[mandee500]

Hello everyone I'm am new to the community, although I have used this site regularly for info and ideas. I'm a 29 year old mother of 1, and common law wife to a wonderfully supportive husband/boyfriend. I was recently diagnosed with Fibro - after 3 years of testing to no avail. I am at a consistant pain level 6/10 and good days I'd say 4/10. I've been taking Norco up to 15-20 a day which is borderline liver failure I know, but when the pain is overtaking me I have no control over how many of those damn things I put in my mouth. My doc has just prescribed the fent patch 25mcg to start along w/8 Norco a day for b/t. Is the patch really the next step in my story? Should it be? The way our bodies become tolerant I would hate to skip any rungs on the ladder so to speak, especially at my age. I'm just hoping anyone out there could give some advice - wouldn't an IR oxycodone or IR morphine be more reasonable to try next? Along with maybe 30mg roxicodone for b/t? Please share any comments, suggestions, or relavent experiences, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

[Robert_325]

You wouldn't use an instant release med plus use roxicodone 30mg for breakthrough. They are all instant release. The idea is to have an extended release medication for regular use with an instant release med for breakthrough. You don't mix all the meds together that you're talking about.

I personally think something like an ms contin with maybe a 15mg roxicodone might be reasonable ( I have four autoimmune problems including fibro ) but you don't take several different instant release medications.

The fentanyl patch is extended release but I think that should be used for terminal patients. It will suck the life from you and if you ever try to get off it you won't evenb believe the w/d symptoms. I hate that drug. That is me but again I think it should be used for the terminally ill only. That is my opinion and I'm not a dr. But I've seen lots of people here trying to get off them and it's a sad thing to watch. Hope that helps. God bless.

[mandee500]

Oh my goodness - I totally meant extended release - as in oxycontin or ms contin along with roxicodone. I do understand how long term meds and b/t meds work - my question is the patch just seemed too far up the scale, at least without trying oxycontin or something along those lines first. It seems like they would be my next step in the average pain management schedule. I may turn to a pain management clinic vs. using my rheumatologist for my pain management. Any advice regarding that? I thank you for your help - it does make perfect sense that it would be used for patients who would never have to try to come off of it - I too, have ready some of the horror stories.

Originally Posted by Robert_325

You wouldn't use an instant release med plus use roxicodone 30mg for breakthrough. They are all instant release. The idea is to have an extended release medication for regular use with an instant release med for breakthrough. You don't mix all the meds together that you're talking about.

I personally think something like an ms contin with maybe a 15mg roxicodone might be reasonable ( I have four autoimmune problems including fibro ) but you don't take several different instant release medications.

The fentanyl patch is extended release but I think that should be used for terminal patients. It will suck the life from you and if you ever try to get off it you won't evenb believe the w/d symptoms. I hate that drug. That is me but again I think it should be used for the terminally ill only. That is my opinion and I'm not a dr. But I've seen lots of people here trying to get off them and it's a sad thing to watch. Hope that helps. God bless.

[melinda7.5]

Hi Mandy
I have fibro also...My doctor put me on oxycontin and vic's for break thru pain.I'm not a big fan of the patch...my best friend has fibro and takes the patch and perk's for break thru pain...but since she started the patch her personality has changed so much...so much more worse than the oxycontin.
She is so depressed now there is no life in her anymore...if you have to take pain meds try to talk your doctor into some other kind of extended release meds...I abused my oxycontin and had to stop all of my pain meds I just got to addicted to all of them ...
Do you have a fibro doctor or some one who understands what you are going thru...
did they put you on a diet for fibro and tell you about exercise to help...
I have a hard time still but I can function now if i watch what I eat, no flour or sugar...and if I work out a little every day I can manage...
wish you the best if we can help let us know...
have a great day...
Melinda

[Cats Meow]

Duragesic is usually the last drug in the regiment, but many doctors are all too aware of the abuse potential of Oxycontin and many prefer to go with the patch since it's harder to tamper with, and you've already admitted you have a control problem which he probably realizes hence your qty, so it makes good sense. Fentanyl doesn't have to be the last "rung", in fact I consider methadone the last, besides you could switch to dilaudid or oxy IR.

