Pain Meds

[Guest guest]

, I started to worry as soon as I filled my RX that I would run out too

soon. I was taking Vicoprofen and Combunox (oxycodone) for a little over 2

years.

I started on the Vics and when they weren't working all that well any more,

the Combunox was added for " breakthrough " pain. Well, I was then taking

both of them every day and as we all know, after a while, you just need more

and more to get the same relief.

I became a wreck. As I said, I knew that as the month wore on, I'd start

running out. My insurance company wouldn't approve renewals before 30 days

and the doctor did increase dosages a few times, but it was evident that I

had a problem. I started scheduling my life around my prescriptions! If it

was the end of the month, I knew I probably couldn't go to that birthday

party coming up or plan an outing with friends.

My doctor started cracking down. Although I was prescribed a 30-day supply,

if the RX was filled on the 15th of the month, he would not give me another

RX until the 16th of the next month even if that was actually 31 or 32 days

for instance. I was told...you have to make do. That put me into a panic.

When I got to the point where I was becoming confused and had trouble

thinking, I knew that I had to do something. I contacted a friend's

therapist and asked for help. He referred me to an MD that handled

addiction. I felt that I wasn't a " drug addict, " but knew I had a serious

problem that was only getting worse every month.

I saw the doctor and explained my situation. He put me on a medication,

Suboxone, that is used to treat addicts. He told me that I would feel

better than I have in a long, long time. Well, he was right! I can't say

enough good things about this medication and if there's anyone here who

finds themselves in a similar situation, please look into it. Within a day

of switching from the pain meds to Suboxone, I felt like a new person. My

friends saw the difference immediately.

This medication has some pain relieving properties and I still struggle with

pain. Many days, I take Ibuprofen several times during the day. But the

change in my mental and emotional balance is amazing. As I said, I am so

thankful to be able to live normally again.

Suboxone is addicting, just as the pain meds are; however, it doesn't have

the same effect and there is a point (32 mg I think) where taking more has

no more effect. I only take 8 mg a day. It also contains an opiate

antagonist which will make you ill if you take pain meds at the same

time...this obviously is to keep drug addicts from going back to drugs.

I am telling this story since I would imagine that there is someone reading

this who may be in a situation much like mine. I am telling this story in

the hopes that it will help someone else get out of that life of anxiety.

If anyone wants to chat about this off-list, please feel free to e-mail me

at dorv@... and I'll be glad to discuss it.

I am hoping that one day, the level of my pain will be such that I can

slowly stop using this medication. But until that time, I am not dependent

on meds that were controlling my life. I am now in control of my life and

that's how it should be for everyone.

, glad to hear that you're out of the way of Gustav and hope everyone in

that area is safe and sound.

Dorothy

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of bella_1180

Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 9:57 PM

Subject: [ ] Dorothy & Dodge Re: Good Vibes and Prayers, Please?

Hi you all..

I know I am a tad late in responding, but its been quite a week. Fay flooded

my house, so until repairs are made, I'm staying with my sister and her

family. Don't want to chance a flare. And then I had my fantastic picc line

put in yesterday and my rituxan treatment today.

Anyhow, getting back to the post. I know what you mean about getting

nervous. Everytime, I've had to mention upping any med I get a major panic

attack and my bp sky rockets. One of my past gp told me when I asked for a

refill on my lortab, that he just gave me plenty the month and a half prior.

Ever since then, I have been a wreck and lots of times I used to just suffer

so I didnt have to ask for anymore. My rhuemy is very good to me, so I don't

have that problem. But I still do get nervous.

Central FL