Need some info on Fentanyl patches
She is worried that the patch might be causing her some of the pain, some of her symptoms mimic the withdrawls of the patch itself. ANd with having gone up in the dose so fast, is it because of the pain from the fibro or withdrawls? See what I am asking?
Her doctor is wanting her to detox from this patch, without attempting to find another way of controlling her pain, however for someone that was in so much pain that she seriously considered suicide, this is not an option. Thank God we are moving and she will soon have what I hope a better pain doctor and better pain management.
I am just kind of hoping that someone here can shed some light on this patch and share how it worked for them and what not.
Thanks for listening to me, BTW I see my ONC today for my last set of test results before I move, please keep me in your prayers and good thoughts.
God Bless All
Beth
Comments
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I didn't but, my beau....
for every ablation, he behaved badly afterwards...complaining (sigh) of major pain. So, we learned to have the fentanyl patch at the ready. That's the only exposure I've had...and they gave him enough to stop a horse...
My sister used it...I will call her....I remember that she had a bit of trouble weaning off...the doctor tried to do it too fast, and she got REAL moody!
I, too, am glad Wendy is going to change docs...look up pain management clinics in your new area, then maybe even make an appointment before you move, for after you get there!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
Patch
Hi Beth, I used a Fentanyl patch for 3/4 of a year and had good results with it. I'm not positive of the dosage, I think it may have been a 50 that I wore for 72 hours then would change it. The thing I really liked about it was that it was worry-free and gave the continuous relief. I used dilaudid for break-though pain. The only problem that I ran into was that I started swimming every day and the patch would not stay on properly. I've heard others that used it while swimming with no problems.
I can't believe her "doctor"(?) told her that. I'd run away from him (or motorcycle) as fast as I could. I would be cautious about getting off the patch. Things like that are tricky. I'm surprised he's not offering more help but then again, from what you say about him I'm not really surprised. There is a medication called Lyrica that is all over the TV. That can cause suicidal tendencies from what I have heard.
I'm sorry she is going through so much pain, I can relate.
I hope all goes well with your visit too Beth.
-phil0 -
ThanksPhillieG said:Patch
Hi Beth, I used a Fentanyl patch for 3/4 of a year and had good results with it. I'm not positive of the dosage, I think it may have been a 50 that I wore for 72 hours then would change it. The thing I really liked about it was that it was worry-free and gave the continuous relief. I used dilaudid for break-though pain. The only problem that I ran into was that I started swimming every day and the patch would not stay on properly. I've heard others that used it while swimming with no problems.
I can't believe her "doctor"(?) told her that. I'd run away from him (or motorcycle) as fast as I could. I would be cautious about getting off the patch. Things like that are tricky. I'm surprised he's not offering more help but then again, from what you say about him I'm not really surprised. There is a medication called Lyrica that is all over the TV. That can cause suicidal tendencies from what I have heard.
I'm sorry she is going through so much pain, I can relate.
I hope all goes well with your visit too Beth.
-phil
I remembered you were one of the ones that had used the patch. Yes this doctor is out there and I am so glad she will be getting a new doctor. She is actually on the phone right now trying to set up an appointment with a new pain doctor in San Antonio. I am very upset that this doctor has not attempted to find a better way of her dealing with the pain, other then just giving her pills/patch. She is on Lyrica as well for the Fibro, it however does not stop the pain. She is just extremely stressed over wondering if she can find a doctor in San Antonio that is going to prescibe her the patch so that she wont be in pain. Once that stress is relieved then we can focus on getting her a better treatment plan. Not to mention stress can cause your body all kinds of havoc. Thanks for your post...
Beth0 -
She isKathiM said:I didn't but, my beau....
for every ablation, he behaved badly afterwards...complaining (sigh) of major pain. So, we learned to have the fentanyl patch at the ready. That's the only exposure I've had...and they gave him enough to stop a horse...
My sister used it...I will call her....I remember that she had a bit of trouble weaning off...the doctor tried to do it too fast, and she got REAL moody!
I, too, am glad Wendy is going to change docs...look up pain management clinics in your new area, then maybe even make an appointment before you move, for after you get there!
