anxiety medicine.

Take care.

Rick

I figured out my issue I had forgot my gabipentin, I only took it 1 time instead of the 4. That's why my hubby had to set alarms on my phone for me.
Stray dog, Yes my dr said the pain management is getting close to the end because of them. It's so unfair because we who have real pain will suffer. How on earth will we make it?
Even if I have more surgery that doesn't mean it will all poof away. My surgery took 8 hours and he only fixed the T10-12. Which was total replacement, bars all that crazy stuff. He left L4-5 herniated because it's pinching off that other nerve beside the sciatica.
I was given Valium after the surgery but instead of calming me it gave me terrible panic attacks.
As I write this my hearts just pounding but I'm "calm" . The Butrans did something to my heart I believe.
I should get a call this week for the thyroid scan and heart test. I feel utterly like crap but I have to be there for my husband tomorrow I refuse not to. I'll let you guys know what happens.
Thank you all for the support it really helps to know I'm not alone in this pain limbo.

Loves you mentioned living in Oklahoma & PM is tough there too. Its that way across the country. Ever since the DEA & the others stepped it has changed treating chronic pain completely. Granted they wanted to shut down the pill mills but that was not the target at all. It is in the news daily about people being addicted to pain medications & overdoses. One of the first things they did was come up with a set of guidelines that they recommended drs go by when treating pain. They knew the effect that would have with drs. All of these stats they put out about overdosing are bogus when it comes to true chronic pain patients. In these figures are the nuts that abuse medication whether they actually need or or are after a buzz. All it takes is it being a person that has a narcotic in their system.

Hope your hubby's surgery went well. Take care.

Hey Lovespink.Good to see you Posting,because usually that means you felt OK,at least when you typed.Or that you couldn't sleep. lol..

That's kind of the way I am.

You have a lot going on.

Take care and God Speed.

Rick

Post Edited (tidalmouse) : 9/18/2016 10:24:42 AM (GMT-6)

Hi,
Well I'm still alive. I've finally got a appointment with my surgeon the 24th. I'm not looking forward to it. My back has gotten worse since my last MRI. I did something to my left hip. It seems that laying down is when something happens. Now it hurts like the right.

The nerve block didn't help at all. I'm just now back to my normal pain level on that side. It hurt so much after the sedation wore off. I'm glad I opted for the conscious sedation or I would have kicked the dr. That surgeons office called yesterday and wants me to call. No hint of why. I don't "like" him every time I've gone I hurt bad after.

My primary dr is very worried about me, I see her the 20th. She's putting me on thyroid meds and then referring me to a endo. She's going to tell me all my test results then also.

I feel like crap. I'm fighting depression bad. My heart is no critical so says the echocardiogram tech but it's making me stressed out. I'm to the point I have to not try to talk because of the pain in my throat. The constant popping in my back every time I move is making me not happy. I can't even breathe at times without is popping. It's all in my L's. I've basically stopped eating again, I just can't nor want to. Luckily I started this nightmare overweight.

I'm tired. It is now 9 months almost of nonstop pain. I cant believe after all this my surgery failed. I don't want to do this again. I just don't want to hurt. 😔

I hope you guys are doing well.