Rosebud54
10-23-2003, 06:22 AM
OK I am upset because I have been trying every kind of pain meds that my doctor wants me to try for my constant body pain and stiffness that I suffer from extreme Fibromyalgia and RA and TMJ, from antidepressant to different types of muscle relaxant and many others, My doctor finally gave me something that helps me but doesn't last through the night for my pain because I was taking Hydrocodone three times a day at 5/500 , which comes to a total of 15 mg a day, I asked if my doctor could only give me two more Hydrocodone to take a day I would be feeling a lot better and I take one soma at night. Well instead of that she put me on Methadone along with taking the three Hydrocodone and I feel so stiff and the pain is back again worse, as if the Methadone is going against the Hydrocodone, I have been on this Methadone for two weeks at 5 mg once in the day and once at night a total of 10 mg. I don't like it, I have been sick to my stomach, headaches, numbness in my arms, tiredness and I only eat one egg in the morning and a piece of breast of chicken at night and drink lots of water because I want to lose weight badly which I was before the Methadone, my doctor also has me on Fastin to help me with my weigh, which since I have been taking the Methadone it has acted on me as it did, but I am still eating next to nothing and I am gaining weight now. Why in the world wouldn't my doctor just give me two more extra Hydrocodone. Does anyone understand why, is this any worse of an addictive drug then Methadone. It was helping me that should be all that matters, and now I'm afraid that she will want to up the mg on the methadone when I tell her it isn't working, because that is what she said last appointment. I don't want it any more, I have to go through withdrawals as it is which I hear are bad with Methadone. I don't know what to do. Very upset and in pain, Blessings to all, Rose
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Mo7609
10-23-2003, 01:14 PM
Rose
Do you feel like you can talk to your Dr about anything? I know alot of people here can't but if you have good communication with your Dr here is what I would say and have said to my Dr before. I really want yu to take me off of the ****(methadone in this case) State you facts for why you want off of it. It makes me very sick and sleepy all the time and my pain is actually worse now than before. The vicodin was working fine but I need to take 2 extra a day and that controls the pain for now. Do you think that we can do that? Hopefully you have a good relation with your Dr like I do and he will work with you on this issue.If not I would still seriouslly stand your ground telling him it makes you sick ect ect... Hey and if all else fails you could tell him you think that you are having an allergic reaction throat is tight ect.. Good luck to you Mo
Do you feel like you can talk to your Dr about anything? I know alot of people here can't but if you have good communication with your Dr here is what I would say and have said to my Dr before. I really want yu to take me off of the ****(methadone in this case) State you facts for why you want off of it. It makes me very sick and sleepy all the time and my pain is actually worse now than before. The vicodin was working fine but I need to take 2 extra a day and that controls the pain for now. Do you think that we can do that? Hopefully you have a good relation with your Dr like I do and he will work with you on this issue.If not I would still seriouslly stand your ground telling him it makes you sick ect ect... Hey and if all else fails you could tell him you think that you are having an allergic reaction throat is tight ect.. Good luck to you Mo
Karla
10-23-2003, 07:00 PM
You don't want to lie and say you are allergic to methadone because that is in the same family as hydrocondone and she would be allergic to that as well and then her dr would take her off everything. It is never good to lie.
justwandering
10-23-2003, 07:51 PM
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR DR. PUT YOU ON METHADONE IT SEEMS THERE WERE ALOT OF THINGS THAT SHE COULD HAVE TRIED I HAVE SEEN SOMEONE ON METHADONE GET DOWN TO ONE MILIGRAM A DAY FOR THREE MONTHS THEN STOP AND SIT IN THE CORNER AND SHAKE FOR THREE MONTHS WITHDRAWL IS BAD AS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE SOME WITHDRAWL IS WORST THAN OTHERS BUT IN YOU CASE I DON`T THINK YOU WILL BE THAT BAD ON JUST TWO WEEKS BUT IT SEEMS YOU ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP TO YOUR DR. SO PLEASE TAKE IT SLOW AND TRY TO TALK TO HER FIRST DON`T LYE YOU WILL ALWAYS GET CAUGHT REMEBER ITS YOU BODY IF YOU FEEL SOME THING IS`NT RIGHT IT PROBABLY IS`NT TALK DON`T RUN
[This message has been edited by justwandering (edited 10-23-2003).]
