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Posted 6/20/2009 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
oh hello my sweets. i will probably blow this page apart the next few days, i am going to try and take myself off my oxycontins. i have just had enough with the meds. i know the benefits are great but i fear addiction as it runs in my family and lately i find myself watching for the next dose. i don't want to be like that. i told my hubby to take my pills and no means am i to have them unless i am on deaths door. no matter how i beg. i have been on oxy for 2 1/2 years and i am nervous about the withdraws. i had them once before due to an error on the pharmacists side and went without for a few days and it was awful. i have an idea of what to expect- cold chills, loose bowls, insomnia & vomiting. i have an old script for vicodin and figured maybe i could use them to wean myself off. does anyone have any advice on how to tackle this?  please say a prayer for me tonight that i can do this. thanks everyone.
Posted 6/20/2009 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Kttn,
I don't understand why you want to do this without the help of your doctor. Even if you told your doctor you were concerned about addiction and wanted to discontinue the oxycontin, then he/she could help wean you, and you could both make a plan that maybe includes other meds.

Please, call your doctor and let him/her help you. It could be dangerous going through withdrawals on your own.

Hugs,

PaLady
Posted 6/20/2009 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
well, i know it might sound like a crazy plan but i wondered if i came off them awhile and then started again if the effect would be better? so thats why i am not saying anything to the dr. i will probably change my mind come tomorrow. can withdrawals be life threating?
Posted 6/20/2009 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Kttn, I read your thread and the replies. I agree with PaLady. And over the past several months since I have been here, I have never been given bad advice by anyone. Please let me respond also. I have not taken myself off of meds on my own. I do hope that one day I won't need them anymore,but that remains to me seen. Anyway, I have read alot of posts lately from people who feel similiar to the way you feel. With the reasons being stanted as to why they want to because of fear of addiction. I want you to understand the difference. Someone made a reply recently that they knew of a post that explained the difference between addiction,dependance and sorry I am brain dumping right now. I don't remember all the specifics. I will read back and try to find this for you. If someone else knows' what I am talking about and can find it before me, please by all means do so. On a personal note. I have a mother who has had an addiction to alcohol. I have 2 brothers and a sister who have all at one time or another had serious addictions to drugs. I do know where you are coming from. And b/c of my mothers' addiction (she is ok now, thank goodness), I choose not to drink much only very rarely, and even when and it I do it is only 1 glass of wine. I do not want to be addicted to alcohol. And b/c of my mothers' addiction, I was scared that I would be. Now, althogh my siblings have or have had drug addictions, I will take the meds that are PRESCRIBED by my doctor to help me control or get some sort of control of my PAIN. I see that it is a big difference. You have been given your meds to treat your CP. That is what they are intended to do. Please don't deny yourself the relief that you can get by just not taking them. I feel that we may depend on them at times. And if I used the wrong word, someone please feel free to correct me. It is taken for a medical reason for a medical problem. Please try to understand this. It is simply not the same as being in the same class as a "addict". I do understand. There is almost a stigma attached to some of the meds that we may take. I can see how you feel the way you do. PLEASE call your doctors' office on Mon. morning and make an appt. to go in and talk to him/her face to face and explain just how you feel on this. You really don't need to go through the withdrawls. I have heard they are horrible. It needs to definitly  be done under the supervison and instructions of your doctor. And I have heard, on this I may very well be wrong-again I am open for correction, that yes it can be fatal. You need to think about yourself. I don't know your story or for what condition you are taking these meds. I assume it is for pain ofcourse. Now, please imagine how horrible you would feel if you had nothing. No one should have to suffer the effects of their very real pain. Please don't do this. There has to be a better way somehow and someway. Please contact your doctor before you do this... I wish you the best. If I was overcrossing boundaries or if I offended you, please forgive me. It wasn't my intentions. I just hate to see you go through this .

