I'm re-thinking my plan....

tjt6768
tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
edited 23. Mar 2012, 15:05 in Living with Arthritis archive
I've been asked by the pain clinic to cut my fentanyl from 75mcg/hr a bit at a time to zero, as he thinks it's not doing anything...
Now my Rheumy had asked me to stop my sulfa for two weeks to see if that's what is stopping my appetite and has made me lose over two stone..

I had planned to start this whole thing this week. However, I'm struggling greatly with payback from last week, I had the nerve to believe I could leave the confines of my home for a few days, and even though I took things very careful and rested plenty, I'm suffering extreme payback..
I've now realized how stupid I was to think I could get away with the reductions at the moment.
I've managed to get down to 50mcg/hr worn the fentanyl but I'm going to take the sulfa tonight, I missed it yesterday..
I am not due back at the rheumy for three months so I will do the sulfa thing at a later date.
My joints are ablaze and I'm in agony, probably a combination of the entire above actions..
I'm hoping it eases and soon.

Thanks for reading :D
e050.gifMe-Tony
n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
k040.gif
Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP

Comments

  • jaja
    jaja Member Posts: 135
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi...i chose option 2(b).....youve just got to try aint ya!

    hope the present flare subsides real quick...

    take care JAJA
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I chose B..because you are not giving in to bloody Arthur..and if I had an hat I would take it off to ya.
    Take care Tony, you know I have everything crossed for you, that this flare eases up very soon .
    Love
    Barbara
  • Folara
    Folara Member Posts: 568
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm going with B as well. We are all a bit twerpy from time to time but sometimes you just have to give things a go.

    Take care of yourself.

    Fols x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You know me, mate, and can therefore probably guess which answer I chose. Yup, the non-cuddly one. I understand the struggle despite being a mere girl - it must be so much tougher for a bloke and the expectations that society places upon your gender. I can only offer these: [[]] DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    well would not call you a twerp, but well do not be a total pratt keep sulfa for a bit and get straight first then cut it back (men are they brave or just daft) we will suport you but both together no chance pal take care rest up val
    val
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Lol.. Thanks girls. I really appreciate it.. :wink:
    DD, those hugs were great :lol:

    I will be stocking my already prepared dossette box up with the sulfa. And will wait a while before attempting to cut them out.
    Ain't it silly how much we rely on some silly little tablets :roll:

    Thanks once again from your friendly neighbourhood twerp :wink::D
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    forgive me if we have already spoken, I've a memory like a sieve lol. Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to reply. :D
    jaja wrote:
    Hi...i chose option 2(b).....youve just got to try aint ya!

    hope the present flare subsides real quick...

    take care JAJA
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You know what I think. The point is, what do you think? Should you have done it? Would you do it again? Would you recommend it for others?
    Here, have a few of these to help you think, crazyman ((())).
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • maria09
    maria09 Member Posts: 1,905
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I stopped my patches as they were not helping
    Going off them gradually is a good idea dont go cold turkey Its not good I did that & wished I hadnt Had to go back on them & did it slowly
    Good luck & I think its B
    Maria
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hey Tony my ol buddy! I'm sorry your in alot of pain , I hope something gets sorted soon for you. You've been suffer enough, you deserve to feel a little better. Will be hoping you get some good pain relief soon.
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    quick question how long have you been on the sulfa??? could not remember i been on it 3 months and it is helping not the mirical i would love but well i do wish for a lot it has affected my appitite i make sure what i eat is what i feel like eating and does not take much preperation (or gone off it by time it ready) making sure there plenty of fruit salad ready prepared in fridge as had gone off fruit totally mind you could do with loosing couple of stone that for sure val
    val
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi hun. Erm, I'm quite sure I would not do it that way again, lol. More recommend it to others.
    Hugs are always welcome though, cheers mi dear :D
    You know what I think. The point is, what do you think? Should you have done it? Would you do it again? Would you recommend it for others?
    Here, have a few of these to help you think, crazyman ((())).
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    this will definitely be a gradual reduction hun. I once stopped the dihydrocodiene instantly, never again..
    Thanks for the reply :D
    maria09 wrote:
    I stopped my patches as they were not helping
    Going off them gradually is a good idea dont go cold turkey Its not good I did that & wished I hadnt Had to go back on them & did it slowly
    Good luck & I think its B
    Maria
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Cheers mi old fruit bat :D:lol:
    bubbadog wrote:
    Hey Tony my ol buddy! I'm sorry your in alot of pain , I hope something gets sorted soon for you. You've been suffer enough, you deserve to feel a little better. Will be hoping you get some good pain relief soon.
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi Val. I started the sulfa a month before you I think. It started to help the skin and the IBD/S symptoms fairly quickly.. I was very thankful for that. As for the joints, took a little longer and they eased a little but I don't think it's going to take the pain away entirely from them. As for the appetite, well it's near none-existent, I just can't face eating, I'll manage some fruit through the day but not much else..
    X
    valval wrote:
    quick question how long have you been on the sulfa??? could not remember i been on it 3 months and it is helping not the mirical i would love but well i do wish for a lot it has affected my appitite i make sure what i eat is what i feel like eating and does not take much preperation (or gone off it by time it ready) making sure there plenty of fruit salad ready prepared in fridge as had gone off fruit totally mind you could do with loosing couple of stone that for sure val
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    i feel for you the first few weeks made me feel yuk but not so bad now try to get right before cutting sulfa back and do you need to do it slow??? ((())) val
    val
  • bounce
    bounce Member Posts: 106
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Tony,
    I chose B as you are not giving into the arthur, and you are giving it a good kicking, unfortunately it can give you a good kicking back in the shape of a flare up.

    but I say as long as you can say to yourself that " it was worth it", then you come out as sensible with a strong will.

    Hope your flare up stops soon, and that the reductions in your medication go well with no ill effects and hopefully not extra pain because of it.

    sending you a friendly hug to keep you going through it all.

    Jules.
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Jules, Val..
    The rheumy didn't mention cutting the sulfa slowly so I assume he meant just stop for a couple of weeks.. And I also assume that it should be ok to just start again, strange as you have to build them up when first taking them?
    Anyway, it's not come to that yet, I'm going to reduce the fentanyl first and see how that goes.. I had already cut back down to 50 (after popping briefly back to 75 for the london thing) and this morning out was the third day, time to put a new one on.. I've plumped for a teeny 25 lol. Hopefully things won't be excruciating... I'm still in a flare but touch wood (taps forehead) feel a tiny bit better this morning. Plus I've got to go get my meds from the chemist.. It will be a slow and steady process haha..
    I thank you all for your kind thoughts....
    I hope I can repay them if and when the time comes :D
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I stopped everything tablet-wise for a week when that stomach bug hit me, and as a result I have re-started the sulph very very gently: I am up to 2 in the morning and 1 at night, come Sunday it will be 2 twice but I ain't going back up to 3 twice (as I used to) as the current make of pills I was given is not that user-friendly bottom-wise. :oops: I don't think there's much point in sending them back only to be destroyed, that's a waste. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    thanks DD..
    I thought it strange when he said to just stop for two weeks, no mention of starting back a boy at a time.. This is however, the same fellow that stopped the hydroxy without replacing it with anything for almost a year :roll:
    I think when the time comes I'll introduce them gradually again.
    :D
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • jaja
    jaja Member Posts: 135
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI...looking like a landslide victory for the twerps!...thought i'd give you a bump i enjoyed your survey so much :lol: ALL THE BEST..JAJA