Are the Side Effects So B ad? - Pain Management Message Board

dwpavlik · 08-28-2003, 01:59 PM

I have read several letters where patients want off of their pain care medications. I have been in this situation as well. I am on Oxycontin. (Plus other meds for other problems) I hate that it practically puts me to sleep every morning. And at the end of the day I get very tired after taking the balance of my dose. Plus the horrible mood swings. Now since we all seem to need our meds to keep the pain away, assuming that the pain is still too strong to live with without the relief of the medication. Why do so many of us want off of what makes our lives less uncomfortable. Are there other meds that can ease the side effects? Can we enjoy life more with a medication for our medication? I was just curious as to why so many want off of the pain meds, including myself. Maybe a comparison of like minds may reveal some similarities and lend to some answers.
Don

[This message has been edited by dwpavlik (edited 08-28-2003).]

Autumn Angel · 08-28-2003, 09:20 PM

Well Don...For me personally I get sooo sick of swallowing pills my throat stings at times. Even though I am NOT addicted to my pain meds the thought of a little pill controlling whether I am going to have a bad day or good day drives me nuts. If the pills decide they arent going to work as well on any given day then I am miserable and cant really do much that day except lay around with a blanket. If they decide they are going to take my pain level down to a 3 thats great I can function, do housework etc.. I dont have any side effects from my pills except the usual constipation at times which can also be from my IBS that goes along with Chronic pain or my urine retention now that bugs me a bit. After my meds I can drink about 5 cups of coffee and not even feel the urge to "P" untill I am bursting which isnt good. So other than what I have just told you...its the CP I hate not the meds the meds are only doing what they are supposed to and I think when all or most of us say we want OFF our meds we are really saying we want to be rid of our chronic pain and be somewhat how we used to be before we were diagnosed. Hope this shines a bit of light on your question. Take care and have a pain free night.
Autumn Angel

dwpavlik · 08-29-2003, 10:35 AM

Thanks Autumn Angel
I was hoping for some kind of response. I have been a bit frustrated with the med thing. I have too much tiredness that makes me do a lot less than I feel that I should be doing. The pain levels are annoying, not focused on severe, chronic annoyance. This stops me from functioning sometimes too. But I continue to push myself. This gets a bit frustrating cuz I take the problems out on myself thinking that I should be able to control it all. My older brother constantly badgers me by saying that there is no such thing as mood swings with pain meds and being diabetic. So I push myself more thinking I should be different and better in attitude. I am not a grumpy person, but I get moody. Knowing that all of the meds make a diference. That my life is going to be different. And I will not be the way I used to be all gets frustrating. I am not looking for an excuse I am seeking to find what a normalcy is with my type of condition. Thanks for the input. It helps to know I do not just need an attitude adjustment like my brother insists on.
Don

[This message has been edited by dwpavlik (edited 08-29-2003).]