Another change of medicine.........& a trip to the baths..

[hobbbllliiingaround]

Went back to the doctors today......she has put me on pain patches.....not had these before...apparently because they by-pass digestion I am more likely to have less side effects------heres' hoping----. I went for a nice gentle swim this morning ....getting good second time in a fortnight. Felt ok while swimming...no particular bad effects tonight...no more pain than the usual anyway. I will say one thing though ..after being in the water for a while when I came to get out my body felt soooo, soooo heavy trying to get up the steps and out of the pool. I felt like I had gained about 10 stone ..hard work..this fibro - crap ..

Hugs to everyone

Hope I am not going to go into pain overdrive in the morning..

[feeling]

Can you tell me more about parches,my doctor mentioned them to me,but i believe you are not allowed to drive.Can u let me know if this is true,or if anyone can? fee

[lynnecw in reply to feeling]

Hi, I have had pain patches for about six months now, went from lowest dose gradually up to highest, not really sure that they do anything. Anyway they do not affect me being able to drive. They could possibly affect other people, it's the same with all the meds they all affect us differently.

Lynne

[lynnecw in reply to lynnecw]

I have just checked what my patches are:

BuTrans 20 micrograms/hour transdermal patches

Hope that helps

(started on 5 micrograms)

Lynne

[hobbbllliiingaround in reply to feeling]

Hi feeling,

Well throughout my years with this - paracetamol has been just about the only thing I have taken successfully, everything else has caused major problems from spewing blood to hallucinations tremors etc. My GP had all but given up after trialling another 4/5 meds this year. I have started on a minimal dose of Buprenorphene 5mcg -One patch per week- only been a few days mind - fingers crossed it seems to be helping. This is the olny medication I am on. Apart from the vits I take CoQ 10 , C+zinc, vit D. I have been struggling soooo much with the pain and these patches seem promising, the first day I put it on before going to bed and did not feel much benefit - felt very stiff and in need of oiling almost like Joints were rusting up - heavy leaden feeling- thought here we go again another rubbish idea...Next day seemed slightly better....decided to take just one paracetamol on top ( asked the chemist if OK ) ...Am still on week one so I am still cautious but there is definately some benefit to them....I am not pain free but it is a help at the moment.. hoping when I increase ( fingers crossed ) so will the benefit.. There is a warning ..that it may make you drowsy and if so not to drive but this has not happened in my case......Here s hoping.....If it works ....my Christmas will be happier than I was expecting....x

[Hidden]

I would also like to know what patches you are on. When my back was excuriating they put me on fenynol patches and i reacted very badly, kept collapsing and shaking.

I'm intrigued as i can take many meds as they react badly to my stomach so find it difficult.

Take care and i hope you sleep well xxx

[feeling in reply to Hidden]

Hi rachie7870 that is the one i was offered from doctor.were you told you cannot drive taken fennel patches,as i believe they r morphine based.I'm desperate to gt something that wrks.Think i hve come amune to my tramadol? Fee

[hobbbllliiingaround in reply to Hidden]

Hi rachie

That sounds awful...Most of the tablets I have ever taken have caused really bad reactions for me so I sympathise.... The ones I have been given are Buprenorphine 5mcg only in my first week but they seem to agree with me....but we are all so different with meds......Hope you are Ok now....xxx

[angelwitch]

Hi

I swim all the time when I'm away in Tunisia, but only in the pool as have trouble walking on the sand now, or I would be in the sea. I have the same feeling when getting out of the pool, even though our pool has shallow steps to walk up, I think this is normal as when your in the water every-one is weight-less. But for the first 2-3 nights I get very bad cramps in my calf's, and the pain is unreal..

Would you be kind enough to let me know the name of the pain patches your on, as I would like to ask my GP if he would let me try them please.

Have a g@@d day & Thanks x

[hobbbllliiingaround in reply to angelwitch]

Hi Angelwitch

The patches I have started on are Buprenorphine and I am a few days into them --as I have explained above I have been unable to take much at all - so far so good with these patches--first few days did not think much to them but they do now seem to be just taking the edge off the pain and I have taken the odd single paracetamol....Hoping that when I increase the strength next month it will increase the benefit....hasn,t made me dizzy or sleepy so still driving too...Definately carrying on with the swimming too...really enjoyed it....xx hugs

[jacksie]

i think it's really self judgement,there's nothing no finer than swimming ,it uses up every muscle in the body,the way i look at it is, swim or no swim in pain either way.When i used to go swimming i found it very refreshing and painfree while in water,of course afterwards i suffered pain,i kept it up though inspite of pain,i felt fitter doing it,like i say, be in pain feeling and looking fitter,or suffer pain not swimming,depends on peoples different strengths.At least you feel good because you have helped your body to exercise,your body recognises this.What patches are you on i'm not familiar with those.jacksiex.

[hobbbllliiingaround in reply to jacksie]

Hi jacksie,

I know what you mean, we have an illness that is ' damned if you do & damned if you don't ....so I do try and do a bit..love the swim..don't go mad & love taking my little pooch a trot out. I have noticed that even though I hurt when I get back....if I give up either for any length of time it gets harder to do....If you can get your mindset into going and doing a bit ...it helps....Never seem to feel fitter but neither do I ever suffer any worse in the long term...I pat myself on the back for doing them...and convince myself that this why I have good blood pressure & that I am keeping a healthy heart.............keeps me going...Hugs xx

[Ozzygirl64]

I had butrans and they never had a chance to work as patches do not stay on my skin, not any type of patch, not even those ones to stop smoking. I hope they work for you xxxxx

[deelightful]

These pain patches, what are they, they type of drug.

Some years ago my GP put me on morphine Patches, they did not work even when increasing the dose. He then put me on Oxycontin & Oxynorm, these are both opiods. I have learnt recently from my Rheumatologist the Narcotics are no good for FMS patients, it does not help or there are no significant improvement, all they do is make your body addictive to the drug.

Please be careful, coming off these drugs, is very difficult.

I hope you find something that works. They say a regular exercise programme is the best way to keep your body moving , so is the best way to stay reduce the pain - mind you I have not tried it yet.