Duragesic and

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Very sorry things turned out so bad for you at the Pain Clinic. My doctor

switched me from morphine via my g-tube to the Fentanyl Patch also. She

started me on the 25mcg/hr dose as I wanted to see if it would work and I

would be able to take less narcotics. Her calculations said I should be on

the 50mcg/hr dose. She allowed me to try. I was to put the 25mcg patch on

and for the first 12 hrs also take my regular morphine dosage. Then I was

to keep track of how often I was supplementing the patch for breakthrough

pain, if it was more than 3 or 4 times I was to put on another 25mcg patch

so that I was at 50mcg of Fentanyl. Again keeping track of the number of

times I supplemented it for breakthrough pain.

I was to call her if I was having problems and see her in the office in one

week if I hadn't contacted her before then. She took the time to explain

that there would be breakthrough pain for which she made sure I had

sufficient liquid morphine to cover, and that it would take time to get the

dosage right. That alot depended on how well my skin absorbed the drug. It

was her belief that going to the patch would better control my pain and

would give me much more freedom, and allow me to get a full nights sleep.

With her help and commitment to making live better for me it is working and

I am starting to reap the benefits of being on Fentanyl. Today she

discussed how we were doing and wrote my prescription for the 50mcg patch.

I am to continue to monitor my supplemental doses (today only needed one)

and she will re-evaluate how I'm doing and if any further changes need to be

made at my next visit.

I really wish your treatment had been similar, you have been through so

much that you didn't need poor pain control treatment on top of it all.

Yes, the patch is very expensive here in Canada also, the Duragesic 50 works

out to $20.79 per patch with the dispensing fee included.

Hugs are a special way of saying " You're loved " , I'm sending you an

extra-big hug.

Marg )

mesenteric vascular insufficiency, chronic pancreatitis, severe

malabsorption, paralytic ilius, non eater, g-tube

doll@...