Anice






I

Posted 6/20/2009 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
kttn, i would still talk to your doctor about it... be honest with ur doc and tell them that too! honestly that is the best way to get off these pills! you really cannot do this yourself, and not even we can help you, b/c we do not know the dose ur on, the dosages u hav tried, how u have reacted to this med, how u react to other meds, and the best way for u to get off these meds b/c only ur doctor knows both u and these meds well enough for u to do this safely!

if nothing else, call him and talk to him or his nurse about this! and if not even that, go to ur pharmacist, and even that is not a good route to take, but at least they will have knowladge of the med. Ur doc also needs to know you are off this med, even if it is only temporary, b/c something lik that can effect your entire treatment of pain and of any other conditions and effect the other pills you are taking! Any yes the withdrawl effects can be extremelty serious and you can really really harm yourself both in the short term and in the long term, you really need to talk to ur doctor, honestly that is the only way to do this! Cold turkey is the absolute worst way to go off any opioid med, it needs to be tapered but again ONLY ur doctor will know how to do that; he will only know how much to take it down and over what period of time because again only he is fit to make that evaluation!

Honestly, it really scares me to hear anybody talk lik this because this is an extremely dangerous thing to try to do on your own! You really do need to talk to your doctor, tell him everything about ur fears and what u want to do, and really there is no harm in that! by not talking to your doctor your going to hurt yourself in so many ways! Thru ur treatment, thru the difference in meds, thru the withdrawl, which will be very very serious if you do not do it properly, and by not talking to ur doctor, he might take that as a betrayl of trust, and that could really, really hurt you not only when he finds out but way down the road, and he could put that in your record!

Im so sorry if this scared you, that was not the intent,but it really scares me to hear anyone talk lik this; it is so unsafe, and you really are going to hurt yourself in so so many ways, and i know that and person in cp has enough, in fact more than enough problems to deal with without adding extra burdens on urself by trying to do this without medical help! Please, please talk with your doctor, and get off this med, in a safe way! i hope your pain is doing well and you have a great weekend!
Katherine
Posted 6/20/2009 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
kttn, I also want to encourage you to wait and get medical advise. Even if you want to stop for a time and then restart, your doctor is the best one to talk to. You said that you told your husband to take your mrds and not give you any unless you are on deaths door. My wife has put up with me and my meds for 11 years and I could noy ask her to watch me suffer and only help me if I was about to die. I have no right no matter how bad I wanted to stop taking my meds to do that to her. How is he supposed to know when you are at deaths door? How would he feel if he with held them and then something happened? You are putting your husband in a very difficult place. At least with the doctors advise, your husband can work with you. I am not trying to be haed on you but I want to stop what could have a dangerous outcome. We can not tell you what it will be like as everyone will go through the withdrawls differently. You are taking a big chance and making your husband part of it. What will it hurt to talk to the dr first. If after that you still want to do it on your own nothing was lost. I will pray for you and your husband.
Posted 6/20/2009 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
thanks for the info, and no you did not offend me. i figured this would be uncomfortable any route i take. thats why i thought i would just tackle it head on. i am having a pump installed as soon as we get the device in and would like to come off the meds. the reason i am getting the pump is to stop taking these medicines. i can't stand it all the time. if i got some sleep out of them i would be ecstatic, but no sleep though everyone says that i should be affected with drowsiness. never a moment of sleep- just when i began lyrica and now i am so used to them they don't affect me anymore.
i really like your saying though, its a good one. yes i have been on all these meds because of pain in both upper and lower back. i get the double whammy. i will reconsider the de-tox program of mine if i began feeling very badly. i don't want it to result in death, that would suck.
my step dad was bad about the alcohol growing up, very abusive and both my parents did drugs. i don't drink either, occassionally a pina colada. i never saw myself in this position- dependant on a pill to get out of bed each day. its great we have medicine for that reason, but also it is depressing depending on something so tiny.
Posted 6/20/2009 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
thanks fatherjohn, i will take your advise. my husband knows my limits to things. but i won't risk something like that on him. i am still going to try but everyone has my word if it gets bad i will take one. i would be happy just cutting the script down. maybe thats the answer. thanks everyone, i promise i will do what is right. i won't risk death, i promise. i will probably back out as soon as the sweats begin. i just hoped with enough prayers God will guide me through this carefully and deliver me from this everyday burden. i will still have a lot of meds to take- and plus the pump will be here soon. thanks again everyone.
Posted 6/20/2009 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
kttn, What a great response. I to have had a difficulty sleeping. I had one of my doctors tell me that with everything I was taking it would knock a horse out. Still no sleep. I have had three nights in a row of sleep and this is the first time in almost 3 years that has happened. That is why I started the string of surgeries as it was a step to try and keep functioning and that depended on sleep. I don't kknow about the pain pump. They have stated that if my SCS does not work that the pump could be the next step. I agree with you it is a terrible way to live but at least we get to live. There are days we wonder but those are not everyday. I know where you are at and it is a tough place. You get tired, fed up, discouraged, depressed  and you begin to question. I am confident that most of us have been there at least once if not many more times. I grew up with a drug addict and alcoholic, me. The fact that I have been on pain meds for 11 years scares me to. I have had seasons that I was not dependent but the last almost three, it has been constant. Overall, life is still good but the pain is not. Thank you so much for reconsidering.

