PAIN MEDS QUESTION??

A lot of Drs are looking over their shoulders and are under a microscope because unfortunately their are a lot of Dr shopping going on and also unethical Drs that get paid a big chunk of change from people just to write out that little slip. Drs hear horror stories of other Drs losing their licenses due to prescribing pain meds on a consistent basis. Yes it sucks for those that truley need them can not get them. You should actually feel lucky you got something as strong as oxycontin. I have heard of people being in terrible car accidents getting 5/325mgs of percocet which is absurd. I had to practically beg my primary physician to prescribe me pain meds while being in the ER multiple times in a month. Every Dr I talked to tried to make me believe I wasn't supposed to have pain with colitis. I was also in the ER so much complaining of pain the ER drs started treating me like a junkie. Its not right but unfortunately as a patient we have no choice but to take what we are given. Just try not to become dependent because you will be tapered off eventually and withdrawal is not a fun experience. Good Luck!!

Well...I was on that roller coaster...not good. You need a solution to the pain rather then pharmacutical management. I went to a ileo bag...last thing in world I wanted...but I'm don't need pain meds...and I got my life back. It doesn't matter what they put you on...sooner or later it will quit working...Best of Luck Poucho...

I feel your pain pouch... I am a month post takedown and still need my Percocet 5/325 from time to time but I am rapidly running out and I have been denied the refill... I was pretty much told to "tough it out".. I understand that patients take advantage of drs when it comes to narcotics but come on we had a major organ removed from our body and had our insides put in a way they were never intended to work... We should get a lil lee way I would think... Trust me your not the only one

The inconsistency between patients is because there are essentially no standards about where to draw the line, and no two people present identical situations. Strong opiates are a lousy long-term solution for post-operative pain, and will prevent normal intestinal functioning, which is critical for adapting to your pouch. I got off them as soon as I possibly could.

I've been on Norco 10/325 Hydrocodone/tylenol up to 4 a day almost non stop since take down over 2.75 years ago. I take between 2-4 a day and usually 3 per day. I've also been diagnosed with IPS. I have chronic cuffitis and recurring pouchitis under control. I take Norco and an antispasmodic, when my pain is super bad but have to put up with blurry vision afterwards. Besides IPS I have adhesion pain from 5 abdominal surgeries and lower back pain, some from arthritis. I have fibromyalgia and the Norco doesn't help with that pain but I wonder if fibro magnifies my abdominal, lower back and j-pouch pain.

My former retired GP, who is my friend, told me that the dosage is ok for long term as long as I don't abuse it by trying to get a high or using with alcohol. If I find I need to use more to relieve the pain I'm to tell my doctor. She had patients that had to take it for years as nothing else worked.

My Internist sees me at least quarterly and sometimes more often. She prescribes a months supply of Norco at a time. I am disabled and can no longer work or leave the house much. I have neuropathy in both feet and have other problems I don't need to elaborate....

I'm posting this because with all of my problems I am glad I don't have to deal with more pain than I have do. Frankly I don't think I could deal with it. Getting rid of my j-pouch isn't the answer and could make things worse. I've discussed this with my GI at the Mayo Clinic.

I realize there are strong opinions here but judge not least ye be judged. No one can judge my pain because you don't feel it. I'd like to try alternatives. I meditate, listen to healing sounds, get massages, go for chiropractic adjustments and have changed my diet, etc.

If medical weed was legal in my state I'd try it. I hear you can get a kind that has the "high" properties removed but leaves in the pain reducing ones.

Drug abusers and doctors that furnished them with those drugs have made it difficult for people in real pain to receive the relief they need. I'm fortunate to have doctors that empathize and understand my pain and to live in a state that allows them to prescribe the necessary medication.

Pouchomarx,
Sorry, my suggestion is to discuss going on something like I'm on with your doctor. I don't know if it is weaker than Oxy but think it is. Instead of one extra strong pill a day to have a prescription for a strong pill to take several times a day to keep some kind of level in your system. I take one with my first meal of the day and then don't take another until I'm in pain. On days my cuffitis and/or pouchitis isn't under control and my pouch is working in overdrive I need to take the maximum dose and maybe an antispasmodic.

