Too Much Pain Medication

[Chava]

Over-did it just a bit today, which results in feeling simultaneously numbed out and hyped up. YUCK. The pain has been dreadful and I'm also tolerating it poor lately. I seem to be used to managing panic but the steady anxiety of medical uncertainties and ongoing appointments with new doctors when I find any doctor appointment to be stressful. I'm managing well on the surface and crumbling apart beneath.

So, a little f+cked up and trying to come down versus chain smoke my e-cigarette and increase heart palpitations and arrhythmias and full panic and freaking out and worrying I'll destroy myself.

I'm going to exercise. Not sure what calming substances I can safely take right now...have some tea. Just venting but open to suggestions like "slow the F+ck down".

Random sidenote: a friend posted something about Mr. Rogers' neighborhood on facebook and I didn't feel like I could slam him. Everyone loves him. But even as a young kid he creeped me out and I didn't trust him at all. He just seems like a child molester. And the puppets, including Elaine or whatever her name was. Oh my god, I hate that show.

Time for mindful exercise...will go slow and match my breathing. Gather myself. I can't stand pain anymore. I'd call my doctor but I'm seeing another new doctor this week...doing everything I can, following the right channels to get more info on what is going on. I didn't take more than prescription allows, btw, just more than normal and I can't win...feel icky either way.

 

[darrenS]

i have found certain pain meds will make me hyper , im fine with hydrocodone , but oxycodone and percocet make me hyper and i dont like them, its almost like they have a upper component. It took a while to get the right dose and medication

 

[darrenS]

i forgot to say , you have to be careful with opiate based pain meds , as even the slightest withdrawal can kick in flashbacks and what not , many times the doses they give will not lead to real serious withdrawals , but you will withdraw at some level and even if the physical is not much , the emotional reactions will be greater, anxiety, restlessness etc

I have tried several other meds and by far the best was butrans patches , i had to stop because of a serious skin reaction , but it had a half life of 72hrs and minimal withdrawals and it really worked well with the ptsd , as there was no ups and downs between doses

The next best one was Zohydro - it is pure hydrocodone ...no acetamophin or tylenol - is slow release ..only drawback is its expensive ....copay is 180.00 after insurance

I would not suggest methadone, many prescribe this as it too has a long half life , its cheap at about 4.00 per script , it does work but i found it plays hell with your emotions and if you ever have to come off it...it is by far the worst withdrawal you could ever imagine 30+ days of little sleep and total lethargy and brain fog - it severely triggered my ptsd and was removed because of this ,

And then of course you have the percocet, hydrocodone , oxycodone etc - i have pretty much tried everything, all pain meds...antidepressants etc etc
and by far the best had to be butrans patches...no high - no ups and downs and stable and continous pain relief without any high or mood change other than be pain controlled and happier - i hope this helps Chava

 

[Chava]

Thanks @darrenS , when cutting back I also do in small bits. Mostly the non-sleeping would wreck me very quickly. Yesterday's dose really kicked out some pain in a good way but today I woke up with a horrid headache, maybe rebound though I just have headaches all the time too. More info from a new doc soon. Sick of it but it's also helpful to not give up and feel powerless. I do need different meds but am hoping for more descriptive diagnosis before trying something different (would love minimal or zero opiate types longterm, and only as once in a while vs small or medium dose every day, which would just have to increase over time if nothing else can change). Muscle relaxants tonight, which I hope makes for a little better tomorrow.

 

[darrenS]

you sound like you have a good plan , ahh the muscle relaxants ..great for sleep - know that feeling well