I have been on fentanyl for 13 years. Chronic pain, bent Harrington rod in my back. Ouch! Approved for surgery but my THS level is too high 44 T4/T3 within normal limits. Can Fentanyl or pain meds (I was on two patches - 100 and a 25). I started to work out, dropped all the weight gained from the Fentanyl and the other 8 meds I needed to take due to the side effects of the Fentanyl, and now am on two patches (50 and 12) and on a razors edge as pain goes. Recently had heaps of dental work done. Crowns replaced, amalamates removed etc and my THS went through the roof. The hospital over-seer will not approve my back surgery ( all cardio bloods etc are EXCELLENT) and everyone is amazed I am 65 years old. What is going on? I refuse to go on the synthetic drugs, which I did for three days - lips turned blue, neck swelling, larnax swelling, loss of voice hair loss ... to name a few side effects in three day on a 75mg dose. I live in a small town and that is the only option I have been given. A horse fell over on me and bent the rods in my back, I live in pain, I need this surgery and HATE drugs. Help me please. What alternatives do I have to get this THS down so I can have my surgery. It was high once before when I had dental work done right before the tests. I am so beyond this and no one is listening to me on the correlation between the pain meds, stress and extensive x rays ..