Re: Could this be withdrawal??

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

I was so sorry to read your post. I hope in some way I can help.

I have been taking 1/2 to 1 mg Xanax for a few years now. I tried for

about 3 days to " get off it " by not taking it. I thought I was addicted

to it. My doctor said I couldn't possibly be addictied to it if I don't

use it for more than 1 time a day, or night being the case. But when I

didn't take that pill at night, I an anxious, and don't sleep. The next

day I feel as though I have a sleep " hangover " and am anxious to say the

least. I also notice the pain more. So I keep taking it.

But Jjust this week I have gone through symptoms of one night I was so

cold I couldn't get warm to save my life...and pain with sleeplessness.

The next night with all the windows open in my room, I couldn't get

cool. I was too hot...with pain and sleeplessness. Wednesday night no

problems with heat or cool but sleeplessness and pain. I have had nausea

on and off all these days and have taken pain pills during the day as

well. Did I also mention I got a flu shot last week? Come Wednesday

night it seemed clear to me I either had HORRIBLE allergies or a cold.

I took the Xanax all 3 nights and it did little to releave these

symptoms or allow me to sleep. Me, personally, I think I am coming out

of my " good pancreatic cycle " and heading into a " bad pancreatic cycle " .

I realize that you require more stronger pain medication than I do, but

it sounds more to me like a pain problem than withdrawl. Or perhaps you

are geting the flu or a cold too. You can have a mild case of the flu

and still function. Isn't there something you can do to call your GI

and get some help until next week? Surely your doctor knows your know a

drug addict and that you need your medication? I would be checking into

this. Even if it's not the same medication, something similar could

help and the insurance would probably fill it. Also, is your diabetes

in check? That could have something to do with your symptoms to.

Please let us know what up and how your getting along.

Sandy

Fairfield, California

hhessgriffeth wrote:

> I've been wearing a duragesic patch for the last 10 months,

> using Percocet for breakthrough. I went to pick up my refill on my

> patches Tuesday, and my pharmacist told me that the insurance

> company refused to allow the prescription to be filled. It wasn't

> due to be refilled until the 9th of October.

>

> Apparently I lost or threw away 3 patches sometime this month.

> I'm really good about sticking to the 1 every 72 hours schedule,

> but we had to go out of town twice this month, and I usually just

> throw the patches in with my other supplies in my medical bag.

> Somehow, I came up short 3 patches.

>

> I thought I could get by, but woke up in the middle of the night two

> nights ago with nausea and diarrhea. That continued all through

> yesterday, along with some anxiety, and an overall " flu-like "

> feeling, and some vomitting. Like death warmed over. YUCK!

> And of course, the pain has been relentless and I've had to drag

> my heating pad out of hibernation.

>

> Could this be withdrawal, and does anyone know how long it

> lasts? Are there any tips to make it easier? I won't be able to

> pick up the duragesic refill until next week.

>

> With hope and prayers,

> Heidi

>

> Heidi H. Griffeth

> South Carolina

> SC and SE Regional Representative

> PAI, Intl.

>

> Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

> should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

[Guest guest]

Sounds like withdrawl to me. You may have a hard 72 hours or so. Could you

possilbly take a sleep aid at night to help get you through the tough time?

Just and idea.

I hope this finds you and yours well Heidi. I will keep you in my prayers

Mark E. Armstrong

NW Rep, PAI

www.top5plus5.com

casca@...

Could this be withdrawal??

> I've been wearing a duragesic patch for the last 10 months,

> using Percocet for breakthrough. I went to pick up my refill on my

> patches Tuesday, and my pharmacist told me that the insurance

> company refused to allow the prescription to be filled. It wasn't

> due to be refilled until the 9th of October.

>

> Apparently I lost or threw away 3 patches sometime this month.

> I'm really good about sticking to the 1 every 72 hours schedule,

> but we had to go out of town twice this month, and I usually just

> throw the patches in with my other supplies in my medical bag.

> Somehow, I came up short 3 patches.

>

> I thought I could get by, but woke up in the middle of the night two

> nights ago with nausea and diarrhea. That continued all through

> yesterday, along with some anxiety, and an overall " flu-like "

> feeling, and some vomitting. Like death warmed over. YUCK!