Hugs, Kathi
doing just that, on the phone right now. Its just such a pain having to switch doctors and insurances. Its stressful but has to be done. Thanks for the post, I am interested in what your sister has to say about the patch and getting off of it. I dont know how she does it, I would be in a coma if I were to take half of what she is taking (lightweight here).
Thanks again
Beth0 -
Hey Beth!dorookie said:Thanks
I remembered you were one of the ones that had used the patch. Yes this doctor is out there and I am so glad she will be getting a new doctor. She is actually on the phone right now trying to set up an appointment with a new pain doctor in San Antonio. I am very upset that this doctor has not attempted to find a better way of her dealing with the pain, other then just giving her pills/patch. She is on Lyrica as well for the Fibro, it however does not stop the pain. She is just extremely stressed over wondering if she can find a doctor in San Antonio that is going to prescibe her the patch so that she wont be in pain. Once that stress is relieved then we can focus on getting her a better treatment plan. Not to mention stress can cause your body all kinds of havoc. Thanks for your post...
Beth
I don't know much about the patch, but let Wendy know I'm thinking about her, well, both of you! and hope it does work for her, I hate hearing of how much in pain she is, and really hope this works for her. You are both always in my prayers, and damn, you really do need a better doctor, I can't believe he said that crap, how did you not kick his butt LOL...
I also take oxycodone for breakthrough which works pretty well for me, along with the oxycontins!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving though, and a blessed one! I'll pray for you all!
Hugsss!
~Donna0 -
aargh!
Hi Beth,
It makes my blood boil to hear what things doctors will say to people! It reminds me of when I was thinking I might have rheumatoid arthritis due to my joint pain and also my mom has it and so did my grandma. Anyhow, the testing all came back normal, but I read that in some people they can still have it even with a normal test. Due to my symptoms, I was thinking I did. So, my primary doc sent me to a rheumatologist. What a jerk! He was intently listening, until he realized I have cancer & that changed everything. He told me "you don't have arthritis" (even though my xray report said "probable degenerative joint disease" in three different locations). He continued to say, "Even if you do have arthritis, I wouldn't give you anything more than Advil for it because the meds are too much with your chemo treatments. If you get to the point where you're ready to jump off a bridge due to the pain, then come back and we'll talk more." It was all I could do to fight off the tears during that appt. I was in such shock to what he said, that I didn't even feel the anger until I was halfway driving home.
When my father-in-law was diagnosed with merkel cell carcinoma a couple of years ago, I heard about how his doctor was going to do nothing and told him it's a slow growing cancer. I researched and it's actually a very fast growing cancer, often already metastasized by the time the skin lesion is even discovered. So, I went to the next appt with him. When I brought up having a CT scan to see if it had metastasized, he hemmed and hawed, then finally said, "Medicare doesn't want to pay for such expensive tests!" I couldn't believe he actually said that. We ended up going to an oncologist next, who promptly ordered the CT (which was fortunately negative for any metastatsis).
Anyhow, it's just saddening and amazing what some doctors will say or behave like.
How can doctors be so heartless? I will pray that both you and Wendy find good doctors when you move. How soon is your move going to be?
