Very Few resources for Medical Opiate users

[Connor666]

Hello, I am writing this because there are very few resources for people who are prescribed opiates for chronic pain. I have searched for at least a year to find out information in a medical context and have come up with zilch. Every page, post, thread, add etc. is directed for people who are addicted to opiates and wish to quit. Which is great that there are resources out there for active users who wish to improve their lives! The fucked up part is I'm an addictions counsellor and even I can't find any resources for opiate users who by medical necessity are dependent on opiates and suffer much of the same symptomology as individuals suffering from addiction. I find it really upsetting that we as a culture can prescribe this stuff but we can't educate people on them and the education we receive to be counsellors does not cover the area of pain management?!?!? So here I am, just like anyone else who is physically dependent on opiates, I suffer side effects and withdrawal effects just the same.

Currently, I am on short acting dilaudid, taking 32 mg a day. 4x4mg and 8x2mg as needed. I hate being on this shit. Sure the buzz was nice but the endgame was to manage pain. Needless to say a tolerance has increased and now my meds have the effect of delaying pain and blunting it but I have to do a lot of stretching and exercise/physio/yoga/etc. in order to manage chronic lower back and pelvic floor pain. I also have a diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis and have it semi controlled but still working on stabilizing my stomach. I am finding that I have the most stomach discomfort in the mornings, and since I am on short acting meds, as the extended release gave me serious diarrhea when I tried them two years ago. But now I am wondering if part of my morning discomfort is partially related to withdrawal symptoms and am considering going back on the long term meds to avoid the discomfort. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[Kittycat5]

How long have you been using Dilaudid? When do you take your doses? Any other meds or conditions we should know?

 

[keeping]

i'm not sure if you've already seen this, but these threads weren't too hard to find and they offer specialist advice;

dealing with chronic pain

chronic pain mega thread

pain-management

pain-management (in Australia) - i was trying to find the current active pain-management thread but i've got to do smething else so this is the nearest one i could find, but use the search bar and check 'Other drugs' as thats the last place i saw pain-management version 7.

**UPDATE***
I found it

i hope they help you mate

 

[DixiChik]

Hey Conner and WELCOME.

I can certainly empathize with your PAIN. I struggle also. I wish I had answers for you.

PAIN PEEPS support each other on the PM Megathread V7...join us!

I must confess, though, I'm not posting much lately because I have little to offer.

 

[Kittycat5]

You have much to offer Dix.

 

[aplumgirl]

I'm a chronic pain patient as well, I completely understand tolerance and early WD. I have had to resort to halving my mid day dose to have extra to use in the times of most need. If it's morning rimes for you try halving a mid day dose and take the left over half with your regular morning dose for a while.

Advise your doc, see if there is anything you can get to help morning pain.

Good luck, keep up the fight for better pain control and thanks for helping others.

 

[ErgicMergic]

Yes, the PM megathread offers a lot of information and support. I live with pain every single day and have finally found ano ultra-low dose opiate (5mg oxy a day, prescribed 30mg) and exercise regimen that works for me after years of medicating with opiates. This low dose keeps the pain levels not so bad that I can actually get around, but doesn't relieve pain to the point where I don't know if I'm causing more damage to my body.

You have much to offer Dix.

Agreed. I always enjoy reading your posts, Dixi.

 

[SS373dOH]

Yep, op you're definitely waking up to WD symptoms, especially if they cease after your morning dose.. Ask you doc to give you a sr or er medication? Also I find it interesting that you're an addiction counselor, that has WD symptoms, gives you another perspective..

- Hopeless Soul

 

[Connor666]

32 mg a day 4 4mg and 8x2mg
Also on 15mg of Zopiclone and 10 of valium
50 mg pristque
On D Two years now

 

[Connor666]

Thanks So much!
Cheers

 

[Connor666]

Slow release or extended release right? My thoughts exactly I tried them before but they plugged me up. Good thing I now have colitis and could stand a little more pluggin... if only there was an emoticon for bitter sarcasm.
Cheers

 

[Connor666]

Thank You!

 

[JebJebJeb]

Hello, I am writing this because there are very few resources for people who are prescribed opiates for chronic pain. I have searched for at least a year to find out information in a medical context and have come up with zilch. Every page, post, thread, add etc. is directed for people who are addicted to opiates and wish to quit. Which is great that there are resources out there for active users who wish to improve their lives! The fucked up part is I'm an addictions counsellor and even I can't find any resources for opiate users who by medical necessity are dependent on opiates and suffer much of the same symptomology as individuals suffering from addiction. I find it really upsetting that we as a culture can prescribe this stuff but we can't educate people on them and the education we receive to be counsellors does not cover the area of pain management?!?!? So here I am, just like anyone else who is physically dependent on opiates, I suffer side effects and withdrawal effects just the same.

Currently, I am on short acting dilaudid, taking 32 mg a day. 4x4mg and 8x2mg as needed. I hate being on this shit. Sure the buzz was nice but the endgame was to manage pain. Needless to say a tolerance has increased and now my meds have the effect of delaying pain and blunting it but I have to do a lot of stretching and exercise/physio/yoga/etc. in order to manage chronic lower back and pelvic floor pain. I also have a diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis and have it semi controlled but still working on stabilizing my stomach. I am finding that I have the most stomach discomfort in the mornings, and since I am on short acting meds, as the extended release gave me serious diarrhea when I tried them two years ago. But now I am wondering if part of my morning discomfort is partially related to withdrawal symptoms and am considering going back on the long term meds to avoid the discomfort. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Are you sure you really want opiates for "medical benefits"? You dont need to lie here seriously we can help you more to

 

[Keif' Richards]

Are you sure you really want opiates for "medical benefits"? You dont need to lie here seriously we can help you more to

Jeb, kindly, shut the fuck up. You're starting to get on my nerves with you're trolling and there's no place for it on Bluelight as a whole and especially not when a thread is dealing with someone's quality of life.

OP, I'm not a chronic pain patient, but being born with a Cleft Palate, I've had approximately 20 reconstructive surgeries in my 25 years of life, so I'm pretty familiar with dealing with diffferent types of pain with Opioids and Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) is actually what I am normally prescribed post-surgery. Lines can definitely become blurred when you're dependent upon Opioids. Are you experiencing withdrawal? Are you just sick? Are you in pain because something has gone wrong or because you've become tolerant to the Opioids effects? and on and on. Sometimes it can be hard to tell just what is giving you problems.

Normally at this stage though, your provider might consider rotating your Opioid regimen or tapering you down a little bit in the hopes of regaining some of your medication's effectiveness. Unfortunately, given the fact that your negative symptoms are essentially arrested following your morning dosage of Hydromorphone, it would appear that your main issue here is tolerance.

I would maybe start investigating some kind of plan to regain the effectiveness of your Opioids. Either tapering down a little bit or possibly rotating to a different Opioid that lacks a lot of cross-tolerance. Either way, it's definitely something to take up with your provider.