It means alot to all of us.

Posted 6/20/2009 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
kttn.....

I understand where your coming from. Reading your posts remind me how I get at times. So upset and mad that I have to take medication, to rely on a pill to do the basics in life. But I have accepted that I will become dependant. It comes along with the territory, my body is like everyone elses it will crave the meds. But mentally I will never have an addiction. I do clock watch, I started a thread awhile back about Who clock watches? Many of us do. Doesn't mean your starting an addiction only that the pain is kickin your butt. It also shows control if you clock watch, if you were addicted you would just go ahead and take the next dose.

Please keep us updated. And kudos to you for wanting to decrease your meds. I see your list and you are on alot of pain meds. But everyone is right go through your doc first. By the way, are you the poster that had the first doctor that had you on so much pain med? New PM won't treat you until your down to a certain amount?

Laurie
Posted 6/20/2009 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Kttn, I am glad you are reconsidering getting off the meds. I think that is great. I do understand. We all do. I don't think anyone of us enjoys having to take a pill just to be able to function a little better. But the alternative is much worse. Your pain would be unbearable. I don't want you to do that to yourself. I still think you need to call your doctor and go in for an appt. to discuss all of this. Maybe the pump will help. Maybe you won't need as much of all your meds. But please let your doctor guide you in what he/she thinks is best for you. I will keep you in my thoughts. Hang in there. You are going to make it! We will all be here for you every step of the way.
Anice
Posted 6/20/2009 10:56 AM (GMT 0)

Ok you are not modelmaker..lol  she was the one who has issues with her original doctor.  Reading your meds it popped into my mind boy I bet the stress is getting to you so many meds.  I'm so glad you are getting a pain pump.  you will have some freedom from pill popping all day

Laurie

Posted 6/20/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Am I understanding you right? You want to get off of all the pills you are on cold turkey?

If so--I will be honest, that sounds like a terrible idea. Please don't take offense. I read your list. You are on alot of drugs and high doses. Getting off one of these cold turkey will make you sick.

Please re-think this. I have gotten off drugs, only one at a time at a slow taper.

I hate pills myself. I would hate to see you get as sick as you will if you come off of all of these I mean no harm, but this doctor gave you a lot.

I would talk to him. Getting off one at a time by tapering may take longer, but I feel it's safer and acn't imagine how bad you will feel coming off all of these at once. God will help. I would always pray "I could do all thingd through Jesus Christ who strengthens me"--but that was with one pill at a time, not cold turkey.

I know you must feel anxious and just want it out of yor life but I would hate to see the suffering you will go through.

Again, please don't be offended. I care what happens and I don't like the way your plan sounds. I would bet you and your husband don't know what you would be in for.

I wish you the best. But please re-think this.

