The last 2 weeks have been rough...

**Justin** · 07-22-2009, 12:04 PM

The last 2 weeks have not been the greatest. Although I have been able to completely free myself of Fentanyl, the side effects have been less than pleasant. I've had constant nausea for the last two weeks, chills, sweating profusely, entire body aches (muscles, joints, etc.). Needless to say, I've been suffering just a bit. Don't get me wrong, this has been much, much better than when I went cold turkey (20mg to 0mg) in 2003--that was by far the worst 3 weeks of my life.

I just wanted to fill everyone in for my absence lately. I've not felt up to much lately, but I keep pushing through as I realize their are so many people that are suffering much more.

Thanks again for being here and sorry things have been slow lately. Please let me know if you need anything and a big thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting fellow Spine Patients around the world.

**ajj1001** · 07-22-2009, 12:36 PM

Hang in there, go easy on yourself. We all need to take time to look after ourselves and get through the stuff that dealing with our spines throws at us.

**Cindylou** · 07-22-2009, 01:14 PM

Geesh, Justin, I have never been on Fentanyl. Must be a rough one to get off of, especially since you didn't even do the cold turkey route. How much longer would you guess? How long does it take to get out of your system? You hang in there, and just get to feeling better, k?

to you!

**Katie** · 07-22-2009, 04:32 PM

Fentanyl was a very nasty drug with me. Four hours into the first twelve hour patch, I was on the floor vomiting non-stop and almost incoherent. It took awhile to rid the system of just that little bit, so I can't imagine what you are going through

Take it easy, and don't get wound up about getting too many things done. It will all still be there when you feel better. That's the most valuable lesson I've learned about getting old

So listen to your elders.

**rosedee** · 07-22-2009, 06:53 PM

I'm really sorry to hear that, Justin. I had a dreadful time coming off Fentanyl after a relatively short time on it - much worse than MST or anything else - I shudder at the memories of it. And I was really pleased to be coming off it because of the dreadful side effects on it!

As others say, you need to look after your own needs first - there is always someone worse off than we are, and someone worse of than them too! So tell yourself what you would say to another person in your situation!

And thank you all the more for your recent help.

**daveinaustin** · 07-22-2009, 10:15 PM

Good luck, Justin.

I have a friend in Austin who's been going through the same problems getting off of the Fentanyl.

God knows how much many of us had to rely on it to overcome our physical challenges. Satan knows how hard it is to get off the crap!

It is amazing how humbling pain and our medicinal dependencies can be. If you would have asked me five years ago, I never would have believed it. Fortunately, we have the community that understands.

Hang in there!!!

-Dave

**Dave** · 07-23-2009, 05:12 AM

Take it easy Justin. Been through Norco withdrawls, but nothing like that. Hang in there buddy. You can lean on us as much as we lean on you, anytime.

Peace be with you.

**Justin** · 07-23-2009, 08:23 AM

Thanks for the support everyone. Physical dependence on opioids and the associated withdrawal is a painful process anyway you slice it. Stopping Oxycontin cold turkey in 2003 was a bad experience all around.

I've never stepped off of Fentanyl patches before and it has proved to be a unique withdrawal experience (I'm attributing this to the continuous delivery of narcotic with the patch). The withdrawals have not been anywhere as severe as the Oxycontin, but they have been pretty unpleasant.

I'm starting to feel better each day, but in the back of my mind I'm worried that I will be in chronic pain after all is said and done. All of my debilitating preoperative leg pain is gone, but I am experiencing significant sacral pain (my oral meds aren't really touching this). It seems to be more lingering inflammation from the paravertebral finger dissection (and significant stretching). Hopefully, naproxen will help knock some of this out.