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Introduction ~ Question on when to try weaning off meds
Hello~ I am a chronic pain sufferer for 7 years. Started after stem cell transplant for an aggressive lymphoma and got much worse after a second one. I am 54 and still grieve what was an am trying to adjust/accept the "new normal." I am in remission, but the alphabet soup of chemo, radiation and two stem cell transplants have left me a shadow of what I once was. My pain is bone and sometimes joint and sometimes all over myalgia. I am on oxycontin 20 3x day and norco 10/325 for break-through pain of which I take 4/day some days six, some days 2 or none, but average 4. I also use medical Marijuana for sleep and really bad days. I started Cymbalta to help with neuropathy in my hands and feet and that helped my overall myalgia pain as well. Here is my question, my palliative care/pain management team is talking about trying to cut back. My thinking is that if I have to take Norco the vast majority of days, cutting back will only increase break through pain. Thoughts, experiences? I live in fear of losing my meds as I was suicidal before I was finally appropriately treated. Help! and Thank you!
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You post could have been written by me. Our story is so similar. I would not try weaning off of any of my meds until the serious things are taken care of I just cannot live my life in pain excruciating pain every day so I take my meds even though they're getting a pretty bad rap I still take all my meds just as I'm instructed and just try to hold it together one day at a time good luck to you and your journey
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1 ReactionI totally hear what you’re saying. I’m less concerned about the stigma of the meds as I am about their contribution to other potential health problems. I want to be on the lowest dose possible, I just don’t want to put myself back into jeopardy. I think you’re right about not pushing it until I feel like my breakthrough meds are truly serving me only a few days a week. I too cannot go back to living in excruciating pain every day. I have a young adult son and I want to live to hold my grandbaby something… But only if I can live with quality of life. Every day I am thankful I get to wake up as I wasn’t supposed to… But every day I am reminded of the cost of saving my life. Like I said I want to be on the lowest dose possible for quality of life and I really am interested in peoples thoughts on how to go about that.
It is so hard. When you know you have a pill that you could take and make the pain go away. But that eventually you will have to have the pain again. The pills don't last forever. I even told God I could not take it anymore
Ckeys..oh do I know where you are at
I WISH I had marijuana. Hang in there
I hate the withdrawal, but I hate the pain more
Mreaving. We have to hang in there and pray our pain cuts back
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1 ReactionI am not one for pills or marijuana. Once marijuana is in your system life is changed in that career opportunities are eliminated. It will never be an option for me because I plan to work until I cease to breath.
@living_strong good for you Addiction is something I won't allow in my life either As retired nurse I,ve seen to many people trying to break there habits whether cigs or other habits even habitual eating .may I ask what your work is you mentioned a professional ?
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1 Reaction@lioness
I am a Demand Planning Manager which requires detail data analytics and availability to provide immediate answers to executives.
In states where marijuana is legal and you have a prescription it does not interfere with employment. But like any substance that can affect the mind, you of course don’t do it while working. Also using marijuana once doesn’t mean it’s forever in your system.
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1 ReactionI don’t think using pain medication makes you an addict. It does make you dependent in that you have to wean off – – – but there are many other types of medications that you have to wean from, PPIs come to mind. Personally I much prefer being dependent on a medication that helps me live a full life.
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