Pain Meds...

[Guest guest]

Pam,

Sorry I did not answer this sooner, I don't always get on here on the

weekends we get so busy doing family stuff. Anyhow, yeah I have allot

of Pain MED experience period. My combined hospital job with my pain

issues have given me that, and I can tell ya 10mg of oxy is not much

at all. When I started they tried me at ten and ended up going up to

20 mg, at my worse I was on 20mg 3x a day, so yeah 10mg is not much

at all, and with you coming off methadone it may not be enough. I

also took oxcodone (oxy ir immediate release is what it stands for)

3x a day for breakthrough pain. ALSO I was on this stuff after my

explant, before I was only on vicodin. Vicodin is what messed me up,

i had a stupid Rhuemy in CA who would give me 200 vicodin 7.5 mg and

tell my I could take up to 12 a day, eeegads, that is allot of

tylenol, i cringe now, but my liver labs were always ok. Anyhow here

in Idaho when I moved here 6 months after explant i still had chronic

pain and saw a specialist who said bye bye vicodin and put me on the

oxy combo which worked very well and was less pills per day. It was

better overall for my health i am sure because that was when I

started getting better. To be honest honey I have not been off pain

pills that long, it took me two years maybe, so don't worry about it,

some of us need them, and we should not be looked down upon or

anything. I do think that with the oxy it is a better drug and will

not give you so much side effects as methadone or other stuff, like

sleepyness, at least it never did to me! I always felt good on it,

just watch the constipation, eek. Eat allot of fiber and be careful

cause it can back things up. If your current Doc is not being nice

find a pain specialist, that will treat you with respect. I have to

say my Dr here in Idaho was awesome, never ever once did anyone there

have any problems or issues with treating me, I must say though that

I did not talk allot of breast issues with her, just told her I had

the pain etc, we menitoned the implants and my improved neuro stuff

since removal but at that time since I still had the pain it did not

seem to matter to much about the implants. Actually I still live with

foot pain and sometimes I tell ya I have moments where I think i

should get the stuff again. Her door is always an open option to me,

but at this point with my back pain and other stuff gone I try to

just get through it, the winters are the worse. Is it cold where you

are Pam? That could be agravating things too. Just hang in there, I

don't know how many times I have said this but I will continue, you

cannot give up the pain pils immediately if your in pain, you will

find the right time to wean slowly off them. Never EVER JUST QUIT

THESE DRUGS, you have to be weaned off slowly and for me I needed

some valium to get me though the anxiety of withdrawal, they are

heavy drugs, they are not meant to be stopped suddenly and you will

suffer if you do that. They say with oxy if you take less than 20mg a

day it is easy to withdraw, I took up to 60 so it was more work for

me, but you can do it when the time is right. THERE IS NO NEED TO

SUFFER NOW. NO ONE, can expect you to be cured overnight, there is

not a single woman I know that got better that fast.

My brain fog took at least 1 to 1 1/2 years to be totally gone, and

remember too, I only had my implants 18 months. Those things, plus my

extreme working out I believe is why my brain fog is gone while some

still have it. I HAVE NO BRAIN FOG, not for at least 1 year now.

I had one episode of dizziness that came and went one day when i was

going off thyroid meds, so that is it.

Hang in there, you can get better. Once you are stronger I HIGHLY

Recomend a good working out program, whatever you can do, as long as

it makes you sweat.

Hang in there it gets better.

hugs

In , " Pam " <nannapam37@y...> wrote:

> , I think you've had experience with oxycontin, right? I was

> on 5mg Methadone 2xday. 2 weeks ago I went to the pain management

dr

> and he told me that since my implants were out, my pain should go

> away, therefore I should start weaning off the Methadone. I

thought

> he was right but within a couple of days the pain started coming

back

> and I couldn't sleep and had to keep taking percocet throughout the

> day. I know that the pain will go away eventually, but it's just

too

> early to stop the pain meds. Anyway, I'm not going back to the

pain

> mgmt dr because he told me I would need a shrink if the pain came

> back!!! See, we're still being told we're crazy. IT MAKES ME SO

> MAD!!! $@ & %*#(@*@#)* That's me cussing! Sorry. Where was I?