[mandee500]

Thank you for your input. My doctor has NO idea how many Norco I'm actually taking. He supplies roughly 7-9 per day and I will get what I have to get how I have to get it. I don't want to be mis understood however, I do not get "high" anymore, nor is that my intention. Although, when I can get my legs to stop aching as if my bone marrow has expanded to 5 X's the size and amount its supposed to be, causing a deep aching pressure from the inside out that would make a grown man cry - - THAT makes me feel high. I've been taking hydrocodone for more than 3 years now - I doubt ANY amount of Norco is going to give me a buzz OR kill the pain- I've built a massive tolerance, which is exactly why we need to move to something else. Okay Okay sorry back to my point. My doctor has no idea - I never ask for refills early, never give any stories about lost or stolen meds, he shouldn't have any reason to fear my control abilities. So I'm still confused as hell as to why he would jump strait to this. But I am afraid to ask specifically for oxycontin. I've had the opportunity to try oxycontin 60 and mscontin 30 and found that I had dramatically better results with oxycontin. Even when I would take 2 of the mscontin 30's (attempting to make the dose even) it still wasn't anywhere near as effective as the oxycontin. I feel like it is less scary of a medication, will allow me a better quality of life (fent makes me SUPER sleepy and I have a 7 year old and work full time) but how do you ask for something specific w/o looking like a seeker? So many others have blazed paths of dishonesty and addiction - making my treatment nearly impossible to get.

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by mandee500

Thank you for your input. My doctor has NO idea how many Norco I'm actually taking. He supplies roughly 7-9 per day and I will get what I have to get how I have to get it. I don't want to be mis understood however, I do not get "high" anymore, nor is that my intention. Although, when I can get my legs to stop aching as if my bone marrow has expanded to 5 X's the size and amount its supposed to be, causing a deep aching pressure from the inside out that would make a grown man cry - - THAT makes me feel high. I've been taking hydrocodone for more than 3 years now - I doubt ANY amount of Norco is going to give me a buzz OR kill the pain- I've built a massive tolerance, which is exactly why we need to move to something else. Okay Okay sorry back to my point. My doctor has no idea - I never ask for refills early, never give any stories about lost or stolen meds, he shouldn't have any reason to fear my control abilities. So I'm still confused as hell as to why he would jump strait to this. But I am afraid to ask specifically for oxycontin. I've had the opportunity to try oxycontin 60 and mscontin 30 and found that I had dramatically better results with oxycontin. Even when I would take 2 of the mscontin 30's (attempting to make the dose even) it still wasn't anywhere near as effective as the oxycontin. I feel like it is less scary of a medication, will allow me a better quality of life (fent makes me SUPER sleepy and I have a 7 year old and work full time) but how do you ask for something specific w/o looking like a seeker? So many others have blazed paths of dishonesty and addiction - making my treatment nearly impossible to get.

I agree with Cats about Methadone being the "last resort" medication but next to methadone it's fentanyl in my book. I would tell the dr what you just wrote. I think it's logical to go with oxycontin before using the patch personally. Tell the dr what you think. You're making perfectly good sense. Good luck and God bless.

[tired2]

Originally Posted by mandee500

Hello everyone I'm am new to the community, although I have used this site regularly for info and ideas. I'm a 29 year old mother of 1, and common law wife to a wonderfully supportive husband/boyfriend. I was recently diagnosed with Fibro - after 3 years of testing to no avail. I am at a consistant pain level 6/10 and good days I'd say 4/10. I've been taking Norco up to 15-20 a day which is borderline liver failure I know, but when the pain is overtaking me I have no control over how many of those damn things I put in my mouth. My doc has just prescribed the fent patch 25mcg to start along w/8 Norco a day for b/t. Is the patch really the next step in my story? Should it be? The way our bodies become tolerant I would hate to skip any rungs on the ladder so to speak, especially at my age. I'm just hoping anyone out there could give some advice - wouldn't an IR oxycodone or IR morphine be more reasonable to try next? Along with maybe 30mg roxicodone for b/t? Please share any comments, suggestions, or relavent experiences, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Hi Mandi,
I to suffer from Fibro but it can be handled without opiates.I also suffer from degenerated disc,arthritis and have had back and multiple knee surgeries.I was on the same path as you are on except I made it to the morphine after the Oxy and the Fentanyl patch and let me tell you it is a hard crash.You are very young and already addicted to opiates.Whether you know it or not you are have built a tolerance which is why you are needing stronger meds and popping more pills.The pain meds will eventually stop working and then what are you going to do.My pain is even less since I stopped using back in June.Opiate use can actually cause you more pain in the long run this I can say from experience.I used pretty much every prescription opiate out there for over 25 yrs.
There are so many ways to deal with Fibro and opiates are the worst.I have found that light exercise works so much better.You say you have a one year old wouldn't you want to be there for her?Well as long as you are taking the amount of pills you are on you will be missing out on so much and not even realize it till it's too late.When we use opiates we do not even realize how much we are missing out on life till we stop using.Please really stop and think about what you are doing to yourself and one year old before you get any deeper.
I'm sorry if I may be coming off to strong but I have been where you are and would hate to see anyone go down the road I went down on.

[Cats Meow]

I would say something like, "I'm willing to try anything if it'll help, there's a couple things that I don't like about using the patch I noticed this, and that, can we possibly try something else, what are my options? What about Oxycontin, do you think that would help or work good for me?"
Just be honest, take your time and communicate, try not to exaggerate, be open, lucid, and responsible.