Why wear a ribbon?

"I wear this ribbon because Alzheimer's in in our family, I have fibromyalgia, I'..." (igimom)

MDJunction to me

"MD junction is a place for us to share our experiences both good and bad it is a safe haven from the ignorant and the doubters a place to vent ask advice or just get away from it all.
I am shell I am a parent with aspergers syndrome.
Four of my six children are autistic also.
I hope to give an insight from an autistic view." (spectrummum)
We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.
Fibromyalgia Online Support Group
Fibromyalgia Support Group
A community of patients, family members and friends dedicated to dealing with Fibromyalgia, together.
Join This Group
Group Home   Forums   Articles   Members (1756)   Diaries   Leaders   Guidelines
FMS Community FMS Support Forums General & Support fentanyl patch tolerance
fentanyl patch tolerance
Related discussions:
04/22/2008 08:15
court7272
Posts: 4
New Member

Send a PM
Give a Hug
 Hi -I have been on the fentanyl patch for about 2 months and in that 2 months we have had to double my dose from 25 mg to 50 mg. Now that is no longer working-aside from the patch I also take percocet 10/625 mgs-up to 4 a day now, 10 mg flexeril 2 times a day, 10 mg valium 2 at bedtime, 150 mg of zoloft and 150 mg of wellbutrin...I am very upset that the patch isn't working anymore and I can't believe my tolerance went up so quickly...Is anyone else on the patch and if so did you have the same tolerance problem I am having? Originally I went on it to replace the 40-60 mg of percocet I was taking daily and now I'm back where I started but with more medication and I am so frustrated and in excruciating pain.
Reply  


04/22/2008 09:13
cadburry
Purple Ribbon
Posts: 543
Member

Send a PM
Give a Hug
 They might want to put one of those morphine pumps in you.

I don't get fenanyl patches, heck I get absolutely nothing for my pain, but from what I have read the next step would be a morphine pump. I think they would take some of those meds away with a morphine pump as well, though I'm not sure.
Reply  


04/22/2008 10:28
court7272
Posts: 4
New Member

Send a PM
Give a Hug
 Oh I hope not...I didn't even want to do the patch. I'm 29 and starting to get really freaked out that they can't control my pain. I've been dealing with this since I was 24 and have seen about 8 specialists and have had every treatment and test in the book so I could stay away from too many narcotics-that includes holitic medicine, accupuncture etc. But I have been in 5 car accidents-2 were exremely severe so my rheumatologist said fibro isn't the only thing we're dealing with. I got so excited about the patch and now I'm devastated that I'm almost back to where I was. My mother's a nurse and she's afraid that if I am becoming tolerant to these narcotics so quickly that I'll have a really hard time if I have to have surgery for my other problems. Thanks and I'll keep you posted...
Reply  


04/22/2008 12:30
cadburry
Purple Ribbon
Posts: 543
Member

Send a PM
Give a Hug
 I know this would be hard but you might try having your doctor ween you off of your meds for a bit so that your tolerance can go back down. I have read of people doing this when they build up a certain tolerance.

From what I have read as well people don't like the pump because they can't take something for the pain when they feel they need it.

I personally would probably ask to be taken off of them for a short time and then start over again on lower doses.

Also I think it would be a good idea to get some serguries done since it is causing you so much pain. After the sergery the pain meds would probably control your pain much better and you might be able to get off the patch

I would just talk to my doctor about your options because you don't want to be on so many pain meds like that and then not have options for pain releife. I know I sure wouldn't.
Reply  


04/22/2008 13:00
court7272
Posts: 4
New Member

Send a PM
Give a Hug
 I would LOVE to get off of the pain medications but everytime I have tried I have ended up in the hospital. Before the patch I would try to extend the time between doses and try to take less than prescribed but my muscles would start to spasm badly and before too long I would be in so much pain that I couldn't walk and would have to call someone to take me to urgent care. I've tried using TENS units, I have had trigger point injections in my muscles, epidurals in my cervical and lumbar spine, facet injections in my cervical spine. My doctor has put me on bed rest numerous times. I've done the lyrica (which didn't help the pain and made me gain 30 lbs), I've been on neurontin-same effects as lyrica, I've been on abilify, steroids, I've done physical therapy multiple times, massage therapy, accupuncture, pilates (used to do that 5 times a week before I started getting sick-I was super active before all of this), I've been on celebrex, skelaxin, meperghan and I could go on and on...The last time I was on bed rest was in February before I started the patch. I can't go back to that much pain- I live by myself, own my own house and have to be able to work-I have a great career that I love and I can't let this take away the last thing I have. Since I'm in so much pain all the time I hardly have a social life. I see a psycholgist for the mental issues this pain causes as well as grief issues related to my boyfriend dying last year. Even she thinks I have done everything I can do and so we don't even know what to do next. My parents are both alcoholics so I am overly sensitive about addiction which is why I have tried everything to get off of the narcotics. I've had so many doctor's give up on me that it's very discouraging. My last neurosurgeon wasn't sure that any type of surgery would work at this point. I have an appt with my rheumatologist next week so hopefully we can come up with something. He's the best one in the state for fibro from what I have heard from my neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiatrist and my GP. Hopefully he can come up with something.
Reply  


04/23/2008 07:09
kychick
Purple Ribbon
Posts: 434
Member

Send a PM
Give a Hug
 These patches are very dangerous and they are just a bandaid that works temporarily but can cause so much damage. You are addicted to them,so when you try to stretch them out you are experiecing withdrawal symptoms like,muscle cramps,headaches,sick at stomach being foggier than normal and the worst is they can trigger clinical depression. I know this because I had been on them for 2 years and I am now about to go completely off of them. I had to do it very very slowly so have now went from 100mg to 12.5mg over the last 7 months. That's how long it has took to get off of them safely with the least withdrawal symptoms. I have learned through therepy coping skills to deal with my pain and depression and I am still going and will be for a long time. I have also started going to a new pain clinic that takes a broader approach to pain management. They do surgical procedures,phsycological procedures and pain relieving drugs plus physical therepy and I hope this will produce long term results without all the side effects. I will let you know.
Reply  


04/23/2008 07:29
court7272
Posts: 4
New Member

Send a PM
Give a Hug
 Please let me know how that works. I don't stretch out my patch, I used to do that with my percocet. I'm on 50 mg of the patch and am actually going to see my rheumatologist right now. I see a physchologist already and have been for 2 years, I'm on anti-anxiety meds (I have generalized anxiety disorder) and I am on antidepressants. I was just talking to my mom about not going any further with the patch and going back to taking my pain meds PRN. We'll see what he says...I hope your new treatment approach works. I would love to see a holistic doctor but South Carolina doesn't recognize them as cinicians so I haven't been able to find one.
Reply  



Start a New Discussion

Disclaimer: The information provided in MDJunction is not a replacement for medical diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical advice. Read more.
Contact Us | Bookmark Us | Add a Doctor | For Doctors | FAQ | Awareness Ribbons
About Us | Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Spread the Word | Advertise
Copyright (c) 2008 MDJunction.com All Rights Reserved