Lisa0 -
General Info
I'm not sure if I can provide any info that you don't already know. First, I'm so sorry for what you two are going through. Second, it sounds like her doc is an **** with no bedside manner at all. Change docs as soon as possible. Sorry to be so blunt. As a nurse myself and as a patient and caregiver to my mom whose first onc was a real ****, this guy was a real piece of work, I just don't have any tolerance for doctors who don't have any more sense of courtesy and/or compassion than that. The Fentanyl patch comes in several dosages ranging from 12mcg/hr to 100mcg/hr. Depending on her size/weight she should be able to tolerate the 100 mcg/hr. Now if she weighs less than 100 lbs that's a different story. The most common side effect is constipation. The patch is to be changed every 72 hours. When applying the patch, just place it on and make sure it is adhered well but do NOT rub it excessively to adhere. If the Fentanyl is not controlling her pain for fibromyalgia, she needs to try something else. I have seen good results with patients who have been prescribed Oxycontin. She could supplement the Fentanyl with Oxycontin pills. There is also a pill called Lyrica which has provided many fibromyalgia patients with significant relief. I personally have a friend who uses Oxy and Lyrica and has been able to get off the patch. I don't know what the answer is for her but I do know that a good start would certainly be a new doc. I wish you both good luck with your situations. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Janet0 -
my next door neighborJanet3 said:General Info
I'm not sure if I can provide any info that you don't already know. First, I'm so sorry for what you two are going through. Second, it sounds like her doc is an **** with no bedside manner at all. Change docs as soon as possible. Sorry to be so blunt. As a nurse myself and as a patient and caregiver to my mom whose first onc was a real ****, this guy was a real piece of work, I just don't have any tolerance for doctors who don't have any more sense of courtesy and/or compassion than that. The Fentanyl patch comes in several dosages ranging from 12mcg/hr to 100mcg/hr. Depending on her size/weight she should be able to tolerate the 100 mcg/hr. Now if she weighs less than 100 lbs that's a different story. The most common side effect is constipation. The patch is to be changed every 72 hours. When applying the patch, just place it on and make sure it is adhered well but do NOT rub it excessively to adhere. If the Fentanyl is not controlling her pain for fibromyalgia, she needs to try something else. I have seen good results with patients who have been prescribed Oxycontin. She could supplement the Fentanyl with Oxycontin pills. There is also a pill called Lyrica which has provided many fibromyalgia patients with significant relief. I personally have a friend who uses Oxy and Lyrica and has been able to get off the patch. I don't know what the answer is for her but I do know that a good start would certainly be a new doc. I wish you both good luck with your situations. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Janet
My neighbor is having a terrible time. He is a policeman, he's been unable to work since he needed shoulder surgery three years ago. They first put him on lortabs for pain, then the pain got worse and they put him on oxycontin, then they put him on fentanyl. I guess until recently none of his doctors bothered to ask why he was in so much pain. As it turns out, he is having some kind of reaction to the pain meds. He's been in the hospital for a few weeks now, I think they are trying to ween him off without killing him or him killing himself. I know it is a horrible situation for him. Is she having a reaction to the pain meds?0 -
Thats a good questionsnommintj said:my next door neighbor
My neighbor is having a terrible time. He is a policeman, he's been unable to work since he needed shoulder surgery three years ago. They first put him on lortabs for pain, then the pain got worse and they put him on oxycontin, then they put him on fentanyl. I guess until recently none of his doctors bothered to ask why he was in so much pain. As it turns out, he is having some kind of reaction to the pain meds. He's been in the hospital for a few weeks now, I think they are trying to ween him off without killing him or him killing himself. I know it is a horrible situation for him. Is she having a reaction to the pain meds?
That is exactly what we are trying to figure out. We are not sure if at this point its actually the pain from the Fibro or from the pain meds. She made an appointment already with a new doctor in San Antonio, so I am praying this doctor will be much better. We actually start driving from Phoenix to TX next week. Thanks for you post.
Beth0 -
patchdorookie said:Thats a good question
That is exactly what we are trying to figure out. We are not sure if at this point its actually the pain from the Fibro or from the pain meds. She made an appointment already with a new doctor in San Antonio, so I am praying this doctor will be much better. We actually start driving from Phoenix to TX next week. Thanks for you post.
Beth
The fentanyl patch is a very powerful pain control med that makes me very nervous. If i had a choice i would seek an alternative pain control. My brothers wife died from using it last november, and she is one of many as sometimes they malfunction and too much leaks into the bloodstream. There are certain things that go along with using it that you have to be extra careful with and i think sometimes the doctors do not tell the patients. I hope she can get some relief.0 -
Thank youpolarprincess said:patch
The fentanyl patch is a very powerful pain control med that makes me very nervous. If i had a choice i would seek an alternative pain control. My brothers wife died from using it last november, and she is one of many as sometimes they malfunction and too much leaks into the bloodstream. There are certain things that go along with using it that you have to be extra careful with and i think sometimes the doctors do not tell the patients. I hope she can get some relief.
and I agree, I worry all the time about her using it, but it has been the only thing that has given her any relief thus far. We will be looking into other options as soon as we move. I am so sorry to her about your SIL, that is very sad.
God Bless
Beth0 -
@Dorookie: my mom used
@Dorookie: my mom used fentanyl patches....it is not as "bad" as it sounds...she started at 50 and her first and immediately side effect was constipation. By time, she also needed to increase the dosage....the higher we went, the more she slept during the day (and of course constipation was always the issue). Personally, I don't think you can die that easily from the patch..yes, of course, overdosing can cause death, but it's not easy to die (generally speaking too). My mom's last dosage was 400 and by that time not every 72 hours, but everyday adding a new 100 patch and removing one to make sure that the 400 "peak" is on everyday. And next to this 400 we were also getting pain killer pains as well...
