percocet to morphine transition

Hi everyone,

I posted a few weeks ago that my pm doc would switch me to extended release morphine, not to oxycontin. I've been on 10 mg percocets/4X day for a few years (and sometimes 5 a day--he was giving me 10 extras a month).

But he freaked when I asked about the possibility of switching to oxy----I explained that it's longer acting, that's what I need, but he said morphine, NOT oxy.

I got the extended morphine the other day---30 mg 2xday. They don't quite do the trick, nor do they last 12 hours---they don't last 6 hours.....

Since I just started them, should I give it more time? My next monthly appointment isn't until March 25th.  I asked him SEVERAL times the other day---will this dosage be strong enough??? of course he said yes...well, it's not.

One positive about the morphine is that I don't crash like I did from the perocets, I have more energy it seems.

should I call him before the 25th? I'm so tired of this pain---I have severe nerve damage in right hand (I'm right handed) and it's just getting so old.....

Thanks so much for any input.....

Yankeegirl

Hi Yankeegirl, the only thing I can add is most of the time when we start on a new medication we need to just give it some time before throwing the hat in and saying its not working. Our drs really don't like to give us these meds to begin with and when they don't think we are giving them a real chance to see if they work it just gets more difficult with that dr along the way. My drs always made me wait two weeks on a new medication unless I had some sort of reaction o the medication. Sorry, I know that may not be what you wanted to hear but try giving it some time. Hugs Susie

I know sweetie--I'm sick of the pain too. I see on here, people taking many meds. I'm not saying I want them, and I'm sure they don't want them but I also would like to know of something that worked that wasn't terrible. Like I said the percocets made me so sick, coming down. The ultram doesn't make you sick but it's terrible to get off. There really isn't a giant choice in my eyes. I tried Lyrica, I felt like I was walking on my side the next morning. You would think morphine would kill the pain. It is frustrating. I truely hope you get somehwere with this doctor. I hope he's reasonable and listens. The people that have intelligent doctors are very lucky. I haven't met any that are very intelligent. I thought that they had to keep studying to know whats new. I read things on here and have my own experiences, where I just shake my head and many people give the doctors too much credit. My husband has been having trouble breathing. Our doctor said it was lethargy. Is is me, or is that an absurdly assinine answer? I don't know any more. I do wish you well. Let us know what happens. God bless.  

Yankeegirl,

I most definitely hear you about your pain and I am so sorry about your doctor being so stubborn. I had a time where the percocet just stopped working too and my doctor tried Oxycontin and then morphine but with breakthrough percocet which I had to take because you are right, the morphine doesn't hold you the whole time.

Any way after a couple of months, I decided I was taking pills every four hours anyway and I hated the idea of taking morphine anyway so I tried taking just the percocet again and this time it worked for me. Don't know why that happened but the percocet now works again and it's been more than a year.

I did email you my dr's name. Please consider seeing her. Dr. Clunn will do her best to help you. She is a wonderful and caring person and she listens to you. She has an ARNP named Jerry who is just as nice.

Good luck

Gentle Hugs,

Lindaloo

I go to a real pain specialist--he's with an orthopaedic group, so yes, I have a problem with him. He is so against oxycontin. Perhaps I made a mistake by asking for it, but the only reason I did was because I know it's supposed to be longer acting than the percocets.

Perhaps I need to give the morphine more time--but in addition to it not lasting long enough, nor is it not knocking out the pain to begin with, I'm incredibly itchy and get really bad headaches when I take it.---Are these side effects something that will dissipate over time?

I'm just miserable now.

I did call the pain specialist that Lindaloo goes to, but I have to get one of my doctor's to fax a referral, then they screen the potential patient and decide whether or not they'll see you.

 

Dear Straydog, I said the eact same thing..lethargy??? Doesn't that sound like the most assinine answer you ever heard? He is my doctor too and I have been thinking of changing myself. He never somes up with any ideas himself, can't diagnose, so basically he gives us pills that others might not. I found out my old doctor came back. He had his faults but would come up with ideas and this thread was about oxyxontin--and he wanted to put me on it, but my insurance wouldn't pay for it. But when my husband came home with that answer, I freaked out. I'm thinking--where did you get your diploma, from a cracker jack box??  I thought doctors had to continue their studies, it seems like he knows nothing and we are the doctors telling him what to do and he goes along with it. Just absurd. I didn't mean to hijack this thread but wanted to respond to you and someone was saying how doctors can be stubborn--I think it's an ego/control issue. How about looking out for your patient and what would help them? I hope we all get what we need. It's bad enough to have chronic pain but to recieve no help from your doctor, get ridiculous answers or fight egos, is getting us nowhere. While I'm at it, anyone from the Tuscon region?

I wish all of you the best, I pray for board members, it is all heartbreaking and when someone else gets abused, we all do, that's how I feel. I would like them to spend some money on making pain medications that aren't addictive and treat just where you are hurting and make these so called doctors take classes and retested to remain doctors. I have not barely met any intelligent ones since I moved here.

Straydog, that's for confirming my feelings. I think I would have freaked on this guy if he gave me the answer he gave my husband.

And Yankee girl, hang in there and don't give up. I hope you get what you need soon.

Blessings to all.

Oh Yankeegirl, you sent a red flag right up to that dr asking for Oxycotin. We have talked alot on this subject and know what happens when this happens. Because of the widespread abuse its getting harder and harder to find a dr willing to prescribe it. Most drs look at us as pill seekers when we ask for a medication by name, sorry kid that you did that. Maybe the part of the country White Beard lives in they are more liberal in prescribing it but it really getting tougher and tougher to get it.

