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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by snoot on November 17, 2003, at 8:56:55
I had been buying Percocet on the black market for back pain..but mainly for the mood lift it gave me.About 2 years ago, my Dr. prescribed them for me due to degenerative disc disease. You can imagine how happy I was! I am precribed 5 tablets a day [5 mg oxycodone with 325 mg. of acetaminophen] I usually have to "top up" my Rx monthly as 5 doesn't seem to be enough any more. Lately I have been waking up around 3 a.m. feeling nauseated and anxious and the only way I can get back to sleep is to pop another pill. I am afraid to talk to my Dr. about this for fear of him discontinuing my Rx. I feel very depressed and anxious without them. I have tried anti-depressants but within 2-3 days I couldn't function at all so I stopped taking them. Any suggestions??? Please help, I don't want to be taking these for the rest of my life.
Posted by Elle2021 on November 18, 2003, at 2:48:00
In reply to oxycodone addiction, posted by snoot on November 17, 2003, at 8:56:55
Ought oh, time to call your doc and have him help wean you off of them. That can be not nice at first, but good for you in the long run. I also heard that you can take another med that helps to not build a tolerance to pain meds. Ask your doc about that too. God bless you.
Elle
Posted by snoot on November 18, 2003, at 8:23:19
In reply to Re: oxycodone addiction » snoot, posted by Elle2021 on November 18, 2003, at 2:48:00
> Ought oh, time to call your doc and have him help wean you off of them. That can be not nice at first, but good for you in the long run. I also heard that you can take another med that helps to not build a tolerance to pain meds. Ask your doc about that too. God bless you.
> Elle
Thanks for your thoughts Elle...I just have to get enough nerve to call the Dr. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences nausea/anxiety during the night....Probably withdrawl????
Posted by Flipsactown on November 19, 2003, at 11:34:00
In reply to oxycodone addiction, posted by snoot on November 17, 2003, at 8:56:55
You may have to. I have had 2 failed back surgeries, numerous injections,etc...and I still have chronic low back pain. I had taken tylenol/codeine for twenty years until 2 years ago, I asked to be referred to the pain clinic so they could prescribe oxycontin. I have been taken 40mg x 4 = 160mgs of oxycontin ever since. My back pain was caused by being struck by truck while riding a 10 speed bike. I have been on antidepressants for 12 years to deal with depression caused by chronic back pain. One ortho doc indicated to me that there is so much trauma to my low back from the surgeries and injections that I have developed an arthritic condition which generally speaking will stay with you the rest of your life. I have learned to live with my chronic back pain with the help of oxy and regular talk therapy. Hope you find this helpful.
Flipsactown
> I had been buying Percocet on the black market for back pain..but mainly for the mood lift it gave me.About 2 years ago, my Dr. prescribed them for me due to degenerative disc disease. You can imagine how happy I was! I am precribed 5 tablets a day [5 mg oxycodone with 325 mg. of acetaminophen] I usually have to "top up" my Rx monthly as 5 doesn't seem to be enough any more. Lately I have been waking up around 3 a.m. feeling nauseated and anxious and the only way I can get back to sleep is to pop another pill. I am afraid to talk to my Dr. about this for fear of him discontinuing my Rx. I feel very depressed and anxious without them. I have tried anti-depressants but within 2-3 days I couldn't function at all so I stopped taking them. Any suggestions??? Please help, I don't want to be taking these for the rest of my life.
Posted by Alexander on November 20, 2003, at 9:55:04
In reply to Re: oxycodone addiction, posted by snoot on November 18, 2003, at 8:23:19
> > Ought oh, time to call your doc and have him help wean you off of them. That can be not nice at first, but good for you in the long run. I also heard that you can take another med that helps to not build a tolerance to pain meds. Ask your doc about that too. God bless you.
> > Elle
> Thanks for your thoughts Elle...I just have to get enough nerve to call the Dr. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences nausea/anxiety during the night....Probably withdrawl????I can relate. Talking to MD's is not something that I consider a most comfortable scenario, and I know that they don't like me.
Here's what you do.
Get to know your rights.
When your next visit comes up, you will think two days ahead of what you want to tell him, you will write this in some form of "essay format" making lot's of use of "tabs" so that he can see where something new starts, highlighting, etc.
