help please! Oxycodone dependence.

[blackdb1]

Swim has been using oxycodone for about 2 years now. For about the first year it was just an every now and then thing, then he started using daily. At first it was just 5 10mgs a day, only being able to consume 5mgs in a sitting to get a real nice buzz. Soon he realized he could handle 7.5mgs at once then not long after 10, then 15, and now finally he takes about 20 mgs twice a day. Now the problem is about 5 months ago swim realized he was getting physically dependant so he proceeded to detox off them. He did it cold turkey with the aid of benzos, aleve, and melatonin. He got through the worst of the w/d symptoms in about 72 hrs. the problem was that even after being clean for a little over a month he still had horrible lower abdominal pain, uncomfortable B.M.s, and extreme pelvic and lower back pain. He posted on here asking if the w/d's could still be affecting him physically and the answers he got were no the symptoms shouldn't last longer than a week, and to seek medical help. Swim went to the doctor and he didn't even let swim say all of his symptoms before running out of the office and sending a script of ranitidine in with a nurse. This never took the pain away so swim started using again so he could mange to work. Yet again he decided to quit and see if the symptoms were still there and after being clean for about 2 weeks the pain and everything else was still there. He went to another doc who took him more seriously and gave a urinalysis and std test, both came back negative, so swim yet again caved in and started taking the oxy again. He went to another doc who gave a second urinalysis and checked for hernias and such, still nothing was found wrong but he gave swim a script to flexiril and 800mg ibuprofen. now swims waiting to see a urologist but can't get in until November 26. Swim wants to not depend on illicitly taking oc's every day without having a script. Swims planning on taking another break off the oxy by using some clonidine, mixture of benzos, flexiril, and the ibuprofen, but knows even once he gets through the w/d he still won't be able to get out and make much needed money. So his overall question is what you other swimmers in his situation would do about the pain until he can get into the urologist. Should he go to another doc to try to get a script for some sort of opiate or just tough it out? Swims in a VERY HARD situation right now and appreciates any advice. Sorry for the super long post swim just really wants to get on with his life and not have to worry about scoring oc everyday!

[Nagognog2]

A pain management specialist should be consulted, rather than a doctor in another field. But SWIM also has a secondary problem - self administration of narcotics. This won't sit well with a doctor regardless of their field of expertise.

The pain specialist can help SWIM find counciling to address the secondary issue, while keeping him comfortable for any withdrawl. But SWIM will need to truly address the issue of addiction before the medical community can provide any real help. There are other, non-drug, options for pain management out there that can and do work. These should be tried.

Doctor shopping won't work for long. Either one lands in the legal community (Rush Limbaugh), or addicted with a plethora of new problems. It would be wise to take care of this problem (hardly a rare one) before it gets truly out of hand.

[blackdb1]

Thanks alot swinag, especially for so FAST help! So you think swim should definately tell the doc about opioid dependance? Swim has discussed this with his father and his father said pretty much what swiy said except he said without a diagnosis of anything that swim wouldn't be able to see a pain mangement dr. Swims main concern with that is that if opiate treatment is needed in the future it would be in swims medical records that he had drug abuse problems and be VERY hard to get treated adequately. I also forgot to mention that swims father has interstitial cystitis and has pretty much the exact same symptoms as swim, and is prescribed 5mg oxycodone and 10mg methadone for his I.C. Any more help greatly appreciated!

[Nagognog2]

If SWIM thinks he can handle stopping oxycodone on his own, and he could, then by all means SWIM is welcome to try. But if SWIM is needing large doses of this to maintain, and SWIM has a family (genetic) history of such a condition that requires narcotics to control, then likely a pain management doctor would take that into consideration. Then if SWIM is still on an expanded dose of narcotics - where would that leave SWIM? Not enough narcotics? Back to square one.

So SWIM should get his self-administration dealt with. Either by himself (tough road, but doable), or with assistance. And medical records don't have to follow SWIM. I had a doctor who misdiagnosed me for an arthritic condition. To cover his ass when I landed in a hospital in severe pain, they called the jerk. He said I was faking my symptoms (impossible to do) and was just looking to get drugs and was a psychiatric case (lawsuit). While I don't suggest the following - I went to his office a few days later - having first found a specialist for the condition and being properly treated - and got into a physical struggle for MY RECORDS. Which I disposed of. When asked for my medical records after that for that period - I told any other doctor that my old doctor had died.

Actually, he "retired" just ahead of my lawsuit. Now you sound intelligent - so figure it out. Hooked on oxycodone? Hard road and withdraw your self before seeking proper care? Or get assistance? You know what to do.

[blackdb1]

Thanks ALOT swin! It's very nice to have a site where people like swiy who don't even now swim give him advice and help through situations. Swim honestly can't thank you enough. Anyone else have advice or been in a similr situation?