Detoxing and CPAP

dllfo,

You've been through a lot. Hang in there.

For persistent back pain, I take a ma roller with me whenever I travel. It's like 'chiropractic in a can'. Meditation and conscious relaxation is useful too.

About prednisone: when taken long enough to induce moon face, it can also induce changes in personality.

I saw a former girlfriend's father turn from congenial to rude, bitter and just down-right cruel. Not knowing it was the drugs, my former girlfriend's mother divorced him. Very sad.

My father was on prednisone for many months, but we were told of the effects prior. He got moon face and became somewhat free with his opinions, almost to the point of cruelty, but we called him on it when it happened, and that seemed to help. Once the treatment stopped, he became himself again. The moon face went away gradually too.

I had to use it for a week to combat anaphylaxis. I felt awesome for about three days, but then gradually started feeling like a zit about to explode. I was glad to stop using it.

I don't know if the personality thing affects everyone, but it is a known side effect, so please be careful. On the good side, the side effects go away when you stop using it.

Interesting about the side effects going away. Good news. Oddly, my wife and kids, friends, etc. say I am more congenial. Go figure.

I think I get "spring loaded" to the angry position at times, when dealing with Medicare, the VA, Apria, etc. Mostly medical people who screw my order up 3 straight times. I pretty much go over their head and send documented problems to corporate, a U.S. Senator for Medicare or Tricare Insurance, and the VA.

One of the most frustrating things to me is for Medicare to authorize something like ... say .... 2 nasal pillows a month, then I email my contact at Apria, with the HCPCS A7033 TWO a month, and they send one. I ask why and get silence. I email Apria again. Silence. No reply. I call to ask the person why and am told they don't know. Corporate is next on my list. If Apria does not have a good reason, then I ask Apria Corporate if they are tired of Medicare's business? The rules are there, please explain why I am not getting two. I also explain the 30cmH2O for 30 minutes, etc. ..........
so .... why can't Apria do things right is usually my question/frustration. And they call local, the local Mgr calls me.... a huge waste of emotional energy for both of us. BUT ... I am not bothering anyone lately, just trying to "fly straight and level" as we used to say.

I hope I never pass 20 cmH2O again.

But I do still "hit the wall" --- yesterday I caught myself slurring my words and falling asleep --- I excused myself from my visiting family members, hooked up the SV and oxygen and slept for an hour. Got up and was better, but this is really weird. About all the various doctors will say is "May be due to detox" --- great. THAT helps a lot. BUT the SV and oxygen seem to
fix it so far.

Not one medical person has even tossed out an opinion or guess. Frustrating but ....... better days ahead.

dllfo - wow you have been some tough times. I hope things only continue to get better.

It's annoying when the docs are in over their heads and don't even admit it. I'm sorry for all your troubles with the docs and the suppliers-- they're supposed to HELP us, no??

Keep up the good spirits, and don't get discouraged!!

Good luck with your continued recovery. Needles give me the willies, but acupuncture is well worth looking into for chronic pain. It's been effective for hundreds of years.

My best friend just detoxed in December from the same opiates for chronic back pain. She has been fortunate that her back has been improved lately, but she does have the name of an acupuncturist connected with an orthopedic clinic that is part of the Eisenhower medical complex in Rancho Mirage.

You should ask your doctor that. You could call loveline and talk to dr drew about it too.

I had a microdiskectomy about 10 years ago, which removed most of my L4 disk. I have chronic pain every day, but I can't stand opiates.

I live in California, so Medical Marijuana is a legal alternative to opiates. It gets right to the pain and keeps it off my mind so I can focus on work. There are various kinds that work in various ways. Some strains are "up" and work to fight depression as well as pain reduction. Other kinds serve to knock you out if you have severe pain.

I can go off it, if necessary. For instance, when I need to travel to foreign countries where I can't use it.

You don't have to smoke it. You can eat it or vaporize it to get the same benefits of the medication without too much wear and tear on the body.

Before everyone starts making fun, it really does work for me.

[quote="dllfo"]I am detoxing off Morphine/Oxycodone/Fentynal/Demerol, etc.

If you are on opiates, I understand they can be necessary. My lower back is killing me right now. I was dependent on opiates, NOT addicted. I never liked them. They were just a tool to relieve severe, chronic pain...which is coming back. I peaked at approximately 450-500mg of Morphine a day from April 10, 2008 to mid May 2008, after my oral surgery. That was necessary then, but getting off is necessary now.

If any of you are considering detox while on CPAP/BIPAP/SV, etc. please feel free to email me. I just learned morphine is stored in my fat cells and is being released. THAT is not fair. I paid good money for all those fat cells and now they are turning on me. Go figure.

telly wrote:I had a microdiskectomy about 10 years ago, which removed most of my L4 disk. I have chronic pain every day, but I can't stand opiates.

