pain meds

denistd
denistd Member Posts: 597
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My teeth started to go bad a long time ago even though I looked after them dutifully, brushing, trays , mouthwash etc. one by one they started breaking off and became very painful. An oral surgeon decided they all needed to be removed but we ran into a brick wall with the insurance company, he prescribed vicodin 5/500 one or two every 6 hours as needed, on most days two in the morning and two late in the day were enough bey there were days when I went to six. During this time I also herniated a disc. After 6 months the insurance comapy decided it was a medical necessity to remove the teeth. 10 days ago that happened, they all came it, aftermath was rough, stitches etc and more pain. stayed with the vicodin at six a day. Last Friday decided to see if the pain was receding so took no pills, pains was not bad so decided no more pills. Was okay Saturday, woke up Sunday morning as if a truck had hit me, my first thought was the flu, got up but felt really bad, no energy, nausea and depression, it got worse as time went on. Monday sucked but went to work, woke up this morning felt a little better, realized it was withdrawal and went to work, came home feeling bad again, just slept for an hour, hope it goes away completely soon. My doctor said that if you don't abuse them you can/t get addicted. I did not abuse them, but got addicted, beware.

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Taken as Directed
    I did not have a problem with them and I had most of the same as you including morphine.

    But....even though I also loosely agree with your MD, it can't be as a blanket statement.

    There are no absolutes, just as we are all different. I have read of too many on here that did become dependant on their pain meds, and I'm sure they weren't abused.

    My believe is that you use them as needed to get you through treatment for cancer. If you make it through that, but are dependant on the pain meds later, then deal with that later.

    Botttom line, you do what you have to do to make it through the worse treatment/cure first.

    JG
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Taken as Directed
    I did not have a problem with them and I had most of the same as you including morphine.

    But....even though I also loosely agree with your MD, it can't be as a blanket statement.

    There are no absolutes, just as we are all different. I have read of too many on here that did become dependant on their pain meds, and I'm sure they weren't abused.

    My believe is that you use them as needed to get you through treatment for cancer. If you make it through that, but are dependant on the pain meds later, then deal with that later.

    Botttom line, you do what you have to do to make it through the worse treatment/cure first.

    JG

    Denistd

    When in pain do the right thing and take the pill, I learned the hard way trying to be superman that did not work. It is not abuse in our case because we are on them until the pain if finish. I have been on Tramadol HCL for almost a year, it helps me to be normal and work everyday with no problem. Its not abuse when it is a necessary.

    It also helps me to put up with John and pictures of him holding big Fish. Love you brother.

    :+)
    Hondo
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    #4
    Skiffin16 said:

    Taken as Directed
    I did not have a problem with them and I had most of the same as you including morphine.

    But....even though I also loosely agree with your MD, it can't be as a blanket statement.

    There are no absolutes, just as we are all different. I have read of too many on here that did become dependant on their pain meds, and I'm sure they weren't abused.

    My believe is that you use them as needed to get you through treatment for cancer. If you make it through that, but are dependant on the pain meds later, then deal with that later.

    Botttom line, you do what you have to do to make it through the worse treatment/cure first.

    JG

    Mileage May Vary
    Any chronic use of anything can cause dependency (ever try to quit coffee after you've had a cup a day for many months?) - I don't think you need to abuse a drug to have withdrawal symptoms. Some folks who have just one glass of wine per night for a few months will have withdrawal symptoms - others can have a much bigger habit and not feel a thing when they quit (for some drugs, like alcohol, the more times you go through withdrawal, the worse it is each time, as Amy Winehouse might have found out the hard way).

    Congratulations on getting past the withdrawal symptoms and on feeling better - I do think you can develop dependency without "abusing" your drugs (as if you were taking them for fun?) and I agree with Skiffin: don't avoid them for fear of dependency. Deal with the pain first and then possible dependencies later.

    Someday, we'll have blood tests that will tell us which drugs will work best for each of us (as well as which drugs will help us when we stop taking the other drugs) - people will get better results with fewer pills (instead of blindly trying every anti-nausea or pain med in the toolbox during H&NC treatment). I wish I were either very rich or a bunch smarter, as I'd either fund or lead such research. . . .
  • amr2662
    amr2662 Member Posts: 45 Member
    #5
    Skiffin16 said:

    Taken as Directed
    I did not have a problem with them and I had most of the same as you including morphine.

    But....even though I also loosely agree with your MD, it can't be as a blanket statement.

    There are no absolutes, just as we are all different. I have read of too many on here that did become dependant on their pain meds, and I'm sure they weren't abused.

    My believe is that you use them as needed to get you through treatment for cancer. If you make it through that, but are dependant on the pain meds later, then deal with that later.

    Botttom line, you do what you have to do to make it through the worse treatment/cure first.

    JG

    Physically dependent
    I took quite a bit of pain medicine during my treatment and afterward (Vicodin, then Fentanyl and Oxycodone). When things got better I started tapering off. I got the same "flu like" aches that you are describing. My doctor explained that having been on that much pain medicine for so long had made my body physically dependent and that the dose had to be slowly reduced (much slower than what I was doing) to prevent the withdrawal symptoms. I was not addicted but physically dependent. I back off more slowly and did not have any problems.
    That being said, I am cautious with any drug that has the potential to be addictive. My advice is to never take more that prescribed. If it is not working at the current dose then you need to discuss with the doctor.

