Izzy's Mom and anyone else who are weaning from Meds - Pain Management Message Board

onyxgates · 08-03-2007, 10:06 PM

Hi,
I just read on another thread that you are weaning off of the patch, is there a reason? Are you feeling better? The reason I ask, is that I have been thinking about doing the same. I guess because I forget how much pain I was in before and am hoping that maybe I might be strong enough to get off of all pain killers. I recently went through a life affirming surgery with my aneurysm and would like to get back to what it was prior to pain in my back. I have been on some sort of pain killer for the past three years and forget what I felt like before...does this make sense???? Does anyone else feel like this?

mudbone · 08-04-2007, 08:24 AM

I too have thought about what life would be like. See, I have 2 daughters, a 7 and a 12 year old, and although the meds have definatley enabled me to attend more of thier ballgames and functions, I feel as though they are just growing up without me because I am on meds. Time is just flying by, they are growing up and I wonder what it would be like without meds. I'm not sure if going off them is the right thing to do, but I wish there was some way to try and see without going through withdrawls for a month just to see if I could indeed make it, and be able to work. So my answer is- you bet! I wonder a lot!

feelbad · 08-04-2007, 09:05 AM

yep,nothing like having someone digging around inside your brain and coming out okay to change things a bit onyx.i know what you are talking about.just surviving my aneurysm and getting it coiled(safe) and waking up in that recovery room and being okay,really really changed my outlook on alot of things too(lots of time to think while lying in that ICU after).man.it really was a life changing event.this was a big turning point for me and made me realize that if i had died during this procedure,if the aneurysm blew while i was on that table(or before i even got to that table),there were alot of people who i would never have had the chance to tell them just how much i appreciated them in my life and just being there for me during this one nightmare after another i have had to deal with.this was my moment when i decided to change that.i actually(my dad has never been able to really express his true feelings to people including his children?)started telling the people i cared about most how much i loved them and cared about them,including my father.this normally would have been just a really 'nice" thing i decided to do except for the fact that my father,with no real medical history of any kind,died suddenly out of the blue this past march.the only thing that gives me a sense of peace right now,is that i know without a doubt that he died knowing just how much he ment to me and how much i loved him only becasue i kept telling him everytime i saw him,before he would leave my house after one of his 'just checking up on you' visits.i cannot tell you how this makes me feel right now.if i hadn't had that aneurysm,i probably would have done this eventually,but not soon enough for my dad,ya know?it just pushed the more important things to the forefront for me.sorry for going off there.

i applaud what you are trying to do onyx.do you feel that this really IS the best possible thing for you right now?do you feel that much better?i really think at least trying this and seeing how things really are,and considering the past issues is really a pretty great thing.just make certain to involve your doc onyx,he or she can make the transistion a bit easier for you to deal with.WDing from any long term narcotic just takes time,lots of time,to do it with the least amount of side effects for you.your doc can help alot in making things less eventful for you.i really am proud of your decision onyx and i wish you all the luck in the world with this challenge.i know you can do this.hopefully your pain will allow you to keep things this way.wouldn't that be great?i am in your corner hon.please keep us posted as to how you are doing.you KNOW i want to know,lol.take care,Marcia

onyxgates · 08-05-2007, 12:31 PM

You both have touched upon the reasons why I want to do this so bad. I feel like I am chained to this patch. I don't swim because I am afraid it will fall off. I am constantly worried it will fall off that I can't enjoy life. Also, my son is growing up so fast and I worry that I won't remember. I suppose it is more related to the brain issues vs anything else but there are so many things that I am forgetting.

I was having very good days the past week. Today is not so good. I have a terrible headache and my back is very sore. I am chained to the couch today. So now I wonder if whether I can go down on the meds or not. I still might try but only under the direction of my doctor. I will wait a couple of weeks so that I can completely heal after my surgery.

ozzybug · 08-05-2007, 05:28 PM

Onyx-
I think that you (and everyone else) who wants to try this are very brave. I admire your strength and determination. I think that each of us, at some point in time make this choice. We all have different reasons for wanting to try it, but basically it all boils down (at least in part) to the fact that although we are thankful for the relief the medications bring us, we still feel imprisoned by them. It can be a catch 22 in that we get relief from our pain, yet we pay the price in so far as we have to deal with side effects of our medications, shedules for taking them, and then coments from other people about why we take the medications and can't just "deal with the pain", or "go to our happy place", ya know?

You, above anyone else, know your body. You have to do what you feel is right for you. If you need to try this and are successful, this is a good thing. If you try it and find your pain is unbearable, then there is no shame in that either.

Whatever the outcome, we are here for you. Take care and please keep us posted.