Oh,

> back to the pain meds. I've also been having stomach pain for a

few

> months now - I'm sure it was caused by the meds I've been on - so I

> went to a gastroenterologist (boy that's a long word...) and he's

> going to do an endoscopy on the 19th. I told him about the pain

meds

> and that I weaned down but that I still need something until I can

> get to a new rheummy (since my other one dumped me!). He gave me

> 10mg oxycontin. I know it's the lowest dose possible but I was

> hoping it would help. Do you think it's comparable to the

> Methadone? I'm miserable and hurting so much. I can't sleep again

> and that just starts the pain cycle over and over again. I hate

this

> feeling. My brain fog and fatigue are coming back too. I know

that

> if I get the pain under control again my sleep will be better and

> thus the fatigue and thus the pain, right?!!

>

> I'm so embarassed and totally humiliated to even admit this, but

> today I had my grandson with me when I went to pick up one of my

> daughter's friends. She lost her keys at a hotel party and had no

> shoes...long story...anyway I took one of her other friends with me

> to get the friend that lost her keys. When I got there I got out

of

> the car and locked it. I went inside and helped her look for her

> keys and DID NOT REMEMBER MY GRANDBABY WAS EVEN IN THE CAR WITH

> ME!!!!!! Thank God he was ok. I was only gone 6 minutes, but this

> is the kind of stuff that scares me with the brainfog. I've been

> terrified ever since he was born that I would do something like

> that. I have 3 kids and was 20 when I had my daughter. I drank

> heavily and smoked a little...yes I inhaled! But not once did I

ever

> leave her in a car or forget that I had her with me. GOD I HATE

THIS

> BRAIN FOG!!! Sorry, I didn't mean to say all that. I just can't

> believe it happened. It gets so much worse when I'm over fatigued

> and in pain. I'm so jealous to hear that yours is totally gone. I

> know mine will get better in time.

>

> Pam

[Guest guest]

Hi Sam:

There are some other pain meds that also might work for you that you should check out - like Darvocet, Ultracet, Ultram, a bunch of other stuff, too.

I was on Humira for a couple of years and was able to come down quite a ways on the Prednisone. Give it a good 3 months for it to kick in.

Good luck to you.

gloria

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone...

This is my second post, thanks for all of the feedback on Humira and getting

discouraged. I

don't think I am quite ready to try the gin raisins yet... However, I just went

down one more

mg on my prednisone and have stopped the Enbrel in anticipation of beginning the

Humira...

OUCH!!! I see my family physician on Monday, and am wondering if it is

appropriate to ask

for a prescription for Vicodin? I tried some tylenol with codiene the other

night and it really

didn't help. I took Vicodin in the past after various surgeries and it really

worked for me. I

only seem to have uncontrollable pain in the late afternoon and into the

evening.

Theoretically the pain should subside once I adjust to the new prednisone levels

and/or the

Humira kicks in right????

I guess I am nervous about sounding like a " desperate housewife/stay at home mom

on

pills " ... Any opinions?

You guys are really an awesome group, thanks for the support!

Sam

[Guest guest]

Hi Sam,

I definitely think you should ask for and receive some kind of pain med, be it

Vicodin or Percoset, as you might experience a painful flare in the same old,

or possibly new joints waiting for the Humira to kick in.

Eliz

> Hello everyone...

> This is my second post, thanks for all of the feedback on Humira and getting

discouraged. I

> don't think I am quite ready to try the gin raisins yet... However, I just

went

down one more

> mg on my prednisone and have stopped the Enbrel in anticipation of

beginning the Humira...

> OUCH!!! I see my family physician on Monday, and am wondering if it is

appropriate to ask

> for a prescription for Vicodin? I tried some tylenol with codiene the other

night and it really

> didn't help. I took Vicodin in the past after various surgeries and it really

worked for me. I

> only seem to have uncontrollable pain in the late afternoon and into the

evening.

> Theoretically the pain should subside once I adjust to the new prednisone

levels and/or the

> Humira kicks in right????

>

> I guess I am nervous about sounding like a " desperate housewife/stay at

home mom on

> pills " ... Any opinions?

>

> You guys are really an awesome group, thanks for the support!

> Sam

[Guest guest]

Isn't it funny, lots of people can recommend that others get on meds asap

yet when those of us who have had success in treating our disease in a more

healthful manner push a health lifestyle it's frowned upon.........I don't

get this.

And I'm not trying to be offensive to you ..............we all

recommend what has seemingly worked for us.

Dorey

www.LivingWithRheumatoidArthritis.com

----- Original Message -----

From: " " <catdelouise@...>

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >

Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2005 7:30 AM

Subject: Re: Pain Meds...

> Hi Sam,

>

> I definitely think you should ask for and receive some kind of pain med,

> be it

> Vicodin or Percoset, as you might experience a painful flare in the same

> old,

> or possibly new joints waiting for the Humira to kick in.

