[rustysneakers]

I will try to make this as concise as possible. I've suffered with pain disorders, autoimmune, etc. for 20 years now. Been on many different opiates over the years for pain relief. I am most definently at the top end of dosing for sure. My current regime controls my pain when it is working consistantly, but I tend to have months where that is not the case.
Let me briefly explain- my dose:
200ug fentanly every 48 with actiq800 every 4-6 as needed.

CONSIDERING METHADONE FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT BECAUSE:

Problem: w/sweating them off too early, or them falling off if I use a pool or shower sometimes. Sometimes, due to the sweating the med does not absorb into my skin causing withdrawls to begin quickly for several hrs until I can get it under control by either taking a double dose of actiq to stop it until i can stop sweating (usually requires stopping all activity & laying down in a cool place for 3hrs or so...)

My Dr. gives me 25days of the actiq evn tho he writes for 1 every 4-6 (which at the rate prescribed If I was to need it at every 4hrs I run out at 25days not 30days...) and 30days of the patches. So occasionaly I find myself borrowing from peter to pay paul so to speak... Either using an extra patch to cover the missing actiq or using actiq to cover the missing patches to stop any withdrawls.
AS I MENTIONED IN MY 1ST POST, this is not about "catching a buzz..." at my length of time with this like most of you, that isn't even a possibility even if it was wanted-WHICH IT ISNT.

I have gotten some great help from people like ROBERT, CATS AND YM, and I may try a few things CATS suggested to help the patch problems, before anything else,-

I NEED CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE ON METHADONE AS IT RELATES AS A PAIN MANAGEMENT DRUG. I am terrified because of stories I hear like " it gets into your bone marrow so coming off is worse than death" but at the same time, I BELIEVE WITHDRAWL FROM FENTANYL AT THIS LEVEL (or any level) HAS TO FEEL WORSE THAN DEATH as well cuz i've felt it, & hallucinated it too lol.

ALSO, although i always pray for miricles, I don't forsee my future without meds for pain management as it's been 20yrs now of: on, off, alternative medicine, non-narcotics, etc. and basically without a longer story for now its gonna be on meds for me for the forseeable future.

SO, can someone please give me an idea of what the conversion is like, how long it takes, what the dose at my level can be expected? Is my current med. really 1000 more powerful than morphine? and if so, how can methadone help then and does it even go that high up? Will I suffer? will I suffer long? -LOL. Like another post i read recently from someone considering switching to meth and backing out, I have kids that i have to be "up and present" for, don't have time for things like "hold on, mom's in withdrawls right now" even though sadly, they have had to deal with that before...I've only been able to even have a life at all because of meds. without them I'm bedridden. ANY CONSTRUCTIVE HELP WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. THANK YOU ALL.