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queenbee · 10-01-2008, 12:01 PM

I had cervical fusion in July 2008, saw Dr 4 weeks later for check-up' and was scheduled to see him again 5 weeks later. At that check up he said I was healing but not fused yet so he set me up for appt on 10-03. All this time I have been on hydroco 5-500 .
I just called for a refill and received 2.5-500 which is not working.
I have been very sick to my stomach and bad sweats since starting these.
Called Dr office today to see if why the change and nurse said Dr lowered meds.
He hasnt seen me since 8-22 so he has no idea what I am feeling, but the kicker is this. Back on 8-09 when I called for a refill the Dr was on vacation and his office called in 2.5-500 and two days later they called in 5-500. I told the nurse today this happened and she ignored it. Dr was on vacation again when I called for this last refill.

I see him this Friday so I do intend on brinnging this up to him, I was just wondering if anyone else had Dr lower mdicine and not inform you. Has anyone had a Dr change medicine when they had not seen you to evaluate you condition.
I assume I will be starting therapy soon and I am still waiting to have shoulder surgery when neck has healed so am still in pain.
I was just starting to be able to move arond and deal with the discomfort and now I am baack on the couch not moving much.
Is this what Dr do to me it just doesnt seem right if he hast seen you.
Thanks

sparkey · 10-01-2008, 01:34 PM

Being use to medication and having such a drastic drop in mg's can cause you to get sick. It could very well be also withdrawls from the larger dose. It sounds to me like the doctor could of made a mistake by reading older notes that had the 2.5-500 instead of the 5-500.

I do not think you would get very far on the phone talking to a nurse, and best to wait till you are in person with the doctor on Friday and see why they cut back on the medication. Did you ever read the symptoms of withdrawls for narcotics? There is a very good website called " drugs.com" that could talk about symptoms and what to do if you have withdrawls till you see your doctor. Good luck.

tweety00 · 10-02-2008, 12:27 AM

queen how many levels did you have done ? My doctor only did 1 refill and then thats it use over the counter .

queenbee · 10-02-2008, 10:44 AM

tweety00 Wrote:queen how many levels did you have done ? My doctor only did 1 refill and then thats it use over the counter .

They were going to do two but did three (not sure why)
I have been on Hydroco since 10-2007. Awaiting surgery approval for neck and shoulder. What did u take for therapy right now most of pain is coming from shoulder up thru neck. I dont mind being taken off these pills hated taking them . My concern is my treatment by a doctor who hasnt seen me for 6 weeks and is assuming everything is on track. I would like to be involved in his decisions and be given information concerning being weened off these pills. I see him tomorrow and plan on going over this with him.

Cycler · 10-02-2008, 12:28 PM

there is also no medical or rational justification for using short acting opiates for chronic pain. It leads to ineffective pain management, higher side effects, rapid tolerance developement and complications due to the combination with daily high levels of acetominophen. Pain specialists of any real training do it differently.

queenbee · 10-02-2008, 02:53 PM

Cycler Wrote:there is also no medical or rational justification for using short acting opiates for chronic pain. It leads to ineffective pain management, higher side effects, rapid tolerance developement and complications due to the combination with daily high levels of acetominophen. Pain specialists of any real training do it differently.

He is an ortho surgeon i am glad i am being weened off them but like i said i wish he would have had the decency to discuss this with me and inform me what the reactions would be I would have also felt more comfortable if he had done this after seeing me and not just treat it like a text book case. I guess we take the good with the bad at least I am half way to being done at least I hope so. Hopefully tomorrow he will have suggestions for the discomfort. We will see.
I hope they dont put me back on after the shoulder surgery .