Pain Meds - Fentynal Patch
Hi All,
I was diagnosis with Fibro 8 years ago and have been on Pain meds ever since. I take Lortab ES and Lyrica to name a few. At one point I was on the Fentynal patch but I found that it was too strong the first day, perfect the second day and not enough on the 3rd day. I also had a hard time keeping it stuck to me and ended up breaking out really bad on my shoulders from all the tape. I already have problems some times just from the skin crawl that the meds cause from being a narcotic. (I'm always in pain and feel that they work better then nothing - but I don't think they work enough - I'm really frustrated)
For those that are on it - do you find that is true as well - and what do you do to combat it.
I also wonder about taking my meds after WLS, the pre-op nurse indicated that I may need to change some of my medications as I take so much of everything - I could spend all day just trying to eat pills.
So I was considering asking my Rhumtologest (sp?) to switch me - or do you have a recommended pain med that works well after Surg?
Thanks,
Echo :-)
I was diagnosis with Fibro 8 years ago and have been on Pain meds ever since. I take Lortab ES and Lyrica to name a few. At one point I was on the Fentynal patch but I found that it was too strong the first day, perfect the second day and not enough on the 3rd day. I also had a hard time keeping it stuck to me and ended up breaking out really bad on my shoulders from all the tape. I already have problems some times just from the skin crawl that the meds cause from being a narcotic. (I'm always in pain and feel that they work better then nothing - but I don't think they work enough - I'm really frustrated)
For those that are on it - do you find that is true as well - and what do you do to combat it.
I also wonder about taking my meds after WLS, the pre-op nurse indicated that I may need to change some of my medications as I take so much of everything - I could spend all day just trying to eat pills.
So I was considering asking my Rhumtologest (sp?) to switch me - or do you have a recommended pain med that works well after Surg?
Thanks,
Echo :-)
I would talk to your surgeon about your meds, I know post op a lot of things "hit me" differently. I wasn't diagnosed with Fibro till after surgery, so I don't know how much my experiences will relate. I take cymbalta 1x a day, plus 5mg oxycodone at night before bed. I can't take any extended release drugs, and tylenol does nothing for me. After surgery you can't take aleve or the like either. Since Fibro is NOT an inflamatory disease, pain management becomes more challanging but not impossible. I would build a brain trust, write down your questions and the answers given by your surgeon, nutritionist, and rheumotologist. You may find surgery puts you in a flare. It is even more critical then other post ops that Fibro folks take their vitamins, every day, forever. Even something goofy like low Vitamin D can really mess you up.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
First off, let me say that I am pre-WLS. I am wandering through the boards learning and getting some of questions answered and ran across your post.
I have been on fentanyl patches for about 5 years now for back pain from a severe car accident. I've been to every doctor imaginable and no one can figure out what is causing the pain, including chiro, accupuncturist, massage therapy, orthos, phys therapy, pain specialist that have run every test and every surgical procedure and still nothing.
Regarding what you said about how day 1 was too much , day 2 is good and day 3 is awful. I had that same thing to begin with, I told my pain med doctor that and he upped the frequency to change the patch every other day instead of every 3 days. Took about a week to level out the first day being too high. Another doctor that I saw had gone to some training by the manufacturer of Duragesic brand name (fentanyl patch brand name) and learned that for 70% of patients, it only works for 2 days, not the 3 days it states on the packaging insert. So, changing them every 2 days is more the norm.
As to them not sticking. I havn't had any trouble as long as I place them kind of on my hip, but more to the back (think upper tush cheek). On my arm, shoulder, etc. forget it... falls off. Also, I learned from other message boards about how to stop the rash. Spray the area with flonase. It is a prescription nasal spray for allergies. I just spray one or two times on my hand, lightly wipe it onto the skin where I'm going to put the patch, let it dry completely (one or two minutes) . Then put the patch on and then hold my on it pressing it to the skin for about 30 seconds for the warmth to help stick it on. Works like a charm!!! I can shower, swim, etc and at the end of the second day its still pretty well stuck. Another thing---- if you get the brand name of the patch, if you call Duragesic they will send you a cover sort thing for the patch that is cut a bit bigger than the patch and has some other sticky on it to help it stick if you have issues with still.
Also, I can't use the generic version of them as it doesn't do very much for me. I have been on the same dose for almost the entire 5 years of 75mcg/patch of Duragesic. The same strength in the generic doesn't take care of the pain at all.
I'm glad I found all of this out for me as the Duragesic has been great for a slow, steady dose instead of highs and lows as the meds wear off and the next dose gets on board.
