Re: Digest Number 1022 OT ADVICE

[Guest guest]

In reference to the father taking the multitude of meds and difficulty

sleeping. There are 2 meds he is on that are both sleeping pills. The

Trazadone and the Ambien. The Oxycontin is a narcotic pain med. The Ambien

and Oxycontin are both addictive. Chances are he has become rather " immune "

to those doses and his body is craving more drugs. It is like an addict they

need more and more. They will never get enough. I am a nurse and have also

worked with this population. Not sure if he has a lethal disease or severe

pain. But I would highly suggest consulting another physician!!! If it

were my dad I would at least find out why he is needing the meds he is on.

Cate

[Guest guest]

Also a note of warning!! Do not have him just quit taking any of those meds!

Without seeing a physician. He will have severe withdrawl and could have

some serious problems!!!

Cate

[Guest guest]

Does he see a Rheumatologist?? Insomnia is a symptom. There is an

underlying reason for it. Consult with another specialist!!!

Cate

[Guest guest]

Colleen,

I too have chronic pain. I also am an RN and have worked with chronic pain

patients, chemical dependency as well as critical care areas. When someone

is only sleeping 2 hours a night that apparently is telling you the sleeping

pills are not working. If you read the rest of my post I stated he needs to

consult with another Rheumatologist. Apparently the pain and the insomnia

were not being taken care of. Also the use of the listed meds were not

something to take lightly. I have been there too. No one is questioning

your pain status. So please do not take the info as an insult. But I have

been in this business very very long. Not to mention a chronic pain patient

myself.

Cate

[Guest guest]

I am not looking to step on anyone's toes here, and it is always a good

idea to have a second opinion, but long-term chronic and severe pain is

a problem that there is no really good solution to. Talking to me, you'd

never suspect I was on any meds. If I listed my medications for you,

most people would immediately say that I am over-medicated, and I have

to be very careful about how high my tolerance for certain meds will go.

All I am saying is--please don't assume that someoneis over-medicated

without knowing thier history. Chronic pain is a severe problem that

many times is not taken seriously enough, and sometimes evenwhenit is,

in the USA, although the government tells the patient they have the

right to treatment, they go after the doctors who try to help. I had the

choice to use morphine on a controlled basis or try to ration my pain

pills, filling in with other methods in between and doing the best I

could that way, and that is what I chose, leaving me in pain for close

to half of every month. I'm just trying to get people to understand that

it's a situation most people don't choose, have a really hard time

dealing with and aren't offered good solutions to. So, that's just

another opinion, countyour blessings and remember....there but for the

grace of God go I.---Colleen

ps---sorry to go on so long

Happy Trails....

[Guest guest]

i am bipolarstage 2 depressionand i have horrible insomnia . depression is

real maybe he has racing thoughts not necessary bipolar (very high and very

low ups & down a chemical inbalance hormon induced) but i would imagine it

could be possible he has anixiety that could prompt years of sleepless

nights. just a thought tamika

[Guest guest]

Cate---Don't get me wrong, I didn't take it as an insult. I was

dependant on stadol at one time and it was hell to kick. My point was,

that after 17 years of this merry-go-round--with no relief,

there isn't a perfect solution. I respect your opinion as a nurse and a

fellow sufferer. I find that it's been helpful to me to have input

deciding how I will be treated, and I practice some benign alternative

therapies that I find helpful. With all my meds, I still find the aroma

of lavender in my room at night helps me sleep, and I had mentioned that

in an earlier post. It's not always a matter of being over-medicated for

me, a lot of tmes it's trying to mentally relax, and I have some

relaxation tapes I play that also help.

I guess I just didn't want everybody to over simplify the problem of

long-term chronic pain, as you know, unless you experience it, it can be

hard to comprehend what it's like. I never meant to discount anything

you said,I just meant to add to it. That's enough out of me,

now!--LOL!--Colleen

Happy Trails....

[Guest guest]

> In reference to the father taking the multitude of meds and

difficulty

> sleeping. There are 2 meds he is on that are both sleeping pills.

