Re: me again - to

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Try not to give up hope. I know this is difficult to do when you're dealing

with

pain every day and it seems like no matter what you do, nothing helps.....but

things will improve for you.

You should like the duragesic patch. When I first started wearing mine, it was

the first time I'd been able to get relief from the unrelenting pain and it was

a

lifesaver for me. I've had to have two increases in dosage, (I wear a 75 mg.

now, I started on 25 mgs. and then 8 months later went to 50 mgs., then 5

months later up to 75 mgs.), but the duragesic is STILL the only method of

narcotic pain control that has been the most effective for me. I have tried

them

all, Oxycontin, MS Contin, Oxycontin IR, Morphine, Percocet, Lortab, Dilaudid,

etc. The duragesic has been the most effective for me.That, combined with a

good short-acting medication for the breakthrough pain, is my preferred

method of pain control. Now I take Oxycodone (5 mgs.) for BT pain, up to 3

per day. What were you given for breakthrough pain? It's important that you

have that, too.

The patch can have side effects that make it unusable for some people.

Some people are irritated by the adhesive used on the patch, and they have

to stop using it. Fortunately, this has never been a problem for me. If you

treat

the area where the patch is going to be positioned with a spray antihistimene

(s.p.) like Benadryl first, that alieviates the irritation for many people.

Another

thing that bothers people is that the patch comes loose when they perspire

too much. Janssen will send any patch wearer a supply of adhesive film,

called Bioclusive for free. This clear patch is applied over the duragesic

patch

and helps it to stay on. If you find that you need those, just call Janssen at:

1-

on a business day and they will send them to you immediately.

They are very helpful and will answer any other questions you may have

about wearing the patch.

Another side effect of the duragesic that affects some people is excessive

sweating, Unfortunately, that's the one that affects me, I sweat so heavily at

night (only) that I have to change clothes two or three times each night.

Still, I

wouldn't consider giving up the duragesic for pain control.

So with this in mind, I do hope that it works as effectively for you and that it

will

finally give you the relief you need from your continuous pain. You said that

you didn't understand why you were still having it, and I just wanted to say

that

that's why this is called a chronic illness, it just doesn't go away like some.

I

don't understand, like you, why they can't find anything abnormal with all your

tests and everything. But your pain is apparent, and that means that

somewhere there's something going on to motivate it. Eventually, I'm sure the

doctors will find the evidence they need.

When your pain starts, how long does it last? Does it continue over a period

of days, and then abate, or is it just hours, and then stop, or is it

continuous, all

day and every day? I'm just curious. You had described where it was, and

how it felt, and I remember telling you that this was in locations very similar

to

my own. Do you ever get the sharp, nagging pain right in the middle of your

sternum, or the feeling that there is a tight band around your lower ribs and

back that keeps getting tighter?

In regards to your mother's comments that you should return to NY and have

your old GI take a look at you, would it be possible to go there for a visit and

have it done while you where there? I'm an original New Yorker myself, born

in Ithaca and raised in Lake Placid. Where in NY are you from? If you can't

get to NY, I do suggest that you go to the other doctor you were talking about.

As the NP said, it can't hurt, and it just may be that he finds something else,

or

knows about something else that can be done to help you.

Sorry about all the questions, I'm just by nature a curious person and now with

knowing all these people with CP, I want to know more about each one's

problems and issues. Sometimes when we talk about them here on the MB

someone else steps in and knows something else that can help. At least this

way we get to really understand our disease, and by doing so, we can help

each other with their problems.

One last thing before I end this novel. Have you spoken with any medical

professionals about your depression? It might be time that you do so, and it

may be recommended that you use an antidepressant to help you cope with

the depression and anxiety that you're going through. I know it made a big

difference to me when I was prescribed an antidepressant. Once I started on

those it did help me to cope and adjust to everything that was happening.

Those of us with a chronic condition, especially chronic pain, often need a

little extra help.

Take care, , and enjoy this holiday weekend as best you can. Things will

get better, and hopefully that duragesic patch will be the catalyst that makes

that happen. Write me back if you have any questions about it.

Think good thoughts,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on my personal opinion or

experiences only, and should not be substituted for a professional medical

consultation.