[This message has been edited by justwandering (edited 10-23-2003).]
Rosebud54
10-23-2003, 10:31 PM
Thank you MO for responding to my post. I do have a very good communication with my doctor, it's just that sometimes she gets on a train of thought that something will work if you give it long enough, but I have done that before with other meds that she has wanted me to try and I know by now my body and what will work and what won't. I am planning to bring in my journal where I have been keeping track of what I take and when and also the side effects. I mow you didn't mean any harm in saying to lie, but I am a terrible liar and I don't agree with lying about anything, even when your in the right and want only what's best for you, but I do thank you again for responding and caring enough to write. You take care and blessings on to you and yours, Rose
Rosebud54
10-23-2003, 10:56 PM
Thank you Karla for responding to my post, I appreciate you caring and taking the time to give your opine. I completely agree with what you said. It is never good or beneficial to anyone to lie. Blessings to you and yours, Rose
Rosebud54
10-23-2003, 11:27 PM
Thank you Justwandering for your advice and opine and for taking the time out to care and respond to my post. I do have a long and open relationship with my doctor, it is just that when I was having doubts about taking the Methadone and at that time I asked her if I could just take two more Hydrocodone that it would work well for me but she insisted that I give the Methadone a try and if it didn't help the pain then she would raise the amount to how much to take until it does help, but the way I feel is that I don't want to raise it or take it longer just to find out that it still doesn't work and then have to go through even worse withdrawals. I just want to get off of them now I know my body. I just posted in hoping that someone has a logical answer to why doctors shy away from giving or keeping people in pain on Hydrocodone when it helps. I read in many other post. My doctor had told me she didn't want me to be on the Hydrocodone too long because it is addictive, yet so is Methadone and she has me taking the Hydrocodone three times a day still and also Robaxin and one Soma at night to help me sleep. I was doing OK on just the Hydrocodone and one Soma at night, but she insist on me continuing the Robaxin three times a day along with the Hydrocodone and Methadone. The Robaxin doesn't do much for me and only adds to my tiredness and I have told her that too. I do plan on going in there with my journal that has all the side effects that I have been getting since on Methadone and I will once again asked her if I could just remain on the Hydrocodone with maybe two or one more so that it will last me through out the night. I just have so much anxiety about the appointment coming up soon because I hope and pray that she doesn't insist on me continuing on Methadone and if I refuse then takes me off all my meds, then I would have to resort to buying them on line which cost so much more. Well sorry I went on and on, thank you for listening. blessings to you and yours, Rose
Mo7609
10-24-2003, 11:03 AM
sorry I guess I didn't really think that one through! My apologies to you for some really awful advice Mo
althogh i do believe that you need to be very agresive with your Dr in letting him/her know what it is doing to you. Mo
althogh i do believe that you need to be very agresive with your Dr in letting him/her know what it is doing to you. Mo
Rosebud54
10-25-2003, 03:03 AM
Mo, please don't be sorry you were only trying to help, I know that it was coming from a place in your heart that wasn't meant to be wrong just helpful and I appreciate it. I will be aggressive and let her know all that is on my mind, it has never been easy for me to be aggressive but I have had her as my doctor for many many years so I feel very comfortable in opening up to her completely. I will let you know and all how it goes, my appointment is Nov. 7th so it will be sometime after that date. Thanks again Mo for caring. Take Care, Rose
[This message has been edited by Rosebud54 (edited 10-25-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Rosebud54 (edited 10-25-2003).]
Shoreline
10-25-2003, 03:37 PM
Hi Rose, Most PM docs are eventually going to steer you towards long acting meds. The long acting meds keep pain in check rather than using a short acting med after your pain has spiked beyond the ability too manage it.
Short acting meds create huge ups in downs in serum level and it's not an effective way to manage pain that you have 24/7. Also continued use of meds with tylenol is harmful to your liver. Your reaction to meth would certainly indicate you might do better on a different med, perhaps one of the LA morphine products or the Duragesic patch.
