Went To The Doctor Today~~Now I'm More Confused!!

[Rose703]

Well as many of you knew I had a doctors appointment today with my rheumotologist. I see her every month due to Fibro, Hyper Joint Syndrome, and Lupus. I have many other conditions but this is the one who prescribes my opiates so I needed to come clean with her about my addiction and how to approach it. She's a wonderful doctor and proved that even further to me today with her compassion.
Here's what she wants me to do although I'm a basket of nerves about it. I told her no more opiates and she smiled and ask if I would consider a compramise(sp?). She said she would stop prescribing me Oxy's completely but she needs to keep me on some type of painkiller otherwise I won't be able to function like a normal person. Her suggestion was that she keep me on Percocet's and add in a muscle relaxer called Amrix. She knows I have an excellent family support system so I agreed. Here's my thing with all of this. I just spent the last 24 days clean from opiates and it was hard work. I know I have serious pain issues and I know I need something to help me maintain somewhat of a normal lifestyle BUT I really wanted to find another option.
So now I have the RX for Percocet and for the muscle relaxer and I can't make myself go to the pharmacy. I obviously need some serious HELP from you guys!! I'm crying my eyes out as I type this!!

[catmagnet]

I'm not sure muscle relaxers are addictive-my hubby takes them sometimes and doesn't have a problem with them, I'm really just bumping this back up so others will see it.

[10356]

Oh Gosh what a difficult position you are in.... Can you call her back and tell her how distraught you are over the idea of continued opiate use and if there is a med out there
that is not opiate based that could help you? I wish I could be of more help to you!!!

[Rose703]

I did already talk to her about using something other than an opiate, but she feels like that's my best option as long as hubby will have control of them, which he will do. I can't take most things like Ibuprhen or Aspirin due to stomach ulcers. Ugh!!

[10356]

My Dr. feels the same way but I'm such a drug addict poor hubby doesn't have a chance.

[10356]

Although its weird I can be aggressive when it is my pain med he has but he has pain med for himself and I can be respectful of that.

[10356]

Let me clarify I can be respectful like not gobbling them up and leaving him high and dry and not angry at him when he speaks with me about it. Have I confused you more? LoL..
Seriously thou today I ct so it will be a struggle for sure!!!

[NautyOne]

You don't have to do what you don't want to do.  Take the muscle relaxers and see how it works for you.  Nobody can shove pills down your throat if you don't want them.  the option is there if needed, but just because the doctor says take them, doesn't mean you have to take them.........opiates are not a medication of life or death.......they are a choice.......

Nauty...............

[FLaddict]

I know how you feel. Originally my doc said the same thing. That his hands were tied unless I was willing to take opiates, which I wasn't.  I told him we would try everything else first before going that route. And you know what... I found things that help that aren't opiates.

[flmagi]

I agree with naughty. (did I say that? lol)  Let your husband hold the Percs. And if you find you absolutely, no way in hell, can't handle the pain, have him give you 1/2 of one to take the edge off.
Other than that I don't know what to say. Living in pain is a B!tch but so is being a drug addict.
Good luck

[NautyOne]

Did you say that?.........lol.     Oh, no you di-int

hahahahahahaha

[johnnykelly]

Rose this is really a different type of case.Most Drs. would be more than happy to get rid of some person that (refused) Narcotics,Addicts are the patients drs Fear,they RUN,when our mouth opens and requests things like Percocets,Oxycontins,M.s. Contins etc.Even some of thexse drs make a federal case of prescribing tylenbol#3,4 This is just a suggestion/inquisitive Due you use Narcotics because you like the Buzz,or are you in extreme Cronic/acute pain,and if you are in category #2 then why dont you requestshe send you to an all in-clusive pain management clinic at a university/hospital setting,as a general practicioner can only offer you a limited choice of medicine and for pain narcotics are when used responsibly a reasonable alternative.The non narcotic route is very limited ,,especially when a person has used the heavys lile the pills you mentioned. good luck,espescially when those pills are in your system,its easy to refuse when you are stoned and cant tell,if you require them or not.I no i have had times when i thought I dont need thesepills any more,only to get a spiritual awakening when i became Sober.WE cant make clear and concise judgements when we are under the influence of narcotics. I know Ive been the same place as you are.Good luck john

[speciality]

RA and fused spine and many other chronic pain conditions, that are verified by MRI, Xrays ect. I have always been given the choice. Doctors do not tell you to stay on Percocet, nor do they tell you the level of pain you are in. They ASK You. Good luck, but dont mislead the issue.

[poetrygirl1960]

I understand you being really worried and concerned about this.  Doctors DO love to compromise these kind of scenarios.  If you can really take the meds as prescribed, if you know in your deepest heart of hearts that you are completely finished with abuse and being a slave to drugs do what sounds most reasonable to you.  Only you know that.

[speciality]

else that opiates are not needed for a particular condition such as Insulin, or HBP meds. This is why even after surgery they ASK if youwant drugs for pain relief.