God bless you and guide you,  

Posted 6/21/2009 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitty,

I can understand, as well, why you feel that it is a good idea/necessity to come off of your meds. So, also to echo everyone, I say, please, please, please don't do this alone. From your posts, it sounds like you are just going to go cold turkey. I certainly hope not, because as you know, that can be very dangerous! I do hope that you consult your doctor about this situation & create a taper plan.
Best of luck to you! I hope that you are able to make an easy, comfortable transition & that the pain doesn't get too bad in the process. It sounds like the pump can't be put in soon enough for you!

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 6/21/2009 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
     Hi Kttn,

 

    I am new here, so if I am intruding, let me know? I dont have any valuable advise to offer im afraid. BUT! I do know that because you take amitryptaline you must be very cautious of what you take with it.  How "old" is this "script" for "volcadin"? That worries me just a tad. Have you ever take the two together? I know there are alot of people on the board that have done the same thing... I think in your case thou, it might be wise to heed the adivse those who care so much for you have posted.  Hope everything turns out okay *huggs*

 

*huggs*

dani

Posted 6/21/2009 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
thank you everyone for your wonderful advice. i realized i can't come off these meds, they keep my back from hurting terribly. i don't know what volcan is. amitryptiline is an old school drug that also helps sleep and pain. i am off of it now and only on the cymbalta. i need to update my meds. thanks again everyone for the great support.
Posted 6/21/2009 6:59 AM (GMT 0)
Vulcans are a humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species to officially make first contact with Humans, and later became one of the founding members of the United Federation of Planets. Vulcans are featured in all five Star Trek series, three of which featured a Vulcan as a main characte

Ha HA HA h, oh my goodness my side hurts! Too funny.

 

   

Posted 6/21/2009 7:03 AM (GMT 0)
     Dear Kttn,

 

     I'm sorry my spelling is the pitts blush   But you no longer take amitriptyline. I hope you are doing okay. Got any photo albums that need to get done? I always procrastinate.. or anything that will keep you off your feet, somewhat relaxed?

 

*huggs*

dani

Posted 6/21/2009 7:36 AM (GMT 0)
Kitten,
Only a trained specialist could determine if it is the case with you, but there is such a thing as pseudoaddiction -- where the patient is clock-watching and stuff b/c the pain is undertreated. I am not trying to dx you, just saying that it is a possibility & might explain your sx. From what I've heard, it is not easy to tell the difference between actual addiction & pseudoaddiction, but a specialist, in conjunction with your PM, should be able to advise you on your personal situation.

I am really glad to hear that you are not trying to do this on your own any more. You PM should be understanding if you want to take a break from the pain meds. He will know how to do it safely. Trust me -- I speak from experience -- trying to do it on your own is a really bad plan. Now my PM & I have agreed that once a year (usually for a week or two, sometimes less) I will take a "drug holiday" where I work my way off the pain meds, stay off them for a period of time & then restart them. It will re-set your tolerance level temporarily, so it is seen by some in the PM community as a way to manage tolerance. But it is definitely something that should be medically supervised.

Please do let your PM know how you are feeling & work with him to decide what is the best route to get you the relief you need, while limiting the possibility of addiction or other undesirable effects of narcs.