You might be surprised as this may actually give you a positive response, as it saves the doctor lots of time. This is because you have already spoken, efficiently and effectively. So you have spoken. Now it's up to him to say what he thinks,...and if he knows his stuff he will know that he cannot "abandon" you, and that should he do that he will certainly never do that ever again (because you will sue him professional misconduct, and on top of that for battery - battery because of the pain that you suffered from the withdrawal)
>
Posted by snoot on November 21, 2003, at 8:13:18
In reply to Re: oxycodone addiction, posted by Alexander on November 20, 2003, at 9:55:04
> > > Ought oh, time to call your doc and have him help wean you off of them. That can be not nice at first, but good for you in the long run. I also heard that you can take another med that helps to not build a tolerance to pain meds. Ask your doc about that too. God bless you.
> > > Elle
> > Thanks for your thoughts Elle...I just have to get enough nerve to call the Dr. I was just wondering if anyone else experiences nausea/anxiety during the night....Probably withdrawl????
>
> I can relate. Talking to MD's is not something that I consider a most comfortable scenario, and I know that they don't like me.
> Here's what you do.
> Get to know your rights.
> When your next visit comes up, you will think two days ahead of what you want to tell him, you will write this in some form of "essay format" making lot's of use of "tabs" so that he can see where something new starts, highlighting, etc.
> You might be surprised as this may actually give you a positive response, as it saves the doctor lots of time. This is because you have already spoken, efficiently and effectively. So you have spoken. Now it's up to him to say what he thinks,
>
> ...and if he knows his stuff he will know that he cannot "abandon" you, and that should he do that he will certainly never do that ever again (because you will sue him professional misconduct, and on top of that for battery - battery because of the pain that you suffered from the withdrawal)
>
> >
>
>
Thanks for your input Alexander! I am just a newbie at this computer and I can't believe there are people out there who really care. I just watched Opra the other day and her guests were middle class mothers addicted to oxy. I am one of them. Its makes you feel like you can be a "Super Mom" and I am terrified I cannot be the same person I was before I started taking these drugs. Apparently, you can't. I'm not ready to take the first step yet. The women on the show were taking up to 40 tabs a day!!
Posted by snoot on November 21, 2003, at 8:32:47
In reply to Re: oxycodone addiction » snoot, posted by Flipsactown on November 19, 2003, at 11:34:00
> You may have to. I have had 2 failed back surgeries, numerous injections,etc...and I still have chronic low back pain. I had taken tylenol/codeine for twenty years until 2 years ago, I asked to be referred to the pain clinic so they could prescribe oxycontin. I have been taken 40mg x 4 = 160mgs of oxycontin ever since. My back pain was caused by being struck by truck while riding a 10 speed bike. I have been on antidepressants for 12 years to deal with depression caused by chronic back pain. One ortho doc indicated to me that there is so much trauma to my low back from the surgeries and injections that I have developed an arthritic condition which generally speaking will stay with you the rest of your life. I have learned to live with my chronic back pain with the help of oxy and regular talk therapy. Hope you find this helpful.
>
> Flipsactown
>
>
>
> > I had been buying Percocet on the black market for back pain..but mainly for the mood lift it gave me.About 2 years ago, my Dr. prescribed them for me due to degenerative disc disease. You can imagine how happy I was! I am precribed 5 tablets a day [5 mg oxycodone with 325 mg. of acetaminophen] I usually have to "top up" my Rx monthly as 5 doesn't seem to be enough any more. Lately I have been waking up around 3 a.m. feeling nauseated and anxious and the only way I can get back to sleep is to pop another pill. I am afraid to talk to my Dr. about this for fear of him discontinuing my Rx. I feel very depressed and anxious without them. I have tried anti-depressants but within 2-3 days I couldn't function at all so I stopped taking them. Any suggestions??? Please help, I don't want to be taking these for the rest of my life.
>
>
Hi Flip...Yes, I can relate to the pain.I had been taking Tylenol 3's for quite awhile before the oxys' for about 5 years and they finally rotted out my stomach and weren't effective for pain relief. About a year ago,[after being on the oxy's for a year]I was concerned about the amount of acetaminophen in the Percocet affecting my liver as I enjoy having alcohol a couple times a week to help me cope!! My Dr. prescribed oxycontin 10 mgs.twice daily and there was pain relief, but no mood elevation buzz. A friend told me I should chew them to release the oxy faster. Well, that lasted about a week and I found I was taking more and went back to the Percocet.So, needless to say, I'm addicted to the "lift" it gives me as well as the pain relief.
