PLEASE HELP!!

[justmejen]

I feel like I am dying! My dr changed my quick release (dilaudid 8mg x2 3 times daily) to 12mg in a.m. & afternoon. My head feels like I have a bubble around it & my neck & shoulders are aching so badly. I can't think straight, concentrate....my right side is in complete spasm...hot packs not working....

my dr said the dilaudid wears off after only 2 hours so I know now why I wasn't getting adequate pain control...I see him again on thurs....I don't even know why I'm posting this...... I know none of you can help...

sorry..

[Tuckamore]

I don't think you are going through a withdrawal....doesn't make sense as you are on the same dosage, just extended release form. Were you taking the two capsules or just one? If you were taking just one than it's a very real possibility that your body was withdrawing.

I really do think that this is just an adjustment period. Do you not have anything for break through pain? If not please discuss this with your physician.

I don't know what you mean about the person that "done this to you." However I do know about anger. My condition is the result of a MVA caused my an inattentive driver that was over the center line. There are more details that need not be gone into at this time. The point is that I was so angry at her and my painful body and my imposed limitations for so long, too long. I found that as soon as I was able to let go of that anger and accept the crummy cards that life dealt me I did better.

Again please discuss this with your physician. It sounds like you need something for break through pain. You should not be this miserable.

It is my hope and my belief that life will get easier for you. You will learn to adapt and adjust to the changes and challenges that the journey through chronic pain imposes upon you as have most of us on the PM Forum. Not that you won't still have rough moments, days or weeks but you'll hopefully have less stress with them. I hope I am making sense here.

You don't have to say "good morning."  Mine is not so great either :)  Just come join us often and know that we care about you and how you are doing.

Peace,
~Tuck

[justmejen]

Hi there....I wish I could say "good morning" but it's just not...thanks for responding...I'm so sorry that you have to deal with so very much...& you are still so young....I know what you're thinking...if it's this bad now....how will it be in 5, 10 or 20 years....if you ever need to talk, please feel free to message me anytime...I sent you a fr...I hope it's ok...

I woke at 5:15 ...in so much pain....more than I am used to & nothing extra to take....but I feel better about decreasing even tho it's too much too soon.... at least I can go to bed at night & not worry so much that I might not wake up! I still pray every night tho....it's hard to let go of the anger of the person that did this to me...after all, he was supposed to have loved me....

I hope you have a good day....& please remember that I am here if you want to talk...

[optimus22mac]

I take 24mg Hydromorph Contin every 12 hours, and 8mg of Dilaudid about every 4 hours.  I have a broken bone at the end of my spine (all of coccyx and junction with sacrum affecting sacrum), a result of a very bad fall; had part of it removed, but there are damaged parts that cannot be removed, and I've been told that I will have to live with the pain for life--and the pain is so so so bad...just awful.  
I also have a total pelvic floor prolapse that will be surgically repaired in the next year, but not until some of my muscles strengthen from my surgery on my coccyx last May.  
There are some other things that are going on, but we're running tests to try to figure them out (systems a little wacky)--hoping the findings are minor:)
I do also have carpal tunnel in both wrists which can be so bad, but wearing the braces or wrapping them when it gets bad really works.  

Feel free to msg me if you want to, or post more questions here...

[justmejen]

OMG I'm such a moron sometimes...I just checked the dose of the new extended release hydro & it's NOT 12mg it's 24mg (it's 2 12mg capsules) 2x daily (supposed to be the same dose as the 2 fast acting 8mg) then a slow release 30mg hydro in evening....sorry for confusion....

[justmejen]

Thank you....I sure hope you're right....I am on my knees (literally) praying....my dr is a fairly good listener & he tries to understand but he doesn't know how I feel as he isn't sick but I feel fortunate that someone at least WANTS to help me....

Thanks again....

Jen

[justmejen]

Hi there, when you say you've always taken the slow release, but you also take dilaudid for BT, can I ask what dosage you take? Maybe I'm just not understanding becuz I can't seem to focus....my head is aching & my right ear is throbbing...actually the whole right side of my head....but can you tell me the dosages that you take of each med?

Do you have fibro or arthritis?

Thanks for your response & any info

Jen

[justmejen]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. I am used to taking 2 8mg dilaudid 3x daily. My pain dr suggested changing to slow release (same dose tho) 2x daily (1 in a.m. & next in mid afternoon) then a 30mg slow release hydromorph in the evening in hopes that I would get better pain control but my problem is that I am so stiff & I hurt so badly in the a.m. I wanted to give it at least a couple of days to give it a fair go but I was hurting so bad this a.m. I started to feel a bit better after 2nd dose but still not getting adequate relief....at least not yet....hopefully tomorrow will be better...maybe she should have given me a higher dose til I adjust? I don't know....I'm having a difficult time thinking & concentrating still....of course you all know that it comes with extreme pain...I just want to feel better.....even if it's just for a while...

Thanks for reading & responding....I have no support anywhere else..family doesn't understand....no one does....sometimes I just get so fed up I just can't deal anymore...I am so sick of hurting....I'm sure you all know what I mean :(  I really hate that there is such a huge need for a place like this but very grateful that you're all here....

Thanks again, Jen

[Mollyrae]

You poor dear, your going through withdrawls from a lower dose. It will be uncomfortable for a while but it will get better....hang in there....

[optimus22mac]

Hi...I take the same meds as you do, but I've always taken the extended release form of Dilaudid twice a day (Hydromorph Contin), and I take Dilaudid 3-4 times a day for breakthrough.  I have had great success with this combination.  Very frequently, when someone is on an extended release type of medication, they may also need the fast acting complementary med for BT.  I do know that the first time I took the Hydromorph Contin, it took a few hours until I felt pain relief....so you may have to wait it out.  Plus, it is a very subtle relief for me...I have great pain relief without the side effects that my former meds gave me (like percocet).  I just feel less pain...no euphoria or dizziness...I did feel tired for the first few days until my body got used to the new drug...but I am very happy with it now.  If you are not doing well after a few days of taking it, you could maybe ask for a breakthrough dose of Dilaudid, which could maybe be 2mg every 4-6 hours...along with your 12mg extended release (if that is what you are taking...the Hydromorph Contin).
I hope this was a little helpful...feel free to ask more questions if you'd like, since I have experience with this medication:)

[Tuckamore]

Hi Justmejen,

Feel free to post...with questions, concerns, or just to vent any time. We are here to support one another.

I am not sure what you are saying. Have you gone from a less dosage of a short acting higher dose of a long acting dilaudid? If so it make take a while for your system to adjust to the change. If you truly feel like you are "dying" call the prescribing physician asap. It can't hurt and it may be beneficial.

My guess is it's just an adjustment period but be safe and call him. Please let us know how you are doing. We will look forward to your updates.

Best of luck and please take care.

~Tuck