Good luck to you, I wish you all the best, hope my message helped a little! And I wish you and everyone else on this board a very Happy Thanksgiving!0 -
Thank yousharpy102 said:@Dorookie: my mom used
@Dorookie: my mom used fentanyl patches....it is not as "bad" as it sounds...she started at 50 and her first and immediately side effect was constipation. By time, she also needed to increase the dosage....the higher we went, the more she slept during the day (and of course constipation was always the issue). Personally, I don't think you can die that easily from the patch..yes, of course, overdosing can cause death, but it's not easy to die (generally speaking too). My mom's last dosage was 400 and by that time not every 72 hours, but everyday adding a new 100 patch and removing one to make sure that the 400 "peak" is on everyday. And next to this 400 we were also getting pain killer pains as well...
Good luck to you, I wish you all the best, hope my message helped a little! And I wish you and everyone else on this board a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Can I ask why your mom was using it? Does she have cancer? Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. Wendy just started the 100s today and is a bit worried about going to sleep, but I can say she is not feeling any pain, which is a really good thing. I hope that she can maintain at 100, meaning I hope this is the dose that works for her. Again thank you
God Bless
Beth0 -
..dorookie said:Thank you
Can I ask why your mom was using it? Does she have cancer? Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. Wendy just started the 100s today and is a bit worried about going to sleep, but I can say she is not feeling any pain, which is a really good thing. I hope that she can maintain at 100, meaning I hope this is the dose that works for her. Again thank you
God Bless
Beth
opps i worded that wrong..it was not my brothers wife that died, it was his best friends wife. Hers was a malfunction of the patch which occurs every so often it was just plain bad luck. evidently about 250 people die a year from it. It was also on Dr G medical examiner as one of her cases. For the thousands that ise it, of course those numbers are small. What people can do to trigger their own overdose is to drink alcohol, use waterbeds or heating pads or hot tubs etc.. those are the things the doctors often forget to tell patients. The alcohol is a no brainer i suppose...0 -
Patch
Hi, Beth,
John is on Fentanyl (or they're on him) and has had real relief with them for a while now. He started on 12.5 mcg, but quickly upped it to 25 mcg. He wears it for 3 days then changes it. Intense withdrawal if he isn't on top of changing it, so she should be aware of that. Aside from that, it's been really great - no side effects and the continuous dose has been great.
Not much else to add that the others haven't already said, so I'll keep it short.
Take care -
Adrian0 -
DoseAceSFO said:Patch
Hi, Beth,
John is on Fentanyl (or they're on him) and has had real relief with them for a while now. He started on 12.5 mcg, but quickly upped it to 25 mcg. He wears it for 3 days then changes it. Intense withdrawal if he isn't on top of changing it, so she should be aware of that. Aside from that, it's been really great - no side effects and the continuous dose has been great.
Not much else to add that the others haven't already said, so I'll keep it short.
Take care -
Adrian
Has John had to increase his dose at all? Or does the 25 help him good enough? Wendy has had to up her dose to 100 now and it scares her. It is providing pain relief but completely. We are hoping for much better doctors after the move. She needs to find out what exactly is going on, I am not sure if it is all from Fibro, but hope to find out something in the near future.
Hope John is doing better, please send him our love and knw that we are thinking and praying for him.. Now back to packing...YUCK
God Bless
Beth0 -
Dosedorookie said:Dose
Has John had to increase his dose at all? Or does the 25 help him good enough? Wendy has had to up her dose to 100 now and it scares her. It is providing pain relief but completely. We are hoping for much better doctors after the move. She needs to find out what exactly is going on, I am not sure if it is all from Fibro, but hope to find out something in the near future.
Hope John is doing better, please send him our love and knw that we are thinking and praying for him.. Now back to packing...YUCK
God Bless
Beth
So far it's still the 25mcg and he also uses ms contin as needed. 100 does sound a little scary, but I know that people can build up a tolerance...
Good luck with the packing.
take care,
Adrian0
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