Um, Withdrawals. . .Right?

So I've been on the 12ucg fentanyl patch and 5/325 percs for 9+ months and just percs another 3. I've lost my job/insurance now and will need to pay cash, at least for the rest of the year. In preparation for that, I have been trying to stretch my patches to 3 days with as few percs as possible. I have been having even more trouble sleeping than normal and last night, the second I shut my eyes I was having really violent twitches and crazy "dreams, " and I do not dream. These dreams were the closest thing to a waking hell that I can Iimagine. When awake my skin was crawling with bugs, my heart racing, breathing shallow. . .a tiny fuzzy finger even poked me in the ear! I've been hearing voices lately as well, although they sing unintelligibly.

Yeah, so finally this morning at around 4 it had me about one poke in the ear from crying "mommy" and spooning my wife whilst shivering. It occurred to me that this had to be opiate withdrawal. I vaguely remember similar craziness when I came off of morphine from the wreck that caused all this 14 years ago. I took a percocet and things seemed to be better around an hour later. This sound like opiate withdrawal to anyone?

Thank you for reading.

Yes sir :( I'm sorry, that's awful.

You should keep some stuff in the house like kaopectate (sp?) and there are some other vitamins I think that are supposed to help. Benzos help too (like xanax or klonopin) with those symptoms. That's awful, I've been there.

Thank you for sanity confirmation. It is a real eye-opener for what I have in store should I choose food/shelter over medicine. I definitely can't have that going on. Even knowing it's withdrawals won't help much...and I didn't even mention the POUNDING 24 hour long headaches that make you want to start tasting your guns. Stupid me took way too long to realize what all this was.

As always glad to have you guys as company, but hate that so many others can relate. Here's a thought, they could put us all in a leper colony type arrangement in Hiawii. That way we could all be miserable together, you guys in?

Post Edited (therabidweasel) : 11/5/2014 5:48:14 AM (GMT-7)

This summer I decided to stop my oxycontin and over a few weeks dropped from 50-60mg of oxycodone per day down to 10-20. It took a few weeks of hot/cold spells, diarrhea, sleepless nights, etc., but did it. I've since switched to hydrocodone, as it doesn't make me cloudy.

During that time, I read about clonidine, which many claim to really help WD symptoms -- though didn't get any (thought it unsafe since I already take something similar for my heart). But, that is something you might want to consider. On my worst nights, I probably could have used it.

Also, baths or showers and exercise! I was running on spot daily (and since have bought a cheap treadmill).... oh, sex (or um... you know).... boost your natural endorphins.


Lastly, for years I've held off watching "The Wire" - a show so many people told me I would love. I've held off, waiting for some time in my life that I really really needed a distraction and so finally indulged. You might think about something of the sort, some treat for yourself -- binge watch something on netflix, etc..

I would fit more easily into The Walking Dead...I've not yet decided if I'd be a "walker" or a "biter" or a "rotter".  I'm sure my moods would swing in all directions, depending on the time of day.  Sick, right?

I would relocate to the "colony".  I would vote YES to grow our own "medicine".  I have honestly never smoked a dooby or even a cigarette.  I wouldn't want to "smoke" MM, but I would at this point...without a doubt...try it for pain relief.

    On the "up" side, the Chronic Pain Colony would have a pilgrim(esque) Thanksgiving...no worries of my husband and I being alone for the holidays.

Cogito...Can I ask you if you stopped your Oxycodone altogether?  If so, why?  Were you treating acute or chronic pain?  Did you go with Hydrocodone completely?  I have my next PM appointment next week. I'm still between a rock and a boulder with no prescription coverage to afford ER, whether OxyContin or Fentanyl.  I won't lie...I am AFRAID to go to the "big guns", become dependent, yet NOT be able to obtain them.  For now, I don't think I have any choice but to stay with the Oxycodone 15 mg 4xday.  My PM refused to write for 120 per month...switched to 30 mg (60 per month) and told me to break pills in half.  I don't like the way this makes me feel...biter, walker, rotter?

Sorry y'all...I'm feeling very macabre...hopeless.

 

Hugs~~Dixie