I have a couple questions maybe some of you could help me with, and if this is maybe better suited for basic drugs or or other drugs then please move this mods. Anyway I have long term chronic health issues: both hips need replacement, a shoulder and ligaments are shot and need replacement, bad arthritis everywhere, cervical herniations impinging on nerve roots/spinal cord, some lumbar scoliosis, kidney problems including only having one, stomach problems which needs major surgery which putting off as long as possible, various nerve problems caused by/creating these other issues. For various reasons surgeries to fix these either aren't advisable-- have had 30 or so past surgeries, developed problems with general anesthesia, reactions to previously safe antibiotics, and have still-unclear nerve problems affecting inner organs and limbs-- or won't be happening anytime soon.
Am on a fentanyl 50mcg patch, 10 mg oxycodones, and neurontin. I've been on all of these meds for 4 years and lately am starting to have some problems, namely am feeling more fogged out but with considerably less pain control, it's the worst of both worlds. Some of this is due to knowing certain things have gotten worse, namely the hips, stomach, and shoulder, but some of it just feels like I'm not on the right med mix anymore. And my sleep has been shitty for years but it's getting worse now too, for the last 9 months average about 5 crappy hours a night where wake up repeatedly (or have lots of dreams about pain which is just fucking unfair, at least let me see visions of sugarplum boobs) and while taking benzos or Ambien helps it's more like being on knockout drops instead of real sleep, still don't feel rested at all so rarely take them.
I want to speak to my doctors about switching up meds, think have gotten too assimilated to the percocets, and know OxyContin has a time release version but the only time ever had it was a hospital stay when was on so many other IV painkillers that really don't remember what it did. I don't want anything strong than the percocets, in fact I'd like to try something a bit less strong if it lasted longer, am so tired of waking up constantly, being an absolute mess for hours the next morning, etc. This isn't about upping dosage, it's more like wanting to make a lateral move, know what I mean. So what would be a appropriate dose of OxyContin (or a different, long lasting med) for something like this? Also, I don't want to up the fentanyl strength, have tried it before and it gives me splitting headaches and generally makes me feel like crap.
My other question is, the lack of sleep and constant hurting is starting to get to me, my memory is getting worse and feeling foggier more often. I do what I can to stay mentally active, read 3-4 books a week (in a past life before Pain I was a novelist), went back to playing guitar, started doing small gardening stuff a couple years ago, and do as much possible physically to get endorphins flowing but I feel like I'm slipping lately. Is this just one of the doleful effects of long term narcotic use, does anyone think changing from percocets to something else could help, and can I take vitamins to try to mitigate what feels like the slow onset of tardism? I'm going to pick up B12s and other vitamins tomorrow, I've heard kava kava might help but really don't know much about it, but does anyone know of other helpful supplements, especially things that could assist while on narcotics?
Any help greatly appreciated, typing this long tedious post has finished me for the night, hoping get up tomorrow and someone responds "I'm actually your primary physician, recognized your symptoms and a bigass RX for blow, dilaudid, fresh fruit, and a free cottage overlooking a lake in the canadian rockies will be waiting for you at the desk on monday morning'
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
-- and hope you're having a decent day