I really must aplogise firstly that I don't really post, the reason being although I am a lifelong bronchiectatic I am clueless when it comes to arth, so don't feel I have anything to contribute and am floundering somewhat.
Along with bronchiectasis I have inflammatory arthritis. Tried and for one reason or another cannot take NSAIDs, DMARDS and some analgesics.
GP gave me Buprenorphine patches (morphine). On reading the blurb I became most concerned. Has anyone who has arth and a lung condition used them? I would like to hear if they affected your breathing.
To add to the mix of inflam arth, bronch I note it states :Patches must not be used together with benzodiazepines. This combination may cause serious breathing problems which may be fatal'. So on the bright side I could have a pain free death. So I would especially like to hear from anyone who is also taking benzodiazapines along with morphine patches.
So concerned I can't think straight. We have a wonderful pharmacist who has recently set up in competition with a chain further down the road and he is brilliant. Called to see him yesterday whilst I was down putting in my (HI) sample at the docs. He says it would be of great concern had the two drugs had both been new to me, but he thinks as I have been on benzos for some time the doc must think my body can handle it. He did say morphine can slow down breathing, but then so can benzos - double whammy, or I could be ok. He thought it might be an idea to check with the doc his reasoning. A lady came in the shop and went out again. I told him I was sorry if I lost him a customer and he said she came in lots and it was more important to him to get this right for me. How lovely is he? He did say he had a lady who was so frightened of taking any medication whatsoever, she always took her first dose and then sat in his shop for half an hour. He said come and do that if you want, it's fine. He also came up with the idea of cutting the patches in quarters, although he said I would have to use a stanley knife as they are very sticky. If there was an adverse reaction take it off straight away and only the stuff left on my skin would reach the blood stream - a small amount as it is quarter of a patch. Worried about becoming adicted too.
If anyone has been in a similar situation could they please advise. Don't know what else is left for the pain.
Well I'm also ticked off as at this present time I should be going out with my daughter, sis and little granddaughter to an art deco hotel I've been wanting to go to for tea and then to Blackpool Illuminations. After being off abs for nearly a week -which has been par for the course all this year - I had an infection brewing yesterday.
In the afternoon I took down a sample and started abs. By early evening the chest tightness was worse, coughed up filthy Haem Inf (put money on it) tasting muck and by this morning temp a bit spikey.
They all called in and brought lunch and then set off. Not easy to get all the 'girls' togehter with work and stuff and I am so sick and tired of missing good stuff and sick and tired of infections and pain.
Sorry to moan.
I would really like to hear from anyone who has a lung condition, inlammatory arthritis and does or does not take benzodiazapines who has experience of morphine patches please.
Love C XXX
Newly diagnosed Inflammatory Arthritis 
This Inflammatory Arthritis is pretty scary!
Recurring inflammatory arthritis 
Finally, I've been diagnosed!! I DO have inflammatory arthritis.
Lung involvement in rheumatoid arthritis