>

> Eliz

>

>

>> Hello everyone...

>> This is my second post, thanks for all of the feedback on Humira and

>> getting

> discouraged. I

>> don't think I am quite ready to try the gin raisins yet... However, I

>> just went

> down one more

>> mg on my prednisone and have stopped the Enbrel in anticipation of

> beginning the Humira...

>> OUCH!!! I see my family physician on Monday, and am wondering if it is

> appropriate to ask

>> for a prescription for Vicodin? I tried some tylenol with codiene the

>> other

> night and it really

>> didn't help. I took Vicodin in the past after various surgeries and it

>> really

> worked for me. I

>> only seem to have uncontrollable pain in the late afternoon and into the

> evening.

>> Theoretically the pain should subside once I adjust to the new prednisone

> levels and/or the

>> Humira kicks in right????

>>

>> I guess I am nervous about sounding like a " desperate housewife/stay at

> home mom on

>> pills " ... Any opinions?

>>

>> You guys are really an awesome group, thanks for the support!

>> Sam

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Since you mentioned my name, , I felt I should reply. I answered her

question the way I did because she had asked specifically about pain

medication and nothing else. And pain meds don't seemingly work for me,

they just plain do work for me! I use them only when I am in extreme pain.

You may not remember, but several months ago I did ask you what natural

supplements, diets and vitamins you were taking. I am very open to

Complimentary/Alternative medicine and diets.

> >> Hello everyone...

> >> This is my second post, thanks for all of the feedback on Humira and

> >> getting

> > discouraged. I

> >> don't think I am quite ready to try the gin raisins yet... However, I

> >> just went

> > down one more

> >> mg on my prednisone and have stopped the Enbrel in anticipation of

> > beginning the Humira...

> >> OUCH!!! I see my family physician on Monday, and am wondering if it is

> > appropriate to ask

> >> for a prescription for Vicodin? I tried some tylenol with codiene the

> >> other

> > night and it really

> >> didn't help. I took Vicodin in the past after various surgeries and it

> >> really

> > worked for me. I

> >> only seem to have uncontrollable pain in the late afternoon and into the

> > evening.

> >> Theoretically the pain should subside once I adjust to the new

prednisone

> > levels and/or the

> >> Humira kicks in right????

> >>

> >> I guess I am nervous about sounding like a " desperate housewife/stay at

> > home mom on

> >> pills " ... Any opinions?

> >>

> >> You guys are really an awesome group, thanks for the support!

> >> Sam

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I didn't mean to start a controversy... I too believe in trying alternatives to drugs. I have been getting in the pool as often as possible as that helps with the pain. However after a day of playing with five year old twin boys and a very active two year old, I hurt! I refuse to give up being a mom to this nasty disease, it's not fair to my kids or to me! If some pain pills will allow me to sleep and wake up feeling rested and ready to tackle another day, then so be it. I am hopeful and optimistic that once the prednisone is gone and the Humira has kicked in that pain meds will not be necessary. Once again thank you for your input and support,SamOn Jun 12, 2005, at 7:58 AM, wrote: Since you mentioned my name, , I felt I should reply.  I answered her question the way I did because she had asked specifically about pain medication and nothing else.  And pain meds don't seemingly work for me, they just plain do work for me!  I use them only when I am in extreme pain. You may not remember, but several months ago I did ask you what natural supplements, diets and vitamins you were taking.  I am very open to Complimentary/Alternative medicine and diets. > >> Hello everyone... > >> This is my second post, thanks for all of the feedback on Humira and > >> getting > > discouraged. I > >> don't think I am quite ready to try the gin raisins yet... However, I > >> just went > > down one more > >> mg on my prednisone and have stopped the Enbrel in anticipation of > > beginning the Humira... > >> OUCH!!!  I see my family physician on Monday, and am wondering if it is > > appropriate to ask > >> for a prescription for Vicodin? I tried some tylenol with codiene the > >> other > > night and it really > >> didn't help. I took Vicodin in the past after various surgeries and it > >> really > > worked for me. I > >> only seem to have uncontrollable pain in the late afternoon and into the > > evening. > >> Theoretically the pain should subside once I adjust to the new prednisone > > levels and/or the > >> Humira kicks in right???? > >> > >> I guess I am nervous about sounding like a "desperate housewife/stay at > > home mom on > >> pills"... Any opinions? > >> > >> You guys are really an awesome group, thanks for the support! > >> Sam > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