Do you have your printout from the pharmacy about the Morphine? If so read it and look at potential side effects to see if this is listed. Or you can go to Drugs.com and look it up. They give info on medication there.

Lets hope you can get a referral to Lindaloo's dr ASAP. Susie

For better or worse, I think this is going to become more and more standard. Lots of us have to sign pain contracts, but the regular UA's vary. I just wish we didn't have to be treated like we were on the path to becoming criminals.

PaLady

srtaydog I was not offended, and I do understand how you feel about pain Doctors, and how they treat patients, and yes allot of them, including mine, do make you feel like criminals, and I do most certainly resent it. Yes I to had to sign a contract, and afterward I learned that they ran every drug screening test there was available on me and every other patient that starts pain treatment at that clinic. Over the years, my Doctor has even told me that he does not worry about me abusing the meds. Heck allot of the time he will ask me if I need the Percocet for break throough and I tell him No, I have enough on hand. I am fortunate to have such a good Doctor, but it is humiliating to have take your little brown bag with your container and go in to the bathroom, and then come walking out with your little brown bag and walk through the waiting area to the back office for the interragation portion every time you need a refill which is monthly!. I do resent that! even though I understand it! It isn't right!

My first Doctor that originally put me on the Oxycontin, was an internal medicine/Oncologist I knew him well because I had previously worked with him when I was a nurse on the Onco unit. With him there was no such hoops to jump through, and he did not send his patient to the pain clinic, he was an Oncologist, he knew about pain and how to control and treat it! Unfortunately when he was put in charge of the Cancer Center, he had to drop all of his non cancer patients, and I had to find a new Doctor, PCP. and that Doctor, sent all her patients to the Pain Clinic as do so many of them now days.

So many days, I wish that my life was different, not having to go to the pain clinic and be treated like a criminal, I wish I didn't have so many meds to take, and knowing if I don't take them, I will pay the price and then some later on! And above all, on seemingly all to many nights, I wish I didn't wake up from the pain, or those wretching, clenching muscle spasms. But wishing does not make it so! I like you have a very healthy respect for medications, I honestly don't understand people that treat their meds so casually, medications can be dangerous, like a double edge sword, they can help you, if used correctly, but they can just as easily kill you if used incorrectly!

Thank- You for your post and encouragement straydog I really do appreciate it, I am trying to get out more and meet new people and make new friends, but it is difficult, Thanks Again....White Beard

Thank-You PALady
But there are so many who have it far worse than I could ever dream of having it! I think that is what working on that Onco Unit did for me, it help ground me, and put things into perspective because when ever I get really down. I think about all those people that had cancer, that I cared for, and a few of them I even was there with them during their very last moments of life. I have cried with them and their families, I know well the pain and suffering and hardship and grief, they experienced. When I think about that, I don't have it so bad, not at all! When reading snowflakes post it bought tears to my eyes, I do not have it so bad!
PaLady I do hope your pain eases up and you feel better soon You will also be in my prayers!
Good Luck to You
White Beard

White Beard,

 

I totally agree with everything you said. CP is a disease, its not an addiction, its a darn disease. Why can't people with CP be treated the same if they were going in for the flu or a cold or a checkup. Why they want to make patients feel like criminals is beyond me, I just don't understand it. I would like for a pain dr to explain why there is this attitude towards CP patients. I am well aware of there being alot of bogus people out there, its their job to weed those people out, but don't make everyone else pay the price. Now, my former pain dr when you did your UA you handed it to a nurse, you did not have to put it in a brown bag and carry it back to the waiting room, sorry thats just plain crude & rude on that office's part. I too had a very good relationship with my former pain dr. My BT meds were so weak they did not help so when he asked if I needed a refill I told him no, they didn't help and I wasn't wasting my money on them. He was not educated enough in pain medication either thats real common.

 

You know you are absolutely right, an oncologist would really know about pain mgt. Jeez, I should know, I lost my Mom to lung cancer and she ended up on the Fentanyl patches. Yes, you really saw it all working oncology and bless you for doing that because that is a tough job to work in. I am very fortunate that Mother did not suffer and she passed with her dignity. Oh, I can see what a shock it would be for you to go from your oncologist taking care of you to this pain clinic. WOW, talk about an eye opener. yes I understand your resentment too and I don't blame you a bit. I have been very lucky and never had to go thru what alot of them on here do. My new pain dr does not do Contract or UA's, but then she only treats pump patients. I also feel like if she thought one of her patients were not on the up & up she would boot them right out the door too. I am really sorry you lost your first dr.

 

Oh I too have my days of wishing I was not on medication to get by, didn't have crohns disease that keeps my world turned upside down. But, when I start feeling that way, I try to remember the ones that have it alot harder than me. That works pretty good until the next time. I really feel I am on the right road now tho with my new pain dr. I started a new crohns drug for me in Dec but if you have infection, a cold or an open cut you cannot do the shots. Well, I am on the tail end of bronchitis after 5 weeks and came down with a bug Tuesday. I do my shots every other week so you can see I am way off track and my gut knows it too. Now, I am worried about having to do the loading doses all over again and wondering if my ins will pay for all that medicine again. One box with two pens is $1600 and the first shots you do takes two boxes. Second round takes one box then you go to every other week. This is really worrying me.

 

You keep that chin up, you are a good man, you will meet some nice people...Susie