Posted by Alexander on November 21, 2003, at 17:54:09
In reply to Re: oxycodone addiction, posted by snoot on November 21, 2003, at 8:13:18
> >
> > I can relate. Talking to MD's is not something that I consider a most comfortable scenario, and I know that they don't like me.
> > Here's what you do.
> > Get to know your rights.
> > When your next visit comes up, you will think two days ahead of what you want to tell him, you will write this in some form of "essay format" making lot's of use of "tabs" so that he can see where something new starts, highlighting, etc.
> > You might be surprised as this may actually give you a positive response, as it saves the doctor lots of time. This is because you have already spoken, efficiently and effectively. So you have spoken. Now it's up to him to say what he thinks,
> >
> > ...and if he knows his stuff he will know that he cannot "abandon" you, and that should he do that he will certainly never do that ever again (because you will sue him professional misconduct, and on top of that for battery - battery because of the pain that you suffered from the withdrawal)
> >
> > >
> >
> >
> Thanks for your input Alexander! I am just a newbie at this computer and I can't believe there are people out there who really care. I just watched Opra the other day and her guests were middle class mothers addicted to oxy. I am one of them. Its makes you feel like you can be a "Super Mom" and I am terrified I cannot be the same person I was before I started taking these drugs. Apparently, you can't. I'm not ready to take the first step yet. The women on the show were taking up to 40 tabs a day!!
>Well, but here we are talking again about scenarios that are beyond the MDs control, and for which he ought not to be held liable.
Because:
a good MD will tell you that he is nothing but a councilor. That this is your ship, that it is your right to determine where you want to sail in it, and even which course to take (at which point he/she can decide if this is a course that he/she believes that can be taken or not). Like climbing a mountain: you are the climber, in charge, but there are always some "natives" who know (or should know) this area like their own pockets. You tell them you want to go this way, and they will tell you either "ok", "good choice", "risky", "there's a better way, in my experience", or "no, u r nuts - I cannot tell u not to take this course, but I won't lead you, because we both won't make it".And back to the "ship" analogy: the MD is the one who will hold the rudder, who knows the waters and who will advice you in your choice, and must have the choice to opt out.
A good MD will make sure that there is "informed consent", that you know what you are getting yourself into and that you must understand that you can be the only one to really determine to which point the "pros" outweigh the "contras".
He/she should tell you that you have the right to quality of life and that it is his job to "help" you get it back. But that he cannot read your mind.
He/she will make sure that you have understood what constitutes quality of life and how to recognize, when you are stepping "over the top" and are about to fall down the other side of the hill that the MD has helped you to climb on (top = optimal therapeutic effect = quality of life).
Now if you fail to tell the MD that it's no longer going uphill, after he/she, in trust, has been increasing the dose, on your request, asserting that the increase is necessary because you are not yet on top of the hill, while you are actually already on your way down in "free flight", that must not be held against the MD.
And here we get into a seriously ethically questionable situation: he cannot abandon you. And you threaten to hold against him/her his/her willingness to steer you through difficult waters.
That is just not fair.
This is not what the judicial system was meant for.
This is abuse.The MD, at this point also should have the fair chance to opt out, if he/she believes that he/she cannot help you no longer. And an MD who has taken you this far, "in good faith", will not abandon you, but, in case he seriously believes that he/she can no longer help you, refer you to someone who he/she seriously believes can.
Keep in mind: a good MD knows the waters better than you, ...the waters on which you are trying to get yourself through on your ship to wherever u need to get and a good "captain" will have made you aware of the dangers of this course. If you still insist on taking it then there is should have been "informed consent" (in writing), and when the waters turn out difficult, don't turn to the courts, turn to your captain, because he/she will be the only ones that can "steer" you out of there, if at all. No court will be able to achieve that.
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 21, 2003, at 18:41:53
In reply to Re: oxycodone addiction, posted by Alexander on November 21, 2003, at 17:54:09
> Well, but here we are talking again about scenarios that are beyond the MDs control, and for which he ought not to be held liable...
I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Substance Use, thanks.
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 22, 2003, at 11:10:53
In reply to Redirect: oxycodone addiction, posted by Dr. Bob on November 21, 2003, at 18:41:53
> I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Substance Use
And follow-ups regarding posting policies to Psycho-Babble Administration. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20031120/msgs/282491.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 22, 2003, at 11:37:30
In reply to Redirect: oxycodone addiction, posted by Dr. Bob on November 21, 2003, at 18:41:53
> I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Babble Substance Use, thanks.
Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20031014/msgs/282502.html
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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