I have been on morphine and ms contin for the past 10 years..My doctor did have me on medical marijuana (pills) but all they did was give me major headaches..In the 10 years I have never had any side effects from the morphine..I have been to several pain management doctors and they have all told me if I have to take a pain drug that morphine would be the one to take because it is a clean drug..All the other pain meds caused my liver to enlarge but have not had that occur since I started the morphine..At present I take 10 mil of morphine every 2 hours as needed and the ms contin (slow release) I take 60 mil every 8 hours..I try and stay away from the straight morphine as much as possible as not to become dependent on it but do take it when necessary..I have quit taking both on several occasions as it can be quite expensive and I don't have prescription coverage and as long as you decrease it in small doses there should be no side effects..The only issue I have with the morphine is that once your system gets used to a certain dosage it has to be increased to keep up with the pain..Hope that information helps you..Jill

-- Pain Meds...

I have recently been given Morphine and it scares me to death,I don't want to be addicted to drugs so I don't take the meds as I should and end up with only minor pain relief. Is there anyone who can help me get over this huge fear of these meds?! I was on the Duragesic Pain patches but my 41 yr old cousin just died of an overdose using the patches.His doctor told him to put 2 of them on at the same time and on the first day of his use. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT for thesedrugs and I now have an almost unreasonable fear. I cannot seem to catch my breath because I am so scared half the time,and I am totally freaked out about upcoming surgery,my 4th fusion surgery. I have been reading some of these horror stories about surgery on some other boards andit has me really upset. I guess I will do what I do best and hide myhead in the sand to avoid a total nervous breakdown! lol!! Any good input of a happy nature would maybe help me dislodge this huge lump in my throat so I can breathe and eat again would be awesome!! Thank You in advance and my husbands thanks will be added when I can calm down!!

[Guest guest]

You have great descriptive powers! I am sorry to hear you are going

through so much anxiety right now, but I do appreciate how vividly

you write about such phenomena as the lump in your throat.

I do not know what to tell you about morphine and other narcotics,

except that of course you always have the right to refuse them.

Those of us who have needed to take these meds longer term have

REALLY needed them, needless to say, so perhaps you likewise feel

that you really have no choice. With pain of 8 or 9 on a scale of

10, it is hard to think of any other viable treatment.

The available studies seem to indicate that addiction is NOT a

problem for patients with severe chronic pain receiving ongoing

narcotic therapy. One exception might be a patient who already had

difficulties with substance abuse before developing the pain

condition, in which case a competent pain management specialist

would undoubtedly be especially careful and watchful while providing

needed pain relief.

What a shocking and horrible thing, to lose your cousin that way. I

am so sorry to hear about this. No wonder you are apprehensive --

who wouldn't be?

I hope that others in this group may be able to address your worries

more specifically with respect to pain medication. Regarding the

surgery itself, I can assure you that your fears are entirely

normal. Most of us were pretty terrified preoperatively. I believe

that denial is a great way to deal with such terror, and I have

encountered at least a few fellow-revision-surgery-folks over the

years who share my sentiments. One patient I met online (herself a

research physician with the National Institutes of Health) told me

that throughout the last few months before her flatback revision

procedure, she was constantly singing Gilbert & Sullivan lyrics she

had memorized -- either to herself or out loud --rather than letting

herself think for even a moment about what lay ahead.

Best,

> I have recently been given Morphine and it scares me to death,I

don't

> want to be addicted to drugs so I don't take the meds as I should

and

> end up with only minor pain relief. Is there anyone who can help

me

> get over this huge fear of these meds?! I was on the Duragesic

Pain

> patches but my 41 yr old cousin just died of an overdose using the

> patches.His doctor told him to put 2 of them on at the same time

and

> on the first day of his use. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT for these

> drugs

> and I now have an almost unreasonable fear. I cannot seem to catch

my

> breath because I am so scared half the time,and I am totally

freaked

> out about upcoming surgery,my 4th fusion surgery. I have been

reading

> some of these horror stories about surgery on some other boards and

> it

> has me really upset. I guess I will do what I do best and hide my

> head

> in the sand to avoid a total nervous breakdown! lol!!

> Any good input of a happy nature would maybe help me dislodge this

> huge lump in my throat so I can breathe and eat again would be

> awesome!! Thank You in advance and my husbands thanks will be

added

> when I can calm down!!

[Guest guest]

I was given Morphine in 1966 and 67 after the back operations. They

didn't have the pump then, and when it wore off, and sometimes the

nurses were too busy to give the shot, I did experience withdrawal.