I hope something like this might help you. I live in Iowa. Maybe you live in a state with legalized weed and your doctor will let you try a prescription for it. It is natural and you can use it in a way that is not harmful to your lungs.

I wish you relief.

There is a difference between physical dependence, which anyone on long term opioids or benzodiazepines will get, and addiction. Addiction is using the med in an inappropriate manner and/or stealing it or acquiring it inappropriately to get a high; physical dependence is related to long term appropriate use (your body *does* get used to it), and over time, you may require more meds, because your long term pain itself, and also the meds, have depleted your own endogenous stores of natural opioids.

I took care of a lady who, at the end of her oncologic disease progression was on 300mg oral XL morphine three times a day, 4 mg of oral Dilaudid as needed every 4 hours (which she pretty much took every 4 hours), she had an epidural of Fentanyl and bupivicaine, also a Dilaudid PCA (pain button) that gave her 1mg every 10 minutes as needed, and she also had a continuous dose of 2 mg/hr... And she still walked around the halls and was completely awake. She didn't get there in a day, obviously, but we were all like, wow. Not sure why they didn't just up the oral as needed Dilaudid, but this was what they ended up with.

Oh, and in the end, they'd forget to order her Tylenol, and she'd always ask for it, too. lol

Also, just something to know, for people going into a surgery or procedure: they are having really good outcomes using IV Tylenol (yes, IV) pre-operatively, and its use is impacting post op pain and lessening the need for opiates in the post op period. Also, they're using it for nonsurgical patients with pretty good results, too.

http://todayshospitalist.com/p...-Special_report2.pdf

That's a quick article on it.

I had them use it before my seton placement and dilation, rather than Fentanyl, and felt much better overall. Fentanyl makes me so blargh.

Just an idea for those who are suffering.

To ensure that there's no misunderstanding: I'm not judging. When I say they are a lousy solution, that doesn't mean there's always a better one. There are consequences to long-term use (true of any medication, of course), and folks ought to be aware of them before going down that road. Long-term pain has plenty of consequences, too.

A properly functioning pouch shouldn't need pain medication. If you know what's causing the pain, and it can't be fixed, then you have to do your best with a lousy situation. If you don't know what's causing the pain, though, figuring that out deserves plenty of attention, IMO.

If I could take ibuprofen in prescription strengths of 800 mg that would be the best for me as before I knew I had UC it took care of my abdominal pain. After surgery my surgeon told me to take it and I did and it worked. After research I determined it was just as bad for me with my pouch as it was with UC and my Internist agreed. It works on my migraines as well but after long term use there is rebound pain.

There is no perfect pain medication and I can't live with the pain.

Im taking 5mg oxycodone, NOT OXYCONTIN

Hate to burst your bubble, but oxycodone is the same as Oxycontin. It is just the generic name and Oxycontin is the brand name. Same opiate as in Percodan and Percocet. It is a quite potent drug.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline...fo/meds/a682132.html

Norco and Vicodin contain hydrocodone, a weaker opiate.

Jan

Just to clear the air didn't want to make it seem like I was being judgemental towards anyone I am on 30mg of Oxycontin every 12 hours and oxycodone 7.5/325mg every 8 hours as needed for breakthrough pain. Unfortunately with my tolerance level those 12 hours of oxycontin get cut in half so I have to use those 3 oxycodone in between. So I'm taking over 80mg of oxycodone and would not feel normal without it. Eventually I will have to taper off totally which I will be prepared for but it won't be as bad because my surgeon is got me on an extremely slow taper process. You just need a good Dr or in my case a great compassionate surgeon. Nobody should have to live in pain. Its not fair.

My former GI would only give me antispasmodics during my final UC flare from hell. So, my Internist prescribed Tramadol for the pain I was in. It isn't strong enough now but really was a life saver before my surgeries.