> And of course, the pain has been relentless and I've had to drag

> my heating pad out of hibernation.

>

> Could this be withdrawal, and does anyone know how long it

> lasts? Are there any tips to make it easier? I won't be able to

> pick up the duragesic refill until next week.

>

> With hope and prayers,

> Heidi

>

> Heidi H. Griffeth

> South Carolina

> SC and SE Regional Representative

> PAI, Intl.

>

> Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

> should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

it is possible that this is withdrawal. If it continues, you might want

to go to the ER for pain control to help you though those days with out

them.

Hope you get some pain and nausea relief soon.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.

[Guest guest]

YES! That is withdrawl. Withdrawl sucks. As I improved I had to work

my way down from the various strong meds, to weaker ones,and so on.

I was on the duragesic 75's after surgery as well as one oxycontin

and oxycodone for break thru. I was only on oxycontine a couple of

weeks so that wasn't bad, but the duragesic I had been on at least 7

months. I had the exact symptoms you had plus terrible anxiety and

insomnia, muscle twitches, restless legs, and racing thoughts. For

me the worst of the symptoms passed within 5 days.

I went through all that all over again when I went off of oxycodone.

The oxycodone should have been tapered but I just didn't seem to be

able to make myself do that. Finally, I just had to stop taking them

and face the withdrawl. I guess I am a on or not on kind of person.

The 9th is a long way off. You may want to get a script filled at a

different pharmacy but you may have to fake not having insurance.

Most of the larger chains computer systems tie in heavily with

insurance company systems and they can see when you had your last

refill, and at what pharmacy even if it is a different drug store.

I hope you feel better, withdrawl is not a fun prospect.

Bert

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

This could very well be withdrawal. I go through withdrawal symptoms

every time I come home from the Hospital. Generally, my yukkiness

lasts about 5 days or so. Pain, restlessness, unable to sleep,

crawling out of my skin, nausea & vomiting, I also lose control of

my left arm..sounds stupid but when I had a Picc line in my left

arm, that was when the medication started affecting me, I'd get

muscle spasms in that arm, and needed to stretch it all the time, it

would take hours to fall asleep and get some relief of the muscles

spasming, only to wake at the slightest sound, and it start all over

again. Then when I got home and went off the stuff, I was awake for

5 days...my body was so exhausted, yet I couldn't sleep, tossing and

turning, hot, yet cold..even a sleeping tablet didn't help that

much..managed 3 hours of sleep..

Mine is more caused by the Phenergen to stop the nausea.

Unfortunately, Zofran, Anzamet and other medications, just don't

stop my nausea like Phenergen does..but then I pay for it later.

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

I was given a prescription of Xanax to relax my muscles, due to the

restlessness I was experiencing from some medications..sort of like

restless leg syndrome, except it was in my entire body, and she did

warn me that Xanax is very addictive and not much is needed to

develop an addiction. I tried one the night I got them, but

unfortunately, it made the restlessness even worse. Seems I am

developing a reaction to whatever is in medications that makes one

drowsy or relaxants...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/3/03 12:43:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

hhessgriffeth@... writes:

> Are there any tips to make it easier? I won't be able to

>

Hi Heidi,

My only suggestion is to use the percoset, if you have enough, until next

week. Lay low and try to make the " percoset " last.

Your situation is a new reminder for all on chronic pain relief to make

themselves a " stash " just in case something goes wrong. This involves stretching

dosage intervals when you can to be able to save a little for a later time.

Remember to rotate your stash using the older stuff and then restashing the

newer

stuff. When one must fight the pharmacist, the insurance, the doctors, your

flexible condition, you must plan ahead very aggressively and thoughtfully to

take care of yourself in any time of need. The medical condition is relentless

and planning ahead is just absolutely necessary.

Best wishes, Poncho

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 10/3/03 12:43:32 PM Eastern Daylight

Time,

> hhessgriffeth@h... writes:

>

>

> > Are there any tips to make it easier? I won't be able to

> Your situation is a new reminder for all on chronic pain relief to

make themselves a " stash " just in case something goes wrong.