I know I was scared, too, and so was my mother, because my

grandfather got addicted to Morphine after a heart attack---he was

disabled for life. However, that was in the 1950's.

But don't worry, things have changed.

I used the new IV setup where you push a button to deliver it---it

is set so that you cannot overdose!

I had operations on my back in 2001, 2001, 2004, and 2005--and did

NOT become addicted to morphine.

You might also try listening to relaxation tapes before you go in,

that helped me a lot. And if you know how to do the Yoga breath, try

that before you go in to relax (or ask someone to teach you how.)

I even had Oxycontin after 2000 and 2001, and did not become addicted

to that either...

Good luck!

in Oakland

At 11:32 PM 9/10/2005, txsred35 wrote:

>I have recently been given Morphine and it scares me to death,I don't

>want to be addicted to drugs so I don't take the meds as I should and

>end up with only minor pain relief. Is there anyone who can help me

>get over this huge fear of these meds?! I was on the Duragesic Pain

>patches but my 41 yr old cousin just died of an overdose using the

>patches.His doctor told him to put 2 of them on at the same time and

>on the first day of his use. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT for these

>drugs

>and I now have an almost unreasonable fear. I cannot seem to catch my

>breath because I am so scared half the time,and I am totally freaked

>out about upcoming surgery,my 4th fusion surgery. I have been reading

>some of these horror stories about surgery on some other boards and

>it

>has me really upset. I guess I will do what I do best and hide my

>head

>in the sand to avoid a total nervous breakdown! lol!!

>Any good input of a happy nature would maybe help me dislodge this

>huge lump in my throat so I can breathe and eat again would be

>awesome!! Thank You in advance and my husbands thanks will be added

>when I can calm down!!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod

>Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control

>ads or endorse any advertised products.

>

[Guest guest]

I actually think it is good to have a healthy ear of some of these

more potent drugs. But of course that point is well served by weighing

it against the seriousness of our condition. A friend of mine who is a

nurse recently spoke with me about these types of powerful drugs. He

said they were meant for people who have chronic and severe pain. He ( a

male nurse) said I should not feel bad about taking them. He said they

were " meant " for people like me. People with severe and chronic pain.

When asked by some people what I take for pain and I tell them Oxycontin.

It does tend to raise an eyebrow or two.. At this point, I just don't

pay them any mind . I used to feel uncomfortable about taking these pain

meds. I really felt uncomfortable telling anyone that I do. So I tended

to under use them. to my own detriment. Now I am unapologetic about using

them The truth of the matter is that these pain meds are keeping me

functioning in my daily life. I now consider them a Godsend. I don't

abuse them at all. I too have a healthy respect for them.

My the pain doctor said I could take them twice a day. It is only 20

mg of Oxycontin but it does take " the edge off " of the more severe pain

temporarily. I also take one Flexerill (muscle relaxer) 5mg at night

before I go to sleep. Unfortunately these types of pain meds have gotten

a " bad rap " from the media . The people who have used them

recreationally to get " High " have done us all a disservice. .

Unfortunately, the fall out of this lands on people like us who

desperately need them just to be able to live another day with this pain.

We are sometimes looked on suspiciously by some individuals who go by

heresy, not based on facts.

It's really is a shame that this is so. It makes it even more difficult

for those of us who were never fond of taking pills in the first place.

You do have a healthy respect for these powerful drugs which is always a

good thing. When you find one that works for you it will improve your

life tremendously. Good luck in finding the right one that suits your

needs. PS I was offered the Durogesic patch last year. It didn't agree

with me at all. I tried to take them under the doctors supervision but I

became violently ill and nauseous. Now, in retrospect I am glad that my

body rejected them from the get go. seeing how they are reacting on

some unfortunate souls since. So back then I told the doc about the

reaction I was having, and his reply was to just keep taking them. ! He

said that I would eventually get used to them. That didn't sit well

with me. I decided to go by my own instincts and took myself off of

them. Needless to say I no longer see that doctor

Carol

.......................................................

txsred35 said

I have recently been given Morphine and it scares me to death,I don't

want to be addicted to drugs so I don't take the meds as I should and

end up with only minor pain relief. Is there anyone who can help me

get over this huge fear of these meds?! I was on the Duragesic Pain

patches but my 41 yr old cousin just died of an overdose using the

patches.His doctor told him to put 2 of them on at the same time and

on the first day of his use. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT for these

drugs

and I now have an almost unreasonable fear. I cannot seem to catch my

breath because I am so scared half the time,and I am totally freaked

out about upcoming surgery,my 4th fusion surgery. I have been reading

some of these horror stories about surgery on some other boards and

it

has me really upset. I guess I will do what I do best and hide my

head

in the sand to avoid a total nervous breakdown! lol!!