blessings,
frances
Posted 6/21/2009 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
hmmm i had never heard that term before. i think i am at my legal limit for pills. i'm not sure. cancer runs strong in my family and i am concerned that if i get it, i will have no route to ease the pain. i know there are a few with stronger doses. my issue is i am allergic to a lot of pain killers. so i only have a few routes to take. thats why we decided to go with the pump, it offers a lot more medication that what i can limit to now. and my dr thinks i may have MS i have yet to see a neurologist. the zanaflex helps a lot, but they are going to put me on baclofen in the pump. i have never had it before so i hope it works as well. i wish i could get the show on the road, so to speak. it was so nice to not have any pain. i had fought against it for years and i don't know why now. i have had a few surgeries, so i don't take it lightly. anything can go wrong. (sleeping) yet, its nice to get some sleep when you are under. i wish they could sell that stuff for people who can't sleep. thanks for the info.
Posted 6/21/2009 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Kitten,
I didn't tolerate Baclofen, but I know a lot of people who are really helped a lot by it -- especially when it is administered through a pain pump, so I will keep my fingers crossed that that will work for you. I definitely can relate to being allergic to everything. The only narc I can tolerate without getting hives or worse is fentanyl & I'm allergic to the patch, so I have to take either buccal or oral transmucosal. I get a lot of crossed eyes looking at me when I tell them what I'm on. It's very frustrating.
For the sleep, I'm wondering what all you've tried. I love Lunesta & it's made a big difference in my sleeping, but it's not for everybody. My mom just got Seroquel. It's off-label for sleeping disorders, but apparently it is very commonly prescribed for people with sleep problems. It's not addicting, which was my mom's concern with other sleeping meds. If you haven't tried it, maybe it's worth asking your doctor about it. I know for myself that sleep is so important & not sleeping makes everything worse, including my pain levels. I thought it was just psychological, but my blood sedimentation rate (measures inflammation) actually is quite a bit higher when I'm not sleeping, so I guess there is sometimes even a physical benefit to sleeping. Either way, I really hope you find something so you can get your pain under control & get some rest.

blessings,
frances
Posted 6/21/2009 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for the info, i have been up over 30 hours at this point. getting that aggitated feeling. and i hate to fall asleep in the day cause i won't sleep at night. i'm not quite that allergic to meds, i can't take sulfa and its usually a common ingredient. basically morphine, dilaudid and oxycodone. i was on ms contin once and it worked great but the sulfa closed my throat up. figures the one thing that worked. i have tried ambien cr, lunesta, valium and restoril. restoril gave me the best results but i became tolerant against it. so aggrevating. i have tried otc from melatonin to sleeping pills (yeah right). don't you wish you could just get meds as strong as you need them to get the proper pain and sleep?... well i look forward to my pump surgery since i will get to go to sleep some, lol.
Posted 6/22/2009 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
I know exactly how you feel with not wanting to take pills anymore. That's why I got on the Suboxone to be tapered off cause I wasnt about to withdrawal off the amount of meds I was on. It's just a thought to talk to a doctor about options of tapering. I hated my life revolving around what time to take a pill, but it seems no matter what, I will always have to take pills for my depression and asthma. So I guess taking another pill for pain wont make a diffrence, but it is one less pill to take. But I feel like the more pain meds I took, the more pain I was in, they have a name for this but I forgot what it's called. But as of right now, since the Suboxone is holding my pain, I'm taking alot more time to taper then I wanted to, but I absoutly plan on getting off of narcotic pain meds so I can reasses my pain, and take it from there. But sometimes talking to an addiction doctor will help you, s/he can help tell you if you do or dont have addiction and they will know if your headed that way and can help you stop. Addiction runs on my dad's side of the faimily. My father isnt addicted, he didnt even get his pain meds filled after his last 3 surgeries, but my grandma is/has (she's at end of life so it doesnt matter anymore, but she did abuse her pills before), my aunt, many of my cousins, one who is running from a big time drug dealer who will kill him if he ever finds him, so it scares me too. But the addiction specialist doctor told me I was at chance, but after 6 years of taking pain meds and never abusing them really put me at a very low chance of ever abusing them. Their's even numbers you can call to talk to an addiction clouncelor who can help you if you ever feel like addiction is becoming part of your life, but that's just a thought. Sorry I cant help you more, most people already gave you good advice, but withdrawaling isnt deadly unless you have an underline condition like your heart, but sometimes those wont come out til your in severe withdrawals, so only a doctor should watch over you for withdrawals, cause if it gets bad, they can put you in a hospital. But good luck with whatever your choice is.

-hellokitty
Posted 6/23/2009 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Kitten, How is it going? Haven't heard from you today. As I was looking through the threads I was drawn to yours and thought I would check in with you. I sure hope you are doing well. You might have mentioned the timing of the pain pump but I am getting old. When do you plan on having it im planted? As I said, hope you are doing well. Blessings! 

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