Welcome to the forum GrandpaSmurf! I had L4/L5 spinal fusion and chronic pain to this day. I know you want to get away from opiates and I commend you for that desire. I've tried that but found my...
Hi Quigster and welcome! You mentioned you're not sure what you're comfortable sharing. I want you to know I have found this forum to be a "very" safe and supportive place that values...
Ktk81: I am on 150mg lyrica daily and have no noticeable side effects. When I was on higher doses longer term I noticed short term memory lapses (forgetting names, etc. a frustrating deal). I would...
Sorry about the pain & suffering you're going through. A trip to the E.R. is a trial in itself, the waiting, going over medical history "again" (sigh), and many times, docs that don't know jack about...
Vickie, Thanks for the support, your are appreciated. It's great your quality of life is so much better off the methadone. I identify with practically "all" the side effects you were having on it, I...
White Beard, I was Army Infantry. Stationed in Berlin, Germany during Vietnam Era. My father-in-law was Air Force veteran of 16 yrs. Officiated his funeral about 3 weeks ago. My first military...
White Beard, I have nausea under control now since getting off Percocet and eating a little more (especially healthy food) with meds. Was on Opana er 10mg 2xdaily and Percocet 10mg 5 x daily. Now on...
Tried Benadryl, clonidine, valium, Xanax, Phenergan, other benzo type drugs. They "all" make my symptoms worse, drowsy but increased body spasms, jerks, etc. When dozing off I'm rudely awoken by body...
Thanks Nick :-) I'm not going through V.A. for all this but through worker's comp in the private sector. You mentioned amino acids, not sure what you mean, there is so much in health food store. Not...
Thanks Josh. Thankful for your support and encouragement. -Mike...
Thanks for all the support and prayers my way. Went a lot better than I thought (o me of little faith)! She doubled my Opana Er from 10mg 2x daily to 20mg 2x daily. Also Opana IR 5mg for b/t pain up...
I hear you Merrida and take advice/comments to heart. It will be part of my plan today when making appt. I read story of woman in very famous literature that suffered 12 years, had spent all she had...
Jess: Sorry you're hurtin' right now. I deal with chronic back pain all the time. I don't think there's anyway to really know what's up with your back w/o an MRI. They are expensive but necessary...
Was on methadone for 10 yrs and still suffering through transition to other pain meds. I was told by one pain doc I had that the methadone weight gain can be hard to get rid of even after quitting...
Merrida: Sorry you're up with pain. Some people have said pain is a "friend", I consider it an "enemy" that rips us off of quality of life. I remember when I got PT after back surgery it hurt...
Merrida: It's hard to find people who will take new pain mgmt. patients and there is a process in changing providers I don't want to go through right now until I'm stable on meds and hoping for some...
Nick, All of the above mentioned sleep aids, w/d aids, benzos, Benadryl, Phenergan, etc. Have had adverse effect on me, made jitters worse, etc. Feels like side effects of prednisone in a way. They...
Thanks Josh, compassionate words really appreciated. I have close friend that lives in Sylacauga. Pretty country in the hills between there and Talliga (he pronounced it "Tallidigger" -lol). -Mike...
Frankie, When I had a L4-L5 spinal fusion done I had to get up and start walking as soon as I came out of anesthesia, man that was extremely difficult! The more I walked though, the better I felt....
Nick,Yes, appt. is Tuesday @ 1pm MST. The person I see is what is called a "Board Certified Pain Mgmt. Clinical Nurse Specialist". On the other thread "To Mike" I gave you the amount of methadone I...
UNCchick: Thanks for reply. Don't know diff between pmd and pcp. Only been going to her for 4 mos. My previous doc lost his ability to write narc scripts! Think she is having hard time her error in...
Nick: I was at 50mg daily before respiratory failure (flatlined). After hospital discharged kicked down to 30mg about 4 yrs ago and last year I've gotten down to 20mg but with the onset of insomnia....
Vickie: Thank you so much for your persistent words of encouragement and sharing your experience with me. I hope it will continue to encourage many others as well. You are appreciated. -Mike...
Unc: What to you change from to the opana? My docs been a stickler to work with. Have appt this Tuesday. Mike...
You all are a real blessing to me, I appreciate your compassion so much (I'm tearin' up typing this). I had 5+ hours sleep last night! Eating healthy and often is helping me tremendously. I have an...
