Hi...been where you are and came off by tapering. I was on 50mg patches and percs for breakthrough. I totally recommend weaning from the patch first and then start a taper with your meds; cut them in half if you have to. My taper lasted 3.5 weeks and I'm almost a year clean....
My doctor had me on these meds due to a broken knee; broke while exercising.
PM me if you need too...you can do this.
Guy
I sent you an im so check your inbox. Vickie
Hi Been72; Wow!!! I can appreciate the feeling of liberation you felt at refusing bondage and the condemnation that can come from a doctor. What she found in the test is a very common mistake of Opiates---- probably showed a positive for Oxycodone or a form of Opium --- All of this class of drugs are derivatives of Opium so it is common for the tests to mix them up --- Shows just how ignorant the doctor was to assume the tests were right and her patient was lying. However, this was probably one of those "God moments" where He was trying to speak to you -- and apparently He got through. You are on your way to being clean of Opiates. Many of us live with Chronic pain and do so without Opiates --- We too have found the liberation of not being dependent or addicted to these drugs. Most of the drugs like the Opiates are really best for short term pain anyway. Given a lot of time, the drugs are less and less effective and it soon takes more and more of the drug to dull the pain. In reality all the drug does is alter our perception of the pain - they do nothing to actually relieve the pain itself. Yes, there are alternative ways to control the pain without narcotics. There are many non-opiate drugs that may help and you will want to get a GOOD doctor who will prescribe them. It helps a lot if you open up with your 'new' doctor and tell him/her that you want to go the non-opiate route. One of the newer ones works on about half of the patients - it is called Lyrica. Now, I know there are some who say it did not work for them but I have talked to quite a few who found good relief from it. It does take awhile to get the blood plasma level established so that it is at the effective level and that does take some patience and willing to work with your doctor to establish what that dose is. Now, I can't go into all the alternatives here - but some may want to give you some ideas. The important thing is that you know what to expect when you come off of the Fentanyl. As you may be aware, Fentanyl is one of the most powerful narcotics on the Class 2 list, way more potent than Morphine. Bottom line is you will probably go through some pretty nasty Withdrawal symptoms. As long as you are expecting them then you will be prepared. Please see your NEW doctor ASAP and get him/her to work with you. If you have any patches left then start going as long as you can between changes. When they run out you can go cold turkey off them, but it may be rough. You will not die, but will likely feel like you have the flu times 10 for a week or so. Just know that it will pass and you WILL get better. Do not lose hope or become discouraged. It is also common to experience depression but again, as long as you are expecting it, then you can cry when you need to and know that this too shall pass. Believe me, after the withdrawals, even with dealing with chronic pain, you are going to like the person who looks back at you in the mirror. Your whole life will change in ways you never could imagine -- - The Opiates have been robbing you and your family of the real you for too long. Congratulations for your decision to quit. All the best. Please keep posting and when you are through this nightmare - please come here often and offer hope to others who are struggling. Merry Christmas