I live in California, so Medical Marijuana is a legal alternative to opiates. It gets right to the pain and keeps it off my mind so I can focus on work. <snip>

Before everyone starts making fun, it really does work for me.

First of all, good to see you post, Telly! I had thought you were another of the "now they are here, then they are not" forum members.

But make fun of you? People on this forum who are wearing pantyhose straps and using all sorts of twist ties, fishing equipment, and discussing the minutiae of AHI and leak rates for each available mask
SHOULD NOT THROW ANY STONES!

I personally cannot see what the problem is with medical marijuana, as it doesn't seem to me to be any different than using any other PRESCRIBED medication. We use prescribed opiates, don't we? And as I recall, heroin addicts are using (generally illegal) opiates as well.

Marijuana works, it is unique, and cannot be abused any more than some other prescribed drugs.

________________________________________

While I applaud your efforts, dllfo and others, to detoxify from opiates, it cannot be easy, especially for back pain. I have to say that back pain just puts a curtain between me and the world. Fortunately, mine is only occasionally painful. It just takes more effort to participate in the world, and the thinking cannot possibly be quite as sharp.

I know that there are studies showing that controlling pain is essential for good health. I always wondered about hypnosis or meditation. Then, of course, there are biofeedback methods. Yes, any of the above may not do the entire job, but anything that can assist the relief of pain will only add to the whole effort.

I happen to know a woman whose MD father hypnotized her for her appendectomy instead of any anesthesia. He did so to show others that it would work, and she was not the only family member who received hypnosis for surgeries. (No, he was not the surgeon and an anesthesiologist was available if there were any unforeseen problems.)

I am not saying that any, all, or even many of these treatment options are good for any one person. We all have to find our own answers. However, it just seems to make sense to me that any mental or physical procedure that can help the pain in concert with any medical interventions would only be for the good.

I think that many of those in pain on this thread are past the point of doing too much exercise. However, it is worth noting that any added core strength often works to prevent and to lessen back pain.

Now, if I could only find an osteopath who really knows manipulation... ahhhh.

Karen

birdshell wrote:I happen to know a woman whose MD father hypnotized her for her appendectomy instead of any anesthesia. He did so to show others that it would work, and she was not the only family member who received hypnosis for surgeries. (No, he was not the surgeon and an anesthesiologist was available if there were any unforeseen problems.)

When I had gall bladder surgery I used the CD "Preparing for Surgery" by Dr. Martin Rossman. I had anesthesia during the surgery, but used the CD afterwards to stop the pain. I never used any pain killer (not even an aspirin) afterwards and was reasonably comfortable. I have used his CD on Anxiety Relief and it has helped quite a bit, too. It's more guided imagery than hypnosis, but quite good. I know he has one for pain relief. My sister had a hysterectomy and worked with a medical hypnotist with very good results, too. She had anesthetic during the surgery but used the techniques afterwards. The hypnotist made a tape for her to use with these techniques.

The CD's are $15, available on Amazon, so not a lot to lose here. You might want to work with a medical hypnotist if you can find one. I couldn't find one in time for my surgery. I'd done guided imagery, yoga, etc. before, so I did have some "training" to do this stuff.

Here's a link to the CD:
http://tinyurl.com/5ook9k

Acupuncture, I agree, it is my number one option. Number two may be the spinal shots, not sure yet.

Hypnotism does not seem to work with me. My wife had eye surgery, due to
Grave's disease, and had shots into her eyes. She was hypnotized and did not need shots. So I KNOW hypnotism works. She tried it on me and was not successful.

I have never done pot. My lungs won't handle any smoke, I have 2nd hand cigarette smoke damage to my lungs. I am retired Air Force and THAT is a Federal crime that might cost me my retirement, but thanks for the suggestion.

Guest, I don't know what Loveline or Dr. Drew is, but the only way I can get through to my pain med dr. is to threaten to file a complaint with the state.
And then I only get through to the staff. Too much stress.

Detoxing is new to me. I have been at it for 23 days. I never know what will happen the next day. I keep hitting a certain point, then I start slurring my speech and having trouble staying awake. I get on the SV and oxygen --
then sleep. Oxycodone is only in your system 4-6 hours in theory, but then again, I have been told it has a "half life" of some kind. If you really want to know how long it is in your body, try a blood test. They tested me early on with Avinza. The 24 hour morphine was gone in around 12-14 hours.

Never a dull moment. I came down with Bronchitis today. I used to get it every few years, but not since 2005. Can you cough with the Swift II and still get any sleep? I will use my nebulizer, nasonex, Astelin and so on. Oh well, just another day I guess.

I would expect most people's breathing to improve quite a bit if they get off the opiates.

birdshell wrote:

telly wrote:I had a microdiskectomy about 10 years ago, which removed most of my L4 disk. I have chronic pain every day, but I can't stand opiates.