Would like to know any success stories going to opana er from methadone and how long before insomnia and spasms started stopping. I'd really appreciate if that fits you. -Mike...
Thanks spinal soldier (Nick?). I'm only on 10mg opana er every 12hrs and she told me "that" was above average higher dose. I wanted to be clear, what b/t med in place of percs would you recommend?...
Thanks for feedback from all of you, I'm really grateful. I was at 50mg methadone up to point of respiratory failure about 4yrs. ago. Upon release from hospital to kicked down to 30 in couple weeks...
I feel for you. It's hard dealing with pain issues, meds, etc. and life can be big enough roller coaster as it is with all the stuff we deal with. I think we've all lost someone, been hurt or...
Thanks for caring note. Do have some lyrica but not taking it. Will give try (50mg). Do have postassium pills now. All other meds you mentioned hype up my system and make w/d jerks worse. Really,...
Thanks Rick for the kind words. Thoughtful to take time to drop a note like that. -Mike...
Was on methadone for 10yrs. Any other long term methadone users that made good transition to opana er and how long did it take? -Mike...
Added new topic: "very disappointed - mike's med change update". The Phenergan is suppository. As I 've shared in other posts, everything that's supposed to help with w/d symptoms has opposite effect...
After transitioning from methadone to Percocet (off methadone for over 30dys), having horrible w/d's as result for weeks, over a month of chronic insomnia (0-2hr sleep every 24-48 hr period),...
Literally 4tbspoons of dill pickle juice. Must be something about the vinegar, blah, blah, blah. Don't know how it works, but when w/d from methadone it stopped me and kept me from vomiting when...
Off of methadone and 44 hrs on opana er + percs for b/t pain. When w/d methadone pickle juice worked best with nausea I assume was from Percocet. I'm on more narcs now til opana er really kicks in to...
Mandy, Sorry about your discomfort. I had lower lumbar fusion also. Getting up and walking was crazy difficult at first but the more I walked the better I felt. Exercise helps regularity. I've been...
Nick, I've been trying to find out if you received some email notes from me. One is a personal note of thanks and how much your input has meant to me. Let me know okay? Luie, I ready some of your...
UNCchick: How long did it take you before opana er started working for you? I'm over 36 hrs on it and still having struggles (taking 10mg every 12 hrs). Others: In my state Opana ER is 10mg x 60ea...
Hey Nick, I sent you couple personal emails and don't know if you got them. Wanted to clarify that I, 'blessmymess' = "Mike", I'm Mike. The other thing is I never was on bupren patch but lidocaine...
Thanks for additional thoughtful info. I'm trying to get my potassium from raw green vegies and juicing kale and celery. Bananas constipated me and hurt back more with gas and bloating. Whole grain...
I'd like to send a shout out to everyone that has given me "real", compassionate encouragement and advice that has come from all of your personal fiery trials and experience. You all have been so...
Goes to show how our condition needs to be addressed holistically and not just from the medical and pharmacological communities. Healthy diet has really been big part of surviving w/d's in...
UNCchick: Thanks for positive reinforcement that comes through you sharing your story. I'm encouraged after being in nightmarish hell of pain and "hurkie-jerkies", and by systems inability to be...
Worker's Comp pays for my Opana ER. They've been good about paying for all pain related meds, tests, procedures, etc. for last 11-12 yrs. When I'm in severe chronic pain, I'm not saying, "How much...
Thanks Trix for chiming in. By OC I think you mean oxycontin? Since have found that Opana ER can take 36-72 hours to work full time in system. I'm starting to feel better at about 26 hrs on it with...
ktk81, I hope your visit with doc was productive and you're feeling cared for and "your" best interests are what is important. Stay connected, when in pain and torment its been very therapeutic for...
Nick, "blessmymess" = "Mike". Personal info should show in my posts now. Wanted you to know I've never been on bupenorphine patch (suboxone I presume?). I have a Lidocaine dermal patch that numbs my...
Hey Nick, wanted you to know I've been on Opana Er for 24 hrs. I never have had any buprenorphine (thought you thought I had). Went straight from methadone to percs. Doc wanted to put me back on...
Makes it worse for me, esp. blotation/constipation from Percocet. Told my "doc" and was told that wasn't the real issue, my 10 yr. dependence on methadone was blamed and wanted me back on it. Not...