Fentanyl Patches

[Guest guest]

I am on the Fentanyl patch and was just upped from 50 micro liters/hr to 75

/hr. This is finally more effective and working as it should. I have worked

up from 25/hr since February.

I am extremely sensitive to morphine. When I was in the ICU and they were

hitting me with the morphine, I became very disoriented, lost my sense of

time, and became very paranoid that no one was coming in to check on me. I

was a total nutcase. They moved me to dilauded after that and I was fine.

My pain management doctor is of the opinion that pain is a self-construct

that we develop internally over time. The reality of our pain is dynamic and

changes. Since many of us are on medications that are usually given to dying

patients or are usually limited in their application, there is not much

known about how people deal with the use of such medications over many

years.

This is an interesting idea and I have been thinking about it since he

talked to me about it a week or so ago. What are your thoughts on this?

Anyse

[Guest guest]

I had been on 100 and Neuroligist wanted me off of them they took me

down to 25 and I am back to 50. They think before long I will be

back on the 100s

Leanne

> I am on the Fentanyl patch and was just upped from 50 micro

liters/hr to 75

> /hr. This is finally more effective and working as it should. I

have worked

> up from 25/hr since February.

>

> I am extremely sensitive to morphine. When I was in the ICU and

they were

> hitting me with the morphine, I became very disoriented, lost my

sense of

> time, and became very paranoid that no one was coming in to check

on me. I

> was a total nutcase. They moved me to dilauded after that and I

was fine.

>

> My pain management doctor is of the opinion that pain is a self-

construct

> that we develop internally over time. The reality of our pain is

dynamic and

> changes. Since many of us are on medications that are usually

given to dying

> patients or are usually limited in their application, there is not

much

> known about how people deal with the use of such medications over

many

> years.

>

> This is an interesting idea and I have been thinking about it

since he

> talked to me about it a week or so ago. What are your thoughts on

this?

>

> Anyse

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Anyse,

Glad to hear the patch is helping. Maybe we'll get together for that java yet.

My experience with morphine in my acute attack was similar. Totally paranoid

about

calling out for my wife. It frustrated me for days after they took me off it

that I couldn't

count or tell the time on a clock.

Kurt (CA)

> I am on the Fentanyl patch and was just upped from 50 micro liters/hr to 75

> /hr. This is finally more effective and working as it should. I have worked

> up from 25/hr since February.

>

> I am extremely sensitive to morphine. When I was in the ICU and they were

> hitting me with the morphine, I became very disoriented, lost my sense of

> time, and became very paranoid that no one was coming in to check on me. I

> was a total nutcase. They moved me to dilauded after that and I was fine.

[Guest guest]

Anyse,

While you had replies to your post, I see that you really didn't have answers to

your

question:

> My pain management doctor is of the opinion that pain is a self-construct that

we

develop internally over time. The reality of our pain is dynamic and changes.

Since

many of us are on medications that are usually given to dying patients or are

usually

limited in their application, there is not much known about how people deal with

the

use of such medications over many years. (snip) What are your thoughts on

this?<

There are parts to this opinion by your pain management doctor that I agree

with,

specifically that our pain is dynamic and does change. But I can't say that I

accept

the idea that the pain is always a self-construct that we develop internally,

for while

there are times that our pain is more severe and requires more chemical narcotic

intervention to control, there are also times that the pain subsides enough for

pain

medication to be withdrawn or decreased substancially. So, in that sense, I

don't

believe that we are on a continual path of self-constructed pain that requires

more

and more narcotic control.

I use myself as an example. I also use the duragesic patch, and started at 25

mgs.

as everyone does. That dosage is what is recommended by the manufacturer's as a

starting dose for any patient taking opiods. Many people do have to increase

this

dosage, I did, and I eventually went up to a 75 mg, duragesic, changing every 48

hours, which I used for over one year. The increased dosage was necessary to

provide relief after a hospitalized pseudocyst inflamation and enlargement. I

found

though, that after a year of the increased dosage, that I didn't need that

strong of a

dosage and I was able to decrease my dosage and increase the time I was wearing

the patch, too. I dropped to a 50 mg. patch, worn for 72 hours, instead of 48.

And

as soon as all my surgeries are over, I am contemplating dropping down to a 25

mg.

patch, but only if I'm able to maintain the same level of functionability and

comfort

that I have achieved now.

The Pancreatologist at the Mayo Clinic who treated me discussed the question of

narcotic usage over an extended period of time, as I too, was interested in

knowing

whether use of the duragesic would hurt me if I were to continue to use it for

the

remainder of my life, or for as long as my pain continued. It was his opinion

that I

continued on the same dosage, (which then was 75 mgs.), it would NOT hurt me.