I live in California, so Medical Marijuana is a legal alternative to opiates. It gets right to the pain and keeps it off my mind so I can focus on work. <snip>

Before everyone starts making fun, it really does work for me.

But make fun of you? People on this forum who are wearing pantyhose straps and using all sorts of twist ties, fishing equipment, and discussing the minutiae of AHI and leak rates for each available mask
SHOULD NOT THROW ANY STONES!
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

This made me smile

I will be starting hypnosis for some other things...may ask her about pain issues as well.

One thing to remember is, in order for hypnosis to work...well there are few things to keep in mind...

1) everyone can be hypnotized...everyone
2) in order for the suggestion to work...you have to believe it will work...
If you tell you subconsious something that it doesn't believe...it will not accept it...

Or that is what I have been told. I'm not sure how that works on things you want to change but don't believe.

I believe it is important to try it for the first time with a person who is knowledgeable about it or with a tape made by someone who is knowledgeable. I wouldn't give up if (I couldn't tell from your post) your wife helped you to do it. Maybe you didn't actually get to the hypnotized state yet?

Anyways...I am a bit skeptical and pessimistic but I am going to try it anyways...

Should be interesting. You can use guided imagery to be hypnotized also.

Anyways...that is all of my limited knowledge on the topic.

Maybe you just explained my problem in being hypnotized. I don't think I believe in it. I try to be open minded about it, but ....

The Therapist who worked with my wife was killed in a plane crash within a year or so of our marriage, so no long term therapy or whatever was available.

My wife went through the eye surgery and recovery with no drugs, so you know it worked. I held her hand during the surgery, but could not watch.

BTW, I was given Hydrocodone/Homatropine 5/1.5mg for my cough and it "went away". More drugs, but I have taken these for years with no apparent problems. I think that is Vicodin and another drug. It has worked for me down through the years. I can't drink cough syrup, even OTC stuff. It is like drinking liquid fire and it usually does not stay down. Anyway, I slept well last night.

dllfo wrote:Can you cough with the Swift II and still get any sleep?

When I had the flu and a cough, I tied Johnson & Johnson First Aid Hurt-Free Wrap, 2-Inch over my mouth instead of taping. It's kind of stretchy and latex free. It doesn't stick to your skin, but to itself. It kind of clings to your skin. It's somewhat like an Ace bandage, but no latex and lighter weight. I was using a pillows, either the Swift II or Headrest, I don't remember. It worked pretty well. When I checked my stats on Encore Pro they were decent. Not as good as usual, but good enough.

I capitulated. I coughed so hard I fell out of my chair yesterday. My old stash of hydrocodone/homatropine ran out. I was given .... are you ready??
Yep, Oxycodone. I should have just kept my old stuff.

It works. Walgreens said my old pills are not allowed in the state or something like that. No coughing (per wife), so I guess the meds worked.

The harder I work to detox, the more I get pushed back that direction.

My wife has such a stopped up nose that astelin, Nasonex, etc. don't work for her. Mentholatum does. We debated wiping the inside of the nasal pillows with it. Maybe it will work.

dllfo wrote:I have never done pot. My lungs won't handle any smoke, I have 2nd hand cigarette smoke damage to my lungs. I am retired Air Force and THAT is a Federal crime that might cost me my retirement, but thanks for the suggestion.

No problem. I see your point about being careful about committing a Federal crime. It's a sticky situation when you've got state law going against federal law. I'm sure you are referring to the fact that medical cannabis is legal for relieving chronic pain in CA, but it is not legal according to the U.S. Government. Along with that, there is the social stigma of being in the service and using pot does not align well with the core beliefs of any branch of service.

If you are a government employee or member of the service, medical cannabis might not be a smart move. I agree with you. If you are not a government employee and live in a state where it is legal you have the right to use it, then I recommend it.

If your situation was different, you could use medical cannabis even if you are intolerant to smoke. Clinics make these lovely "edibles" including chocolate, butter, cookies, brownies, sodas, candy and other easy was to use this wonderful medication.

Medical cannabis is also suitable for sleep medication. Certain kinds can knock you out like a light. Other kinds help prevent insomnia and stress relief.

Now if only I could find a strain which would relieve my PLMD and RLS.

Guest, I don't know what Loveline or Dr. Drew is

It's a radio show. Generally for teens and their problems, both medical and mental health. Primarily sexual topics, so I don't know about this suggestion. A better idea would be a doctor that you could see in person. I see you live in Sacramento. My Dad goes to the VA in Palo Alto, CA and says he gets great treatment there. Check that out.

Can you cough with the Swift II and still get any sleep?

I'm sure it wouldn't be fun, but I find the Swift II to be a very comfortable mask. The Swift is a nasal mask, so you always can breathe (or cough, sorry) through the mouth if need be.