[phlebo1]

Hi, I also suffer from fibromyalgia and my dr. recently prescribed me Neurontin.  Have you tried that?  It is not an opiod.  

[Jacqui805]

Just wanted to clarify something for you that you may not know...if you do, pardon the lesson.  Oxycontin and Percocet is the same medicine..it is oxycodone.  The only difference is that with the Oxycontin, it is in a tablet that is designed for sustained release to prevent breakthrough pain, last up to 12 hours, and decrease the amount of pills to take.  

I understand your concerns about these meds., but not everyone who takes them is an addict, and they are necessary for some folks.  My advice to you would be to get a second opinion to hear some other options and get another point of view on the matter.  

I wish you the best of luck.

[worried878]

Agree with naughty...remaining on narcotics is your choice...most doctors would give u that choice...most would not even flash a script for narcotics at you after you just said you had an addiction problem and that u quit.....mine sure wouldnt and he tries any alternative verses long term narcotic use...I am sure she is a great doctor but i i am not sure of her education about addiction if she is insisting you stay on meds like oxycodone...now if u tell her u can not function without them and you will simply vegetate and not have alife...that is different...but u r clean and your doctor offers and insists you begin narcotics again...something smells fishy here and I think u may need to get another opinion...did she even offer alternatives like nuerontin or lyrica?  

[worried878]

And narcotics do not take the place of anti-inflamatories anyway like aspirin and ibuprofen....ask for another option like lyrica, zanafles or nuerontin...something that helps with pain.....I just find this doctor hard to believe...if you do this...just be real careful as it is almost a solid fact that an addict can not take narcotics long term

[Jacqui805]

Just wanna add something about Lyrica...While I really don't know tons about this drug, I do know that there is a chance for dependence and abuse, and it absolutely cannot be stopped abruptly.  W/d will occur..

[Jacqui805]

also, some folks report a euphoric feeling from taking it and docs are supposed to be careful about prescribing this and question one about any substance abuse history...

[FLaddict]

To piggy-back on what Jacqui just wrote, yes Lyrica can be addicting if you have already had issues with being addicted to other drugs. And patients did report feeling a high and euphoric feeling from taking it. So if you are someone with addiction issues, I wouldn't risk it.  i took it for a week and a half when it first got FDA approved for Fibro and I hated it. Made me dizzy and I had cloudy vision. Also made my heart rate funky...

[worried878]

My pain doc does prescribe lyrica but I am on neurontin..he did not switch me when this new drug came out...it is kinda like the new neurontin...he said the neurontin is safer and the lyrica can have some side effects...my friend takes it and she gets loopy from it as well...I have some samples but have never tried it...be safe in whatever drugs you take from now on if you have had an addiction problem...it is a fine line and we all have to be careful

[Rose703]

Well I didn't fill the RX. Hubby and I talked about it and he's more than willing to hold onto them if I decide to fill them. I've tried Lyrica and Neurontin and both had ill affects on me.
Now to add insult to injury. I had another appointment with my urologist this morning and now I'm even more upset. Well I got more disheartning information from him about my bladder and kidneys. After doing his normal workup on me he said I have what's called an intention tremor, which is coming from my central nervous system due to my auto immune disease attacking me neurologically now. First thing he wanted to make sure of was that I was taking my pain meds. I told him no and why. He came right back at me and said that my body is constantly fighting itself, in other words my own body is attacking me. My auto immune system is shot and he told me that pain in general is only making my body fight itself that much harder. Here's a full list of what I have and it continues to grow as now I have an appointment on May 13th with a well known neurologist. Interstitial Cystitis, Mellody Sponge Kidney Disease, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, IBS, Fibro, Lupus, Hyper Joint Syndrome, and finally newly DX with Intention Tremor.
While I continue to hold strong against using opiates I must say that I feel defeated with all of these medical issues and they only continue to grow.
I'm torn with the fact that I know how badly I hurt and am unable to function normally BUT I also have embraced the fact that I'm an addict. It's wonderful that my family is willing to hold my Percocets (should I decide to fill them) but I'm still fighting the thought of taking another opiate.
Sorry this post is so long, but I guess I need some friends right now and you guys are so wonderful and caring.

[worried878]

I am not sure how old you are...and lots comes into play with these types of decisions...and it will have to be your decision..I am not sure how much of a problem or addiction that you had with the narcotics...only you know truly if you abused them or not..if your tolerence was climbing, it will continue to do so and it will get to the point that no amount of narcotics will control your pain...not everyone has a tolerence issue but many do...your doctors trying seem to enticing you to stay on narcotics ... usually steroids and now there are new drugs out without the side effects of steroids...that helps with auto-immune issues...liver and kidney disease are risks with narcotic use..my mom takes one of the new drugs for her rhuematoid arthritis and it has helped her tremendously...I live in the south and doctors in this area are anti-narcotics in most cases so I am just not familiar with doctors recommending them for things long term