One other piece of advice, for discounts on any brand name meds go to www.internetdrugcoupons.com. It lists all the drugs and when you click on one, it will tell you what discount the manufacturer has and link you to any websites or coupons for it. I found 2 that will work on my meds. Each is for $50 off and that applies to my co-pay. So for the Duragesic I was paying $67 for 15 patches and now I pay $17 for them. The site looks a little "cheesy" but I save about $600 from the coupons I got from there last year.
Sorry so long, but it sounds like you've experience a lot of what I had to learn the hard way!
Good Luck!
Libby
I have been on fentanyl patches for about 5 years now for back pain from a severe car accident. I've been to every doctor imaginable and no one can figure out what is causing the pain, including chiro, accupuncturist, massage therapy, orthos, phys therapy, pain specialist that have run every test and every surgical procedure and still nothing.
Regarding what you said about how day 1 was too much , day 2 is good and day 3 is awful. I had that same thing to begin with, I told my pain med doctor that and he upped the frequency to change the patch every other day instead of every 3 days. Took about a week to level out the first day being too high. Another doctor that I saw had gone to some training by the manufacturer of Duragesic brand name (fentanyl patch brand name) and learned that for 70% of patients, it only works for 2 days, not the 3 days it states on the packaging insert. So, changing them every 2 days is more the norm.
As to them not sticking. I havn't had any trouble as long as I place them kind of on my hip, but more to the back (think upper tush cheek). On my arm, shoulder, etc. forget it... falls off. Also, I learned from other message boards about how to stop the rash. Spray the area with flonase. It is a prescription nasal spray for allergies. I just spray one or two times on my hand, lightly wipe it onto the skin where I'm going to put the patch, let it dry completely (one or two minutes) . Then put the patch on and then hold my on it pressing it to the skin for about 30 seconds for the warmth to help stick it on. Works like a charm!!! I can shower, swim, etc and at the end of the second day its still pretty well stuck. Another thing---- if you get the brand name of the patch, if you call Duragesic they will send you a cover sort thing for the patch that is cut a bit bigger than the patch and has some other sticky on it to help it stick if you have issues with still.
Also, I can't use the generic version of them as it doesn't do very much for me. I have been on the same dose for almost the entire 5 years of 75mcg/patch of Duragesic. The same strength in the generic doesn't take care of the pain at all.
I'm glad I found all of this out for me as the Duragesic has been great for a slow, steady dose instead of highs and lows as the meds wear off and the next dose gets on board.
One other piece of advice, for discounts on any brand name meds go to www.internetdrugcoupons.com. It lists all the drugs and when you click on one, it will tell you what discount the manufacturer has and link you to any websites or coupons for it. I found 2 that will work on my meds. Each is for $50 off and that applies to my co-pay. So for the Duragesic I was paying $67 for 15 patches and now I pay $17 for them. The site looks a little "cheesy" but I save about $600 from the coupons I got from there last year.
Sorry so long, but it sounds like you've experience a lot of what I had to learn the hard way!
Good Luck!
Libby
Thank you all for your advise and support - I printed this all out and will be taking it with me to my next Dr's appointment.
Libby R. I find in particular, that you understand the issue and have provided some great information to take to my Dr's. They are always so unwilling to switch things to stronger drugs because of fear I guess. (heck, my primary Dr. farmed me out because he didn't want to deal with it) The good part is that he farmed me to the Denver Arthritis and pain clinic and these my Dr. there specializes in Fibro and things like that. I hope that it can be changed to something else because after 8 years on the same drug with no change in dosage.... it just doesn't work well any more.
Thank you all again and if anyone thinks of anything else please post.
Echo V
Echo-- I hope some of that info can be helpful to you! If you have more questions in regards to this, please feel free to email off the boards as well!
Emily- I found the coupon about July of last year and the expiration date on it was Dec 31, 2008. My pharmacist just kept the first one I gave him on file and each month automatically took off the $50. The coupon posted on the site right now expires March 2009, so he will keep applying this one until then. If you think you will need to give your pharmacist the coupon each month, I would just print 3 of them now and then hopefully they will offer it again sometime in March for the rest of the year or a few more months anyway!
Libby
Emily- I found the coupon about July of last year and the expiration date on it was Dec 31, 2008. My pharmacist just kept the first one I gave him on file and each month automatically took off the $50. The coupon posted on the site right now expires March 2009, so he will keep applying this one until then. If you think you will need to give your pharmacist the coupon each month, I would just print 3 of them now and then hopefully they will offer it again sometime in March for the rest of the year or a few more months anyway!
Libby
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