Any good input of a happy nature would maybe help me dislodge this

huge lump in my throat so I can breathe and eat again would be

awesome!! Thank You in advance and my husbands thanks will be added

when

[Guest guest]

You make some excellent points here, Carol. Thanks for sharing your

experience and your thoughts on this subject.

> I actually think it is good to have a healthy ear of some of

these

> more potent drugs. But of course that point is well served by

weighing

> it against the seriousness of our condition. A friend of mine who

is a

> nurse recently spoke with me about these types of powerful drugs.

He

> said they were meant for people who have chronic and severe pain.

He ( a

> male nurse) said I should not feel bad about taking them. He said

they

> were " meant " for people like me. People with severe and chronic

pain.

>

> When asked by some people what I take for pain and I tell them

Oxycontin.

> It does tend to raise an eyebrow or two.. At this point, I just

don't

> pay them any mind . I used to feel uncomfortable about taking

these pain

> meds. I really felt uncomfortable telling anyone that I do. So I

tended

> to under use them. to my own detriment. Now I am unapologetic

about using

> them The truth of the matter is that these pain meds are keeping

me

> functioning in my daily life. I now consider them a Godsend. I

don't

> abuse them at all. I too have a healthy respect for them.

>

> My the pain doctor said I could take them twice a day. It is

only 20

> mg of Oxycontin but it does take " the edge off " of the more

severe pain

> temporarily. I also take one Flexerill (muscle relaxer) 5mg at

night

> before I go to sleep. Unfortunately these types of pain meds have

gotten

> a " bad rap " from the media . The people who have used them

> recreationally to get " High " have done us all a disservice. .

> Unfortunately, the fall out of this lands on people like us who

> desperately need them just to be able to live another day with

this pain.

> We are sometimes looked on suspiciously by some individuals who

go by

> heresy, not based on facts.

> It's really is a shame that this is so. It makes it even more

difficult

> for those of us who were never fond of taking pills in the first

place.

>

> You do have a healthy respect for these powerful drugs which is

always a

> good thing. When you find one that works for you it will improve

your

> life tremendously. Good luck in finding the right one that suits

your

> needs. PS I was offered the Durogesic patch last year. It didn't

agree

> with me at all. I tried to take them under the doctors

supervision but I

> became violently ill and nauseous. Now, in retrospect I am glad

that my

> body rejected them from the get go. That is seeing how the

patches are

> reacting on some unfortunate souls that I have been hearing about

> lately. . So back then I told the doc about the reaction I was

having,

> and his reply was to 'just keep taking them ! " He gave me an

antacid

> to go with them and insisted this would help. It didn't. I kept

having

> the same reaction. He said that I would eventually get used to

them.

>

> As you can see this is what the doctors were telling some

patients

> then. And we are programmed to trust our doctors. We go to

them for

> relief and are paying them for their good judgement. But those

patches

> just didn't sit well with me. I decided to go by my own

instincts and

> took myself off of them. Even though this particular doctor meant

well I

> am sure, the fact remains that he wasn't paying attention to

this, and

> he should have. Needless to say I no longer see that doctor

> Carol

>

>

>

>

> ......................................................txsred35 said

>

> I have recently been given Morphine and it scares me to death,I

don't

> want to be addicted to drugs so I don't take the meds as I should

and

> end up with only minor pain relief. Is there anyone who can help

me

> get over this huge fear of these meds?! I was on the Duragesic

Pain

> patches but my 41 yr old cousin just died of an overdose using the

> patches.His doctor told him to put 2 of them on at the same time

and

> on the first day of his use. I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT for these

> drugs

> and I now have an almost unreasonable fear. I cannot seem to catch

my

> breath because I am so scared half the time,and I am totally

freaked

> out about upcoming surgery,my 4th fusion surgery. I have been

reading

> some of these horror stories about surgery on some other boards and

> it

> has me really upset. I guess I will do what I do best and hide my

> head

> in the sand to avoid a total nervous breakdown! lol!!

> Any good input of a happy nature would maybe help me dislodge this

> huge lump in my throat so I can breathe and eat again would be

> awesome!! Thank You in advance and my husbands thanks will be

added

> when