Hospitalized For 50 Days On Painkillers And Need Advice (Page 2) (Top voted first)

I was hospitalized when I couldn't walk and found it was a MRSA infection that spread to my heart, lungs and both hips. I am still here leaving in five days. I must use a walker because it's too painful to walk. I was on IV Dilaudid up to 2mg per hour, weaned down to 2 mg every 3-4 hours; then three weeks ago they switched to 37.5 mcg Fentanyl every 72 hrs and 20mg Oxycodone a day. I'm going home in five days and no longer have a family doctor... Is the hospital going to send me home on something or am I going to suffer till I get a doctor at home? Will there be withdrawals? It's been 50 days of painkillers supervised.

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Re: K Dubya (# 28)

Clarification. The foot surgery got me trying oxycodone. My pain is from neuropathy.
My legs ache and sharp pain runs down my nerves to my feet. Sometimes my feet and hands go numb while trying to sleep. The Xanax is to handle my stress. It makes me drowsy the later I take it so I have a chance of getting some rest without the pain interrupting. I am not a diabetic either.

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Re: Katbird101 (# 7)

And going off Fentanyl patch is dangerous. Definitely have to wean yourself. You should start looking for another dr and not count on case managers always. Insist that you a want a referral to dr prior to discharge. It would be very irresponsible of them not to help with your continuity of care....take care.

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I wish I saw this post earlier. You need a pain management doctor. The best thing is to slowly wean down the dosages to absolute minimum to help control pain-that doesn't mean be pain free. As you heal, the meds can be reduced more and hopefully you can get off of them. After 50 days you will have withdrawal. I don't think a facility would release you without follow-up care so they may recommend a pain management doctor. Go slowly; not cold turkey. Good luck.

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They will give u one more script to go home on and yes the withdrawals can be absolutely hellacious. I've had all that medicine before.

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Re: Herb (# 33)

Why would he go to N.A. (narcotics anonymous)? He's been administered these drugs under medical supervision, not abusing them. While he may be physically and psychologically "dependent" upon these drugs he is by no means "addicted" to them or an "addict".

You're way off base here. As a matter of fact, you're in the upper deck way out in left field!

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Re: Mason (# 34)

Herb did attempt to scare the poor guy to death! I have taken opioids and been able to come off them pretty easy. Didn't feel high or abuse. I took them to get through pain and then eased off. You do miss them if you have chronic pain but not nearly as much as alcohol.

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Re: ABA (# 19)

Ridiculous! You most definitely are going to have horrific withdrawals and want to die. Get to a pain specialist or to a substitute clinic for dependency of opiates due to your situation.

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Re: Jon (# 3)

I think you’re incorrect about being able to stop and not have withdrawals at your dose. That was the old Purdue sales pitch that people on less than 60 mg a day will not have withdrawals, and that’s absolutely not true. When I quit taking pain medication after couple years of daily use I went to myself down to 5 mg a day, weaning over a month period, and I still had withdrawals when I stopped taking the 5mg. They weren’t a big deal, I just needed something for sleep and some anti-diarrhea medication, the third night is the worst and then after that it gets much better, they were fully gone after a week. But I would bet you money but if you suddenly stopped taking your medication right now you would have a lot of trouble sleeping and you would probably get really sweaty

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You're very lucky to be alive! Once MRSA gets that deep into ya not many survive! Focus on the positive! They should give you some referrals with your release papers for follow up care. Just relax for now and count your blessings!

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Yes they will send you home with something, until you see a doctor. And when they do. If it is the same thing as you are already taking I would take it but spread out the hours as long as you can till u are able to not take it or take half.

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You have to be your own advocate. Some doctors or nurses who are treating you must be able to recommend a competent doctor for your case when you are discharged. Try to get several names, and learn what you can about them. Good luck.

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Stay ahead of the pain. Whoever was writing/responsible for your meds in the hospital should be taking care of your post op.
You need someone to be in place to maintain your meds, not just narcotics, before you get out! Good luck. Wishing you the best towards your recovery.

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You've gotten a lot of advice here, but let me give you my take. I've been where you are. I had a MRSA infection in my spine, and spent about two months in the hospital back in 2014. It was incredibly painful and I had 106° fever when I got there. They couldn't get my pain under control, or my fever to drop. When it was all said and done I ended up on the highest possible dose of Dilaudid they could have possibly prescribed (3mg per hour), & that barely touched the pain

Like you, they switched me to something I could take at home for pain. Like you (I'm sure) I had a veritable "team of doctors". The one who saw me after I was discharged and prescribed my Percocet for a couple of months until I was pain free was my "Infectious Diseases Doctor". She was super cool.

If you have any other questions, ask away.

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I don’t think they’ll just let you walk outta’ there with no pain Meds. after what you’ve been through, but you need to find a Dr that is willing to cut you back gradually on whatever you’re taking...Even if you do experience some withdrawls, It’s not like they’ll be horrible...I’d say if a Dr will help you cut back, you should be fine...Addiction is no joke...Get to the point where you would like to do a little of whatever, but you must be stronger than the Drug & talk yourself out of it...There’s no shame in going to N.A. (Narcotics Anonymous) Addicts are people of all kinds...Drs., Lawyers, Judges, & guy’s that live under a bridge...Goin’ to NA will definitely help you. Rather than take a pill, call an NA member or go to a meeting...They have meetings 24/7 & they help ‘cause you’re with a bunch of people that are goin’ through the same thing you are, If not worse...Hang in there, you can beat this stuff...If not it’s either Hell or Death.!.!.! GOOD LICK MY FRIEND.!.!.!

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something very similar happened to me a little over a year ago. I was infected with staph in an emergency room and over the course of a few months it had spread to my spine and messed it up pretty bad. My experience with the medication is that they will go ahead and fill a month's prescription for you or at the very least enough to hold you over till you can see your doctor. Based on the dosages that you've listed, if for some reason you're in a position where you had to quit cold turkey I don't think the withdrawal symptoms would be bad at all if you had any. I'm currently on 30 mg of oxycodone a day and I'm sure I can stop cold turkey and not experience any withdrawals. I hope that helps.

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Re: Jim (# 25)

I know this is going to sound crazy, but have you tried Tylenol Arthritis Formula? If you take it every 12 hours like it suggests, it may help. You'd be really suprised how well Tylenol works once you take it on a schedule.

I wouldn't go back on opioids if I were you. Maybe try a sleep aid like Ambien if you can't sleep through the night.

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Any dr. that would send a patient home without medication after what you have been on should be disbarred. Those are powerful and highly addictive. You have to be weaned off carefully. Don't leave until a RX has been given to you. Sometimes you have to wean yourself off as you feel what your body is telling you. Only you know the pain you are in. Trust me doctors have no clue when it is not going on in their bodies! Also high doses can be fatal. I have been given RXs for chronic pain that might as well be children's aspirin. Half the population are on opioids! That is how people are living longer. It's not better health practices. Good Luck!

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