No doc will keep you on short acting meds forever. It doesn't follow any principle of pain managemnt. You are corect that you would need more doses per day to maintain a smooth serum level but this could be achived with long acting meds, that don't have bursts, you don't really feel it kick in if you maintain a smooth serum level it just keeps your pain in check rather than chasing it with short acting meds.
Who wants to live a pain filled life in 3-4 hour increments. Wouldn't it be nice to manage your pain with twice a day or 3 times a day dosing, no ups or downs , just smooth continous relief.
That's the goal and purpose of proper pain management. If your used to using the internet and taking meds when you feel like it rather than on a set schedule it will be more difficult to turn your trust and pain management over to a doctor that actually knows what he is doing and how to treat any adverse side effects.
By the way, Meth is not in the same class of opiates as Hydrocodone. The only other meds in it's same class are darvecet and levo-dromoran. Not that I would suggest lying about allergy. Many people call unpleaseant side effects allergic reactions , like itching, but that's just a common side effect of all opiates due to a histamine release caused by opiates.
Good luck and just be clear with your doc and be honst about your goals and what you hope to acheive. 0 pain isn't realistic where increased function and quality of life is.
The only way to maintain 0 pain is to constantly increase your dosage, and no doc will increase indefinitely. You should reach a level of medication that works and stabalize on a set dose of medication. AT that point the doc may add a short acting break through med to the mix to manage flares that the base med doesn't cover.
Is this a PM doc? Using meth as a first line long acting med is kind of strange. Yes it' s cheap if you don't have insurance but it's rarely the first LA med they turn too.
Good luck, Shore
Short acting meds create huge ups in downs in serum level and it's not an effective way to manage pain that you have 24/7. Also continued use of meds with tylenol is harmful to your liver. Your reaction to meth would certainly indicate you might do better on a different med, perhaps one of the LA morphine products or the Duragesic patch.
No doc will keep you on short acting meds forever. It doesn't follow any principle of pain managemnt. You are corect that you would need more doses per day to maintain a smooth serum level but this could be achived with long acting meds, that don't have bursts, you don't really feel it kick in if you maintain a smooth serum level it just keeps your pain in check rather than chasing it with short acting meds.
Who wants to live a pain filled life in 3-4 hour increments. Wouldn't it be nice to manage your pain with twice a day or 3 times a day dosing, no ups or downs , just smooth continous relief.
That's the goal and purpose of proper pain management. If your used to using the internet and taking meds when you feel like it rather than on a set schedule it will be more difficult to turn your trust and pain management over to a doctor that actually knows what he is doing and how to treat any adverse side effects.
By the way, Meth is not in the same class of opiates as Hydrocodone. The only other meds in it's same class are darvecet and levo-dromoran. Not that I would suggest lying about allergy. Many people call unpleaseant side effects allergic reactions , like itching, but that's just a common side effect of all opiates due to a histamine release caused by opiates.
Good luck and just be clear with your doc and be honst about your goals and what you hope to acheive. 0 pain isn't realistic where increased function and quality of life is.
The only way to maintain 0 pain is to constantly increase your dosage, and no doc will increase indefinitely. You should reach a level of medication that works and stabalize on a set dose of medication. AT that point the doc may add a short acting break through med to the mix to manage flares that the base med doesn't cover.
Is this a PM doc? Using meth as a first line long acting med is kind of strange. Yes it' s cheap if you don't have insurance but it's rarely the first LA med they turn too.
