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Ulcerative Colitis + Opiate withdrawl = Near Death

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/1/2008 5:28 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Ya'll,

Been off Oxycodone for 26 days now, was put on them 3 yrs ago for flu like joint aches that would occur 2 or 3 times a week, but it was one spectacular episode that the caused the Dr. put me on them. Turns out that my body would eventually go into immediate withdrawl after a dose wore off and would cause almost identical joint aches, but now its happening everyday. Took 2 years to realize what was happening. So it was time to get off them. Went to inpatient detox and got Suboxone and was monitored for 10 days, but when I got out all hell broke loose.

If I ever thought I was seriously going to die, this was the month. Started with SEVERE full body joint aches for two weeks, profuse diarreah for a full month and still occuring (started while tapering down). Now absolute exhaustion and frequent nausea. I am on medical leave for the last month and I have no idea when I will be able to consider working again. I am pretty scared. I never dreamed it would be this severe. Went to ER but I checked out ok. Can't understand why I have such a bad response to this. I have a GI specialist, Pain specialist, Naturopath, etc etc.

I feel like I am all alone, no one in detox, my doctors have never seen this bad a case. Anyone ever experience this or hear of someone? 

Thanks,

Posted 6/1/2008 7:09 AM (GMT 0)
Carl,
So sorry to read of your experiences. I haven't had the same experience but I can tell you that I take codeine nearly every night and that I currently cannot stop taking it because my body is dependent on it. I started taking the codeine to get the benefit of the side effect of constipation. (I know, it's not your usual treatment for UC but it worked soooo well.) I accidentally missed a few doses last year and went into withdrawal -- aches, fever, diarrhea -- only I didn't realize that's what it was. (That pretty much sucked.) Before I was in my current flare, if I lowered my dose for a few days, I would sometimes have diarrhea.

Oxycodone also has the side effect of constipation, so perhaps it was keeping your UC in check.

Are you completely off the Oxy and Suboxone now? I wonder if there is a way to taper off Oxy very gradually (like over the course of months) so that you can stop taking it without all these awful withdrawal symptoms. If you are not taking anything, can you go back on it on a very low constant dose throughout the day or is that dangerous?

For the body aches that started all of this -- has anyone checked you out for Lyme Disease or some of the other diseases that cause body aches? (I think that Lupus might be another.) I had killer body aches periodically for about 3 months, got tested for all of that and it came back negative. No one figured out what it was (besides UC) and eventually it went away, which was just really lucky, I guess.

Do your doctors have a plan? I wonder whether prednisone would help. I hate the drug for all the risks it has, but it can be such a miracle worker.
Posted 6/1/2008 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Are you sure you're in acute detox still, could this stuff be related to how your sx's are without the pain meds?
This would be a good question for the chronic pain forum, pretty much everyone there takes pain medication and has experience with them--try posting your question there. What does your pain specialist say?
Posted 6/1/2008 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
When I had horrible body/joint pains, Darvocets didn't work for me. (the first time it didn't touch my pain) My GI gave me 40 mgs of Prednisone and within 2 days I felt better and I tapered off it. Have you had your inflammation levels checked? It sounds like a bad flare-up and that you may need better meds like Remicade or Humira. Just a guess.
Posted 6/2/2008 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Julee ,

I am off the pain meds completely now. We tried a slow taper and that was excrutiating, thats why we went for cold turkey. Great ideas for Lyme Disease and Lupus. Prednisone has not really done much, I am currently on 40 mg a day. Immodium slows it but thats it. My docs believe that it is primarily just letting my body get used to life with out opiates.

Carl
Posted 6/2/2008 3:04 AM (GMT 0)
Lucy,

Great Idea. I will post this in the Pain Forum. I am out of detox. My pain specialist has tried Clonodine (too tired) , Lyrica (did little) and Vistaril (at least helps me sleep).

Carl
Posted 6/2/2008 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Princess,

Its strange, the diarreah is starting right below my rib cage. My Colitis is the last 6 inches of colon. Unfortunately the Prednisone has not done much. Thats why it seems that it is not really a flare up. Because it usually works great. Doc is gonna try Remicade next.

Carl
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