He said that he had studied the effects of long term usage and it was his

findings

that if it was controlled and used to relieve legitimate pain, it did not harm

the

patient's mental or physical capacities. I didn't ask for any formal research

evidence

or any further documentation, as it was during a physical exam and conference

with

the doctor and I didn't feel it would be appropriate to ask for anything more.

The only reason I've chosen to drop my duragesic dosage and increase the usage

duration is because of my own personal requirements. It wasn't suggested by any

of my doctors. it was my idea because I just don't NEED any more at this time.

I

felt that if I could lower the dosage as much as possible that it would give me

more

options, should I have another attack in the future.

I, too, would be interested to hear what other people's thoughts were about this

-

whether or not they thought continued usage would harm us, and why. Thanks for

bringing something so thought provoking to the MB.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

Southeastern Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

[Guest guest]

Heidi

I too have upped my meds when I needed to to 300 mg of morphine and

have downed them to the least levels I can. I take a lot of things

such as colindine taht I have access to now that decreases th emount

of meds you need for pain control

I have done this on my own without any doctor telling me. I am now

on 40 mg a day, but some day I need to take 150 of fats release to

get on top of the pain. I would rather have the lwoest dose I can to

function and then take quick acting pain releif when I need it at a

variable amount in my own home after the work day..

Debs

>

> Anyse,

>

> While you had replies to your post, I see that you really didn't

have answers to your

> question:

>

> > My pain management doctor is of the opinion that pain is a self-

construct that we

> develop internally over time. The reality of our pain is dynamic

and changes. Since

> many of us are on medications that are usually given to dying

patients or are usually

> limited in their application, there is not much known about how

people deal with the

> use of such medications over many years. (snip) What are your

thoughts on this?<

>

> There are parts to this opinion by your pain management doctor

that I agree with,

> specifically that our pain is dynamic and does change. But I

can't say that I accept

> the idea that the pain is always a self-construct that we develop

internally, for while

> there are times that our pain is more severe and requires more

chemical narcotic

> intervention to control, there are also times that the pain

subsides enough for pain

> medication to be withdrawn or decreased substancially. So, in

that sense, I don't

> believe that we are on a continual path of self-constructed pain

that requires more

> and more narcotic control.

>

> I use myself as an example. I also use the duragesic patch, and

started at 25 mgs.

> as everyone does. That dosage is what is recommended by the

manufacturer's as a

> starting dose for any patient taking opiods. Many people do have

to increase this

> dosage, I did, and I eventually went up to a 75 mg, duragesic,

changing every 48

> hours, which I used for over one year. The increased dosage was

necessary to

> provide relief after a hospitalized pseudocyst inflamation and

enlargement. I found

> though, that after a year of the increased dosage, that I didn't

need that strong of a

> dosage and I was able to decrease my dosage and increase the time

I was wearing

> the patch, too. I dropped to a 50 mg. patch, worn for 72 hours,

instead of 48. And

> as soon as all my surgeries are over, I am contemplating dropping

down to a 25 mg.

> patch, but only if I'm able to maintain the same level of

functionability and comfort

> that I have achieved now.

>

> The Pancreatologist at the Mayo Clinic who treated me discussed

the question of

> narcotic usage over an extended period of time, as I too, was

interested in knowing

> whether use of the duragesic would hurt me if I were to continue

to use it for the

> remainder of my life, or for as long as my pain continued. It was

his opinion that I

> continued on the same dosage, (which then was 75 mgs.), it would

NOT hurt me.

> He said that he had studied the effects of long term usage and it

was his findings

> that if it was controlled and used to relieve legitimate pain, it

did not harm the

> patient's mental or physical capacities. I didn't ask for any

formal research evidence

> or any further documentation, as it was during a physical exam and

conference with

> the doctor and I didn't feel it would be appropriate to ask for

anything more.

>

> The only reason I've chosen to drop my duragesic dosage and

increase the usage

> duration is because of my own personal requirements. It wasn't

suggested by any

> of my doctors. it was my idea because I just don't NEED any more

at this time. I

> felt that if I could lower the dosage as much as possible that it

would give me more

> options, should I have another attack in the future.

>

> I, too, would be interested to hear what other people's thoughts

were about this -

> whether or not they thought continued usage would harm us, and

why. Thanks for

> bringing something so thought provoking to the MB.

>

> With love, hope and prayers,

> Heidi

>

> Heidi H. Griffeth

> South Carolina Rep.

> Southeastern Regional Rep.

> PAI

>

> Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion, and

> should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.