Question about weaning off pain meds

[CindyLou]

Hey Terry or anyone who can enlighten me on this. I started lowering my Oxycodone yesterday not by alot but by at least two pills worth for sure. Did fine all last night and this morning. I've been trying to go 6 hours instead of four in between dosing. I kind of rushed a few minutes ago to pack my car up for road trip, and all of a sudden I am real dizzy, nauseous, can hardly stand up. I was going to wait 6 hours again since a.m. dose, but does this look like signs of "withdrawal?" I am really sick to my stomach. and freaking out because am supposed to drive myself in an hour for hip joint injection. I just took another dose as it is 5 hours ane am really worried maybe I'm rushing the weaning process and have started some withdrawal symptoms.
Anyone???

[chasswen]

cindy
you should really work with your family doctor on this. as my doctor helped me a great deal with weaning off the meds.
food for thought
chuck

[Terry]

CindyLou:

What the heck are you doing? You don't mention the dosage but to wean by two pills is a very aggressive plan. I never advocate anyone weaning themselves off of medications. This should only be done under the supervision of a physician. I get away with it because I have been detoxifying patients for 23 years with 29 years in the substance misuse profession. I am used to writing protocols. Any number of bad things can happen by trying to get off of those too quickly. PLEASE! Go see a physician and get a responsible come down protocol.

Your Friend

Terry Newton

[CindyLou]

Thanks guys. Here's what played out. I got really sick, vomited everything out of my stomach, including my second oxycodone (bottle says generic for percocet 5/325), was extremely dizzy, could not walk a straight line, and chills. Called my good friend/neighbor and we both decided she should drive me for hip joint injection...mainly just to get me in front of my doctor. (I also started an antibiotic yesterday for an ear infection, but it certainly wasn't making me this sick) Doc determined not to do hip injection because of ear infection and had nurses put me on an IV for nausea medication, and fluids as they said I was very dehydrated. Then they put me on oxygen as my blood pressure got very low and I thought I was going to pass out. The doctor didn't think the pain medication would make me this sick so fast; he was leaning toward it being my ear infection. But the nurse agreed w/ me...she thought it was withdrawals. The doctor told me how to cut back but I was so sick I can't remember. Something about take 5 pills for a week, then 4 pills, for a week. Does that sound right? Maybe I should call back tomorrow. I'm certainly not going to drive my Mom up into the northwoods this afternoon, and thank goodness her flight is late. I can't drive as I'm still too weak and dizzy so am going to have her take a cab to the house. I'm afraid to put anything in my stomach. I've gotta get this weaning off pain meds down to a tee, cuz I sure as hell do not want to experience again what I just did! I honestly felt like I was gonna die.

Sign me lame and dumb

[Terry]

CindyLou:

That does sound like a more manageable withdrawal protocol. I am glad you are going through a doctor. The nausea, vomiting, chills, etc. all sound like classic withdrawals but could be from the infection also. Tis better safe than sorry.

Repeat after me; "I must follow doctor's orders"-----------------. Of course I am the pot calling the kettle black.

Hang in there CindyLou.

Terry Newton

[CindyLou]

Thanks Terry and Chuck. I tell you, I'm convinced it was withdrawal symptoms, because I feel fine now that things are stabilized and even ate some dinner with no ill effects. I will do this more methodically and much more slowly for sure. We (my Mom and myself) obviously canceled the drive up to Pequot Lakes, but will resume our plans tomorrow morning. After I get her settled in at an old childhood friend's lakehome, I will continue my drive north to our own little cabin in the northwoods, and do some chillin' with the loons!

Thanks again for all the advice and support.

[CindyLou]

Hi everyone, I am now down to taking 3 pain pills (percocet) in a 24 hour period. Can't say I like it, because my pain levels are still pretty high, and I have nerve pain in my right back/hip that goes down into my foot, and is especially bad during the night. But, I figure I need to at least try this. I still don't know what causes this terrible pain in my hands and feet. I'm retaining fluid because I can hardly wear any rings anymore. Do pain meds cause fluid retention anyone? Or maybe does Lyrica (150 mg) have side effect of fluid retention? Is this possibly still distraction pain, in my hands?? I am going tomorrow morning to finally get my hip joint injection and I can hardly wait. I really need to get to bottom of it...am at my wits end not being able to work out like I want, because any walking just gives me terrible pain and I end up looking for places to sit down. I am not a happy camper right now. I will report back after injection to see what kind of relief I get.

[Terry]

CindyLou:

Lyrica does list weight gain as a side effect. I struggled with it also but the benefit far exceeded the negative aspect. I'm sorry you are still struggling. I still believe you are in early recovery from an extremely difficult surgery. I just turned 10 months old with my new spine on September 4th. I'm amazed with my recovery and how I finally feel like I've turned a corner. I am behaving finally. I have almost 1,500 miles in and feel much better.

I hope you get some relief soon.

Hang in there.

Terry Newton

[boom-boom]

I had to kick a 2000mg per day Morphine habit after a disc infection rec'd from a discogram gone bad. It was the most difficult thing i have ever had to do! Consult a pain specialist doctor NOT your regular M.D., they know what they are doing far better. And listen to your body, you are stonger than you think. If you are in pain ...take something..do not be miserable..just be smart.

[JFerg]

Cindy Lou.................I applaude your efforts to get off the opiates, bit I agree with our friends here; do so with a pain mgmt. physician in a programmable way.
I was on 8-10 percocetts a day and 4 morphine tablets daily. Then there was the breakthrough pain that took roxicetts or fetanyl patches. This went on for 6 years! When I received a procedure that lessened my pain and need for pain pills, I couldn't do it on my own. It's too big! Too big! Don't do it own your own and save yourself unnecessary suffering. I took a product called suboxone for 6 months which controlled the cravings and had pain relief in the medicine. Then I weaned off the suboxone. Now I'm medicine free. Thank God. I had been in a narcotic haze for 6 years. The results of that alone are not pretty. Be open to advice. All the best!