The

> Trazadone and the Ambien. The Oxycontin is a narcotic pain med.

The Ambien

> and Oxycontin are both addictive. Chances are he has become

rather " immune "

> to those doses and his body is craving more drugs. It is like an

addict they

> need more and more. They will never get enough.

>

>

I haven't read my mail for a few days, so forgive the delay in

responding to the subject. I have some ideas I wanted to add to this

ongoing problem with your dad. But, first let me give you some

background on me and my situation. This may get lengthy but because

it is a subject so close to my heart. I also hope nobody gets

offended by some of my input. I too am a R.N. who worked on a

oncology and orthopedic unit and was witness to alot of pain and

suffering, including chronic severe pain. I have also seen some of

these " addicts " who drug seek and this has caused a

certain " stereotyping " of people with chronic severe pain. About 4

years ago I suffered a severe back injury at work and was

misdiagnosed for 6 months. By the time I saw a neurosurgeon I was

barely able to walk and in " extreme pain " , I had 2 surgeries to have

a double lumbar fusion and now suffer from chronic severe pain from

the neck, where every disc is protruding down to the lumbar area,

where my fusion (which didn't take) and permanent nerve damage was

done. I take a drug like oxycontin, MS Contin, which is essentially a

sustained release morpine and I supplement with Tylenol and codeine

for breakthrough pain. Before my experience with this, I also did

this " stereotyping " at work on occasion. I now know that not everyone

is like this. I have taken the same dose for 4 years. I have not

become " immune " nor do I " need more and more " . I keep very careful

about this. I do not want to take more and then become immune. This

medicine is necessary for people incuding me to function, basically

so I can get out of bed and take care of my 2 children. I am now

considered 100% disabled. I wanted to point out that there is a

difference between " mental addiction " and " physical dependence " . The

later being that your body is used to this drug and if you were to

abruptly stop, you would go through withdrawal syndrome. With mental

addiction, this is when you crave and need more. Most patients who

suffer from real pain don't get mentally addicted and do not suffer

from cravings and increases of dosing, unless their condition is

worsening or they are having exacerbations, which I have monthly. I

increase my dosing until the pain starts to get down to my

more " normal level of pain " . Also, we don't get " high " because the

medicine is being used up in the body for fighting the pain.

I just thought I could give a perspective from one, among many,

who suffers from severe pain. I too have real problems sleeping but

this is due to the pain waking me or preventing me from falling

asleep. See, the meds only make it tolerable at some level, they

don't eliminate it. Some days I can't get out of bed because it is so

unrelenting, and then I can only imagine what it would be like if I

wasn't taking these meds. They certainly are not cure alls. And these

long acting morphines are safe if only taken when prescribed and when

one truly is suffering. Otherwise one would get pretty " high " .

Another thought I had was that I thought you said your dad had

recently started taking these meds and so I'm not sure he's had time

to develop a high tolerance as of yet. This is definitely something

that needs to be watched, and his doctor prescribing these meds needs

to know EVERYTHING he's taking including herbs. Also one needs to be

very aware of how much they are taking and not want to become an

addict. I don't know your dads personality so this is something you

should watch for. And I don't want to give up hope for your dad and

you, but my pain psychologist says this(insomnia) is the most common

complaint for chronic pain sufferers. It is impossible to sleep when

your in agony. Second is memory loss, I now have to write down what I

need at the store or errands I need to do or I won't remember

everything and this coming from one who could hold everything in my

mind. This is due to the pain interfering with thought processes.

Anyway, I hope this helps coming from a health care professional

who suffers with similiar problems. It is definitely a priority to

calm his suffering. I fought having to take this medication for

awhile because of the stereotyping, but I just couldn't stand it

anymore and it certainly has improved the quality of my life. I mean

it was either give in or stay in bed suffering and sick. Good luck to

your dad. P.S. I do put lavender on my pillow every night and breath

through my nose and this definitely helps lull me to sleep when I'm

able. Everything just slows down. Sincerely,

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