    Meredith
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #6
    Physically dependent, but
    Physically dependent, but not an addict, maybe? I didn't abuse my fentanyl, and getting off that sucker was not pleasant. I never felt 'high' from it, or anything like that. I wasn't taking it to 'feel good' or anything. Psychologically I didn't need it, but physically, was a different story. My body went through a bad withdrawal, even weaning off.
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #7
    sweetblood22 said:

    Physically dependent, but
    Physically dependent, but not an addict, maybe? I didn't abuse my fentanyl, and getting off that sucker was not pleasant. I never felt 'high' from it, or anything like that. I wasn't taking it to 'feel good' or anything. Psychologically I didn't need it, but physically, was a different story. My body went through a bad withdrawal, even weaning off.

    pain meds
    I am still suffering some withdrawal, was told that if it lasts more than a week to see the doc, hopefully it will be gone completely tomorrow, the worst now is the fatigue, no pains aches or anything, tomorrow I get the impression made for false teeth, will be happy to smile again and say the letter s properly
  • palmyrafan
    palmyrafan Member Posts: 396
    #8
    denistd said:

    pain meds
    I am still suffering some withdrawal, was told that if it lasts more than a week to see the doc, hopefully it will be gone completely tomorrow, the worst now is the fatigue, no pains aches or anything, tomorrow I get the impression made for false teeth, will be happy to smile again and say the letter s properly

    Pain Meds
    I've been on Percocet, Tylenol with Codeine and Rx Ibuprofen. Now I realize those don't come anywhere close to the heavy drugs, but my body couldn't tolerate the Percocet so the doctors didn't even try the heavier drugs like Oxy, etc.

    Now, because of the meds I am taking, the strongest thing I can take is Tylenol.

    Feel better soon and I hope it gets easier for you.

    Teresa
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
    denistd said:

    pain meds
    I am still suffering some withdrawal, was told that if it lasts more than a week to see the doc, hopefully it will be gone completely tomorrow, the worst now is the fatigue, no pains aches or anything, tomorrow I get the impression made for false teeth, will be happy to smile again and say the letter s properly

    Teeth

    Hope it all goes well for you denistd

    Hondo
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #10
    DrMary said:

    Mileage May Vary
    Any chronic use of anything can cause dependency (ever try to quit coffee after you've had a cup a day for many months?) - I don't think you need to abuse a drug to have withdrawal symptoms. Some folks who have just one glass of wine per night for a few months will have withdrawal symptoms - others can have a much bigger habit and not feel a thing when they quit (for some drugs, like alcohol, the more times you go through withdrawal, the worse it is each time, as Amy Winehouse might have found out the hard way).

    Congratulations on getting past the withdrawal symptoms and on feeling better - I do think you can develop dependency without "abusing" your drugs (as if you were taking them for fun?) and I agree with Skiffin: don't avoid them for fear of dependency. Deal with the pain first and then possible dependencies later.

    Someday, we'll have blood tests that will tell us which drugs will work best for each of us (as well as which drugs will help us when we stop taking the other drugs) - people will get better results with fewer pills (instead of blindly trying every anti-nausea or pain med in the toolbox during H&NC treatment). I wish I were either very rich or a bunch smarter, as I'd either fund or lead such research. . . .

    Took my thought this time
    Hi Mary and Dennis, that was my notion also. Anything three times (sometimes two I see) for 6 months will create withdrawals, whether it be Vicodin or The Young And The Restless (a tv soap). I've "jonesed" a couple of times. Once, from advanced use, with shaking and sweating for a couple of hours one night on the couch, and the second time like you Dennis, with flu-like symptoms, mild nausea, restlessness, crankiness, for several days. Vicodin stays in the body for a long time, but it seems like it only takes 4 days to a week to get mind and body off of it. As mentioned, if anyone's gettting real pain, I say take 'em. If you can manage it, there are weaning schedules that go for a month or so to smaller amounts that leave you with no withdrawals. I never had that kind of determination, so usually ended up with a bit of pain.

    best, Hal
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #11
    sweetblood22 said:

    Physically dependent, but
    Physically dependent, but not an addict, maybe? I didn't abuse my fentanyl, and getting off that sucker was not pleasant. I never felt 'high' from it, or anything like that. I wasn't taking it to 'feel good' or anything. Psychologically I didn't need it, but physically, was a different story. My body went through a bad withdrawal, even weaning off.

    Double pst
    Wrong spot
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #12
    denistd said:

    pain meds
    I am still suffering some withdrawal, was told that if it lasts more than a week to see the doc, hopefully it will be gone completely tomorrow, the worst now is the fatigue, no pains aches or anything, tomorrow I get the impression made for false teeth, will be happy to smile again and say the letter s properly

    Denistd

    I stopped Oxygcotton cold turkey which was a big mistake on my part and something I will never do again. The withdrawals were awful from the drugs and I had no idea of what my problems was. Then I went to see my ENT and she told me never to do that again without her knowing it. I love when a beautiful woman get a little mad at me, I go into my little pore little me routine and it gets them every time.

    Take care
    Hondo

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