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Husband in intensive care
This is not so much a question as just letting you guys know the latest. I have just returned from hospital, my hubby (Gixerboy) was taken by ambulance there about midnight.
He was on Oxycontin 8 80mgs a day for almost 3 years due to a severe back problem. Anyway, he has been tapering over two months (got down to about half that) due to pressure from the doc and the fact that it was beginning to affect him badly etc
When the doc and pain clinic started telling him that rapid detox and drug rehab were options he got really scared. He didn’t want to leave our daughter and me, instead he wanted to stay here. Hence the decision to go cold turkey on Wednesday night (his last dose).
It all started at around 5pm Friday night when he lost the ability to speak verbally, and instead we were communicating on paper. He told me that he kept going into massive spasms, hot, cold etc. He was in soooo much pain and just wanted it to end. But he didn’t want a tablet, and kept telling me not to panic and not to call an ambulance, he would be fine!
This went on and on for hours, until about 9ish when I went to get our daughter from youth club. He wanted me to get tablets downstairs that we had that would help him to sleep, and hence combat the withdrawals. I did this and had to dash off for our daughter…. When I came home he was suddenly speaking again and told me that he taken several sleeping tablets as he needed to ensure sleep. About half hour after this, he started having massive involuntary movement in his arms and legs. These got worse and worse, and we now had no communication at all, as he could not speak and could not write as his arms wouldn’t stay still. I tried for about 2 more hours to help him but it did not stop and just got worse….. he kept falling off the bed, banged his head etc…. It got to a stage where he was endangering himself and everyone around him. At this point, despite his wishes, I had no choice, I called an ambulance.
Sorry for the ramblings guys, I just need to talk to someone, I am so scared, keep thinking that I am going to lose the guy that I love sooooo much. Been so strong all night so our daughter didn’t get any more upset than she already was, now I can’t help it. I am supposed to be getting a few hours sleep as they have sedated him now and will let him sleep until 9ish when they intend to wake him up and see how he is. Daughter is asleep but I just can’t. The hospital seems to think that this has been caused, not by withdrawals, but an overdose of sleeping pills. Will not really know anything else until later this morning but will keep u posted.
Thanks for listening guys.
Karen (Gixerboy’s wife)
He was on Oxycontin 8 80mgs a day for almost 3 years due to a severe back problem. Anyway, he has been tapering over two months (got down to about half that) due to pressure from the doc and the fact that it was beginning to affect him badly etc
When the doc and pain clinic started telling him that rapid detox and drug rehab were options he got really scared. He didn’t want to leave our daughter and me, instead he wanted to stay here. Hence the decision to go cold turkey on Wednesday night (his last dose).
It all started at around 5pm Friday night when he lost the ability to speak verbally, and instead we were communicating on paper. He told me that he kept going into massive spasms, hot, cold etc. He was in soooo much pain and just wanted it to end. But he didn’t want a tablet, and kept telling me not to panic and not to call an ambulance, he would be fine!
This went on and on for hours, until about 9ish when I went to get our daughter from youth club. He wanted me to get tablets downstairs that we had that would help him to sleep, and hence combat the withdrawals. I did this and had to dash off for our daughter…. When I came home he was suddenly speaking again and told me that he taken several sleeping tablets as he needed to ensure sleep. About half hour after this, he started having massive involuntary movement in his arms and legs. These got worse and worse, and we now had no communication at all, as he could not speak and could not write as his arms wouldn’t stay still. I tried for about 2 more hours to help him but it did not stop and just got worse….. he kept falling off the bed, banged his head etc…. It got to a stage where he was endangering himself and everyone around him. At this point, despite his wishes, I had no choice, I called an ambulance.
Sorry for the ramblings guys, I just need to talk to someone, I am so scared, keep thinking that I am going to lose the guy that I love sooooo much. Been so strong all night so our daughter didn’t get any more upset than she already was, now I can’t help it. I am supposed to be getting a few hours sleep as they have sedated him now and will let him sleep until 9ish when they intend to wake him up and see how he is. Daughter is asleep but I just can’t. The hospital seems to think that this has been caused, not by withdrawals, but an overdose of sleeping pills. Will not really know anything else until later this morning but will keep u posted.
Thanks for listening guys.
Karen (Gixerboy’s wife)
i've been following your post and am pleased at how things seem to be going for you and hubby.your in my prayers every night, hope things continue to get better. steveo
Hi all
Well I went in today and he was actually sat in the chair today! However, he had his wrist up in a sling.... because he bled internally into his wrist as a result of the needle. It swelled up and looked deformed etc.... so they had to take the needles out quick and send him for x-ray. He's a haemophiliac you see, so they had to be careful!
His doctor from the pain clinc has been to see him today as well, and has said it wasn't advisable what he did, but she was really pleased with him for managing it! The plan now is to gradually reduce the oramorph that he is on, as the last thing he wants is to become addicted to that too! So they will gradually reduce that, and replace it with Lofexidine. Don't know if any of you have heard of it but apparently it helps with withdrawal from opiates. Apparently you start with a low dose, increase it up and then reduce it back down again until 10 days after the last of the opiate is used. Obviously the oramorph dose he is on at the mo is nowhere near the oycontin dose he was on, and he is now getting assistance with this. Also they have to monitor him daily with the lofexidine as it can affect his blood pressure.
So there is still a way to go, but hopefully he is now through the worst.
To Ronnie152, I slept very well actually, I think the last few days caught up on me and I was exhausted. Knowing he was doing better now gave me more chance to relax a bit.
Speak to you again soon.
Karen
Well I went in today and he was actually sat in the chair today! However, he had his wrist up in a sling.... because he bled internally into his wrist as a result of the needle. It swelled up and looked deformed etc.... so they had to take the needles out quick and send him for x-ray. He's a haemophiliac you see, so they had to be careful!
His doctor from the pain clinc has been to see him today as well, and has said it wasn't advisable what he did, but she was really pleased with him for managing it! The plan now is to gradually reduce the oramorph that he is on, as the last thing he wants is to become addicted to that too! So they will gradually reduce that, and replace it with Lofexidine. Don't know if any of you have heard of it but apparently it helps with withdrawal from opiates. Apparently you start with a low dose, increase it up and then reduce it back down again until 10 days after the last of the opiate is used. Obviously the oramorph dose he is on at the mo is nowhere near the oycontin dose he was on, and he is now getting assistance with this. Also they have to monitor him daily with the lofexidine as it can affect his blood pressure.
So there is still a way to go, but hopefully he is now through the worst.
To Ronnie152, I slept very well actually, I think the last few days caught up on me and I was exhausted. Knowing he was doing better now gave me more chance to relax a bit.
Speak to you again soon.
Karen
Just stopping by to say hello, hope you slept, and hope hubbie is doing even better today. Take care, dont forget yourself. ttyl
I'm sooo happy for you that your hubby is better. He's gonna get there. Send him all the hugs of the world from us. And driving the nurses loopy and eating ice cream and jelly is definitely a goooood sign.LOL.
Think a little about you and your daughter now, get some rest if you can and keep us posted if you got a little time.
Big hugzzzz to ya.
Think a little about you and your daughter now, get some rest if you can and keep us posted if you got a little time.
Big hugzzzz to ya.
So glad to hear your husband is doing better. I hope you are taking care of yourself as well. You sure don't need to get run down cause I'm sure he'll be counting on you to help him make it thru all of this. Thanks for keeping us posted. Warmly, April
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