Today, I am finally back to my usual state of pain partially controlled by pain medication. For years Fentanyl and I have been doing the same dance. When one partner starts to wear out another one smoothly attaches to my back and we waltz to the music of no pain, no gain. It is one variation of a set of dances called the Combo Pain Relief Mombo.
Last week, I started having terrible itching on a part of my back that was underneath a patch. I have been having minor episodes of itching before but never one that lasted this long. I took Benadryl and my spouse sprayed Benadryl around the patches. Nothing helped and I put up with the itching until early the next morning when my patches were scheduled to be changed. My spouse wiped the area with anti-adhesive pads. We hypothosized (how many times have all of us had to do that, we should be scientists) that too much adhesive had built up under my skin over time and perhaps we should try another area.
So, we placed the patches on another area. Some background info: My dance with Fentanyl started off as more of a jerk with a lurch. Any metabolic or hormonal changes affect how much Fentanyl gets into my system. Every month, when I had estrogen changes right before my period, I would receive less Fentanyl throughout my system. Also, I found out as a lot of people have that my patches ran out of the medication before 72 hours. Things were really rough before I was given any break through meds.
Anyway, back to my recent adventure. the new area where we placed the patches did not receive constant pressure as my back does. Within a day or so, I was starting to have withdrwal symptoms which included yawning, joint pain, tiredness and irritability.
I mentioned these symtpoms to my dh and he deduced that the problem was probably because we put the patches in a location that had less pressure. So, he placed them in a different place that had more pressure contact. I felt better after a little while but then I started having withdrawal symptoms again. So we huddled again for a new game plan. We are having to tape the patches on at this point because of course they've lost their sticky power and you all know that the patches are priceless, a limited quantity carefully counted by the pharmacist. We deduced that perhaps the place where he had applied the patches had more subcutaneous fat. So once again, my dedicated dh, placed the patches in yet another place. Finally, this morning, success! Now the dance begins again.
My last comments are regarding the latest gab through the grapevine. Oprah and Dr. Oz!
Et tu Brute? I don't expect Oprah to be a medical expert but what happened to that massive staff she has who is supposed to research everything. Oh, Dr. Oz, you were one of my last hopes that the medical community at large knew anything. You know a lot about feces but regarding pain you do not know bull chips.
I must have missed the episode of the invincible Dr. Oz and Oprah on the pain issue. You will have to fill me in (of course if you wish to). I have never received the same amount of relief with the pain patch. But sometimes I will itch just because I am on narcotics, I wonder if your skin is just starting to become sensitive to it. I know there are some tests that can be done to see what rate medication is being delivered to your system, sometimes people have a metabolic imbalance and you do not get the right amount of medication delivered to your liver adequately. Just a thought. I have a pain specialist who does not listen to me when it comes to help with breakthrough pain help so I am usually looking at the clock waiting for the minutes to tick by before I can get some relief. I feel like a theif and a liar half the time when I am at the Dr.s office, I am automatically put in that pool of people no matter how many clean UI's I deliver. I wish you well, and just keep dancing! Best of luck. Lorie
Lorie,
Someone did a Sharepost on the Oprah Show so if you look around in Chronic Pain Connections. I didn't actually see it that day. I read about it and saw part of it on YouTube. Dr. Oz. said that if you are having pain after two weeks and are having to take pain medication then it is time to change doctors and also he said something about addiction that everyone in the pain groups are reacting to negatively. There were many posts. So many, I couldn't read them all.
Thanks for advice about the patch. I feel like I have to stay on it because I can't tolerate any sort of opioid tablet. I have stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. I use Fetanyl pathces plus I take liquid forms of Diluadid and Methadone.
I'm very sorry that you do not have breakthrough meds. I changed doctors after I had been on the Fentanyl pathces for several months and he gave me a liquid opiate for breakthrough pain. I realized after I started taking the breakthrough med. was some of my symptoms that I was having while only on the patch were due to Fentanyl withdrawal. I remember how wonderful it was when we on our honeymoon to Jamaica and I first used the drops. I had been sweating, having chills and enormous pain and suddenly there was relief.
I don't know what is the source of your chronic pain but I have CRPS and I just read an article about a study that said there might be a connection between asthma, migraines and CRPS and also that hormonal changes such as the mentstrual cylce and menopause affect CRPS symptoms. I have all three of those conditions and I already had figured out that my CRPS was worse during my period.
I am so so sorry that your doctor will not give you breakthrough meds. I have read some real horror stories lately of what pain clinics are making people do and what they are not giving them anymore. We moved to the New England area about five years ago and I found a wonderful pain management group in New York City. It was five hours of driving, so we would make a Friday afternoon appointment, go out to a play (in my better days) or go out to eat, stay at a motel and leave Saturday to drive back home.
I was diagnosed with a fatal illness earlier this year and my husband got a job offer in a location where we have a lot of family so we moved here. We are no longer within driving distance of my pain doctor but he does Sycpe (I don't know if I am spelling that right) so we do an appointment that way each month and I physically fly to see him every six months. My husband has been laid off twice here and I am worried about when our unemployment and COBRA benefits end.
I guess that you have already tried asking your doctor for breakthrough meds. It really makes a difference in pain control.
Take care,
M.
Dear M,
Thanks for the reply. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (diagnosed since age 14) and Fibromyalgia. I am not sure what CRPS is though? I have learned many things on this site so I never hesitate to ask questions. I think Dr.s are getting pretty leary about pain meds because of all the celebreties dropping like flies so I wonder if the pain clinic Dr.s hesitate to increase medications to their patients. I know pain clinics probably get more leniancy (spelling?), but I think they are cracking down everywhere. I know when I used to get them from my General Practioner, he told me privately that he could lose his license if he wasn't careful. I am trying to go for a short walk a couple times of week, and it has helped my pain in the past so I am hoping I can keep it up, its just hard to get going. I live in Minnesota, so you can imagine how cold it can get....not FUN. Did you read Jeff L.'s post? If you haven't, you should. I feel bad that the person who replied to his post, really chewed him out, he probably deserved some of it but I think they over did it, he probably will never post again. I am prayin' that you will not lose your healthcare and that all is well. Please take care of yourself.
Sincerely.
Lorie