Good luck, Shore
kmstr
10-27-2003, 01:16 PM
Rosebud, is this who i think it is...
please do not take the Methodone, it is not the answer for you!!! There are so many other pain meds you can be on. Methodone is used to wean herion addicts and i've heard the physical withdrwl is equal to if not worse then the withdrwl of herion, so please please don't start taking them on a regular basis, don't start taking them at all. if you have started slowly reduce your dosage until you're down to none of them. going from 2 extra vics a day to methodone is just not the right answer, its way to strong and the physical withdrwl is not worth the relief it will give you.
xoxoxo
k
please do not take the Methodone, it is not the answer for you!!! There are so many other pain meds you can be on. Methodone is used to wean herion addicts and i've heard the physical withdrwl is equal to if not worse then the withdrwl of herion, so please please don't start taking them on a regular basis, don't start taking them at all. if you have started slowly reduce your dosage until you're down to none of them. going from 2 extra vics a day to methodone is just not the right answer, its way to strong and the physical withdrwl is not worth the relief it will give you.
xoxoxo
k
Rosebud54
10-29-2003, 05:15 AM
Hi Shore, thanks for your thought on what I posted, it makes a lot of sense in what you say. I will give it great thought as to if I should allow her to increase the dose or get off of them all together. If I do allow her to increase it then I am going to tell her she needs to give me something to help me stay awake it really makes me tired. I want to sleep all day. What are your thoughts on this? Or do you think I should just try something else? I just fear the withdrawals afterwards if I do increase it and even now with what I'm taking, gee I just wish I didn't have to take anything, as I know all on this board feel, I do pray for everyone here for their pain they are having to deal with, I know I am not alone, but sometimes I know you understand that it feels like I'm alone in dealing with pain all the time. Well thank you for your thoughts I do appreciate it very much, Blessings, Rose
Rosebud54
10-29-2003, 05:20 AM
Hello K, I don't know who you think this is, but anyway, I am already on Methadone, I have been for all most a month now. I know that it is used for other reasons besides pain management, but that is what it is given to for me is my constant pain, and doctors are giving Methadone to many now for pain. I don't know who this is, and I don't know anyone in Chicago. Have you been on Methadone? I have been told and heard that the withdrawals are really bad, but it is kind of late now, for me, I will have to go through them when I choose to get off. Not sure what to do any more. I don't want the pain or the pills but I have to choose. Blessings, Rose
Rosebud54
11-05-2003, 04:02 AM
Well the 7th is coming up soon this friday, I can't wait to tell my doctor I want off of these Methadone pills. My husband even said he is going to tell the doctor that these pills have giving me a lot of anxiety.
Oh Shore I wanted to respone to what you had posted when you said:
If your used to using the internet and taking meds when you feel like it rather than on a set schedule it will be more difficult to turn your trust and pain management over to a doctor that actually knows what he is doing and how to treat any adverse side effects.
No I am not use to using the internet for meds at all, in fact I have never done that, I was just saying that because I have noticed that they sell Vicodin on line, and I thought if I needed the two extra once I'm off the Methadone and all my doctor will give me is three a day then maybe I would buy some just to get the two extra that will help me with the pain through out the day and night, but to be honest with you I don't think I could do it ,I would be too scared that something was wrong with the meds. It was more pain talking, I do have a good relationship with my doctor and I have and will continue to be completely open and honest with her and just hope she understands my needs and concerns my my point of view. It just seems to me that Doctors seem to be pushing the Methadone for pain and not allowing those who say that the Hydrocodone works for them to stay on them, they just want to switch them on the Methadone.
I feel what helps is what we should get. Well I will post agin after the 7th. Blessing, Rose
Oh Shore I wanted to respone to what you had posted when you said:
If your used to using the internet and taking meds when you feel like it rather than on a set schedule it will be more difficult to turn your trust and pain management over to a doctor that actually knows what he is doing and how to treat any adverse side effects.
No I am not use to using the internet for meds at all, in fact I have never done that, I was just saying that because I have noticed that they sell Vicodin on line, and I thought if I needed the two extra once I'm off the Methadone and all my doctor will give me is three a day then maybe I would buy some just to get the two extra that will help me with the pain through out the day and night, but to be honest with you I don't think I could do it ,I would be too scared that something was wrong with the meds. It was more pain talking, I do have a good relationship with my doctor and I have and will continue to be completely open and honest with her and just hope she understands my needs and concerns my my point of view. It just seems to me that Doctors seem to be pushing the Methadone for pain and not allowing those who say that the Hydrocodone works for them to stay on them, they just want to switch them on the Methadone.
I feel what helps is what we should get. Well I will post agin after the 7th. Blessing, Rose