This involves stretching dosage intervals when you can to be

able to save a little for a later time. Poncho

Poncho,

You are so right, Poncho! I used to have a " stash " that was kept

in a safe place and unused for just this kind of emergency. I

have to admit that with the decrease of pain since my DKA and

burn-out, that I slowly used up the extra in the stash over the

months, not replacing it, thinking that a horrible acute attack was

a thing of the past and there was no longer any need for it. Silly

me!!!

While an acute attack seems doubtful after pancreas burn-out, I

guess I wasn't aware of how much the continual use of the

duragesic has been hiding my pain. Last night was the worst so

far, I was up four different times, with nausea and continual

restless legs, tossing and turning, sweating like after a

marathon and so antsy I was miserable! Fortunately, Bob is

flying, so I didn't have to worry about keeping him awake through

all of this misery. I did use my Percocet, but was still trying not to

use it too much.

All the while, my cat Coconut peacefully slept through all this

twisting, turning and flopping around, right by my knees, only

lifting her head and looking questionly at me every time I flipped

over. All she'd do is rearrange herself closer to me, put her head

back down, and then immediately go back to sleep.

It occurred to me that now I want to come back in another life as

this cat, she certainly loves her lifestyle and is the most laid-back

feline that I've ever had.

Meanwhile, throughout the night, my blood glucose was also

going sky-high. I'd been having some problems just the past

week or two with too high late night, early morning BG readings,

so being awake several times a night enabled me to test while I

was up, and I wasn't at all happy with the results. I knew my

basal insulin needed to be refilled, since this was usually what

happens when it's older than 28 days, and it was.

I woke up with a BG of 120, which is 40 points higher than my

usual fasting morning reading and knew I had to go get the refill

immediately. Nausea and diarrhea slowed me down and it took

me forever to get out of the house. At the pharmacy I had to keep

my hand covering my mouth half the time because I felt like at

any minute I was going to get sick. I got the Lantus and asked

my pharmacist to try again to see if BC/BS would let the

duragesic script be filled......and thankfully, they did! Whew!!

So I'm back on the patch and waiting for the still present nausea

to settle down. I've been fortunate in that I've never had much of

a problem with nausea as so many of you do. It's usually only

been when I had an acute attack and even then, it's always been

brief. I've never even had a script for Phenergen (s.p?), and have

only had it when I've been hospitalized. I don't know how some

of you can deal with it on a regular basis, it's so awful and I'm

afraid that I'm a real whiner when it happens to me.

Now that my lesson's been learned, I'm going to start hoarding

again, slowly, so I have what I need for an emergency like this.

It's pretty difficult to hoard the patches with the insurance

company keeping such diligent control over their usage, but I

figure if I can extend past 72 hours one or two times each month,

that I can gradually put aside some extra ones for emergency.

Now with new pain meds and new insulin I should be well on

the way to more peaceful days ahead. Laid-back like Coconut. I

wish the same for all of you. Thanks for just being here and

listening to me whine through it all!

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC and SE Regional Representative

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

[Guest guest]

Heidi, if it was legal, I would send you all of my patches lol. I

have many here and don't use them, but I do keep them for an

emergency just in case.

As for the doctor, he knows what he's talking about, and now that he

doesn't cancel my appointments at every given opportunity, and will

find treat me at a moment's notice, I am actually quite happy with

him. I did warn him that I might need to seek treatment with another

doctor while I'm back at MD for a few days in a couple of

months time, if I have an attack down there, and he said that was

fine..although I don't know what he said to his staff when I was put

under anaesthetic a few minutes later *LOL*

My husband doesn't like him though, actually, my husband hates him

with a veangance..which makes it a bit difficult for me at times,

because I can understand why my husband feels that way, but at the

same time, I have to defend the doctor and how he is treating my

symptoms and trying to prevent further damage to my pancreas. When

hubby protests too much, I either ignore it and try to change the

subject, reason the doctor's methods and remind him that another

doctor would have been doing exactly the same thing this one is, and

if all that fails, I hang up on him, if he's arguing with me while

i'm in hospital and we're on the phone *L*